“The Camino Provides” , so the saying goes from those who have walked the Camino de Santiago. For those of us who have walked along the road to the “Field of Stars” we know the delightful implications of the aphorism. Much like The Rolling Stones song, along the Way of St. James you might not get everything you want, but you will get what you need.

For many pilgrims this can take a very tangible shape:

• You can’t find an ATM . You are out of money & its lunchtime. A fellow pilgrim picks up the check for your lunch. Even more serendipitous, your lunch in comp’d by the staff.
• You stop for a break—and a cafe con leche. Checking your feet, you realize you’re developing a hotspot and you discover you are out of blister pads. A pilgrim at the next table shares their’s.
• You try checking into the last albergue in town, which is full—just like all the others. Instead of you having to walk another 12km, the hospitalero calls his brother, who lives in town. The brother lets you stay in his guest room. For free. With dinner & breakfast. Beyond that, you have a fantastic time.

The Camino provides each and every day for pilgrims, regardless of their national origin, age, or socio-economic status.

Right now, the Camino should provide for everyone involved and not solely the pilgrim. I wrote recently about some folks along the Caminos de Santiago that operate on a non-profit or donation basis. You can find that post here.

As Spain continues to slowly come out of her COVID-19 lockdown, the Camino is waking up, again. For many this is welcome news. For numerous albergues, they will need assistance to be ready to welcome pilgrims once the Camino opens in July. We can provide in a tangible way for those who provide for so many. Here’s just two stories and how you can help:

• Albergue de Izarra, Camino del Norte: run by Santi Sesenya Rodriguez (of Tosantos and Brother Jose Luis fame), running this albergue is a dream come true for him. With new COVID-related regulations, Santi is having to do some more renovations to meet sanitary regulations. If you would like to help you can give through the PayPal of Peaceable Projects, a US-based 501(c)3. and designate your gift to Albergue de Izarra.
• Albergue Parochial Tosantos: Speaking of Tosantos, the hospitalero at Albergue Paroquial Tosantos has not been well, in addition to spending all their reserves replacing to the floors over the winter. I wrote of this Albergue in my last post, too. If you would like support this work, you can give directly to the work of Father Jose Antonio, priest of the local parish through the Albergue Parroquial Tosantos account. Their IBAN number is ES60 2085 4911 3103 3054 0430 (use Xoom, a PayPal company, or Currencies Direct). Also you can give through Peaceable Projects’s PayPal, too.