Scientology Volunteer Ministers from Victoria have mobilised to help fire-fighters combat the worst bushfires in Victoria's history.
The first two VMs, from the Church of Scientology of Melbourne, set off to the fire zone on Saturday. They set up their signature yellow tent right at the Heyfield staging area, which is the headquarters for 250 fire-fighters, and as the word started to spread through the ranks of how helpful the Scientology assists were in relieving fatigue and tension, the VMs were inundated by fire-fighters waiting for their help.
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 orient a confused or distraught individual to his environment.
Fortunately a few more Volunteer Ministers arrived that night, because the following day the amount of logistics needed to set up the camp for the fire crews was enormous, and the VM team chipped right in, setting up the camp for the fire crews.
By the end of the day, it was pretty common knowledge that "if you need to get something done, give it to the VMs." Whether setting up tents (they put up about 50 of them), preparing lunch for the crews, moving stock from trucks into dry storage and refrigerators - whatever was needed despite the 40 degree Celsius heat (104 degrees Fahrenheit) — the Scientologists were there to do it.
As night fell and exhausted fire-fighters started returning to camp, it was back to doing assists again, flat out for the rest of the evening. And as more and more fire-fighters came to the tent, the word of mouth got around, with comments like, "You have to go and see those guys, they are miracle workers!" The VMs were kept busy non-stop for the rest of the night with people standing in line to get help from them.
The fires, which have already destroyed 617,750 acres of bush and have now blackened an area the size of Luxembourg, are expected to burn for at least two more weeks, and the VM team leader has put out a call for all Volunteer Ministers who can do so to join them.
To find out how you can help, contact the Volunteer Ministers Coordinator at the Church of Scientology of Melbourne, at melbourne@scientology.net or the International VM coordinator at vm@volunteerministers.org.
Spread the News:
|
Vote for or comment on this story:
|
|
