Hello from Ground zero...

[olger]

Big hole in the ground... Not much to see yet, but they are working on it.

Lots of pier shafts sunk in the ground, and a large air handler unit built down there already. Kind of solemn to see the scars on two of the adjoining buildings.

There's a problem though.. I don't understand it neither. I need your help. Everyone we met was polite. New York is LOSING it's touch. Paris will probably take over as the rudest city. .

Chapter two.

Guess we'll be seeing more of NYC. All flights cancelled from JFK today. Found a motel on Long Island and we're settled in for 24-hours (or 48, we'll see...).

Bad news again. I ran from our motel to burger king on Long Island to get some veggie burgers for nan & I. I tried to be a hero. Blinded by sleet, I stepped out in front of a moving vehicle. He got `er stopped and rolled down his window to give me a good chewing out. "Sorry about that" he said. "It was my fault' I rejoined. No, he insisted it was his fault.

New York is losing it's touch...

I made it to the Burger King.. went in and ordered said Veggie Burgers. Waited on them.

Waited on them some more... made small talk with a burly Puerto Rican standing next to me. He got his food and turned to leave.

"Hey!" he turned around. Dis guy ain't got his food. Horry it up huh? The sheepish counter guy grabbed a bag that had been sitting back there for...a while and handed it over. "Sorry sir..."

New York is definitely losing it's touch!!

olger

[Woody]

Olger ... you are exactly right. I spent 6 weeks in Manhattan last summer. I found them very kind. They would take whatever time was needed to help out a stranger.

They would not always initiate a converstion but once started for whatever reason ... they were very friendly.

The best evidence of that was last year when a man left his small children and layed down under a subway train to save the life of another.

[olger]

Big place ain't it? Lots of buildings, lots of people, lots of emptiness, and lots of food.

We were given a tour through Times Square Church (David Wilkerson's church). Very encouraging,

Were you there on business? Did your family go with you?

olger

[Woody]

Olger ... I was there doing a class from Andrews Seminary. John Paulien and Joe Kidder were the professors. We had classes in the Manhattan ABC next to the New York Library.

It was a great class with an emphsis on how to reach the cities. We visited a lot of the churches there. I enjoyed experiencing the Brooklin Tabernacle. WE met with the Pastor who gave us the royal treatment.

I was going to tell you to tour the Intrepid but I think it is out there somewhere stuck in the mud. We also saw Bodies. I don't know if it is still there. But it is a huge collection of cadavers. ALL kinds of bodies well preserved in different cross sections. Very educational.

Have fun if you can.;

[olger]

Jon & Pam are friends.

Thanks for the encouragement,

olger

[olger]

I am amazed how a church fits into a high-rise. Just a building after all..

Walked down Broadway from 51st to 42nd street.

Bought subway tickets to Chambers Street. While I was paying for the tickets, two black guys started fighting right behind us. It was so interesting, the ticket attendent almost looked up from his work. A cop eventually appeared and straightened things out.

Life in the big city

There were two posessed girls dancing in the subway, with a crowd watching them. We didn't.

oG