Early this morning we got our rain capes ready because rain had been forecast. We had mentally prepared ourselves for mud, damp, wet trainers… And the truth is that there was glorious sunshine all day. That’s the weather for you.
It was a 33 km stage, with many stretches along roads. We walked them in strict single file, and we enjoyed waving at the drivers and getting the lorries to honk their horns as we went by. We saw sooooo many fields of crops and some fantastic irrigation systems, which our agronomist, Jose, surely enjoyed more than anyone.
Among the games we played along the way today, one stands out: “Esta es la casa que Juan construyó” (the Spanish “This is the house that Jack built”). It’s a song Kathe learnt at nursery school, aged 3, and it kept us entertained for quite a while. There’s also a great fondness for “I spy”, driven by Jaume. Clearly, this pilgrimage brings out the best in us and takes us back to the simplicity of childhood.
Today’s stage ended in Nules, which welcomes us in an amazing sports centre, with little mattresses for everyone. Today’s siesta was a gift! After lunch and a bit of rest, we had our time of prayer in the beautiful parish church of the town.
Fr Ferran helped us reflect on our compensations, those little indulgences we allow ourselves on the excuse that we are tired and which, little by little, make us dependent: a bit of time watching a series, the Coca-Cola, keeping some time for ourselves when nobody can bother us… Here on the pilgrimage, even though we live very austerely, we can also fall into compensations: the easiest is always looking to be with the people I get on with, who make me laugh, who flatter me… Our priest encouraged us to let go of these attachments, which won’t make us happy, because our heart is only satisfied by love. And, what’s more, when we make the effort to live detached, God appears and surprises us with his generosity. We have seen it these days, when a few ice creams have fallen on us from heaven, thanks to the wonderful people who have been taking us in.
When we celebrated Holy Mass, we prayed for the intentions that keep reaching us through the website. Quite a few people are asking us for prayers; we especially prayed for a mum who was planning to abort her baby today. May God protect this child and his mother; we will offer up our pains for them. Like enclosed religious, who are not seen but hold up the world with their prayer, we will keep adding up kilometres and prayers for all the many needs the world has. Only in heaven will we know how much good we have managed to do.
After Mass, we made dinner together: meat and vegetable fajitas. How Luis and Jaime from the logistics team spoil us! Gourmet menus, little Decathlon mattresses (every day they manage to get a few more), our clothes always ready…
It’s not only the logistics team that looks after us: we also have some angels, the families. For the breakfast stop, Lucía’s mum gave us some homemade pizzas that were on another level. In the evening, Itziar brought us a superlative quantity of Santa Teresa French toast from her parents. What a treat, we couldn’t stop eating it!
Before dinner we witnessed a miracle: a few of the boys started playing football barefoot! How they still have any energy left is a mystery nobody has managed to solve.
Tomorrow, more and better! Good night, parents!