Camino: May 28

All of us were up and out the door a bit later this morning. We didn't have as many miles to cover today, so we took advantage of a little extra sleep. After having an amazing croissant a café con leche for breakfast, we set out on our route. The weather this morning was beautiful, cool and breezy. I'm starting to think everything is a bit more beautiful when you're not used to the view...even the flowers look prettier here. 

The route today splits into two options. The alternate route is a little bit longer, but offers a shady and scenic trail. The original part is known as the "industrial zone" and features an extremely long stretch of flat, shade-less road surrounded by warehouses and industrial plants. We stopped for lunch and as it turns out, had missed the turn off for the alternate route. So as we began walking again, Alissa and Lenny decided to be adventurous and tried to find the alternate route. (After jumping a fence, they were successful!) On the other hand, Hannah, George, and I felt like following the arrows. I'll admit I regret that decision a bit. (I am also severely lacking pictures because there was nothing very picturesque, nor did I have the energy to care to take them. Haha)

Walking through the industrial zone was not physically stressful so much as mentally challenging. It got extremely hot today and I could feel the sun burning my skin. It stretched on for a while, but finally we reached a cafe and got to sit down. It felt amazing. With a few miles left to go, we were hesitant to leave the cafe in the intense sun. I cannot say how relieved (and maybe grumpy) I was when we finally found the albergue.

We all got showered (perhaps one of the days I am actually really grateful for a cold shower) and cleaned up. Gathering some of our friends from the albergue, 14 of us headed to dinner. It was such a great time eating delicious food and enjoying the scenery around us. After dinner, Hannah, Alissa, and I stopped for some ice cream in a local shop. Best decision I made today. Then we hit the grocery store to buy our lunches for tomorrow. A huge load of freshly baked bread for .55€? It's heavenly. 

When we got back, we played a few games of UNO in the common area before heading up to bed. 

Please pray:

For the team's physical ailments (blisters, soreness, sunburn, etc.)

For our friends who are hiking the Camino with us

**Yesterday I asked for prayer for Natalie. Today she ended up taking a taxi to Santiago because she could not walk further due to injury. She already has a Compastela from past Camino so she will just stay and enjoy the city until her plane leaves on Sunday. Please continue to pray for her recovery!

Camino: May 27

Today's hike was much less strenuous than yesterday, but the same mileage (about 12.4 miles). A few people set out early to beat the heat because it got up near 90 today, and a long stretch of the trail didn't have any shade. George, Alissa, and I kept out steady pace...we are aiming to keep out feet as fresh as possible for the long days on the horizon. Nonetheless, I have multiple blisters that are growing by the day, and Alissa is working on a few as well. (I will be sure to post pictures when we decide to pop them the Camino way. What a treat.) 

One of the first sights of the day was a pasture of cows, so obviously that was a great moment for me. I had to keep tradition from last year and get a picture with one.

 

Cafe stops were MUCH appreciated today because of the heat and lack of shade. We made multiple stops and are enjoying the amazing, inexpensive food and beverages. 1L of water here cost only 1€ today compared to a small bottle on the Camino Frances last year costing about 3-4€.

Upon entering Valença, Alissa and I parted ways with George a bit because we wandered a little ways off the path to explore a fortress and the old part of town. It was GORGEOUS and well worth the extra mileage.

It worked out perfectly because we met up with the rest of the team before crossing the bridge into Spain. We took a few last pictures in Portugal and then walked right into Spain (and took more pictures). We are staying in Tui, the minimum distance for peregrinos (pilgrims) to start on the Camino Portugues in order to get a Compstela.

Our devotional tonight was given by George and was about pain and the role it plays on the Camino, but perhaps in life as well. It's so impactful to learn such simple, practical, and challenging lessons while you are really encountering those things. 

Tonight we ate out at a restaurant with 3 German girls who we have formed relationships with in the past few days, Natalie, Stephanie, and Birgid. (Natalie spent much of the day hiking with George, and then Alissa and I joined them. She hiked the whole Camino Frances two years ago, and has yet to get a blister...ever.) Most places offer a "pilgrim menu" which is one of the best things ever invented. You get your choice of meat/fish, two sides, a drink, bread, coffee and dessert for 8€. So much delicious food. 

After dinner we came back to the albergue, which closes its doors for the night at 10 (we BARELY made it), and all spent time together outside while the sun set. We are very grateful to be on a different floor than our snoring friend tonight. Hopefully we can all rest well!

