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Volunteer Ministers Update Monday 3 January 2005 The following is a composite of field reports from the Volunteer Ministers (VMs) of the various Churches of Scientology, who are on the ground working with the rescue services in a number of areas hardest-hit by the tsunami. So far, the Church of Scientology International has dispatched 128 Volunteer Ministers to the disaster areas in Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India, with more on their way.
The VMs have been helping distraught relatives, families searching for their relatives, and tourists at a loss to deal with the sudden impact of the gruesome tragedy. They have been applying basic Scientology principles to help the survivors deal with the trauma of properly disposing of thousands of dead bodies. The work of preserving and photographing the dead while assisting the living continues around the clock, with the VMs working alongside teams of government officials from around the world as well as local people.
The VMs are also training members of the local communities in ministerial techniques so the survivors can help their neighbours recover and assist in the Herculean effort required to bring back normalcy to lives shattered by the devastating sweep of the tsunami. Medan, Indonesia The Volunteer Ministers went to two hospitals and offered to help with the recovery of the injured by providing “assists.” One of those who received an assist was a 9-year-old boy from Aceh who had a broken right arm and a mangled left foot that had become gangrenous. He had lost all of his family. After he received the assist, the doctors assured the VMs that he will not lose his foot. Reverend Peter Stephens from the Church of Scientology of Australia met up with the Buddhist organization Tzu Chi, from Taiwan, a large hands-on relief organization operating in Asia. The Tzu Chi staff asked to be trained in Assist methods so they can minister them to others. The VMs have delivered two workshops to their staff. Tzu Chi executives, who had slept only 4 hours a night for the last several days, were also given assists and commented that they felt refreshed and energetic afterwards.
Thailand There are 27 VMs on the ground in Thailand with more on their way, including a Swedish team numbering 13. The VMs arrived in the Chao Lak area the day after the disaster. As reported by the Australian Associated Press yesterday, they are working with Disaster Victim Identification Experts to preserve the bodies of tsunami victims so they can later be identified. The bodies are being preserved at a temporary mortuary in a local Buddhist temple. The VM team has set up a system to allow families to identify bodies with a minimum amount of distress. Among the VMs’ tasks has been the construction of 20 refrigeration tractor containers to house the bodies. The VMs have also provided counseling to relief workers at the scene (some of whom were in considerable distress themselves) as well as to victims of the disaster. The In-Charge of the team, Patrick Bundock, stated that the volunteers had used counseling techniques to assist victims who were in such a state of shock they had been unable to look for loved ones. Chao Lak was one of the worst hit areas, even more than Phuket where most of the initial relief efforts were focused.
India and Sri Lanka VMs are also on the ground in India and Sri Lanka with more en route. If you can help with donations or wish to volunteer time, call (323) 960-1949 or 1-800-435-7498 or e-mail vm@volunteerministers.org
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