About a week ago I got back from an incredible mission trip in the heart of Spain's Galicia, and it was incredible to see an area with such a complicated history.
One of the things we got to experience during our time there was the Camino de Santiago, a famous pilgrimage route that people from all over the world walk every year. We got to meet people from over 20 different countries as we walked part of the path, and witness firsthand the beauty of northern Spain.
The journey through the entire Camino takes travelers anywhere from 30-40 days, with many of them walking over 20 miles a day. Bright yellow arrows mark the path through towns, cities, and even the middle of the woods, with nothing in sight but trees and fellow pilgrims who greet each other with the phrase "Buen Camino."
We experienced firsthand what it's like to be one of these pilgrims as we walked to a few of the towns. I can honestly say those two days of walking gave me so much respect for the people who walk the Camino from beginning to end. Though we only walked 10 miles each day, it was enough to realize how challenging, and life-changing, of a journey it can be.
Though many people walk the Camino mostly as a physical challenge, people are a lot more open to spiritual conversations with others along the way.
Walking sticks (left photo above) are indispensable for most travelers on the Camino, as they help during particularly steep areas along the way. We purchased some of our own, and they definitely came in handy.
One of the beautiful things about the Camino is that it takes you through all kinds of landscapes. There are areas that go straight through the middle of forests, where the fresh aroma of eucalyptus leaves and the sound of birds chirping greets you.
And then there are parts with views like this one, full of scenic hills and charming Spanish fields and houses. Pictures truly can't do it justice.
After experiencing the Camino like the pilgrims and meeting many along the way, we got to spend time in a small hostel that serves as an outreach. It offers completely free services to travelers along the way (a rare thing on the Camino), and the amazing team that run this place had some incredible stories and testimonies they've witnessed.
It was so special to witness the hospitality of this place, and to be able to interact with people from literally all over the world passing by for a stamp on their Camino passport, or a cup of coffee for the way.
A photo of our team from the day we served at the Fuente del Peregrino hostel.
This is a place that I won't soon forget. If you ever find yourself on the Camino in Spain, I highly recommend stopping by. The beds fill up quite early in the day, but it makes for a lovely place to stop even if you don't end up staying the night. You can read more about their work here.
The Camino de Santiago ends in Santiago de Compostela, and we made our way to the famous plaza and cathedral near the end of our trip to see what the pilgrims experience at the end of their journey.
Honestly there's so much I could write about this trip, and perhaps I will in the near future. But I wanted to start with the Camino because it was such a unique place to visit, and one I don't want to forget.
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