Looking back on the past ten years of the Volunteer Ministers movement: 2010 When the Haiti earthquake struck in January, the Church of Scientology sponsored chartered flights of doctors, nurses, EMTs and Volunteer Ministers to provide support to medical teams. The Church chartered a former Coast Guard vessel to transport hundreds of tons of medical supplies, equipment, food, water and clothing. Scientology Volunteer Ministers also provided relief in camps for the homeless and volunteer care in orphanages.   They ultimately put in place a permanent base to help in the reconstruction of the country, which continues to operate today.  There are now scores of local Volunteer Ministers groups and hundreds of thousands of local residents have attended Volunteer Ministers seminars to assist them in rebuilding their country. The base has also provided courses in communication skills to Haitian police, and Volunteer Minister disaster response training to NGOs and disaster response personnel. Volunteer Ministers joined the relief effort in the wake of the 8.8 Chile earthquake. In March, a team of VMs from Kenya traveled to help neighboring Uganda cope after record rains caused mudslides that buried entire villages. These VMs are Scout leaders who trained as disaster response specialists through the Volunteer Ministers website.  The volunteers assisted with search and rescue and provided relief to the displaced and injured living in tent camps. In the wake of floods following Tennessee thunderstorms, Volunteer Ministers from Nashville’s Church of Scientology teamed up with Hands-On Nashville to provide on-the-ground coordination for relief efforts. Guatemalan Volunteer Ministers provided assistance in shelters after a volcanic eruption in May and in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Agatha’s floods and landslides. Following record July floods, Volunteer Minister teams from Karachi escorted and cared for displaced children, provided much-needed rations and supplies, and airlifted emergency medical teams to bring antibiotics and fresh water to those afflicted. When New Zealand was hit with a 7.1 earthquake, Volunteer Ministers from Auckland ran relief logistics in partnership with the local Red Cross. In San Bruno, California, San Francisco-based Volunteer Ministers worked with civil defense personnel to help clean up debris and man emergency ration lines. In December, the largest fire in Israel’s history burned more than 7,000 acres of drought-stricken land on the outskirts of Haifa. Volunteer Ministers organized and distributed supplies and food and provided assists. At the end of 2010, the worst floods in 50 years hit the northeast province of Korat, Thailand. Scientology Volunteer Ministers climbed aboard military trucks and headed to the flooded areas, where they helped organize personnel and deliver much-needed supplies.
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Looking back on the past ten years of the Volunteer Ministers movement: 2010

When the Haiti earthquake struck in January, the Church of Scientology sponsored chartered flights of doctors, nurses, EMTs and Volunteer Ministers to provide support to medical teams. The Church chartered a former Coast Guard vessel to transport hundreds of tons of medical supplies, equipment, food, water and clothing. Scientology Volunteer Ministers also provided relief in camps for the homeless and volunteer care in orphanages.  

They ultimately put in place a permanent base to help in the reconstruction of the country, which continues to operate today.  There are now scores of local Volunteer Ministers groups and hundreds of thousands of local residents have attended Volunteer Ministers seminars to assist them in rebuilding their country. The base has also provided courses in communication skills to Haitian police, and Volunteer Minister disaster response training to NGOs and disaster response personnel.

Volunteer Ministers joined the relief effort in the wake of the 8.8 Chile earthquake.

In March, a team of VMs from Kenya traveled to help neighboring Uganda cope after record rains caused mudslides that buried entire villages. These VMs are Scout leaders who trained as disaster response specialists through the Volunteer Ministers website.  The volunteers assisted with search and rescue and provided relief to the displaced and injured living in tent camps.

In the wake of floods following Tennessee thunderstorms, Volunteer Ministers from Nashville’s Church of Scientology teamed up with Hands-On Nashville to provide on-the-ground coordination for relief efforts.

Guatemalan Volunteer Ministers provided assistance in shelters after a volcanic eruption in May and in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Agatha’s floods and landslides.

Following record July floods, Volunteer Minister teams from Karachi escorted and cared for displaced children, provided much-needed rations and supplies, and airlifted emergency medical teams to bring antibiotics and fresh water to those afflicted.

When New Zealand was hit with a 7.1 earthquake, Volunteer Ministers from Auckland ran relief logistics in partnership with the local Red Cross.

