Camino de Santiago
(The way of Saint James)
Pastor Don, the Senior Pastor at O'Fallon First, went on spiritual renewal leave for six weeks. He chose to spend this time hiking the Camino de Santiago, a Christian pilgrimage that people have been walking for over 1000 years. There are many different Camino routes across Europe that all lead to Santiago de Compostela which legend says is the burial place of the Apostle James. Pastor Don chose to hike the Camino Frances which starts in France and is in Northern Spain. Learn more about this route HERE.
For six Sundays in January, Pastor Don will be speaking about his trip and what he learned. The videos of these messages are below. You can also see what he posted on social media during his spiritual renewal.
His journey across Spain is over, but the lessons continue. ¡Buen Camino!
For six Sundays in January, Pastor Don will be speaking about his trip and what he learned. The videos of these messages are below. You can also see what he posted on social media during his spiritual renewal.
His journey across Spain is over, but the lessons continue. ¡Buen Camino!
Day 3
Day 9
Today Pastor Don posted a video while he was walking with a reflection of the journey.
(Click on the picture or video to view)
(Click on the picture or video to view)
Day 16
So, yesterday I stopped in Vallalcazar de Serga, drinking a Cafe Leche when Elena asked if she could sit with me, "sure," I said. We've seen each other off-and-on from the start of the journey in Saint-Jean, and come to find out she's from St. Petersburg, Russia. We were having a nice chat (as much as we could with the language barrier), and I just had this urge to say hello to the people behind me (in part because they were speaking English).
"Where are you from," I asked.
"From America," she said, "the northeast, and the midwest."
"Oh really," I said. "Where in the midwest? I'm from Illinois," I said.
"Southern Illinois," he said. "You probably wouldn't know."
GUESS WHERE!
"I live in O'Fallon," he said!!
"I know EXACTLY where that is, because I happen to be the Senior Pastor at O'Fallon First UMC.
"The one across from OTHS?" He said.
"Yep!"
I was blown away!!!
Dave Johnson is recently retired from the Air Force, and he and his wife moved back to O'Fallon after serving there. He and his friend, Fran, served in the AF together. They've biked across the entire US, and now they're hiking the Camino together!
The magic of the Camino!!!
"Where are you from," I asked.
"From America," she said, "the northeast, and the midwest."
"Oh really," I said. "Where in the midwest? I'm from Illinois," I said.
"Southern Illinois," he said. "You probably wouldn't know."
GUESS WHERE!
"I live in O'Fallon," he said!!
"I know EXACTLY where that is, because I happen to be the Senior Pastor at O'Fallon First UMC.
"The one across from OTHS?" He said.
"Yep!"
I was blown away!!!
Dave Johnson is recently retired from the Air Force, and he and his wife moved back to O'Fallon after serving there. He and his friend, Fran, served in the AF together. They've biked across the entire US, and now they're hiking the Camino together!
The magic of the Camino!!!
Day 24
I've been asked about where I sleep, eat, etc. Here's a quick description of my day:
1)Get up around 5:30 or 6am.
2) Pack up (usually in the dark, because other pilgrims are still sleeping)
3) Stretch and finishing getting ready to hit the trail by 6:45 or 7am.
4) Stop for coffee and breakfast about 9 or 9:30 after getting in 5 or 6 miles (or when a town comes along). I try to always get at least 5 miles in before my first stop.
5) Hike 18 to 22 miles a day (I've had a few 24 mile days, and a couple 15 mile days).
6) Find an "Albergue" (Spanish for "hostel"), which is an inexpensive (from "reasonable donation" to 15 Euro a night) place to stay that sometimes offers a "pilgrim's meal" for 10-15 Euro, and where I can shower and do laundry. There are different kinds of hostels. "Municipal" hostels are run by volunteers (usually former pilgrims who come from all over the world and volunteer for 15 days to a month at a time); "private" hostels, owned and operated by local residents as a business. Some offer only the basics: bed and shower, others offer everything: bed, shower, dinner, breakfast.
Some towns have a couple Albergues, others have several. Some you can make reservations for, others you just show up. There have been a couple of times I've had to move on to the next town, because there was "no room at the inn."
7) Take a shower! After a long day, a nice hot shower is the best. (You don't always get the "hot" part, though).
Do my laundry, usually by hand, then air-dry, but some hostels have had washers and dryers that you can pay to use. You want to do laundry right away so the clothes have time to dry.
9) Get something to eat (finally!). If the hostel doesn't offer a meal, they may have a public kitchen you can use to fix something you buy at the "supermarcado." Or, you can buy a meal at a local bar/restaurant. They don't usually start serving dinner until 7:30 or 8pm.
10) Crash! by 9:30 or 10 to start over again tomorrow.
(Click on image to view)
1)Get up around 5:30 or 6am.
2) Pack up (usually in the dark, because other pilgrims are still sleeping)
3) Stretch and finishing getting ready to hit the trail by 6:45 or 7am.
4) Stop for coffee and breakfast about 9 or 9:30 after getting in 5 or 6 miles (or when a town comes along). I try to always get at least 5 miles in before my first stop.
5) Hike 18 to 22 miles a day (I've had a few 24 mile days, and a couple 15 mile days).
6) Find an "Albergue" (Spanish for "hostel"), which is an inexpensive (from "reasonable donation" to 15 Euro a night) place to stay that sometimes offers a "pilgrim's meal" for 10-15 Euro, and where I can shower and do laundry. There are different kinds of hostels. "Municipal" hostels are run by volunteers (usually former pilgrims who come from all over the world and volunteer for 15 days to a month at a time); "private" hostels, owned and operated by local residents as a business. Some offer only the basics: bed and shower, others offer everything: bed, shower, dinner, breakfast.
Some towns have a couple Albergues, others have several. Some you can make reservations for, others you just show up. There have been a couple of times I've had to move on to the next town, because there was "no room at the inn."
7) Take a shower! After a long day, a nice hot shower is the best. (You don't always get the "hot" part, though).
Do my laundry, usually by hand, then air-dry, but some hostels have had washers and dryers that you can pay to use. You want to do laundry right away so the clothes have time to dry.9) Get something to eat (finally!). If the hostel doesn't offer a meal, they may have a public kitchen you can use to fix something you buy at the "supermarcado." Or, you can buy a meal at a local bar/restaurant. They don't usually start serving dinner until 7:30 or 8pm.
10) Crash! by 9:30 or 10 to start over again tomorrow.
(Click on image to view)