Until recently, Olabe was a 450 year old abandoned farm on the wild Basque coast. New owners Joseba and Joanna Attard have a clear vision to breathe new life into these ancient stones, converting Olabe and the surrounding land into a vibrant Basque cultural hub – a place to be used for conferences, retreats, camps, courses, rural skills workshops, glamping, creative events and community activities.
Olabe’s location is spectacular, nestled in an untouched, rural pocket of the Basque Country, where local language, culture and traditions are lovingly preserved by a friendly and hospitable community.
The farmhouse itself is in desperate need of restoration and its 20 acres of surrounding pasture, woodland and ancient forests require responsible and sustainable management if they are to thrive. Over the past few years they have been able to restore the house so to live in a quarter of the space. More work needs to be done to accommodate up to 40 people.
Joseba and Joanna are driven by faith and have a unique ability to connect with people on a very natural level. They speak English, Basque, Spanish and French. During the first year at Olabe they (and their 9 year old daughter Nahia), have been living in a yurt and have welcomed more than 600 people from over 25 different countries around the world! Olabe is proving itself to be a magnet for many different people.
There is no Basque speaking church in Basque Country. In fact, most Basque people will not set foot in a church building but they will come to a Basque home and hear about Jesus and discuss the truth in the Bible. Olabe is to be a Kingdom Outpost where people can taste, see, hear, touch and explore what it means to follow Jesus.
Olabe is helping people to re-address an imbalance prevalent in our lives and society today – a rapidly increasing dependency on technology, compared with an ever dwindling lack of knowledge and understanding of the natural world and the God who is there. We have traded the “God-given” for the “man-made” and the effects are alarming.
Please consider supporting this very unique and innovative project, and be a part of cultivating a lasting legacy in the Basque Country by contacting us.
Eskerrik asko ta ikusi arte.
(“thank you and until we see you” in Basque)
Joseba & Joanna Attard (Olabe )
Rick Walker (Joy Ministries)