JOY Ministries


Until recently, Olabe was a 500 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 cultural hub - a place to be used for conferences, retreats, camps, courses, rural skills workshops, creative events and community activities. 

Olabe's location is spectacular, nestled in an untouched, rural pocket of the Basque Country's coastline, where local language, culture and traditions naturally flourish.

The farmhouse itself is in desperate need of restoration and its 20 acres of surrounding pasture, woodland and ancient forests require responsibile and sustainable management if they are to thrive. 

Joseba and Joanna are driven by a Christian 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 6 year old daughter Nahia), lived in a yurt and welcomed more than 600 people from over 25 different countries! Olabe is already proving itself to be a magnet for many different people, and is a wonderful platform for connecting with people. 

Olabe is also helping people to re-address an imbalance prevelant 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. 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.

Eskerrik asko ta ikusi arte. 
("thank you and until we see you" in Basque)

Joseba & Joanna Attard (Olabe )
Rick Walker (Joy Ministries)