One of today’s major highlights included, attending the pilgrim’s mass in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. At the beginning of the pilgrims' mass, the church read out a list of the number of pilgrims received in the pilgrims' office in the last 24 hours—where they traveled from and where they began their pilgrimage. Pictures cannot completely capture the stunning beauty of the altar. At the end of the mass we received an amazing surprise which was to see the famous Botafumeiro —the giant swinging incense burner weighing 53 kg that only swings during certain masses. Today it was privately sponsored by a group of pilgrims from Colorado. The experience was emotional and deeply moving for all of us.
Last day of walking the Camino. We are all happy and ready to arrive in Santiago and, after a short and peaceful stage, we finally made it. We arrived at Plaza do Obradoiro, where the incredible Cathedral of Santiago stands. As the group guide, and with this being the first of the eight times I will walk the Camino this summer, this has been a wonderful experience for me. Being able to get to know each member of the group during these ten days, share my culture with them, show them the place where I was born, and introduce them to the gastronomy of Galicia is something I will never forget. Every participant gave their all to complete the Camino, even those who faced greater difficulties or pain, and as a guide, that makes me very proud. Even though we have only known each other for ten days, the wonderful conversations, laughter, and moments we shared have made each and every one of them earn a special place in my heart. I hope that, if they ever return to Spain, we will meet again. Lastly, I would like to highlight three people: Linda Lee, Ann, and Jon, as they are the ones who organized the trip, and without them none of this would have been possible. Thank you for making my experience as a guide such a wonderful one. – Laura González, G roup Guide
In Genesis 16, we hear the story of Hagar, the slave of Sarah (wife of Abraham), after Hagar is made pregnant by Abraham. Hagar, distraught and bearing the child who will become Ishmael, flees into the desert where God comes to her and speaks to her in her distress. God tells Hagar that She will “greatly multiply [Hagar’s] offspring that they cannot be counted for multitude.” In another moment of crisis when she has been cast out into the desert (Gen 21), God and Hagar again speak and God tells Hagar Ismael will live and will be the father of a “great nation.” As few in the Bible are recorded to have done, Hagar sees and speaks directly with God. No burning bush, no pillar of cloud. Just a woman and her God. Amazed that she has seen and spoken with God Herself, Hagar calls God by Her name, El-Roi, “the one who sees me.”