Everyone Has A Story

Paolo from Italy is going through a tough time and did not know what to do, so he is on El Camino. Taking time away to try and figure out this season. He was encouraged when I asked if I could pray for him.

Sylvie and Kevin from Canada, have children in their late 20s and their children discouraged them from coming, fearing for their safety and ability to hike. They are taking El Camino one day at a time.

I met four American women at the hostel last night. Two came together from Austin, TX (Chris and Krista) and two (Susan and Nancy) met in the Chicago airport on their way to France to begin. Susan and Nancy were dressed the same and had the same pack. That was what drew them to each other, to ask what/where they were headed. They both had booked the first two nights along El Camino at the same hostels. How amazing that the Lord has a plan for these women and amazing to hear their story of “chance” meeting! I got to spend some individual time with each woman.

Chris is an ESL teacher for middle school, she is athletic and enjoys yoga and running. She wants to travel the world and discover what she can. She has an ex-husband and there is a lot of hurt there.

Krista went on her first mission trip to Mexico City when she was 14. She loved the village so much that when her team went back to Austin, she stayed for the rest of the summer. Krista is the executive director of a non profit in Austin that helps displaced people get into housing. She has been rejected by her family most of her life, even when she stayed in Mexico City, her parents were happy to be rid of her for the summer. She carries a heavy load of pain and rejection.

Susan is a bit of a “free thinker/hippie” she says. She remembers watching a program on PBS as a child about El Camino and has always wanted to come. She made a point to tell me that she was an atheist when I told her I am a missionary. She said she can not imagine my life as a follower of Jesus but she is looking to the Milky Way for guidance, as the French El Camino follows the Milky Way.

Nancy is from Oregon. She has never hiked a day in her life and feels she has been holding the group back because of her slower pace. Nancy was 21 when she was in beauty school and they were learning about pedicures and a group from the local nursing home came in for care. She said it was the first time in her life she felt appreciated, valued and loved. She has been performing pedicures ever since. She recently finished 5 years of homeopathy training, to further help her clients. Nancy and her husband are very close but the rest of Nancy’s family has always been distant. Her mother kicked Nancy and her two siblings out of the house when they were each 14 because that was when her mother had left home. Nancy says there is no animosity but her immediate family is not close. She is immensely thankful to be walking El Camino.

               Me, Chris, Susan, Nancy and Krista

As I sat on a wall, outside of a house, out of the rain and aired my feet and shoes out for a few minutes, a group of three women and one man from the UK went by and noticed my blisters. The three women all surrounded me, like mother hens, wanting to know what socks I’m wearing, what shoes, how am I caring for them. One got out her big first aid kit and started doctoring my toes with tape and bandages. They were all a hoot and such blessings as well!

Anne and Sharon from New Zealand are long time friends that are here because El Camino “got under Sharon’s skin” five years ago when she and her husband came to Spain. Anne’s family run an organic dairy farm and Sharon’s family have a beef and sheep farm. They both now have fraternal twin granddaughters, 10 months apart – Anne’s were born today! Both of these ladies are of retirement age, Anne is about 10 years older. They are going at their own pace, enjoying all they can and easing their way into hiking.

Ava Marie and Arna from Germany, are mother and son. Arna wanted to come and hike El Camino and asked his Mom to come along. Arna is not interested in church/religion and Arna is. Tonight during the optional prayer meeting with the Sister’s of Sacred Heart, Ava Marie was saying El Camino is mirroring her life because she started this journey with her son and will be with him the first two weeks but then she needs to go back to her job as a physician in Germany and Arna will finish by himself. This is the same in his life, he is now old enough (about 25) that she needs to let him go his own way.

Ungasa (sp) from South Korea is 31 and Catholic and had been working for the diocese, working with the youth. She was feeling very lost and decided to come to El Camino to discover herself and her passion.

Minga, a 58 year old woman from Korea, became friends with Ungasa at the beginning of El Camino. She does not speak much English but she told me she has no religion. Her mother was Baptist but she has not followed. She also came to find herself on El Camino. I think she is lonely and has family wounds because before dinner, the Sister’s of Sacred Heart had us individually read a prayer in our own language. When Minga read in Korean, she was moved to tears. The prayer was about being thankful for being able to walk, our families and friends and forming community along El Camino.

Rosie, from Hungary is moving very quickly, walking 35-40 kilometers, 22-25 miles a day. She does not speak much English. I could feel that Rosie is weighed down by a heavy burden. She came to the prayer time with the Sister’s and she was crying. One of the Sister’s sat with her a while, holding her hand. As they were not able to openly communicate.

Please be praying for all of these souls – that along El Camino, they would experience God in a real and tangible way!