“When a foreigner lives with you in your land, don’t take advantage of him. Treat the foreigner the same as a native.
Love him like one of your own.
Remember that you were once foreigners in Egypt. I am God, your God.”
– Leviticus 19:33-34 (The Message)
The team is home! We’ll post an update in the coming days, but for now, here’s a short video of #Greenisland2Calais.
Praise God the team got home safe and sound!
We’ll post more updates on their trip in the coming days but for now here’s a short video Ben put together of what the team saw and experienced when they visited the Jungle.
Due to bad weather, the team didn’t return to the Jungle this afternoon, so decided to leave early and start making their way back to Greenisland. They are currently on the ferry to Dublin and should be home around 3am!
Pray for safety in travel for these last few hours, and that God will then give them rest.
A huge thank you to everyone who has donated items and financially supported us! We have just reached our online target of £500 on Justgiving and we have a garage full of stuff to take out! Praise the Lord! It has been truly amazing and humbling to see how God has provided for this trip and moved people to action.
We are packing the van up tonight for the team to leave first thing on Friday morning, so if there are any remaining items that you want to donate, simply bring it to 30 Whitethorn, Greenisland, BT38 8FH (click for map) between 7pm & 8pm tonight.
Thank you to everyone who donated items on Wednesday night to the trip. It will all be given over to those working on site in Calais and into the hands of those who need it.
We still have space in the van, so we have two more opportunities for donations! You can drop off items this Saturday (5th):
Time: 4pm – 6pm at 30 Whitethorn, Greenisland, BT38 8FH (click for map)
You can also bring donations to either of our church services on Sunday (6th):
Time: 10am (Greenisland FC) & 4pm (Church of Ireland)
You can still support the trip financially by clicking here.
Like most, I have been incredibly moved and challenged by what is going on across the world, particularly the effect of ISIS in the middle East, and the growing numbers of people seeking to escape their homes and find a better life, often in countries like ours.
Two months ago, I was challenged by the story of Aylan Kurdi, a three year old boy who drowned with his brother and mother while trying to reach Greece. I couldn’t take it in. Maybe it was having two boys of my own, or maybe I was just at breaking point, but it was clear to me: I can’t sit back and do nothing. I wanted to do something, but didn’t have much. My friend had just given me two tickets to an Ulster game, and so I raffled them off to raise some money for the British Red Cross who were out working with refugees. (You can read about that here).
That idea that I can’t sit back and do nothing has continued with me, and as I read of the situation in Calais, I knew the opportunity was there again to do something practical. There is now estimated to be between 5000 & 6000 people in Calais, and their desires are simple: to live without fear; to find opportunities; to have hope. Is there anything different between their desires and mine?
People kept talking to me about the situation; from my pastor Jonny to my Auntie Maureen – and so I shared some of my meandering thoughts with my French friend Ben. His eyes lit up, and began planning how we could help before I’d even finished speaking!
Fast forward a couple of weeks, and we now have a big motorhome that we are filling with blankets, sleeping bags, tents and other essential items that we can deliver to Calais to help people get through the winter. If you can donate any of the following, please get in touch.
You can also support us financially by visiting our Crowdfunding page here: https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Greenisland2Calais/
We’ll be posting updates, prayer requests and other stuff on this blog and on social media using #Greenisland2Calais.
The featured image is an aerial shot of “the Jungle”, Calais. The Independent.
I hardly slept last night. One of our children was awake lots and crying, and wouldn’t go back over to sleep. Normally this would annoy me, but last night? I was just grateful I still have my kids.
As I lay awake my mind kept going back to the image of a small boy lying lifeless on a beach, like he was nothing more than driftwood. I had been moved to pray, already donated some money, signed a petition and raised some awareness online, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I could do more.
I don’t have much to give, but I bought two tickets from my friend this week for the Ulster vs. Ospreys game on Friday night. As much as I love rugby, I figure I could use them to raise some money for one of the many charities working with refugees.
The goal is to raise £100.
Go over to https://www.justgiving.com/UlsterRugbyTickets, donate whatever you can, and I’ll put you in the draw for the tickets tomorrow.
This is a video by a Norwegian charity who are seeking to gather coats together to send to children affected by the ongoing conflict in Syria.
The video affects us because it challenges us with a message that we have heard many times before: when you are confronted face to face with a need, then you are moved to meet that need. It assumes the following: that people will feel compassion when faced with such an emotive situation.
However the opposite of this is quite true as well: when we become distanced or detached from a need, then we do nothing to help it. How many people drove past, saw the boy cold, and did nothing to help? They were not in the same bus stop as the boy and though whilst giving it passing thought, were not moved to action.
As I think about this, I am challenged by how many issues and needs I give passing thought to, but become “distanced” from. Whether intentionally by refusing to take an interest in them, or even because of ignorance. On a global scale, how many social problems and humanitarian needs do I ignore or push to the back of my mind because I am not faced with them daily? I’m afraid to even think about it.
Even at a local level, I realise there must be opportunities that I miss to make a difference to the people around me because I am distanced from them. I may be ignorant of their circumstances, but at worst, at times I may not feel compassion for my fellow man. How shameful is it to look on another human being in need, another person created in the image of God, and not feel something for them? And to not be moved from compassion to action? And surely if I am seeking to follow Christ then I need to show love? To be filled with the compassion that he felt as he looked upon those in need, and then to outwork that in whatever ways are required?
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34-35)
Lord God develop in me a sense of compassion for both people that I meet, and for those who I will never meet. May I be used to show love and bring hope at all times. Amen.
(P.S. If you would like to support the work of SOS Mayday, click here.)
David J Wilson 