We thought we came to Calais to show hospitality to the refugees encamped there. Tables were turned within the hour of our arrival at the Jungle.
The camp is as wretched looking as anything I have seen. Thousands of people, mostly young men, living under wooden shells, tarps, houses made of cardboard, and in tents. Space is tight and often the cause of disputes. We arrived with a minivan full of refugees from Secours Cathololique, where there is a drop-in center. We also transported a rebuilt bicycle donated to one of the men.
Our first stop was to park near the “church” a structure put together by Orthodox Christians to honor God with few resources but skill and love. Several women were praying and they all were fasting daily from midnight until 3 PM, from meat, cheese and milk in preparation for an upcoming Marian feast. The women all wore white knit shawls and hoods covering their heads as they prayed inside. The walls were tarps attached to the carpets below. Shoes were removed before entering. The walls were adorned with posters of icons duct taped to the tarp walls. But fine linens covered the altars, pulpit. Statues were also present, though not featured. We prayed, men to the left women to the right.
As we exited, we were invited to join the men is eating from a well work wok in which a combination of beans, onions and tomatoes had been prepared. We shared from a several loaves of bread, breaking off pieces to dip and eat. Before too long the wok was wiped clean of food. Two men who were deacons in the church invited us to afternoon tea at their home in the Jungle. We arrived to see them after touring other parts of the camp.
Brother Johannes, Sheena and I entered the section of the camp where several Eritrean and Ethiopian Orthodox church members lived. We had been invited for afternoon tea. The best chairs were given to us as guests while our hosts pulled up log stumps, chair frames with no seats and large water jugs to sit on. The table was set. A pan of food (beans, corn and onions) were brought out several loaves of French bread and a larger loaf of bread as well. They poured clean water and took turns washing ours and their hands. We were called to prayer. A small piece of bread was broken from the larger loaf and one piece given to each person to eat. The longer loaves of bread were broken into larger pieces and distributed for all to take and eat from the common plate by wiping the bread through the food and by scooping the food with the bread to gather even more. We ate until the food was gone. We prayed again. Tea was poured for all of us. And as we drank together I experienced a sacred moment, an overwhelming sense of mutual respect. I felt so humbled to be shown such respect by people who in so many of our countries are treated like pariahs.
There are none so blind as they who will not see. May God forgive us for ignoring the richness of people on whom we have turned our backs.