In San Bruno, California, San Francisco-based Volunteer Ministers worked with civil defense personnel to help clean up debris and man emergency ration lines.

In December, the largest fire in Israel’s history burned more than 7,000 acres of drought-stricken land on the outskirts of Haifa. Volunteer Ministers organized and distributed supplies and food and provided assists.

At the end of 2010, the worst floods in 50 years hit the northeast province of Korat, Thailand. Scientology Volunteer Ministers climbed aboard military trucks and headed to the flooded areas, where they helped organize personnel and deliver much-needed supplies.

Source: blog.volunteerministers.org

Looking back on the past ten years of the Volunteer Ministers movement: 2009 The L’Aquila 6.3 magnitude earthquake of April 6 left 65,000 homeless. The deadliest Italian quake in 30 years, it knocked out the infrastructure across 26 towns. Scientology Volunteer Ministers whose team leaders are fully certified Civil Protection Specialists operated under National Command and Control headquarters in Rome and supplied administrative and tactical support to relief camps and Disaster Command Central. They also built temporary housing, administrated shelters, ran the ambulance service, directed medical services, and distributed emergency rations. 
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Looking back on the past ten years of the Volunteer Ministers movement: 2009

The L’Aquila 6.3 magnitude earthquake of April 6 left 65,000 homeless. The deadliest Italian quake in 30 years, it knocked out the infrastructure across 26 towns. Scientology Volunteer Ministers whose team leaders are fully certified Civil Protection Specialists operated under National Command and Control headquarters in Rome and supplied administrative and tactical support to relief camps and Disaster Command Central. They also built temporary housing, administrated shelters, ran the ambulance service, directed medical services, and distributed emergency rations. 

Source: blog.volunteerministers.org

Looking back on the past ten years of the Volunteer Ministers movement: 2008 After record flooding in August in the state of Bihar, India, Volunteer Ministers from Kolkata enlisted the help of doctors, organized a mobile medical center and brought them to the disaster zone. They also brought food and supplies by boat directly to stranded villagers throughout the region. Scientology Volunteer Ministers from Costa Rica helped in the wake of the 6.2 quake northwest of San Jose—the worst in that country in 150 years. South African Volunteer Ministers helped provide food, water and assists to firefighters battling the blaze on Table Mountain in Cape Town, as did Australian VMs during the Victoria brush fires, and their counterparts in Southern California during their fire season this year. There were also Volunteer Ministers on hand to help those affected by tornadoes in Kansas and Iowa, flooding and volcanic eruption in Colombia, and mudslides in Seattle, Washington.
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Looking back on the past ten years of the Volunteer Ministers movement: 2008

After record flooding in August in the state of Bihar, India, Volunteer Ministers from Kolkata enlisted the help of doctors, organized a mobile medical center and brought them to the disaster zone. They also brought food and supplies by boat directly to stranded villagers throughout the region.

Scientology Volunteer Ministers from Costa Rica helped in the wake of the 6.2 quake northwest of San Jose—the worst in that country in 150 years.

South African Volunteer Ministers helped provide food, water and assists to firefighters battling the blaze on Table Mountain in Cape Town, as did Australian VMs during the Victoria brush fires, and their counterparts in Southern California during their fire season this year.

There were also Volunteer Ministers on hand to help those affected by tornadoes in Kansas and Iowa, flooding and volcanic eruption in Colombia, and mudslides in Seattle, Washington.

Source: blog.volunteerministers.org

Looking back on the past ten years of the Volunteer Ministers movement: 2007 In April, Australian Volunteer Ministers provided relief in the Solomon Islands after an 8.1 earthquake and tsunami washed away entire villages. Latin America and U.S. Volunteer Ministers flew to Peru in August when a magnitude 8 earthquake destroyed most of the coastal city of Pisco.  Working with the National Civil Defense System, United Nations agencies, the Red Cross and the military they helped in the search and rescue, manned shelters and used Scientology assists to help survivors overcome the shock and trauma of the incident. They also manned relief centers and provided support to firefighters battling blazes in Southern California.
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Looking back on the past ten years of the Volunteer Ministers movement: 2007

In April, Australian Volunteer Ministers provided relief in the Solomon Islands after an 8.1 earthquake and tsunami washed away entire villages.

