Mr T in the Calais JungleFiona Poulson - 14 Jun 2016

There’s a relatively new arrival in the Jungle refugee camp in Calais who is attracting many to his orbit...

This particular resident hasn’t left a war torn country, or the terror of the Taliban, or enforced conscription to a corrupt military regime. He hasn’t left family behind, or travelled for many months across land, or crossed a dangerous sea to reach the camp. Unlike the other residents, he isn’t hoping to get to the UK.

Daily, he spends around 4 hours on site. He is as happy around Eritreans, Afghans, Iranians, Syrians, Kurds, Sudanese, Pakistanis, Somalis - and they are all delighted to spend time with him.

Mr T is a 26 year old ambulance, rescued in April by The Bless Network from a rusty retirement yard. Bless transformed him into a tea van, and SOS Chai was born. Mr T now brings tea, coffee, friendship and music to around 250 people daily.

Teams of hope bringers work alongside him, some serving tea, some chatting, some playing games, others singing worship songs.

As SOS Chai’s project leader, I’ve partnered with, driven, restocked, and cleaned Mr T for the past 6 weeks. Going mobile made complete sense, after the demolition in March of the Chai Hut in the jungle where I previously worked.

Now, a vehicle that once brought medical aid to many, is spending his latter days giving emotional and spiritual aid – as well as the physical comfort of a cup of usually very sugary tea.

If you come to work with myself and Mr T, you will also come to know the beautifully subtle yet essential transition from your mind to your heart, of the term ‘refugee’. The word will be redefined for you, now referring to your new friends, with incredible smiles and stories, whose life journeys have been so different to yours.

Perhaps over a game of Connect 4 or Uno, you will get to share something of God’s love. You will most likely be thrashed at a game of chess – as one friend explained, "We’ve played the live game; this is easy for us."

Possibly when serving your 100th cup of tea, you will finally learn the Arabic for ‘sugar’. And perhaps hearing their stories, you will be humbled and amazed, and maybe your heart will break.

This phase of my life is a gift, a blessing, because the people in the camp are overwhelmingly grateful, resilient, and so precious. It isn’t all good - nobody should have to live as these fleeing ones are being forced to, whilst seeking to get to a place of refuge where family awaits and where language is familiar.

Yet there are times of outrageous goodness, and transformation. If you want to give something within this seemingly insurmountable worldwide refugee crisis, and if you are prepared to come humbly - because you will receive far more than you could ever give – perhaps you should get yourself on board.

Mr T would be delighted to have you join him.

You can apply to be part of our summer mission teams to Calais: head to our Mission Team pages.

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