Blog by Jassmehar

When we think about what makes a pilgrimage truly meaningful, it’s not just the landscape or the destination—it’s the people who walk alongside you. For the upcoming Portuguese Coastal Camino tour, we’re thrilled to have Fred and Shirley leading the way.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to develop a brand-new tour—walking alongside a leading historian through castles, cathedrals, and cobblestoned towns, uncovering the stories that will shape the journey? That’s exactly what we experienced this past summer with Kimberly Schmidt.

A line that stays with us is shared by our museum guide at the Pier 21 Museum in Halifax: “Every suitcase tells a story.” It lingers in our minds as we wander through the halls, absorbing stories of the waves of immigrants who pass through Canada’s historic seaport, including Pier 21.

“Women had this interesting place in early Anabaptism... they could move around with greater secrecy and, in some ways, greater freedom than men.” - Dr. Kimberly Schmidt, Professor Emeritus, Eastern Mennonite University