Another Danish Volunteer Minister in Sri Lanka

This is a translation and reprinted form Dagbladet Holstebro form January 4th

He is worried how he will react, but John Boel Jr. is not in doubt -- he has to go to Sri Lanka and help the country and people who have been hit by this disaster.

By Susanne M. Jørgesnsen

The decision was made on 30 December. And yes, he has almost regretted it several times – but then again he has to go.

This morning at 6:50 AM John Boel Jr. 33 years old, took off in a plane from Karup Airport, headed for Sri Lanka. As one of three Danish Scientologists he has decided to help that country and its people who had to go through so terribly much when the tidal wave hit.

A Duty to Help

"I am if not quite but nearly terrified, but if I can do something to help I feel it is my duty to do so," says John Boel Jr.

And he believes he can help. He is a trained Scientology Volunteer Minister, trained in disaster relief. As a Volunteer Minister his primary task is not to provide first aid – he leaves that to those who know about this – but rather to help the Sri Lankans regain spiritual solace and to ensure they get the help they need.

"Scientologists are good at organizing themselves and we have actually been asked it we could help organize the emergency aide." John Boel Jr. explains.

But even if he does not expect to have to dispose of rotten corpses there are plenty of things to be aware of.

"My father backs me up 100%, but my wife and my mother are a bit worried. What about the many diseases following the wake of such a disaster, will I be affected by those? I myself worry a bit about that also," says John Boel Jr., but he has been vaccinated and equipped with various pills before his departure.

More Hair on his Chest

John Boel Jr. and his father John Boel have both trained as acupuncturists in Sri Lanka and they agreed that they had to help the poor, accommodating people of this beautiful country. They applied the idea "one pays and the other goes." Thus it was that the father paid for the plane ticket which cost 8,000 DKr while it is up to the son to help the people and the country hit by this disaster.

He will do so until 17 January when he will return home.

John Boel Jr.'s wife Corinne is due to give birth to the couple's second child on 3 February, so when he returns from the misery of Sri Lanka a joyous even will be awaiting him.

Danish Man in Sri Lanka Relief Effort

Here's a reprint (and translation) from an article that appeared in the Skive Folkeblad a couple of days ago:

The 61-year-old pensioner, Niels Østergaard, from Hjerk is on his way to Colombo in Sri Lanka to help the local government in organizing and distributing emergency aid which is pouring in from all over the world.

Here, more than a week after a tidal wave with devastating effects washed in over the coasts in a number of Southeast Asian countries, the death tool has climbed about 150,000. And with the count rising, the international community has launched a emergency aid operations on a scale unseen since the Second World War. And like so many other Danes, Niles Østergaard, is deeply affected by the horrifying pictures rolling across our TV screens of corpses wrapped up in plastic,. Thos pictures have increased the Danes' willingness to help more than ever and they have spurred initiatives and collections, small and large, all over the country. But for Niels Østergaard it is not enough to donate money.

"Sitting at home on the couch and giving money is not for me, so I have jointed a group of around 40 Scientologists from all over the world, including three from Jutland who are going to Sri Lanka to help the government organize and distribute emergency aide. The Church of Scientology International has received and invitation from the government of Sri Lanka to come and help. So when I go the chance to go, Monday, I quickly accepted."

Niels Østergaard has been a member of the Scientology religion for almost six years and has trained to become a Volunteer Minister at the Church of Scientology of Jylland in Aarhus. A Volunteer Minister is trained to help in times of crisis. Be it personal, familial, educational, governmental or during natural disasters. There are also four medical doctors on the team Niels Østergaard is going on.

It is not the first time the Church of Scientology International has sent people to disaster areas. The Volunteer Ministers have existed since the middle of the 190's and have been operating in more than 150 countries. It is, however, the first time Niels Østergaard is going.

"I am very excited to go. I look forward to applying the things I have learned. And I hope we will be allowed to assist in rebuilding the country. We must get the administrative systems working again. We must help the country to handle this themselves."

So far the plan is that Niels Østergaard will stay in Sri Lanka for two weeks, but if he feels he is really making a difference he would like to stay longer.