**It breaks my heart that my Camino has been postponed to God willing April 2021 due to Covid. In the mean time I did a little thing... as I am supposed be in Spain walking the Camino de Santiago on Pilgrimage for my 50th coming up, but Covid had other plans, I decided to walk my 480 miles Camino in good old beautiful Southwest Virginia with the hopes of walking into Santiago de Compostela next year. The Camino de Santiago begins at the door of your SOUL.. So, just for today, I did a little thing...
Why the Camino de Santiago? Why 2020?
Several years ago, a very dear friend and mentor, set out to walk the Camino de Santiago in her late 60's. I was so inspired by her courage to walk alone on such an amazing adventure, and by her never failing faith that always was her guide; her journey was just beginning! She had been a very loyal, spiritual friend and support on my journey towards healing from my Anorexia. I had always been blessed by her belief in me, her faith in my ability to overcome my own struggles and her constant presence in my life.
When she came home from her first pilgrimage, she discovered her cancer. From that very first day, she put up a brave and heroic fight for a few years before succumbing to the evils of cancer on January 9th, 2013. Before she left this earth before her 70th birthday, she walked a second pilgrimage to complete her Camino, while she was battling the cancer that would take her life. One of the last times I was able to visit with my dear friend as she was disappearing before me, she told me that I, too, would walk the Camino. I looked straight into her tired and faithful eyes and agreed. This is not the first time a friend has made such an enormous death bed wish for me. I knew the powerful nature of the request and the defining meaning that would follow me. I decided it was time to finally fulfill her wish on my 50th birthday, October 2020.
I had hoped to begin my walk in the Grotto of Lourdes, France where I have ministered since 2001. Lourdes is the first pilgrimage spot I was called to by another dear friend that helped me fight for life in my Anorexia, who passed away from her own battle with cancer in 2000. While she was on pilgrimage to Lourdes searching for healing, she had a vision of me working with the sick and dying in the baths of Lourdes. It was then on her death bed she asked me to fulfill this vision. That wish and my first pilgrimage changed my life forever. I felt with these two amazing women asking this great journey of me, it felt appropriate to start in Lourdes hiking through the Pyrenees across Spain ending in Santiago de Compostela. Due to the times, health, and home responsibilities as a single mom, I am now going to walk the final two weeks. I will start in early October and will finish on my 50th birthday, October 23, 2020. You will find some resources, information and movies to better understand this pilgrimage, below. Buen Camino
Several years ago, a very dear friend and mentor, set out to walk the Camino de Santiago in her late 60's. I was so inspired by her courage to walk alone on such an amazing adventure, and by her never failing faith that always was her guide; her journey was just beginning! She had been a very loyal, spiritual friend and support on my journey towards healing from my Anorexia. I had always been blessed by her belief in me, her faith in my ability to overcome my own struggles and her constant presence in my life.
When she came home from her first pilgrimage, she discovered her cancer. From that very first day, she put up a brave and heroic fight for a few years before succumbing to the evils of cancer on January 9th, 2013. Before she left this earth before her 70th birthday, she walked a second pilgrimage to complete her Camino, while she was battling the cancer that would take her life. One of the last times I was able to visit with my dear friend as she was disappearing before me, she told me that I, too, would walk the Camino. I looked straight into her tired and faithful eyes and agreed. This is not the first time a friend has made such an enormous death bed wish for me. I knew the powerful nature of the request and the defining meaning that would follow me. I decided it was time to finally fulfill her wish on my 50th birthday, October 2020.
I had hoped to begin my walk in the Grotto of Lourdes, France where I have ministered since 2001. Lourdes is the first pilgrimage spot I was called to by another dear friend that helped me fight for life in my Anorexia, who passed away from her own battle with cancer in 2000. While she was on pilgrimage to Lourdes searching for healing, she had a vision of me working with the sick and dying in the baths of Lourdes. It was then on her death bed she asked me to fulfill this vision. That wish and my first pilgrimage changed my life forever. I felt with these two amazing women asking this great journey of me, it felt appropriate to start in Lourdes hiking through the Pyrenees across Spain ending in Santiago de Compostela. Due to the times, health, and home responsibilities as a single mom, I am now going to walk the final two weeks. I will start in early October and will finish on my 50th birthday, October 23, 2020. You will find some resources, information and movies to better understand this pilgrimage, below. Buen Camino
Additional Resources to Connect with Andrea & Other Pilgrims
Resources
A chance to be a part of the Camino Pilgrimage is here. I will take your prayers and intentions with me on 'the way!' My well known gift of Intercessory Prayer has been the heart of my many pilgrimages to the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes & Israel over the last two decades. Support these pilgrimages, follow along on daily blog posts and watch the journey unfold!