Latin America and U.S. Volunteer Ministers flew to Peru in August when a magnitude 8 earthquake destroyed most of the coastal city of Pisco.  Working with the National Civil Defense System, United Nations agencies, the Red Cross and the military they helped in the search and rescue, manned shelters and used Scientology assists to help survivors overcome the shock and trauma of the incident.

They also manned relief centers and provided support to firefighters battling blazes in Southern California.

Source: blog.volunteerministers.org

Looking back on the past ten years of the Volunteer Ministers movement: 2004 When terrorists struck Madrid on March 11, Volunteer Ministers provided relief to victims and their families.  Volunteer Ministers provided aid the victims of Hurricanes Charlie, Frances and Jeanne in Florida.
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Looking back on the past ten years of the Volunteer Ministers movement: 2004

When terrorists struck Madrid on March 11, Volunteer Ministers provided relief to victims and their families. 

Volunteer Ministers provided aid the victims of Hurricanes Charlie, Frances and Jeanne in Florida.

Source: blog.volunteerministers.org

Looking back on the past ten years of the Volunteer Ministers movement: 2002

Volunteer Ministers helped in the cleanup after a volcanic eruption in January in the Congo left 120,000 homeless.

In August, when the Danube overflowed its banks in the worst flooding in 200 years, Volunteer Ministers helped man sandbag lines to protect cities in Hungary and Czech Republic.

On October 23, Chechen terrorists held 850 hostage at the Dubrovka Theater in Moscow. Volunteer Ministers assisted police and rescue workers to  care for the survivors, and provided succor to the families of the victims.

What exactly is fair exchange between parent and child?

This is a great article on what parents should expect from their children, at all ages, in exchange for raising them, feeding them, taking care of them, etc.

The other day my teenage daughter asked me a question that totally took me by surprise.  In my studies and upbringing, the idea of “exchange” is an important part of life and of surviving well.  The concept is easy and clearly observable:  you will receive help and cooperation to the degree that you give help and cooperation.  It is taught in every religion and family in the world.

So for all her life my daughter has heard at home, in church, at school, “it is important to keep your exchange in with the people around you.”  And honestly in most cases she is very good about doing just that but not always.  Sometimes she just wants to “relax” or “do her own thing” instead of cleaning or helping me out with a particular something.  It is a common problem between teens and parents.  Some teens are better than others and not all teens have had the advantages other teens have, but in one fashion or another I have heard this problem come up in my counseling sessions both from the parents and from the teens themselves.  Frustration abounds.

One thing became abundantly clear to me when my daughter asked me, “How can I possibly be in exchange with a person who carried me for nine months, cared for me, gave me everything and has helped me my whole life?”  When she asked, I was at first surprised and then discovered that I was no longer confused about any of her unexplainable behaviors.  It was a completely fair and honest question.

My mind raced to all the things my parents and grandparents taught me and to the teachings of a dear friend of mine: 

“Continually in this society, you’ll find a sixteen-, seventeen-, eighteen-year-old kid is in a high state of revolt. ‘Papa, Mama – they’re no good anymore; they’re old-fashioned. They can’t understand. They wouldn’t be able to understand a woman of the world.’ Or a man of the world, as the case may be. ‘They don’t have a person’s best interests…’

“All the kid is trying to do there in his teens is simply break this ‘You’re helping me, you’re helping me, you’re helping me. I’ve got to do something about it because I’m getting owned, owned, owned. And I don’t own myself anymore. And I’m getting worried about it, so I’ve got to protest, and I’ll find anything to protest against.’ And the kid at that stage will have the doggonedest things wrong with his parents. Oh, he has just terrific numbers of things. The parents have done this and done that and done this and done that to him. And actually, what he can’t face is the fact that his mother fed him every day.” – L. Ron Hubbard,  from Route to Infinity, Lecture #6 May 21, 1952

All these things went racing through my head and so I wanted to answer her as simply as I could since honestly, I have felt exactly like that myself!  Yes, even adult children find themselves at one point or another asking that question regarding their parents.  It would be so easy to become overwhelmed and just say it is impossible and then start to become critical of their parents.

With little children it seems easier and clearer than with babies and teens and adults for some reason.  You tell them, “I will buy you this toy if you clean your room every night before bed.”  Simple. “I will give you a dollar if you clean up the living room.”  It’s very clear-cut.

