Thursday, April 11, 2024
This was our best morning yet. I had my doubts about this albergue yesterday, but I love it this morning. They started playing music to help people wake up, and by the time we were about out the door it was a full-on party. I need a copy of that playlist!
Betty is definitely feeling better. It was tough, but her foot was doing much better. Today we have planned a full stage.
On our way out of Nájera we met a really nice Dutchman named Stewart. To say Dutchman is to say nice. They are the warmest, nicest people I’ve met on the Camino. There isn’t one of them that isn’t kind. Stewart is blogging about his journey and wanted to write about our story, so we talked for a while, and then we stopped at a bar and he bought orange juices for everyone. I’ll post his story if I can find it :) (See below)
There was one steep climb today up to the town of Cirueña. At the top of that hill there is a shady spot where you can rest and sit on a bench. When we got up there we met Frank and Jane Steck from Minneapolis. They said they had heard about us and were happy to meet us. She took a picture with us to show her school kids back home, and he was visibly moved when he thanked me for bringing my family on the Camino. It’s cool to see how our family is inspiring people back home and on the Camino.
We got to Santo Domingo at a really great time, and we got a private room in the best albergue we’ve seen up to now. This place is huge and really nice. We soaked our feet in cold foot baths, and had a nice dinner of Cesar salads -- thanks to Alicia and Anahi.
After that, unfortunately, things went downhill. The boys were not very grateful to eat healthy salad for dinner, and that was dumb. Then Alicia started feeling homesick and frustrated. We ended up having a long talk. I think with her things boil down to the fact that we have been gone for a really long time. We left on our grand adventure on December 11th. She misses her friends. She misses school. We have had to slow our pace quite a bit because of Betty’s foot, and we aren’t really sure when we will be done with this. We haven’t even bought return tickets yet because we don’t know if it will be early May or late May or even early June before we are done.
As she talked about the challenges of the Camino, I couldn’t help thinking about what awesome preparation this journey is for her future mission. So many of the challenges she describes are the things missionaries (and parents) face every day. We wake up. We get ready for the day. We leave the apartment early. We spend the day walking around. On same days we meet a bunch of different people. Some of them are weird. On other days we hardly talk to anyone. We get to our home in the afternoon or evening and then we have to take care of dinner and get ready for the next day. And we do it over and over and over. And we just have to keep going until the end. The big difference, and the one that weighs on the kids sometimes is that if we walk faster and cover more distance each day, we get to go home sooner. For missionaries (and parents) it doesn’t matter what you do. The end will come when it comes. You just have to keep going day after day.
The conversation with Alicia and Betty was really draining, and tonight I just feel a bit off. I know we are doing amazing, but I just can’t seem to get out of this funk. Maybe I’ll feel better in the morning. I’m so grateful for the prayers and well-wishes of family and friends. They really help me to keep going on days like today.
Todd walks in the distance. But I didn't know that at the time. Todd is carrying a child. This child's name is River. I didn't know either. That came later and it went like this. There are children walking on the path. With backpacks and that is quite special. So I catch up. Todd introduces himself as Todd. Todd here and no further I think but I swallow the joke. Todd is from Utah and is a Mormon. There are five children and a Mexican woman. River is sitting on Todd. I think River is a beautiful name. It flows. Pantha Rhei. Some names flow like Eve. Others flow less, like Whitney. The Maharishi Yogi is located in Vlodrop. Because Vlodrop flows. Hence. Todd takes his children around the world. They visit Mormon churches everywhere. They call those temples, which sounds more exciting but is the same. Todd walks and River sleeps. On Todd's head. And I think of my own River, her name is Nynke, and that her head once slept on mine. Todd does it, he walks to Santiago with River. The teacher at school also allowed it. A little later they are standing next to the terrace. I buy seven orange juices and now River can go on the terrace. That's nice. And now I also have to take a picture with Todd and River. The little Mexican mother hugs me and I hug her. Friesland embraces Mexico. So that's how it should be. And all I want is a river on my head and walking on and on. And then she sleeps. With her head on mine. I'll walk. Together.
