Ponferrada Hospitaleras and Beyond

We are just finishing our tenth day as Hospitaleros at St. Nicolas de Flue.  It’s hard to believe we only have 5 days left here.  In reflecting back on our time here so far, here are the numbers:

• 4 Hospitaleros
• 1 amazing facility
• A range of 34 to 84 pilgrims each night; we figure a conservative estimate to be 500 Pilgrims who spent a night here so far
• 8 trips to the bread store down the street
• 8 trips to the supermarket up the street
• 3 trips to the local coffee shop for Cafe con Leche!
• We all have either 2 or 3 hours off each day, so if you figure, with those hours excluded, we work 12.5 hours a day (more on some days), the four of us have a combined total as of today of 500 hours of volunteer service.
• We have met and interacted with 500 Pilgrims
• We have answered a myriad of questions from them all
• We have listened and enjoyed a million stories from the trail from our Pilgrims
• We are amassing countless stories and moments of joy, and some of hardships,  also
• We have issued 500 stamps on Camino credentials
• We have issued at least 20 brand new credentials to Pilgrims, just starting the trail here in Ponferrada
• We have shared countless laughs with each other and become quite good at helping out with our responsibilities at St. Nicolas; we have become a great team
• And the most amazing number of them all to me is that we have welcomed Pilgrims from 37 different countries around the 🌎!

We are grateful for this opportunity and intend to continue full speed ahead for the next five days!