Spain was a country I have always wanted to go to and it did not disappoint. I want to share just a taste of what our time in Spain was like.
Our team arrived in Madrid on the 8th August after some long flight delays and an overnight airport stay and travelled to Pamplona to begin our Camino journey on the 10th. The El Camino is typically known as a pilgrims journey that all walks of life go on, with people often searching for answers and seeking to ‘find themselves’. People generally travel from St Jean to Santiago, taking often 6 weeks to complete the journey. We only did a small portion in comparison to this, walking from Pamplona to Burgos. With a rest day and busing forward due to some change of plans, we completed about 5 and a half days of the actual Camino.
We walked about 21-31km each day, starting between 5-6.30am and usually arriving to our days destination by 12.30-3.30pm depending on the day. We would often start in the dark and watch the sunrise, spend some quiet time with the Lord, chat with our team or other pilgrims we were walking with and stop at cute coffee shops and enjoy a crossiant to provide a little pick me up.
We stayed in albergues (hostels) each day- anything from 20 to 200 beds. We had some fantastic accommodation, especially the Donativos (one fed us in Logroño and welcomed us to attend Mass and an evening prayer in the stunning church next door- all just for a donation). After walking for the first half of the day, we would wash and rest, mend our wounds, eat and connect with our team and others in the albergue. So thankful for the opportunities staying in albergues with fellow pilgrims brought for the kingdom.
I started the first day of the Camino with enthusiasm and energy and finished it with burning feet and blisters, questioning if I was able to physically complete our portion of the Camino. It was physically exhausting and my body is not accustomed to doing that much physical activity day after day. The last 2 hours of everyday were the hardest as pain and exhaustion set in and we needed each other to spur one another on to finish strong. There was plenty of blisters, limping and tiger balm used.
The second day my knees gave way hours out from finishing the days journey and I struggled through pain to walk. It is by the grace of God that I was able to finish walking each day, He provided the strength and motivation. It was also a humbling experience to have to rely on my team/ squad for help. They were so sweet in offering their support, carrying my heavy backpack (yes I packed too much!), holding my hand, allowing me to hold onto their pack as I walked, carrying me upstairs to bed, making my bed for me and praying for me. They enabled me to continue walking and finish. I had people constantly ask if I was ok because I was limping at times and even had some Spanish bikers stop and give me some heat cream to help with my knees. The pain actually opened up dialogue with other pilgrims. The community God has put me in showered love and support upon me and it was so touching and sweet.
God also put personal reminders for me along our walk that day as I was struggling, such as flowers that I love, that reminded me of His faithfulness and kindness. He was with me through it all.
Yet through the pain of each day as we physically pushed our bodies, there was abundant beauty. Early in the morning of my second day on the Camino, God gave me the words, “Focus on the beauty, not the pain”. What we choose to focus on has a huge impact on our experiences.
Each day was filled with such beauty from stunning scenery, including rolling hills, golden fields of sunflowers, vineyards, Spanish towns, intricate and lavish churches, to deep and meaningful connections and conversations. The Camino is such a unique opportunity to meet people from all over the world going on the Camino for all different reasons. We met people from Spain, Germany, Italy, France, Hungary, Poland, Britain, USA and I even met a couple from Australia! As we journeyed with the same people day after day, it created such a special community. We walked together, conversed, shared our faith, prayed, shared meals, played cards and celebrated with each other as we finished each day.
My first day on the Camino I started waking with an Italian man and we walked and talked for hours and I was able to share what I believe and listen to what He believes. It was so encouraging to have the space as we walked to talk about faith and set the pace for the rest of the Camino. I was reminded by Papa after talking with this man that each conversation was a seed being planted and that my squad would continue to meet and converse with the same people and God would continue to plant and water the seeds in the lives He allowed us to interact with. I am purely His vessel, seeking to be obedient to His call to share the Good News, He brings about the growth, He brings about the salvation. All glory to God for all He accomplishes through us.
In addition to the conversations I had with people from around the world, I had some really impactful and deep conversations with people on my team and squad. We shared testimonies, delved into deeper topics and got to know each other in more personal ways. I am so thankful for the opportunity to walk with this group of people. We laughed, cried (mainly me in pain), ate and prayed together.
The Camino was exhausting, yet beautiful. Such a unique opportunity that I will forever remember and cherish.
We have had some rest time in beautiful Mijas, getting some training for our next country. As my team and I go forth into what the Lord has in store for us in this next leg of the journey we are praying Isaiah 61 over our time. Please keep us upholded in prayer also as we seek to share the Good News in nations that are closed and in need of Jesus.
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord ‘s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks; foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers; but you shall be called the priests of the Lord; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God; you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory you shall boast. Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy. For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. Their offspring shall be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are an offspring the Lord has blessed. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations.”
Isaiah 61:1-11 ESV
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As a challenge to those reading this I ask you to consider where is the beauty in your pain? Ask God to reveal to you where He is in your pain, whatever that looks like for you right now.
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