Warning!! The Real Deal!

Be warned! “The Way” is not for the faint of heart. If improperly trained (and maybe if trained) you may experience: sore, tired, and blistered feet; tendons, muscles and ligaments that are stretched to the limits; dehydration; nausea; diarrhea; lack of hunger; excessive hunger… 

 

But those things are all physical. Trained or not trained, you can experience even more!  God is moving all the time… are you willing to take the time to stop, hear people’s stories, make a tiny impact, or be impacted by the kindness and generosity of others? Are you willing to pray for your day, pray for the people you see, sights and places you pass, for your future, for the world?

 

Let me share some praises from days so far! 

 

Day 1 (Porto to Labruge: Literal way) 20+ km

We left the hostel 15-20 minutes later than we wanted. We began praying about the day and for God to put people in our path… within 5 minutes- FIVE MINUTES a guy stopped us in our tracks and asked us if we were going to Santiago. We chatted.. we prayed for him and him for us… and with tears in his eyes we parted ways.

 

Later in the day we stopped at a bathroom. The lady didn’t know much English but we tried to communicate. We ended up praying for her.

 

Met some pilgrims along the way (“E”, “C”, “B”).  We walked with “E” for quite a bit…got lost together. Was intervened by a guy driving on the opposite side of the road who told us we missed the road we were supposed to take. If we kept walking the way we were we’d being going way out of our way. Praise God for interventions!!

 

Roomed at a hostel with friends from the squad and pitched in for a dinner less than a Euro.

 

Went to a pharmacy and got a knee brace and blister care. Talked with the pharmacist there about the Camino (he’s done it 5 times). Encouraged us to take our time, not to rush it, and enjoy the walk. Explained to him our “journey” of the past 10 months.

 

What God Had Me Work Through Today:

Frustration– when it took us over an hour and a half to get out of Porto. 

Pain– of blistered feet and a throbbing knee. 

Fullness– I forced myself to eat even though I wasn’t hungry but knew I needed fuel

 

Day 2 (Labruge to Estela) 24km

Shipped bags ahead and only carried a day pack

 

Walked with “E, C, and B” for a bit.  Shared the gospel with “B” and had some challenging conversations.

 

Stopped at a cafe who let us use their bathroom and filled our water bottles. 

 

Ate lunch at a cute park and did blister care. 

 

Met a guy sitting on a bench with his head down. When he saw us walking by, his head popped up real fast. He was eager to talk. We prayed for him- I talked about health over his body and then he brought up a daughter he loss in 2006 to cancer. 

 

Stayed at a campground in a little trailer. (I LOVEEEEE camping!) 

 

Quiet and restful night!

 

What God Had Me Work Through Today:

Sickness and pain– woke up sick  (nausea, gut issues) and a sore knee and blistered feet. It’s ok to take medications sometimes.

 

Day 3 (Estela to Castelo do Neiva) 21.5km

Shipped bags ahead again! 

 

We found a Saturday’s farmer market and bought fresh fruit and bread!

 

Met up with Joseph, Will, and John (and later Maci) and walked with them a bit, had some laughs, and shared what God’s been doing 

 

Hair dresser shop let us use her bathroom

 

The views!!

 

Walked in the forest/woods today by a river.

 

A yummy and nutritious meal of rice and veggies!

 

What God Had Me Work Through Today:

Asking for help– aka asking to stop to take breaks for myself because I didn’t feel well

Salt– I don’t like to use a lot at home because of the health issues in our family, but I realized the low salt intake has probably been part of the reason for some of the nausea

 

 

Day 4 (Estela to Castelo do Neiva to  Vila Nova de Anha) 8.5km

 The first morning since day 1 that I’ve been hungry at breakfast! 

 

Energized!

 

Talked to an Italian guy at the hostel about our trip. He shut down real fast every time we mentioned God, but seemed excited to talk. 

 

Felt good to carry the full pack today- up hills and through the woods!

 

Found out we gained an extra hour of sleep!

 

Climbed up stairs to get a view. 

 

Short Kilometer day.

 

Welcomed at our hostel with mint tea and home grown fruit.

 

Met a couple on our walk earlier that stayed at a hostel with some of our group… and then they ended up at the same location as us! 

 

Made a plan for the rest of the Camino

 

What God Had Me Work Through Today:

Price-sometimes the price doesn’t matter. The hostel is beautiful and God placed us here for a purpose. 

 

 

Day 5 (Vila Nova De Anha) 0 km

Rest Day. No walking! 

 

No alarm-slept in til 7:30

 

Reading my Bible at the kitchen table and a guy in the hostel says “you must be pretty religious”. Opens a door for a slight conversation. He said he will read the Bible some day.  I tell him Romans is a good place to start. Later, Ashley gives him the book of John to read.

 

Good convos with the couple.

 

Another home cooked meal.

 

Laughter (to tears) with Ash.  Day 5 and we haven’t killed each other yet 😉

 

What God Had Me Work Through Today:

Unpreparedness– I tried repacking my bag but allllll my clothes are still damp. I have to wait until the morning… and it will be ok. 

 

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9