Tomorrow is a shorter day, only a little over 9 miles. The goal is to take our time, and we should still arrive around lunch. We will encounter many more people along the way tomorrow since many people start at this minimum distance point. 

Please pray:

Natalie had an injury on the Camino 2 years ago that she is still recovering from and has been having pain trouble the past few days

Many more opportunities with people tomorrow as some set out on their journey

Continued health for the team

Hannah has sunburn really bad, maybe sun poisoning, and so please pray for quick healing and minimum pain (it is hard to wear long layers in such heat!)

Camino: May 26

"Stupid Americans"... That was the reaction we got when people found out we were starting on this part of the Camino as our first day. Known as one of the most difficult days because of the trail terrain, we were expecting an extremely rough day. Most of us were out the door by 7:15, which allowed us to get most of our hike in before the heat started settling in. We had 20km (about 12.4 miles) ahead of us, and a gorgeous, cloudless sky. The whole group basically split into 3 smaller groups: Lenny, Jon, Lydia, and Hannah led the pack with a quick pace (they're invincible), Alissa and I carried the middle with a comfortable pace, and George, Sam, and Abel brought up the rear (they took full advantage of rest stops and enjoyed each minute of the views)! 

We were so grateful that we didn't have to climb long stretches of solid rock, but it rather came in short stretches. In some places, we were literally climbing from rock to rock, and then in the easier areas, it was flat stretches of sand and dirt. With all the hype about how difficult the trail was, I was expecting it to be much worse. I was very grateful for that because it made the day seem like it flew by! We got to the albergue around 1:30, ate lunch, showered, and settled in for the evening. I think I am also the first on the team to get a blister! ...and so it begins!! :)

A little info on albergues... Albergue, hostel, and refugio are all synonymous. Only pilgrims are allowed to stay in these places (you must show your passport as well as your pilgrim credentials). At each of these places, pilgrims pay for a bed. We stay in rooms with many other people. So far, we have stayed at the municipal albergues. These are essentially the most cost efficient (only 5€ per person) and still include showers and a sometimes a kitchen to use. There are also sometimes options for a semi-private albergue in towns which cost between 8€-12€ per person. The municipals are all different sizes depending on the town. Tonight there are about 42 of us in one big room with all bunks (shout out to the 2 big snorers on the bottom bunks). It's a great experience because you truly get to have a communal living space. Everyone respects each other's things, and it is great fun spending the evening together with the other pilgrims. 

Back to the hiking portion though... 

Before reaching the mountain, Alissa and I stopped at a cafe to get something to eat. Before leaving, she had to hit the restroom because we were told there was no place to stop until the other side of the mountain. So she went in and apparently the door handle gets stuck easily and she got stuck in the bathroom. Hearing her struggle, another lady outside the bathroom helped her open the door. She came back outside to our table and was telling me this whole story and laughing. So then I had to use the bathroom before leaving and I asked her to stand outside the door in case I got stuck as well. Sure enough, I got stuck. However despite her pushing and my pulling, we could not get the door open. A large German man, with 3 empty beer bottles on the able before 10am, came over and got the door open for me. Of course by this time the whole store, though small, was looking at me finally exiting the bathroom. Alissa and I were cracking up as we packed up our stuff and went on our way. Later on, after we had hiked the mountain, we were at another cafe stop talking to a woman from Australia. (She came with 3 friends, this is her FOURTEENTH Camino, and her first time on the Portuguese route.) We spoke about many things from American politics to crime rate, to world travel. (It is always quite interesting to hear foreigners' opinions of America in general, but today more specifically our politics. haha) As we were leaving she looks right at me and says, "Oh, are you the girl that got stuck in the toilet?" Alissa and I are again laughing, and I said, "Yes, I am the girl who was stuck in the toilet." Perfect. I'm so glad that's the mark I'll leave on this Camino. Hahaha

Tonight Lydia, Hannah, and Alissa made dinner under Abel's supervision. It was great! We don't have wifi here, which sometimes truly seems like a blessing. It's so interesting to see how some people flock to wifi when it's available (yes, I am one of them...), but how nice it is to not even have the option. We spent 9 hours at the albergue and it was a fantastic time talking, listening, and observing. 

