Judith Stovell says she has stopped watching the news and is instead relying on her faith in God that her close friend of six years, Rhondell Tankard, will return home safely.

"So far things are pretty much at a stand still," she said.

"There has been no information and we are still waiting. I have stopped watching the news and I chose to believe in my faith rather than all the negativity out there - until I hear something, I have stopped watching.

"It doesn't feed my faith."

And she said there is nothing that will cause her to believe otherwise until she hears Rhondell's voice for herself.

"When I see them finding survivors, that makes me feel a little better," she said.

"It makes me believe that she might be in a hospital somewhere.

"I am just keeping the faith."

Ms Stovell said she has been inundated with calls from friends in Bermuda and from abroad who are also rallying for Ms Tankard's safe return.

She said that has helped her at times cope with the "waiting game" of uncertainty.

And she implored all those who have expressed concern for Rhondell to continue thinking positively.

"She is dedicated in serving God," Ms Stovell said. "She takes it very seriously.

"I want people to just keep believing and keep the faith."

Ms Tankard is still among the missing since the September 11, terrorist attack in New York.

She is an employee of Aon Insurance Managers Ltd.

She was in one of the upper floors of one of the twin towers when they were separately hit by two aircraft that careened into the sides of the buildings like missiles.