Adaptation

Church in Ages where Father David offered Mass

One of the qualities of a pilgrim that I learned from Seraphim was adaptation. We have been accustomed to walking in some hot weather without shade, but it seems that the Sahara Desert wanted to join us on our Camino.

The weather reports have indicated that a heat wave from the Sahara Desert is moving up the Iberian Peninsula. Day time temperatures this week are passing the 100 degree mark. We were at a loss for how to deal with it until we met Luis in Villarmentero. We have been stopping at smaller towns and albergues to avoid the massive crowds of pilgrims in the bigger cities.  Usually there is no priest or pilgrim Mass and so I find the local sacristans and ask for permission to say Mass. They ring the bells and people come for an unplanned Mass by a priest from Tenisi (also known as Tennessee).

Villarmentero definitely qualifies as a small town.  There are three year round residents and fifteen people who live there during pilgrim season.  When we arrived at Villarmentero we at first were very worried because the people who run the Albergue had taken the day off. Luckily they had left a sign on the door welcoming us to stay and they had left some soup and bread behind.

We dropped off our backpacks and rested for a bit until a neighbor, Luis, showed up and offered to drive us to the next town where there was a supermarket for supplies.  He also introduced me to the woman who had keys to the church.

At 6 pm I offered Mass for anyone that could hear the bells of the church. In addition to the pilgrims that were passing through, 3 ladies from town came because they heard the bells and thought there must be a fire.

After Mass, Luis and some of our group returned from town with ribs, bacon, steak and chorizo.  Luis found some firewood and started a fire. Later we celebrated what came to be known as "Meatfest Villarmentero 2012".

Makeshift Barbeque

While we were eating dinner, we explained to Luis how worried we were about the weather. He assured us that the stars are far more beautiful at night and they appreciate pilgrims who walk under their light.  He even taught us some songs we could sing as we walked.

The next section of Camino was a flat straight section without any shade or towns and so we decided to walk from Villarmentero to Terradillos de los Templarios at night. We slept a little and then left at 2am. By sunrise we had walked almost 30 kilometers. I lost count of the number of shooting stars that I saw saw last night and I had some of the best prayer time of the Camino.

30 kilometers before sunrise (Father David is far left).

So often we fear the dark of night and seek the safety of daylight.  At first it seems crazy to try to walk at night, but God has constantly shown us that he will guide our steps and that nothing is greater than his loving presence.

 

 

"There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light."  ~ Revelation 22:5

Peace and Goodness,

FD