Pilgrimage to El Camino Santiago
My dearfriends, I am asking for your help for a dream have had for quite some time now and that is to walk the Camino in Spain, The reason I want to do this is to one, get away from American and western' society's view of life and spirituality. I am looking to embrace a more universal view of life as we know it. I feel deeply that I this journey will shift my thinking in ways I never imagined before. We will be walking for 35 days in another country with like minded pilgrims. I think it will be a purging for me as well as deeply enlightening. My Daughter Amber will be traveling with me as well on this journey,
Here is a link to the documentary done recently about the Camino.
http://caminodocumentary.org/
The Caminio De Santiago is a 35 day trek across Spain and you are basically homeless for a month and stay in Alberges along the way that host pilgrams on the journey. The goal is to reach Sanitago and visit the Cathedral where the bones of St James are buried.
Spanish tourist agencies offer a credencial, or pilgrim passport, for a few euros. Pilgrims who hold these passports can then find overnight accommodations in hostels, also called refugios, along the most common routes in France and Spain. Some of these hostels are set up similarly to youth hostels and cost five to nine euros per night. But many people who live near the route also offer their homes to pilgrims asking only for donations. Some accommodations are available in monasteries along the way. Because El Camino is a pilgrimage and not a vacation, pilgrims are expected to stay only one night before continuing on their way the next morning.
Upon reaching the shrine of St. James in Santiago de Compostela, pilgrims receive the compostela, a certificate of completion. To receive the compostela, which is written entirely in Latin, a pilgrim must walk at least 100 kilometers, or cover at least 200 kilometers with a bicycle. In addition, the credencial must contain certain stamps and dates or the compostela may be refused.
On another note, I come from a family who has never had money or means to travel outside of the United States. I thank God that my children have had the opportunity to at least travel to Mexico to do missions work. However, I have never been out of the United States except for Canada. So this will be an opportunity to do so and in short be an example and a inspiration to other single mothers. I want to show them that they can do it too!!
We will be taking our cameras and documenting our journey along the way. I know this will also reignite some inspiration to continue writing my book. This will be one of the most important things I have ever done in my life and I thank you dearly for taking the time to read this and for considering a donation. It is appreciated more than you know.
While I know this is a very personal thing that I am doing, I know there are those out there who can relate and would want to donate. I also want everyone to know that I am also putting my own money into this as well. I willl be using my entire bonus from my job for this trip but it just isn't enough. So that is where you come in:) There is a whole world out there to explore and I am ready to do it!
What I need:
$2500.00
This will cover two one ways tickets $900-1500 plus expenses. If i can get 30 people to donate $50.00 then I will be set. But of course I will be happy with whatever you give:)
right now we don't really have a deadline. We are accepting donations until we leave on the 24th of April. I also have a paypal account if you would rather do that. You can email me for that information. Or if you prefer mailing, you can do that as well at Sheila Blackwell PO box 68035, Seattle, WA 98168
The date we plan on leaving is April 24th and we will return on June 5th.
I hope that makes sense. Here are some links below that give info about the journey and I would even encourage some of my Sankofa and J2M folks to try it out as well. Much love in the spirit of adventure!!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Way_of_St._James
http://www.women-on-the-road.com/pilgrimage-to-santiago.html
http://www.americanpilgrims.com/camino/camino.html
http://theway-themovie.com/ Link to the movie