Tomorrow we will do about the same mileage as today, with less difficult terrain. The local cafe opens at 7 for breakfast (which in Portuguese time basically means like 7:30 maybe). After that, we will stop at the market to buy our lunches to carry with us. From there, we begin the hike once again! We will also cross the bridge and enter into Spain, staying at an albergue in Tui. 

Please pray:

For sleep for our team (many of us are not getting any rest because of snoring)

Relationships beginning to form with fellow pilgrims

Leading of the Holy Spirit in each moment of the day, no matter what that looks like in each situation 

Camino: May 25

I'm so surprised how much wifi he have been hitting so far!

This morning we had breakfast near the albergue and then said goodbye to Susanne and Mark. 

After that, we toured around Porto for a few last hours before leaving. We ate lunch at an incredible restaurant on a river. Below you can see my selfie with my favorite two tourists. Haha...We're such Americans.

After lunch, we headed back to the albergue to pick up all of our gear and grab a bus to Ponte de Lima. Sam joined us at a metro stop (which was totally a God thing) and we made it to the bus with seconds to spare. 

We have arrived in Ponte de Lima! It is the oldest town in Portugal. After grocery shopping for breakfast and lunch tomorrow, we are settling in for the night. The city is beautiful, featuring a Roman bridge with views to die for. (Don't worry mom, I won't jump off any bridges this year...probably.) 

Tomorrow we start our hike on one of the most vigorous parts of the Portuguese Camino. More like a rock climb than a hike, it is sure to be a trying first day. Additionally, there are not any cafes until you reach the bottom. Mentally and physically tiring. It will be a great start!!

Thank you so much for your prayers and support. All the little things add up to a successful trip. I am so grateful!

Please pray:

Our dinner tonight with other pilgrims

Solid rest tonight

Mental toughness as the day gets long

Physical stamina for one of our most strenuous days

Additional strength to make dinner tomorrow night for our fellow pilgrims

Camino: May 24

We have arrived in the beautiful city of Porto! After getting off the plane, we got on the metro and headed for Abel's albergue. I am in awe of how far this beautiful place has come since last year. It is becoming a known haven for tired pilgrims, carefully tended to with Abel's incredible hospitality. We took short shifts taking naps while also picking up the remainder of our team from the airport. 

We also got to know Susanne and Mark, a couple who has been at the albergue for a while serving the pilgrims each day. They just bought a beautiful house along the Portuguese Camino about 14km away from here, and are so looking forward to restoring it to its original beauty. It will be an extremely convenient place for pilgrims to stop and enjoy their stay at Casa Rosa. Susanne and Mark met on the Camino, so they have much experience in what pilgrims need and search for. Susanne has done a total of 9 Caminos (not just pieces of it) and her passion for this ministry is extremely evident. I am so excited to see how God will continue to bless them as they seek to serve through their albergue. 

Abel's albergue and the Casa Rosa are known as "Donativos" because they do not charge for the stay. They provide a bed, bathroom, amazing food, and even better company. Pilgrims are free to donate what they choose in order to keep the place running and help out the pilgrims that follow them. It's such a great way to be able to bless the people who cross our path (literally). Abel said that the most important part of the Camino is love. This is so deeply rooted in Scripture, and is truly something that everyone needs. Loving other pilgrims is exactly our purpose here on the Camino.

 

Before dinner, we set out to do a little exploring in Porto. As Hannah said after we got back, there is just something about that city that you can pinpoint, but it's just so incredibly beautiful. We took the metro across town to the Trindade stop and walked across a large bridge where you can see the whole port city. ((I took over 100 pictures in less than 2 hours.)) 

We were joined by 3 other pilgrims and many of Abel's friends for dinner tonight. It was an amazing time of food and fellowship, getting to know people's stories and backgrounds. And of course the food was DELECTABLE.

Tomorrow we will venture into the city for a bit more sightseeing before catching a bus to Ponte de Lima to begin our hike the following day. 

Please pray:

We would all get lots of rest in order to be prepared for our walk

Our feet will not be too tired from walking around the city

Our minds to be focused on our purposes here, not just the beautiful city and culture that surrounds us

Sam Schwartz (missionary from Lisbon who is hiking with is) will make it into Porto safely tomorrow to meet up with us

Camino: May 23

If you missed my first two Camino posts... you can find them here and here! They'll provide a good foundation for all my updates!

