Hudson Mercado – Camino Reflection

El Camino de Santiago de Compostela: something I hadn’t heard about until we were told our trip had undergone a massive change. Now, something I’m very familiar with and could give a lot of information about to anyone curious enough to ask. 2 weeks, thousands of memories, even more laughs…then there was the sickness and crying, also rejoicing and worshipping. Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth; in the end, it’s something I’ll never forget.

When I first started researching El Camino, I was very intrigued. Living out of a single backpack for your entire journey, meeting people from all around the world, seeing beautiful new towns every single day…sounds like fun; and it was. El Camino is a life experience that I will never forget, as well as one that will likely cross my mind very often. But what did I truly think about it?

At the start, I was so excited to embark on this journey. I was ready to walk all day and talk to people about Jesus. That’s what I intended to do, and I feel like that’s what our Squad kept a focus on throughout the hike…ministry. We all approached this time with an open and obedient heart to do what the Lord was asking us to do. We had many encounters throughout the hike that were so life-giving. I feel like there was at least 1 per day for the group with a random stranger also walking, as well as other deeper 1 on 1 interactions between another pilgrim and 1 (or some) of our squad. I saw the Lord move through these interactions in many ways, and I saw my teammates shine the light of Jesus to everyone we encountered. It was amazing to take a step back and learn how everybody ministers differently, I enjoyed this part of El Camino a lot.

As the days passed and our bodies began to shut down on us/we started to become exhausted from hiking 15 miles a day running on a chocolate croissant, we all had to learn how to be content in every circumstance. Through these hard days the Lord really taught me to be content and accepting of my “daily bread.” I’m so used to living a comfortable life; clean clothes every day, food whenever I want, rest when I need it, etc, etc, etc. However, on El Camino, I had to sacrifice these things. I had to be content with the amount of food and rest I received. And although most days I didn’t think it was enough…I made it to the next day, and the next, and the next, every single day. God provided what I needed, and through that He taught me how to truly be content and see the millions of little miracles/blessings around me every single day.

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” – Phillipians 4:11-13

I saw the team grow closer together and catch a groove as we got further into our journey. We started to really understand not only the Camino, but also each other and our hearts/thoughts, for/about the situation. We started to really click as a team, understanding our roles individually and within the squad; it was a beautiful thing. People who had met just under a month ago, putting their pride aside to serve each other as a team and as brothers and sisters in Christ. We supported each other through the highs and lows, the sickness and health, the moments of struggle and of thriving. We became family. I’m sure I can speak for the whole squad when I say that each and every person has encouraged every other person in some way at least once. This was one of the best part of El Camino; a community, a group of friends, a team, a family.

As we reached the last day, the last 12 miles, there was lots of reflection. The countless hours of walking, weighed down by my heavy pack. The struggle and annoyance of walking in the pouring rain…all day. The times of hunger. The times of exhaustion. The times of being curled up in bed in so much pain after drinking bad water (least favorite part of El Camino). All the negatives flowed through my mind first; then came the good. The endless laughs that made the long walks feel short enough to make it through. The supportiveness of everybody around me, something I’ve never experienced before. The way the Lord spoke to me and met me on the road, the very thing I prayed about countless times throughout training camp and the start of this trip. The beauty I got to witness every day; through the landscape, the culture, the languages, and seeing how God moved through me and within me.

So what’s my opinion of El Camino? –

It’s worth it. Every late night, every bathroom I had to share with strangers, every snore that kept me up at night, every physical pain, every mental doubt, all of it. Lean into your relationship with the Lord and He will provide. Seek and you will find. Be full of wonder and curiosity. Dive head first into a new experience, and you will learn a lot about yourself (anything, not just El Camino). God is good, He sustains, He provides, and He teaches. I’m not saying you have to go on El Camino to find these things, all I’m saying is you need to take a step back and ask the Lord to open your eyes to what He’s doing, open your ears to hear His voice, and to break your heart for what breaks His; and El Camino is a great way to take that step back and rely on Jesus more than you’ve ever needed to.