España

When I last wrote I was in a small town called Cataluna just outside of Barcelona, Spain. We stayed at this 300 year old Villa turned airbnb and it was incredible. The ten days we spent there were amazing and has made Spain become one of my favorite months on the Race. 

My Squad has had a different Race than most. We’re a smaller group, but also we have spent more time together as a squad than almost all of the others, if not all. Not only have we met up to travel to the next country together each month (which means at least 2 days together), we have had 4 official debriefs (about to be 5), 2 mini/debrief, and 3 all-Squad months (Spain being the third). I believe that all of this time spent together has been key to the unity of our squad and to how we have become a family instead of a unit of several cliques. 

I will admit right now that the last two times my squad had all-Squad Month I hated it. I did not enjoy being with my whole squad at all and a lot of that came from not knowing where I fit with the squad and believing that I wasn’t actually needed. 

Things changed in that aspect in Malawi and it wasn’t just for me. You can ask most of my squad and they will tell you that there was a shift in the Squads atmosphere. I know that the time my squad spent in Malawi together was truly when I began to see them as a family and a community that I trusted and played a role in. 

Ever since Malawi when my squad has come together it has been a time I have anticipated and enjoyed. I didn’t hide myself away or dread it. Spain has been the same. I came into Spain with so much excitement and anticipation and I haven’t been disappointed. 

My squad didn’t get to stay directly in BARcelona and I will admit that I am truly grateful for that. I am grateful because it limited the amount of time we could truly be in the city and we were not scattered throughout. These past ten days have been filled with so much prayer, fun, laughter, dancing, singing. Time spent intentionally living each other and pouring into each other. We played games, we watched movies, we fasted, worshiped, studied the Bible; we spoke into each other’s dreams, listened to each other’s future plans, cooked together, cleaned together, and ultimately lived life together. 

That, living life, is what our goal is this month. We are wanting to live life with the mindset to be intentional with those around us, regardless of who they are, and to say yes to the opportunities where Ministry can happen. Cataluna and the memories it holds will be ones I will always cherish. 

 

The Rest of Spain

M Squads time at the Villa is over and we are now in an albergue in Pamplona where between 3am and 5am tomorrow morning 32 of my squad mates will start their 130 mile trek on the Camino de Santiago. Myself and another squad mate will make our way by car to Burgos, my Squad’s final destination on the Camino.

My time in Burgos is definitely going to look different than that of my squad mates, but I am excited for it one the less. I am excited to spend time interceding in prayer for them and for those hiking the Camino, reaching out to people who are hiking through Burgos, and finishing preparations for one of my squad’s final nights together. 

 

Here are some dates and information of what the rest of this month looks like for myself and my squad mates:

 

August 3rd: Start the Camino // Head to Burgos

August 12th: Finish the 130 miles and arrive in Burgos

August 14th: Depart from Burgos and head for oaks, Spain for final Debrief

August 15th – 19th: Final Debrief with our Stateside leadership in Mijas

August 20th – 21st: Travel to the States // Travel/Explore Europe

 

Till Next Time,

Kara Faber