A Camino that leads home: Alvin and Jean walk for Masithandane

Alvin and Jean Witten embarked on the Camino Francés, the most popular and renowned path of the Camino de Santiago, on September 3 from Saint Jean Pied de Port in France. Alvin explained to IOL that they had desired to give the walk a deeper purpose beyond the usual reasons like religion, self-discovery, or adventure. The Camino Francés is a historical route leading to Santiago and the shrine of St. James, and for the couple, this pilgrimage was combined with their desire to support a community far from Spain.

Alvin's organization, Happy Hands, knits squares and crochets blankets which they donated to Masithandane, a community care organization in Sedgefield that provides health and nutritional support to children, adolescents, adults, and older people.

Alvin, being one of twelve children, shared his personal connection to poverty and the Lord's provision, which he saw reflected in the hardships faced by today's children. On the first day of their journey, they set out before dawn from Saint Jean Pied de Port, covering 25km through the Pyrenees. They found their first stop tired but achieved a sense of accomplishment. The next morning, they left before sunrise for Zubiri, facing the challenges of the mountain on their first day.

By their fourth day, they passed through 19km of harvested fields to Puente la Reina, where cloud cover softened the sun. On one of the following days, Alvin and Jean strayed onto a forest path in the dark, but managed to find their way using the torchlight of other lost walkers. On Day 8, they chose to go beyond their intended stop in Navarrete and continued for 30km to Nájera.

On Day 9, they passed another planned stop in Santo Domingo de la Calzada, joining 64 pilgrims who pooled their efforts to prepare supper, eat, and wash up.

By Day 10, they covered 16km to Belorado, discovering a former pilgrim who offered breakfast for a donation. Day 11 was harder for Jean, as her left arch hurt past San Juan de Ortega. However, Alvin and Jean continued together, showing their unity and shared purpose. They described their destination as a unifying force among people of different faiths and cultures, each walking towards Santiago.