HALIFAX, NS, Canada, Sept. 13 — As rescue workers struggled to find survivors in the rubble at ground zero in New York City, transatlantic flights from Europe were re-routed to Canadian airports. Security was very high.
In Newfoundland, the eastern most point of Canada, dozens of planes and upwards of 13,000 passengers suddenly found themselves diverted to places they had never heard of: Gander, Goose Bay, St. John's and Stephenville. Thousands of stranded travellers were greeted by hospitable Newfoundlanders.
GARY HEBBARD/THE TELEGRAM
A tired young mom and her young
son try to get some rest at an
Atlantic Canada shelter.
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"So many Newfoundlanders are volunteering to help here that the authorities simply can't use them all," said Director of the Newfoundland District of Canadian Bible Society, Sandra Tilley. "Prayer watches have been established at churches all over Newfoundland as people express love and concern through prayer."
In Nova Scotia, dozens of aircraft were diverted to Halifax Internal airport.
"I was listening to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on my radio," said Nova Scotia District Director Wayne McCarther. "Suddenly we were informed that all these diverted planes were heading here to Nova Scotia, for me it was a flashback." he said. Three years earlier McCarther had given out Scriptures to bereaved families in the aftermath of the crash of Swissair Flight 111 off the shores of Nova Scotia.
"I asked God what I should be doing this time," he said. "Then I remembered that President Bush had quoted the 23rd Psalm - though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. I had postcards with the 23rd Psalm on them at my office. I felt that God had answered my prayer" McCarther immediately set to work making sure the postcards got into the hands of stranded passengers staying in shelters. "They were so very appreciative," he reports.
Source: Canadian Bible Society
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