We’re in our month 11, Spain has arrived in all its finality. It has been a huge blessing, but filled with so many thoughts and emotions that I didn’t know where to even begin with a blog. Honestly I still don’t know, but I do have a story to tell.
The beginning of our month we stayed outside of Barcelona, some doing evangelism in the city while others did ministry for each other in our squad, loving/serving well. We are now 4 days on El Camino, which has been amazing but also very challenging. Each day we begin around 4-4.30am, and end at 10-11am. We’ve hiked 53 miles so far and tomorrow will be our halfway point. Our ministry is what we make it while on the journey. We’ve been ‘given’ ministry all year, but now as the year closes our mentors want us to go out and find it. We’ve been shown the ‘how to’, the growth, the change, now it’s time to apply all of these things well. We’ve had some amazing encounters with the people on the Camino. Everyone is on this road for a different reason, but each seeming in search of something. We have that something! So needless to say our squad has been all over conversations and ministering with these beautiful people. I love seeing how the body of Christ within us has grown and matured, pouring out because we have been GIVEN so much.
In a personal light, the Camino has been wonderful time spent with the Lord. His presence is very real on the road, all around us. Physically it is one of the hardest things I’ve done. I have absolutely loved the feel of it, seeing the beautiful countryside each day, a new town each night, and beginning again the next morning. It’s been such a tangible adventure that has sparked my creativity and my heart has grown to love it so much.
That being said, it hurts. My body has grown in pain each day, especially my hips. Today began roughly, I fell behind with 2 other squad mates who were also feeling the effects of the journey with injuries. We kept going, praying and declaring on the way, but absolutely going slower. We ended up coming down one hill and I was in so much pain that I didn’t think I could keep walking so I sat down and took my pack off. 3 other Camino hikers came up to us right after and offered to carry my pack. I said no because they had their own to carry, but two of them had a stick they placed between their shoulders to carry it. Turns out they had done this for another hiker a few days back. I could have cried I was so thankful. They ended up carrying it for a good while as we walked and talked with them. It made all the difference in my day and was an incredible blessing. I had just gotten to the point where I was mentally and physically not able to do more, and God knew so he sent help. He is good! If I’ve learned anything on the Camino it’s that it is the physical representation of our walk in life with Christ. We bleed, struggle, and don’t want to go on at times, just as he pulls us close and tells us that everything is alright. He holds us through it all. There is not a hill or valley that he won’t go with us. He teaches us, and takes us through valleys to bring us closer to him. To show us how to trust him. To strengthen and show us just how much we really can do with him on our side.
We have another half of the journey to go, and I’m excited to see what he does.
