So after many delays and almost three days worth of traveling, we finally made it to Spain and began our journey on the Camino de Santiago. After a good nights rest, we will begin day three of our hike and boy is it hard! So far, we have hiked about 28 miles and my pack is waaay heavier than it should be! We probably have about 100 miles left to go and I honestly feel like I have nothing left in me to continue.
DAY 1:
As we arrived to our starting point in Pamplona and explored around, I was feeling a little discouraged. How can I communicate to a people group when I don’t even speak their language or can’t even figure out their currency! (I figured it out by the way…just took a few tries) I was feeling humbled and overwhelmed and I realized I just needed to pray and go to bed! So, my prayer was that God would allow me to meet someone on the Camino who could speak English. Someone I could connect with and have good conversation with.
As I was walking along the next morning, there was nobody in sight except for some other teams from my squad. I was ancy as I began feeling the pressure of needing to share the gospel. Not out of passion to share Jesus’s love, but rather because my “supporters were counting on me.” I continued walking and one of my squadmates came behind me talking to a man. I heard her begin to share her beliefs and share about who God is and immediately the Lord convicted my heart. This trip is not about me or my supporters. Its about God using the body as a whole! God definitely has me here for a reason, however, I am not the only one out here sharing. People will be reached with the Gospel of Christ whether God chooses to use me or not! So I continued on and prayed that if God wills I will be able to share my faith with someone too!
A little while later, about half way into our hike for the day, I met a Hungarian woman named Csilla. She spoke pretty good English and I was able to start up conversation with her about her culture, her job, hobbies, and eventually about what she believed. After walking about 6 miles with her, I was able to share a little bit about Jesus and His grace for us. Ultimately, I don’t know if what I said stuck, but I do know that God’s Word never returns void (Isaiah 55:11) and the seed was planted. I also know that having someone to listen and to walk alongside with meant the world to her as well as to me as she was an answer to prayer. Another side note of just how amazing our God is…I had already walked 7 miles before I met her. I was tired, slowing down , and truthfully struggling to keep going. When I met Csilla, she was booking it! This lady was strong and fast! I truly believe that God gave me strength for the day to keep up with her and continue pressing on. He knows our needs, He knows our desires, and through it all, He always comes through.
DAY 2:
I just finished day two! We walked another 13 miles and the blisters and neck soreness are a real struggle. Day two, I prayed that God would just really draw me nearer to Him. As I started walking, I put my headphones in and decided to just play through the book of Acts. It was early and hard to concentrate, but I figured, “No better way to draw near to God then to be in His Word.”
Eventually, my audio app stopped working and I am just done. How can I possibly do 7 more days of this! I decide to put on my music and just keep trekking to the best of my ability. As I stopped to readjust my pack, my team leader and one of my squad leaders caught up to me. They started praying that God would help me through, and during the prayer, a song quietly came on in my head phones. The song was “It is Well” by Bethel Music. I thanked them for praying with me and turned around immedietly to continue hiking on my own (mostly because I began to cry and just needed Jesus!) All my emotions surfaced and memories of amazing moments as well as future dreams with family and friends back home swarmed through my head! I so miss them and such a big part of me does and probably always will long to be with them this year.
I listened to the song on repeat reminding myself that “this mountain that’s in front of me will be thrown into the midst of the sea…so let go my soul and trust in Him! The waves and wind still know His name!” Those nostalgic and wishful thoughts immediately turned from pain to joy as I fixed my eyes on the Lord and chose to thank Him for the blessings I have in those memories and, if the Lord allows, the things to come. After talking and having that intimate moment with the Lord, every song became an encouragement to keep pushing me along. Again, through it all God was giving me some supernatural strength, despite my physical pain, to just keep moving! He was giving me comfort in beautiful thoughts of those I love, and He was giving me peace knowing that everything is going to be ok! It is well (or it will be as He renews me day by day) with my soul!
So! I have 7 more days of hiking ahead of me! Seven long, scary, and challenging days that I cannot do in my own strength!
Please be praying for renewed strength every day, pray that the Gospel will continue to be shared, and pray for good sleep and no bed bugs! (I may or may not have some in my pack, bedding, and clothes so please pray I do not!)
Also, some praises: The Gospel is being shared! I have watched so many of my teammates and squadmates reach out to people along the way. Whether it be on the road or at the alburgues we are staying at, God’s love is being shown and the Gospel of Christ is being revealed.