I will try to post updates as frequently as possible, but wifi is never a guarantee on the Camino. In each post, I will also try to include some specific prayer requests for that day in particular. I am SO grateful for the many people who are supporting me through prayer and finances. This isn't my trip, it's God's...and the work that is being accomplished through me is because of YOU and your investment in this trip! So...THANK YOU!

Also, I know that many of you may not know the rest of my team. So just to give you a quick run down..... the Camino "veterans" include George, Lenny, Johnny, and me. The "newbies" include Hannah, Lydia, and Alissa. We will also be joined by Sam Schwartz, an encompass missionary who works out of Lisbon. I am so excited to see the dynamic that this team will have. 

I can't believe this day has finally come...we leave for the Camino!! Everything is packed (except for that one extra pair of pants I'm still trying to convince myself I'll want) and according to the scale at home, my pack is weighing in at 15lbs (truthfully a miracle). Our flight will depart, in theory, from Newark airport at 5:55pm and will arrive in Lisbon, Portugal at 6:05am (1:05am our time). We have a 3 hour layover in Lisbon before taking our 1 hour flight up to Porto in the northern part of Portugal. We will arrive in Porto at 10:05am and will go to Abel's albergue from there! The rest of the day will consist of adjusting to the time change (they are 5 hours ahead) by forcing ourselves to stay awake, and gathering the rest of the team who is flying in at a later time. 

Don't worry...I'm not taking a folding chair...they're my hiking poles!

Prayer Requests:

• Smooth check-in at airport (I know this sounds silly, but last year I almost couldn't get on the plane... oh the wonders of having 2 middle names I guess)
• Travel according to God's will (not necessarily "safe" travel, but that no matter the situation God would be glorified and we would accomplish His purposes there)
• Patience and a loving attitude (this one is mostly for me because...well, yeah)
• That we will be able to sleep on the plane in order to prep for a long day in Porto
• Open eyes and hearts to people we will meet even before arriving in Portugal

Camino: Looking Ahead

I know...more Camino stuff.
If you missed my wrap up of last year's trip, check it out here!

If you didn't already know, the Camino captured my heart last summer. It is not a vacation, but rather a big mission field full of people searching for the answers to life. My church near Messiah College, Hope Grace Brethren Church, has a committed partnership with a national Portuguese missionary whose mission is to reach the pilgrims that hike on the Camino. I went with this group last year, not fully convinced of the mission. However, when Pastor George approached me this year about going again, it didn't take much convincing for me to say yes! (I was hesitant because of finances and time commitment, but God is bigger than both!)

I understand that it is hard to picture a gorgeous hike as a missions trip, but I would not be going again so soon otherwise. There are a few changes to this year's trip, which I am so excited about! First, I will be a "leader in training" which basically means that next year I will be able to lead a team myself! It is truly something I believe in, and I cannot wait to lead other people through this unique experience. I also believe that having previous experience will allow me to better serve the pilgrims around me without always trying to soak in new experiences. 

Secondly, we will be hiking a different route to Santiago, the Portuguese route. We will start in Ponte de Lima, Portugal and hike about 95 miles to Santiago, Spain. This will test our group because we are much more familiar with the French route. It will be a fun, new adventure. 

Lastly, we have three people coming in our group that have never hiked the Camino before. I am so incredibly excited for them, as I was in those shoes last year. I can't wait to see the things they learn as they walk their own journey and meet other pilgrims.

I firmly believe that God is already preparing me, the people on my team, and all those we will encounter while on the Camino....which we leave for in 15 DAYS!! I would be so blessed if you would pray for my team as we seek to minister to the pilgrims along the Camino from May 23-June 4. 

Also, here are a few specific ways you can be praying for me now and while I am gone...

• Remaining $600 will come in before I leave
• Spiritual and physical preparation
• Open eyes to opportunities around me
• Blister-less feet
• Perseverance and quick healing for when I get blisters
• Quality conversation with other pilgrims
• Our flight home (that we would not have a delay so that I can see my "little" brother graduate from high school!!)

I will try to post an update here on my blog of my trip each day after hiking, but I cannot make guarantees as wifi is not guaranteed everywhere. Thank you so much for caring, and for following along in this journey God has placed me on. 

I am so blessed by you!!

Camino: Looking Back

Last year I took an 11 day trip to Portugal and Spain to hike 100 miles of the Camino de Santiago. I realized that I never did a full follow up of my trip so I figured now was a good time to do that...finally. I learned so many things on the Camino but I will touch on the two most influential. I tried keep my expectations to a minimum so that I wouldn't be disappointed if I didn't have a life-alterating experience. However, I was totally blown away by the experience...all the things I learned and the beautiful people I met in the hills of Spain. 

First, I learned a lot about judging other people. To give you some context, the Camino spans across many countries in Europe, with people starting their journey all along the way. However, in order to get a Compostela, the certificate of completion, a pilgrim must walk at least 100km. Sarria is the town that is at the 100km mark from Santiago, the destination. There is a large influx of pilgrims once you hit Sarria, with many pilgrims walking the minimum distance. 

((Main routes all leading to Santiago))

A large part of the Camino experience is forming relationships with people all along the way...hiking, eating, and staying at the same hostels together. My group wanted to experience that relational aspect and knew that it would be much harder to form quick relationships if we started in Sarria. So, we decided to start in a mountain top town called O'Cebreiro. This would give us enough time to hike 100 miles in 7 days and spend those days with the same groups of hikers. The day before we were to start hiking from O'Cebreiro, we took a taxi up to this tiny, beautiful town. When we got there, there was so much to take in, but there was a definite barrier between us and the other pilgrims around us. As we would come to find out, the hike up to O'Cebreiro was one of the most strenuous days on the entire Camino because of the steepness of the mountain and the intensity of the hike. Of course, we were the group of Americans that took a taxi to the top.

((O'Cebreiro is in the background))

During our first day of hiking, many other people asked where I had started and I was embarrassed to admit that it was my first day and that I had started at the top of the mountain. Many hikers were gracious with their response (many of whom had been hiking for weeks), but I could tell that there was a sense of pride in the fact that they had been hiking for much longer. It wasn't until we came to Sarria a few days later that I could fully understand those emotions myself. I hadn't anticipated how many more people would join the Camino at the minimum starting point. Not only that, but we discovered the presence of a luggage service that would carry a pilgrim's backpack from one destination to the next rest stop so that you didn't have to carry it. I developed a serious sense of pride and judgment as I would look at people who had just started that day, wearing their fancy polo and fedora, while I smelled as gross as I looked (which was pretty bad) and carried my pack every minute of the day. I was convinced that I was a much "better" pilgrim than they were, able to carry my own weight and endure more days of hiking. However God began to challenge me with this pride and judgment as I began to talk to these new pilgrims. Who was I to judge their situation or "strength" on the Camino? I wasn't any better than them, and I wasn't any worse than the people who had started in St. Jean.

I was put to the test during our longest day of hiking (19 miles) in the mid-afternoon when the blisters from previous days were really beginning to set in. The majority of my group had gone ahead to find housing in the next town, and I was lagging behind in pain. One of the beautiful things about the Camino is that you never really have a choice to do anything except keep walking...so that's what I did. Putting one foot in front of the other, I was happy that I was one step closer to my destination. I began to hear spry footsteps behind me, knowing that whoever was coming up would pass me quite quickly. As they came up beside me, we greeted each other with the regular "Buen Camino" that all pilgrims say to one another as they passed. It was a middle-aged couple hiking without backpacks and with big smiles. If I'm being honest, I was not too thrilled to talk to them at this point. I was trying to convince myself that I'd reach the next town by nightfall, and they wanted to have a full conversation. I am so glad that they continued to press conversation because the next few hours became the highlight of the Camino for me. Since they did not have any weight to carry, their pace was much faster than mine, but I had a feeling that I was supposed to talk with this couple. So, I picked up the pace and we began to hike together. As the hours passed, they asked me so many questions about Christianity, which was totally a God-thing because I did not bring it up at all. Our conversation was incredible, and it totally took my mind off of the pain that I was in. I could talk about this experience for hours, but the main point was that the moment I was able to shift my mind from judging them and being extremely prideful and self-centered was the same moment that I was able to form a relationship with people who were searching for answers to life's hard questions. It's not about me. It's not about my pain. It's not about my strength. It's about others. It's about their experiences and questions and struggles and how I can help and encourage them. Reaching our destination that day was the most glorious feeling (almost better than reaching Santiago). As we trudged up the hill (I think almost every destination was at the top of a hill), we celebrated together the accomplishment of a gruesome day of hiking. It was amazing. 

