More Volunteer Ministers continue to arrive at the disaster sites, with many more on their way. The VMs’ efforts are sincerely appreciated by the government, military and medical officials in whose countries they are operating: Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and India.

While everyone involved in the rescue effort is doing a tremendous job, the task is huge. Millions are homeless. Thousands of miles of coastline have not even been reached yet by relief efforts.

Indonesia

One very touching story concerns an elderly lady in a local hospital in Medan on the northeast coast of Sumatra. The lady had a lot of pain in her legs and could not walk. She was moaning and complaining of the pain. For the last two weeks, she had been unable to stand and in order to move, she had to drag her body across the floor using her hands and arms.

She was given an assist¹ by a VM. After a while, the lady started moving her toes and then she began kicking her left leg. As the help was continued, she said, “I feel no pain, I want to stand up”. The VM ended the assist and helped her to stand. She then said, “I want to walk”, and began walking with help.

As she was able to do this, she asked, “I want to walk alone, don’t help me.” The volunteer gently let go of her and remained on hand while she started walking around. Then she began dancing and throwing her hands up, saying, “I can walk, I can walk, thank you, I love you.” She then hugged and kissed the volunteer who gave her the assist and walked up to every Volunteer Minister in the hospital and hugged and thanked them.

A young boy from Banda Aceh, capital of the Aceh province, who had a gash across his check so severe that his teeth showed through and who has been receiving daily assists¹ today was given okay by the doctors at the hospital in Medan to go home. He was very happy about this and his father was extremely grateful to the VMs who had helped him.

Yesterday, one of the VMs went to Banda Aceh to assess the situation and determine what is needed there. There are still bodies lying on the ground and being pulled out of the sea. The government assigned 300 staff to pick up the bodies, but as one can imagine it is very tough work. Yesterday, the VM delivered an assist to the team’s In-Charge, an Indonesian Member of Parliament (MP). After receiving the assist, the MP commented, “all members of our team need this.” A VM team has been assigned to assist both him and his staff in handling the needed administration and with assists to help them cope with the inevitable trauma involved in such work. More VMs are due to arrive in the next few days to reinforce this team.

Thailand

There are three VM teams in Thailand. The first is set up outside a well-known local temple that is serving as a morgue. This team is focused on helping the medical workers, police, Red Cross staff and other volunteers in every way they can, so they can cope with the devastation they face by the hour. The VMs have ministered hundreds of assists¹ to these rescue workers, for which they are very grateful.

The second VM team is a logistics team and is supervising the organization and identification of bodies.

The third team is a supplies team. A huge warehouse is located here with material donations sent by people from around the world. In coordination with Red Cross staff on the ground, the VMs are helping with the distribution of these goods to the people who need them driving the trucks around to the villages dispensing food and water, clothing, bedding, etc. At the same time, they minister assists to survivors in the villages and help them clean up after the disaster. These VMs include several who are not Scientologists but who have been trained as VMs by staff from the Church of Scientology Mission of Bangkok.

Many government representatives from around the world have been visiting this area to find out what is happening and have met with the VMs on the ground. They are one-for-one very appreciative of the help being given. The VMs have established a reputation for getting things done and being a tremendous help with organizing the needed projects and supplying hands-on help.

India

The VMs in India are based in Madras (Chennai) and include 28 Tibetan Buddhist monks who have been trained in ministering assists. The rest of the team comes from South Africa, the United Kingdom and Mysore in India. More VMs are on their way from Tanzania, France and Hungary.

Forty-eight members of this team are now enroute to the hardest-hit villages south of Chennai: Mahabulipuram, Cuddalore, Karaikkal and Nagaipatinam. They will be working with the Chennai Rotary Club in each of these areas to bring whatever help is needed.

Sri Lanka

As well as the VMs in Sri Lanka who are working closely with a medical team of ten doctors, another group of VMs visited Galle in the southwest tip of the island. A large percentage of the city has been destroyed and there are very few relief activities in this area. A medical team from Singapore has been helping, but is due to leave tomorrow. A Korean diving team has also been assisting, as have some American and Taiwanese doctors.

The VMs spoke with the mayor, who was very grateful for their offer of assistance. He said that the priorities are to rebuild houses and help relieve survivors of their trauma, so it has been arranged for the VMs to stay and help.

For more information on how you can help call (323) 960-1949 or 1-800-435-7498 or e-mail vm@volunteerministers.org

For more information: Scientology Volunteer Ministers News

1. Assists are techniques developed by L. Ron Hubbard. They Assists operate on the principle that one tends to withdraw mentally or spiritually from an injured area. Only by restoring communication with this area can one bring the spiritual element into healing, thereby greatly speeding the healing process. Assists are used to alleviate stress and physical aches and pains, or to orient a confused or distraught individual to his present environment.