But parents seldom tell their infant daughter or son what their exchange with the family is.  Now that must sound crazy to you right?  But a lot of times when a parent brings a inconsolable baby to me in desperation, telling me the doctor could find nothing wrong; no gas, no physical maladies, no observable physical discomfort, the first thing I do is ask them if they told the infant that they want him/her and totally intend to keep him/her.

The second thing I do is find out if they told the baby what their job is in the family.  And when I tell the child, “Your job right now, until you are older is to grow this body very healthy and strong, to sleep and eat well and to get as many smiles as you can from others,” I swear, every time I do this they stop crying and either become very calm or smile!  To which others around them smile and I tell them, “See, you are winning already!”

OK – so that is for babies and young children. What then is the answer to my daughter’s question? I simply told her what is true for me:

“At this age and through your adult life a good exchange for me would be:  be self-sufficient as you can be.  Get yourself up on time in the morning; help us get out of the house on time. Get a good education, be interested in your studies, do good work and help your teachers gear your education to your purpose in life so you will be happy in your education and your future work.  Start earning things that you want for yourself to take some of the burden off of me.  Be vigilant in your relationships with your friends so that you and they are kept safe and healthy but can still have a good time. Help out at home as much as you can.  If you see I have work responsibilities that are taking a lot of time, pitch in and help more.  

“But first and foremost, stay in good communication.  Eighteen years old is the time when we move from being a child into becoming a friend to our parents if we want that.  I would like for you to be a friend so that when we are together we can laugh and have fun and exchange ideas and ideologies. Live a happy and successful life and be willing to allow me to share it with you by staying in communication with me.

“Then as I grow older, it might be a nice exchange for you to help me out as you can, if you can. And if not in any other way, then call me and come to visit with me.”

After I said this my daughter actually let out a sigh as if she had been holding her breath forever. I am not saying that if you tell your teenager what you expect as an exchange it will then suddenly all go smoothly for you, but it might.  I do recognize that in their struggle for independence that mistakes are made and conflicting expectations result in secrets that need to be dealt with. They must be dealt with and confronted.

I am saying though that in order to do a job well done and to not make mistakes, the boundaries and expectations must be known and understood.

Let’s be honest here – a fair exchange for a child (regardless of age) to a parent is not always an immediate thing.  Sometimes it takes time, even years for the opportunity to come up.  On one visit to my parent’s house, my mother was sick; an unusual thing for her even at 83 years of age.  She was upset for me that I was assisting her and helping her to get cleaned up.  All that ran through my mind was how many times she cleaned up after me when I was a baby and when I was sick.  How many times had she given me a hand up as an adult when I ran into some difficulty?  To me this was not an obligation.  “Are you kidding Mommy?  This is nothing.  I love you; this is love.”  And that is exchange.

I hope that this article helps you and gives you a guide of what to tell your children about their exchange to you as parents.  Exchange is a very important part of surviving well.  Let’s help them understand it well.

Looking back on the past ten years of the Volunteer Ministers movement

A salute to the valiant Scientology Volunteer Ministers:

The work of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers who served at Ground Zero in the months following 9/11 served as a model and inspiration for a movement that now spans the globe.

Although the Volunteer Ministers program was first established in 1976, when the twin towers collapsed 10 years ago it marked a turning point for the movement, signaling to Scientologists around the world a greatly heightened necessity to make a positive difference in society.  There were 6,000 Volunteer Ministers in September 2001—today more than 200,000 wear the signature yellow T-shirt, reaching out in their communities and wherever disaster strikes—no matter how small—to help others improve their lives and those of their friends and family.

Over the past decade, time and again, Volunteer Ministers have acted with selfless courage in the manner described by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard: 

“A Volunteer Minister does not shut his eyes to the pain, evil and injustice of existence. Rather, he is trained to handle these things and help others achieve relief from them and new personal strength as well.” —L. Ron Hubbard

I like to help others and count it as my greatest pleasure in life to see a person free himself of the shadows which darken his days.

These shadows look so thick to him and weigh him down so that when he finds they are shadows and that he can see through them, walk through them and be again in the sun, he is enormously delighted. And I am afraid I am just as delighted as he is.

L. Ron Hubbard, from the book Scientology: A New Slant on Life

Scientology: How We Help

Source: scientology.org