We received a reader's letter from Julie, a Scientology Volunteer Minister, who just returned to Haiti where she volunteered for nine days in the Scientology Disaster Response Team. Julia had left the US at a moment's notice with her kids and their friends. She writes:
I just got back from nine days in Haiti. People have asked me what it was like but truly it is so hard to put into words!
The Disaster Relief Effort in Haiti is a global activity. There are people and organizations from all over the world working side by side to save the people of Haiti--volunteers, doctors, nurses, military and religious people. It didn't matter who you were or where you came from before you got to Haiti, while in Haiti you were part of a united team.
My 18-year-old son worked as a medic. He washed the doctor's scrubs at night after working the hospital morgue during the day. My daughter and I set up a kitchen at the Volunteer Ministers camp and then set up the kitchen at the compound where a lot of doctors were living. We also did supply runs and worked at the University of Miami Hospital tent and the General Hospital in Port-au-Prince. We cared for patients and did whatever was needed to assist the doctors and nurses. So many people from so many countries helped. I would like to say thank you to a few groups and people who personally touched us.
First I would like to thank, Edith, Melissa, Mark, Liz, and David, who helped us pack and gave us a send off. We left in only a few hours after receiving a call that our help was needed.
Next I would like to give thanks to:
- The Volunteers Ministers group, sponsored by the Church of Scientology, who paid for our airfare to Haiti, our food, and other supplies. The Volunteer Ministers also covered airfare, food, and logistics for hundreds of doctors, nurses and EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians) who served and are still serving in Haiti.
- The Red Cross International, and Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormon Church) for providing food, blankets and hygiene products. Their donations of food, and supplies saved many lives.
- The Spanish Army for setting up water filtration systems that provided safe drinking water.
- The United States Army for keeping us safe in Haiti, and flying us back in the awesome military transport.
- And very personally I would like to thank the American Red Cross of Central Florida for welcoming us back to the US, and for helping tens for thousands of people get home safely.
- A big "thank you" also to John Travolta for visiting our camp and flying doctors in on his private jet. And Matt, who never offered his last name but donated $400,000 in charter flights to get doctors and nurses to Haiti.
I will never forget you! And thank you to my husband for holding down the fort and making it possible for us to go to Haiti.
Thanks and God Bless you!
Julie
