Our year of adventure really started out with a bang. We flew out of Atlanta around 9:30 a.m. on August 7 and landed in New York around 1:15 p.m. that afternoon. We had a late flight to Madrid, so we weren’t able to check in until 6:45 p.m. Our flight was supposed to takeoff at 10:30 p.m., but it kept getting delayed due to weather. Finally at 4 a.m. on August 8, we were flying to Spain! We landed at 5 p.m. and had to sleep on the floor of the Madrid airport because we missed our bus to Pamplona due to our delay. The airport simulation we had at training camp was no joke! None of us expected that we’d experience it on our first night of the race, but thankfully we were prepared.
Upon arrival, I was having very mixed feelings about walking the Camino de Santiago again. I remembered how walking many miles every day wears on your body, so I was dreading the pain I knew I would soon be in. I was also feeling extremely insecure in my ability to build relationships with people from other countries along the way. In no way were we expected to get in anyone’s face about their faith, but I was unsure of how bold I would be when having conversations with others. If you know me personally, though, you know I have the ability to talk to a rock, so I knew any doubts I had were lies from Satan, and soon God showed me what He created me to be capable of.
On the first day of our walk on the Camino, I woke up with an extremely joyful spirit despite the reservations I mentioned above (Our God is so gracious). I was so giddy and just thanking God that He invited me onto this journey. I love pictures, so I asked a man passing by on the trail if he would please take a photo of me and my teammates Taylor and Val. He kindly did so and began asking us where we were from. He introduced himself as Andrea and we began walking with him and asking where he was from and why he was walking the Camino.
Before I knew it, I was keeping up with Andrea’s quick pace, and Val and Taylor slowed to walk with Andrea’s girlfriend (They are from Italy and were hiking the Camino for holiday). Andrea and I walked together for miles, talking about Italian food, traveling and why I was in Spain. He asked many questions about my trip, which led me to share our mission and eventually my faith. He was very curious about everything and what I believed. Not once did I hesitate and inwardly I was thanking God for speaking through me to share what Andrea seemed eager to understand. He asked about what materials I used to learn about God, so I told him about the Bible and how it is the word of God. We eventually stopped at a cafe and parted ways as he waited for his girlfriend to catch up. I walked away that day shocked at how easy and natural it was to just be with someone from a different country and culture, and for Andrea to be so receptive and not turned off when talking about something that a lot of people are uncomfortable speaking about.
That night I felt God nudge me and I knew that if I saw Andrea again I would give him my bible. The next morning I was walking with my new friend Guy from New Jersey for a few miles. We stopped in a cafe for breakfast, and sure enough as I’m sitting outside, Andrea comes walking by with my squad leader Eric! I grabbed my bible and ran up to him and told him I wanted him to have it. Andrea embraced me and I told him that John is a great chapter to start if he wasn’t sure where to begin. I can’t explain how grateful I am that God chose me to assist Him in the pursuit of His child.
Guys, this happened in the FIRST TWO DAYS! You can only imagine how the rest of our time on the Camino went! We all made so many new friends and have built relationships that will last past the Camino. Although we were all suffering physically, we were refreshed emotionally and spiritually. This time in Spain has truly been healing for all of us.
I have seen Andrea a few times since those first few days and we have connected on social media so that we can stay in touch after the Camino. God invited me into Andrea’s story and I am SO excited to continue being a part of it! Pray for all of the people we have had the honor of journeying with and serving these past nine days and that they may come to live in the freedom that can only be found in Jesus Christ.
We head to Mijas tomorrow for a few days of rest and cultural training for North Africa. We will head to North Africa for ministry on August 22 and will be there until the beginning of October! Thank you all for your unending support and prayers. How special I feel to be a part of this journey with you!
Some people have brought it to my attention that they thought I was unreachable, but I still have access to WiFi most everywhere! You can reach me on WhatsApp (preferred), iMessage, Facebook Messenger, FaceTime, Instagram (@ahasenmu) and email at [email protected].
What I’m currently reading:
A Lineage of Grace series shares the stories of the five unlikely women who changed eternity. Tamar, betrayed by the men who controlled her future, she fought for her right to believe in a loving God. Rahab, a woman with a past to whom God gave a future. Ruth, who gave up everything, expecting nothing, and God honored her. Bathsheba, her beauty stirred the passion of a king, her pain moved the heart of God. Mary, all eternity had been waiting for this moment and she responded in simple obedience to God’s call. Each was faced with extraordinary -even scandalous- challenges, each took great personal risk to fulfill her calling, and each was destined to play a key role in the lineage of Jesus Christ.
What I’m listening to:
