OVERVIEW

A Volunteer Minister administers an assist at the trauma center in Medan, Indonesia.

Many of those who came to help in the aftermath of the tsunami are now pulling out. For example, four-fifths of the volunteer organizations that were operating in Banda Aceh ten days ago have left. The international media are departing as well. Notwithstanding, the need of help is still great as local communities face the major task of reconstruction.

Indonesia

The Volunteer Ministers continued to minister assists and to train others in these techniques. Those who requested such training yesterday include a hospital psychologist, representatives of a refugee camp, and a woman who owns 27 schools in Australia and wants her staff trained.

A Volunteer Minister training another administering an assist at the trauma center in Medan, Indonesia

At the same time, people continue to arrive at the VMs’ tent seeking relief from trauma. Among those helped yesterday are the following:

• Three traumatized and withdrawn children brought in by their father. After receiving assists they were laughing. The VMs taught the father how to do the assists so he can continue to help his children.

• A woman who lost her 10-year-old daughter in the tsunami and had been unable to sleep since. After an assist, she was able to sleep for the first time in weeks.

• A military staff who was injured when a truck ran over his leg. After a 20-minute assist, the swelling had lessened and he said he felt fresher and clearer headed.

Sri Lanka

In Galle, the VMs attended a coordination meeting of about 40 people from local government along with representatives of the larger relief organizations, including the UN, Red Cross, USAID and World Vision. They also delivered a seminar in the area to more than 75 local people, doctors, nurses and military staffs. This resulted in requests from senior medical and military personnel to train their staffs.

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

For more information: Scientology Volunteer Ministers News

1. Assists are techniques developed by L. Ron Hubbard. They 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.