The second major lesson I learned piggy-backs on the first. It sounds so cliche, but the Camino really is a huge metaphor for life. Every day you wake up and have no choice but to go forward. (Quite literally as most pilgrim hostels kick people out mid-morning to prepare for the next round of guests that evening.) Carrying things that are excess of need adds so much weight, and frankly isn't worth it. If we live each day focused solely on ourselves, we will never meet the beautiful people God has placed in our surroundings. Additionally, we will never be able to help and care for others if we are always so concerned with our own pain and issues. The Camino is a culture of helping one another in all circumstances. The Camino is community dinners with people who don't speak the same language, its sharing band-aids for blistered feet, its continual encouragement for the long miles and days ahead, and its getting the fullest experience out of each day, knowing that the destination is not far off. 

((One of our community dinners with people: 4 countries represented at this table))

Since hiking the Camino, each day is a new adventure. It is an opportunity to meet new people and smile at them as I walk by. The Camino was not some big, spiritual revelation experience where I discovered what I was going to do for the rest of my life. In fact, it was quite the opposite. It was a time where I learned to enjoy each day, because you don't get it back and it's beautiful (even if it includes some blisters and troubles and weariness). Sure, some days you will walk through some boring, flat land. Some days you will be in the lowest of low and struggling for the next step. But those lows lead to the mountaintops, which are glorious. Each of those places are all part of the journey. They all have their place and they make life the adventure that it is.

Buen Camino, amigo.

TETELESTAI

The last words...of a book. of a letter. of a song. of a life. 

Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty." A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.     John 19:28-30

Jesus' last words: IT IS FINISHED.

I spent the first few days of this year at Passion Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. I had attended many Christian conferences (this was my eighth) and thought that I knew exactly what to expect: sit through some sessions, doze off through some sessions (let's be honest...it happens), sing songs, experience amazing worship (yes, this is different than singing), get an emotional and spiritual high, try to soak in as much as possible, do a service project, drive home (which is always longer than the drive there), experience post-conference depression and quit. Oh but wait, every time we say, "This time I'll keep my spiritual fire going even after I come home!" I wanted Passion to be different...and I'm so glad it was. 

I'm glad I didn't experience a spiritual high...the change was real. I'm glad we didn't have lots of free time...I was focused. I'm glad it was intense...I couldn't run from the truth. I'm glad I was tired...I had to choose to push through. I'm glad I heard Louie Giglio speak about "tetelestai"...I can't but Jesus can. AND HE DID.

The first word in John 19:28 is "later." We may pass this up nonchalantly but, for a moment recognize that during this "later" Jesus had been hanging on a cross, he had been watching as the soldiers gambled for his clothes and as loved ones mourned his impending death. This later, according to Giglio's teaching, came about six hours after Jesus had been placed on the cross. Six hours.

After much suffering, Jesus' last word is "tetelestai," which means "it is finished" in Greek. Louie Giglio's message on this one simple word had changed my life forever. In fact, it has changed everyone's lives forever. The main two things I want to touch on in this blog are the grammar (quick and painless, I promise) of tetelestai and the implications of it.

Grammar. It's not for everyone, but it makes this word so much stronger. Tetelestai is written in the perfect passive indicative tense. This means that the purpose of whatever the word is referring to is complete and the result of it is ongoing. It is complete and will always be complete. "It is finished" refers to the entire purpose of why Jesus came to earth. He came to seek and save the lost, and he had accomplished that. Forevermore, we have a way to God through his conquering over sin and death. In the moments that we feel that we are not worthy or we have to work in order to accomplish something...tetelestai. It is finished. We can't, but Jesus can. AND HE DID.

So what? What are the implications of this one word? Louie suggested five things that are finished because of tetelestai.

