Camino de Santiago

The Camino de Santiago (the ‘Way of St. James’) is an 800 km pilgrimage in Spain where hundreds of thousands come from every continent to walk each year–from the French/Spanish border to the city of Santiago de Compostela, where the apostle James’ bones are said to be buried. People of all ages and religions walk the camino–many at some sort of crossroad in their life. Most admit they are searching for truth, meaning and peace and openly share their life’s journey and hardships.

GEM workers, Wes and Sherry Koop, run a small non-profit cafe in the village of Viana right on the Camino, and provide a relaxing place where the ‘pilgrims’ are cared for physically with ice packs, foot baths, snacks and drinks, as well as spiritually with a daily ‘food for thought’ Bible reading and prayer time. They also offer free, easy-to-pack gospels of John in over 30 languages as well as provide a comfortable place to share that Jesus is ‘The Way’ with pilgrims and locals alike.