Mission in the Jungle

When we hear the phrase, “mission in the jungle” we think of C.T. Studd or David Livingstone tramping through thickets, wading through swollen rivers or avoiding being eaten by wild animals. Also, we are used to hearing about the disappearing jungle and habitats being destroyed.

Andrew and Gillian, two current students are concerned about a disappearing jungle but not of that kind. They have just returned from Calais, accompanying the refugees who are now dispersed over the whole of France and others who are left now homeless. Late last month, the French authorities began to bussing almost 6000 refugees—mostly fleeing conflict in Afghanistan, Eritrea, Ethiopia—out of Calais to other parts of France, often leaving unaccompanied children even more vulnerable than before.

Andrew and Gillian had previously done their block placement in “the Jungle” during the summer and they experienced the desperation of the people but also their hope. They were working with a French organisation, called “Bless” who had bought an old fire engine, christened “Mr T in the Jungle”. They would set up in the camp each day, serving Tea and Coffee with tables and chairs to anybody passing by. There was an area for games and playing football. Their aim was to befriend, help and ultimately pray with them and talk to them about Jesus. They had regulars who’d pass by each day and others who only came once or twice.

This time that they went, Andrew was left off the list of those with passes. He stayed one day outside the camp unable to give the help that he wanted to (it was surrounded by police vans and heavily armed security people). They next day Andrew walked casually past the guards and went into the camp. This happened for the next few days. One day a security person looked directly at Andrew—without a security lanyard—and simply looked away. This is just one miracle they saw.

The final day as they were packing up, a man passed by who looked totally drugged and disorientated. They found out that he had discharged himself from the local hospital: he had been sectioned for mental health issues. They couldn’t leave him so they found some others from his community to help him. Andrew sat down and felt led to play some Christian songs on the guitar and the man started dancing as did some others close by. The man, who was Muslim, had only danced a few times in his life and here he was dancing to music worshipping Christ.

When asked what he had learned, Andrew said “…well, trust really. Trusting in God for safety and that this is his work not ours”. These are lessons which hard to learn but are part of our personal development.