This week on Jean : Remembering September 11, 2001



Jean is old order Mennonite from New York State.Jean and her husband David and family live on a dairy farm, and travel their community using horse and buggy. She tells her story exclusively on Amish Stories.

I asked Jean to tell how she felt during the Sept 11 attack from a plain persons eyes, this is her story................  The day that 911 happened, 10 years ago, was like any other day. At the time David and I were married almost five years, we had no children, and were, as now, in the farming and dairy business. We had read of wars in foreign countries, but our country had not been in war so far in our life time. We were born after the Vietnam War or at least when it was ending. We knew our soldiers were defending ours and helping other countries-but we were not at war. David and I were just finishing breakfast when the phone rang-Martha was on the phone and told us about the two planes hitting the World Trade Center. She explained that it was done on purpose to us by another country-but at that time they didn't know who it was. As we live in New York State and the World Trade Center was in New York State it shocked us-not only because it happening to our country, but also in our own state. New York City is about 300 miles from where we live. I called my parents and David called his, they too were shocked this was happening in our country. I can remember the last thing my Dad said in the phone was: "Pray."

I was getting upset so David took my hand and we prayed for our country, the people in the World Trade Center, the people defending our country and more. Shortly, Martha called again and said someone had hit the Pentagon. David and I prayed. Later she called and told us about the plane that went down in Pennsylvania. After prayer David and I wanted to know more about what was happening. We did our daily chores and later in the day we started talking about getting a television. We wanted to see what was happening. It is against the Old Order Mennonite church to own a TV, but we were young. If we were our age or had one or more of our children, we would never have gotten it but David called a driver and went into  Canandaigua and purchased one. We hooked it up and turned it on. It was horrible. This was really  happening, and  we couldn't believe it. We wished we could go to New York City to help the people. There are some things you forget, but some that you don't. I can't remember what we ate that day, what chores we did, or much else except our praying, but I do remember the Bible Verses David read that evening at prayer-it was St. Matthew 24:6-7: "And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars; see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places."

Then I realized I shouldn't be upset as it is explained in the Bible. These are to come before Christ returns to this earth. People have been speaking to us about religion or wanting to know about our religion and they ask when do we think Christ is coming or that the earth will come to an end. We refer to St. Matthew 24:36 "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." So when someone gives a date as to when Christ is coming-we don't pay attention to them. They don't know and we don't know. Only God, the Father knows. We should live as though it was ending today as we never know the time that we shall go. Whenever it is God's will we will leave this earth.

At the church service on Sunday, we were told that we would be having a collection for the Mennonite Fund that would be used to help the workers, the families of those that went (passed away), and more. Men from our church came around and collected whatever we wished to give. We were given a leather bag and we could put our money or a check in. Unless we give a check, no one knows how much anyone gave. It is between us and God. Word spread to other  Mennonites and outsiders came with checks, or money. People we didn't even know pulled up to our house and gave us money for 911. All the money went to our Mennonites in New York City for the people. We later found out  that the money was used for meals for those working at the World Trade Center, medical care, places for the workers to sleep, meals for those that came looking for people what were in the World Trade Center, and lots more. We had one of our missionaries from New York City come and tell us of where our money went. The stories she told were heart breaking. To believe this is happening in our country.

We felt so sorry for the families of the police, firemen, and people that were killed in World Trade Center. As for the TV we still have it. We use to have it in our bedroom and use it for either the 6 or 11 clock news until we saw Susan watching it ,  now it is locked in the attic.

Now as we look in our times we see things different than before. 911 is still in our minds and we still think and pray about it. It is something we will never forget..........            Be with God. Jean

To donate to help finish the flight 93 memorial in Pennsylvania please go to www.honorflight93.org