It's been a little while since I was last here

[joe]

Hi all, I hope you're all doing well, as you've probably noticed I havent been on the forum as much as i was a month or so ago. Reasons being I have been sorting my life out and thanks to a member on this forum i was informed of someone who needed an intern to help with their camino project in their diocese. I emailed about it and have just found out today that I have been invited to be the intern, which will start on the 1st Sept this year (just a week away!).

It's a youth work programme where I will be trying to recruit youngsters to walk the Camino and to give them the opportunity to discover a Christian faith, and also for them to experience the Camino while they're young so that it may help them in the future. The diocese wants to do this for youngsters in Britain because of the way it has been so successful for the Spanish youngsters.

This for me is an amazing opportunity as I will be working in a job which is closely related to the Camino and I get to share my stories and experiences with lots of other new people (hopefully my stories will interest them enough to want to do it themselves!)
For me working in this area is perfect, especially after just finishing my first Camino!

If you have read my previous threads you may know that I believed discovering the Camino was a sign from God as I randomly watched the movie "The Way" not knowing what it was about or what the Camino was, but after watching it I decided it was something I had to do to change my life around. Just a few weeks after watching the movie I was in St Jean and ready to take my first steps on the Camino. Just a couple of weeks of returning home I had an email from a member on this forum telling me about an opportunity to work on a Camino Project, so I looked into it and now I am going to be doing it! Could this of all happened just by sheer chance? Maybe, but I believe they are signs to help me get back on the right path and live my life the way i'm supposed to.

I will be on the Camino staying at an albergue (not entirely sure which one), but I'll be staying there for 11 days in September this year starting on the 11th. And then maybe sometime in early 2012 I may be returning to some research for a week or so, and then in June/July I will be walking the Camino leading a group of recruited youths (hopefully!), from Leon to Santiago. If I do well in my tasks then there may be a chance for me to stay on and work full time as a youth worker recruiting youths each year to walk the Camino... which sounds pretty perfect as I have been inspired so much by walking the Camino myself.

I just thought I'd share this with you guys to let you know that the Camino can open up all sorts of doors for you, I think things like this is proof that the Camino is a very powerful and spiritual pilgrimage. I now understand why it is so popular, and with Martin Sheens new film hitting cinemas in the US this fall I wouldn't be surprised to see it become even more popular (which would be a bit sad in a way if it gets too crowded, but if it keeps its magic and helps people when they return home then I guess it's a good thing)

Joe.

[unadara]

Joe
Great to hear your news!. We start our Camino on the 13th Sept so if you get any news of your destination please post as I would go out of my way to say Hello! An opportunity such as this does sound like a "godsend". Looking forward to hearing more.
Una

[Covey]

A couple of years ago I met a group from Ireland who were walking the Camino Frances. There were 5 adult supervisors and 7 youngsters who were described as difficult and who had all been in trouble with the law in one form or another. The Camino was their chance to sort themselves out whilst doing something which was physically challenging and in an environment where the youngsters would not face temptation to misbehave.

By the time they got to Leon when I met them, something must have worked because they were a nice bunch of youngsters who were soaking up the experience and seeing how people reacted with others from all over the world. Hopefully, what they learned over the weeks they were on the trail will have taught them there was another Way other than the one they had been stumbling along with a seemingly inevitable chain of consequences.

It's great to hear from you now you are back and many congratulations on grasping the opportunity.

Look up at the hills and say to yourself "I can do this" and it will be so. A few more years and we will make a Camino Grandfather of you!!

[BHinSanDiego]

Hey Joe!
Wow, what an amazing opportunity Joe! We all know the saying "The Camino Provides". It has surely provided you with a unique chance to interact and help the youth of the UK! It doesn't seem that long ago that you first came to this board with your enthusiasm and questions about the Camino, I remember thinking from everything you shared with us about yourself you were doing the right thing walking the Camino, now you get to share all you learned! Good luck in your endeavor, I know you'll do well!
Ultreya,
Barry

[Barbara Taylor]

Hi Joe. I'm an Irish woman from Dublin who is new to.the camino spirit but on a spiritual journey before I did my first leg of tge camino this month. It impacted me so.greatly I.came home and had booked flights back alone for Oct before I even noticed I'd booked them. I met myself, the real me, up in the mountains past Villafranca. I loved your post. my father did K2 in his 60's, 33 lug walks back to back in his 70's (66 miles in one go) so I think I can safely.say its in my blood to go for it solo. The camino is a gift.from God. I hope the movie 'The Way' doesn't ruin the spirit of the camino.. I am hitting Pamplona on 14 Oct. Never did it before. Dont know what to expect but I.owe God thanks for my chance to.recover from something and the camino is my journey to him. Thanks for the inspiring words. Wish me luck. Babs - Dublin

[Lipka149]

Wonderful news, joe ! I think most of us wish we could share the Camino experience with others, so your opportunity is easy to relate to !

Keep us informed as to your progress, and if you need prayer, don't be afraid to ask.

Ultreya, buddy.

[grayland]

Very happy for you Joe. I am confident it will work out as you hope.
Be sure to let us know how it goes.
Ed

[joe]

Thanks for the encouraging words everyone. Una I'll be staying at Hospital de Orbigo (30km after Leon), so if you are starting from St. Jean I dont think you'll have time to get there.

I'm sure I'll enjoy it very much, I get to talk about my travels on the camino to different people everyday so I'm happy (my family are now getting bored of me talking about it so much haha).

[Covey]

Barbara...........What will be, will be.

I doubt you will be walking solo for long because it is the way of the Camino that you will meet like minded fellow travelers who walk at a pace you are comfortable with and who make you laugh. Pilgrims are only alone if they want to be, but part of the joy of walking the Way is the people you meet and the friendships you make.

The only plan you need is how to get to Pamplona. What happens after that is in the lap of the Gods. I never know in the morning when I set off where I am going to stay that night. If I feel good and raring to go I might put in a long days walk, but if I feel not so bright I might just do 15kms, stop early and do my washing, but those decisions I make as I go along.

I often meet Pilgrims who have planned every step of their Camino, where they will stay each night, which buildings and churches they want to visit, all written down as though they were the proverbial tablets of stone. Each day on the trail is really like a blank sheet of paper, and only you will decide what gets written on it. At home all sorts of people are filling up your sheet of paper with what you must do and where you must go, but on the Camino, there is only you who will decide what you will do that day. Its called True Freedom.

[cindy]

Wow Joe, that does sound like a great opportunity. I´am so happy for you that you are finding your way, it does sound like a perfect opportuntity to touch people around you and love doing your job! I am leaving in a weeks time for my first tour of the camino and hope to find clarity and direction in my life....
I really haven´t been on the forum the last couple of months and have a bit of catching up to do...(last time i was on, i think Joe was about to start his camino) .
Una, it looks like i´ll be at least a day two behind you, as i am starting to walk the 15th(didn´t know the date before).
Now going to dive in a bit more as so many new names have come up, maybe i´ll see some of you in real life soon...:-)
I loved the film(saw it last week) just ashamed of the dutch guy(please don´t think all dutch people have pills and marihuana and stuff with them on the camino)hahaha

by the way: what does the word´ultreya´ mean?