1. System: Any religious system where we try to make ourselves good enough to get to God is finished. Why? The system pointed to a Savior and He had come. He fulfilled the system...tetelestai.
2. Sin: Here's the deal... Sin doesn't make us bad, it makes us dead. By accepting Jesus as our one and only Salvation we aren't made good, we are made alive. We are alive because...tetelestai. 
3. Shame: Perhaps one of my favorite quotes from Giglio's entire message was, "If we walk around with shame, that's on us, because God already put it all on Him [Jesus]." Woah. This is perhaps the implication I struggle with most, but all the more reason to claim...tetelestai. 
4. Self: I am in the Millennial generation. Maybe you are too, maybe not. If not, you surely know someone who is. The selfish generation who can only think of themselves, right? Think again. I praise God for Giglio's hope for the Millennial generation when he says, "The power of the Gospel can change the 'me and mine' generation into the 'You and Yours generation.'" How?...tetelestai. 
5. Satan: Tricky. Why is there still sin? Why do bad things happen? ((I am not going to try to solve this huge theological argument in this blog post, but please take what I have to say with a grain of salt.)) Louie Giglio told a story of how, as a boy, he used to kill snakes with his friend at camp over the summer. In order to kill a snake, you have to cut the head off from the body, ensuring death. However, you cannot forget to bury the head because even a dead snake head will still inject poison if it is stepped on and triggered. Additionally, the most intriguing part of this story is that when you pick up the body of a dead snake, it will wrap its body around your arm, as if it were still alive. ((If you really want to freak yourself out, look it up on YouTube.)) In the same way, Satan still injects his poison into this world. He has been defeated, but that does not mean that he doesn't have a hold on the world. Is there hope? Of course...tetelestai.

"WE WON'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE FIGHT UNLESS WE KNOW WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN FINISHED ON OUR BEHALF."

Tetelestai impacted me so heavily. I couldn't stop thinking about it in the days and weeks and months that passed. Each day, not exaggerating, I found myself clinging to tetelestai in nitty gritty LIFE. I had to do something about it. It was becoming a part of me not because I am extra-spiritual or better than anyone else, but because I needed the truth of tetelestai each and every day.

I realize that my reaction and actions taken may not be yours, and you may not even agree with them. That's ok. A few months after hearing about tetelestai at Passion, I decided to get it tattooed on my arm. A claim of truth that I see all the time. I didn't want to flash it across social media because I didn't get the tattoo for other people to look at. I got it as a permanent and constant reminder to myself of how I need to be living.

This blog has taken me a while to write because it's so utterly personal. However, I think the concept of tetelestai is too great to be kept secret. 
IT IS FINISHED...and that is where we begin.

Slaves of the Super Bowl

Today is the long anticipated Super Bowl. The day where over 100 million people will sit down on their couches for a few hours to watch men tackle each other for a title. A day where far too many justified calories are consumed by people in honor of this football holiday. Don't get me wrong: I am one of these people and I hope its a great game. Even so, I can't help but think about a specific group of people who will not enjoy today (or any other day for that matter).

Victims of sex trafficking. 

It's hard not to pause at those words and think about all the connotations they hold.
However, I think we need to take a few pauses and think about the world-wide reconciliation that is needed. The Super Bowl has been known in the past to be the single-largest day for sex trafficking. Recent studies are showing that this may not be true, but that is no reason to turn our attention off of the issue. Today, just like most other days, women and men are trapped in a cycle they cannot escape.
I won't pretend that I really know what that cycle is like, because I don't. I have, however, spent some time reading about the issue, attending a few seminars about it, hearing victim's testimonies, and watching Nefarious: Merchant of Souls documentary. One thing is clear: these enslaved people need fighters. Prayer warriors. Real-life doers.
This post isn't meant to bash the Super Bowl or the yummy food or the couch time. It also isn't meant to deeply educate about the growing issue of sex trafficking. It is meant for us to become aware of things outside our chosen visual scope and spend a few minutes, today and in the days to come, getting off our butts and onto our knees in prayer for issues like this that grieve the heart of our God.

O'Cebreiro to Triacastela

Today we left our hostel/albergue in O'Cebreiro at 7am and walked 21.5 kilometers through mountains. We stopped at three cafés before reaching our destination in Triacastela. Along the way, we met some guys from Indiana who started at the "beginning" in France. They are about 700kilometers into their journey with roughly 135 left. We met an older couple from Holland who have all the secrets on how to protect your feet. Unfortunately for us, they started foot care months ago. we passed multiple times during the day and are staying at the same albergue. Abel walked with many people today and invited a girl from Sweden to eat dinner with us. It is such a good time being able to interact with people from all over. "Buen Camino!" Is spoken often and can lead into further conversation. Almost every Peregrino (pilgrim) is super friendly and it's a totally different culture. 

I ended up walking by myself do a whole today and it was an awesome time of reflection. It's a shame that it takes traveling across the ocean to spend that time. (Note to self...do this more.)

I have been recalling most of the Spanish I took (this is a miracle), so it makes simple interactions easier. Otherwise, it's basically a game of "find the words I know in a huge mumble of a conversation and try to answer correctly".

We have some long days ahead of us. Tomorrow we will travel to Sarria, which is the minimum starting point to get a Compastela (also a further distance then we walked today). The Camino will be much more crowded after today. While finding a bed will become more of a challenge, it will also allow us more conversations to talk to people. 

I'm also loving being able to debrief with Zach. (Note: if you can ever bond with your sibling...do it). Please pray for him as he is battling allergies while we are in the mountains. Hopefully once we are out of the forest it will clear up. Until then, we bought some meds today and are praying they work! We both only have 1 or two small blisters, so we will take care of them now so the next 6 days will hopefully go well. Sore shoulders and calves are also part of the deal but we are doing great! Loving each step. 

Most of my pictures today were on my camera, but here's one of some of the mountains we climbed over today!

Sorry that these posts are so scatterbrained. We love you all! (Sorry that I can't say we can't wait to be home...yet.)

Shout out to Elyse... I wish you could come here and speak Spanish to everyone. Be my translator! Love you and miss you!

6/11

Visiting Portugal was such an incredible experience. After a day of travel, we went out for dinner with Abel, his wife, Julie (a worker at the albergue) and Julia's daughter. The restaurant was a "hole in the wall," but that meal definitely made my top ten list. It seems like those places are the best kind. We had sausage, bread, salad (just tomato and sweet onion in oil), T-bone steak, Portuguese French fries, codfish, and the cookie cake (a coffee dessert). I am proud to say I ate some codfish. I wish I could say I liked it, but it's just part of the adventure. The restaurant was right on a river and the view was gorgeous. The atmosphere in Porto is very different from Lisbon; Lisbon is a metropolitan city and Porto is a more rural, laid back place. They are both incredible in their own way. I can't wait to share pictures and stories with you all!

Sending love from Portugal! xoxo

Sorry these are short. I am writing them before I can post them...wifi is scarce!

6/12 Spain day 1

Spain Day 1

Today we took a taxi to O' Cebreiro, Spain. It seems that the times it is supposed to take us is never accurate. A four hour drive turned into a much longer one. However, we got to ride through the mountains in Spain and I won't complain about that! It is absolutely gorgeous, you feel like you're at the top of the world. We got to our private albergue this afternoon and had some time to look around this quaint town. We got our Credencials del Peregrino which are essentially pilgrims passports that you get stamped at each place you go along the way. In Santiago, the office checks to make sure you have walked the minimum distance (we are going much further than that) and then you get a Compastela (a certificate saying you completed the Camino). After a few days of a lot of walking (even though we haven't started the Camino), we still decided to hike up to the top of a mountain to a cross. It is one of the most incredible views because you can see forever on each direction. The pictures don't begin to do it justice. I met a man on the way up who only spoke Spanish, but we got to talk for a little while. His wife is not in good health, so she meets him every few days along the Camino while he walks. He graciously took photos of Zach and I. :)

If I had to pick two themes so far, they would be food and fellowship. And they almost always go together. A meal is started around 8pm and goes very late. We all have a lot of calories to work off tomorrow due to the fact that dinner was large and delicious. I had some tuna in a pasta salad (still not my favorite) followed by scrumptious ribs. For dessert I tried flan (texture didn't agree with me but I tried it!) and then had ice cream. I am enjoying getting to know the 4 other members on my team as we prep for the Camino. 

Tomorrow we begin our journey at 7am, before the heat slows us down. We are surrounded by mountains and the terrain is rough so please be praying for healthy bodies. I've been told that the first two days on the Camino are the worst, so I am trying to mentally prepare as best as possible. After the first two days, they say your bodies is used to always being in pain and it gets easier. After 3 days, the terrain will not be as strenuous on our last stretch to Santiago.

Please continue to pray for relationships and conversations to strike up among people we meet along the way. We are here to encourage Abel, encourage his staff, encourage pilgrims and LASTLY to be pilgrims ourselves. This poses a challenge when our bodies make us want to be selfish and complain. 

We really appreciate all the love we are getting! I'm sorry we haven't been able to post as often as hoped. Maybe next time I'll need to look into an international plan! Either way, know that I'm thinking about you and praying for you! 

Shout out to my mom and dad... love you tons and we can't wait to see you! Wish you were here, and thank you for all your support.