Gravel...

You see, it all started with my near death experience. There were two route options today: I chose the one closest to the road in case I had to hitch hike. Well, the path alongside the road was gravel, and you all know how I feel about gravel. Therefore, I chose to just walk on the shoulder of the road to give my feet the smoothest possible terrain. It would have been fine and dandy if the car didn't try to pass the big truck, but it did. I had to jump off the road and into the side ditch. Yes I fell to the ground, but I still have all my limbs- BONUS! So after I was almost hit by a car- I moved to the gravel path. I started feeling the pain in my feet at this point. It was then the thoughts started rolling.

Over the past few weeks I have been blogging and face booking and receiving the nicest messages and comments ever. You guys really do care, and you show your care and concern with so much love. When I started explaining how badly my feet hurt with my blisters, I can't tell you how many people offered to send care packages to me. The tricky thing is finding a post office along the route that would hold it for me until I got there- not going to happen.

But honestly, from foot care products to candy to even a pair of new shoes- the offers were coming in left and right. The generosity was beyond anything I ever imagined. I can't explain how thankful I am to all of you. But it was while thinking about how kind you guys have been while walking on the gravel that made my head spin.

Rewind about 3 years ago, and picture me riding in a tro-tro in Ghana. My head was probably literally out the window because I was sweating so badly. This is when I noticed the women, with babies on their backs, in the hot sun hammering and chiseling rocks. I couldn't understand why they would sit for hours and hours doing this tedious job- what was it for? When I asked the man next to me he answered, "making stones." In other words, making GRAVEL. This had to be the WORST job ever. They had to fill a big box with chiseled away rock to get paid like 50 cents a day. Hours in the scorching heat hammering away was by far the worst thing I could imagine. Sometimes the truck came to pick it up and pay them, sometimes it didn't show up. No wonder I hate gravel so much...

Fast forward to today on the path, made of gravel, that I was walking on. I thought to myself, I CHOSE to take this trip and walk. I CHOSE to not train and get my feet ready. If I want to quit, I can. If I want to buy new shoes, I can. If I need supplies, I can probably search and find them. What about those women who make gravel every day for a living. They don't really have a choice. They need to work. They need to support their families. What about the men and women in uniform who get blisters MUCH worse than I do. My brother offered his advice to me when he heard I had bad blisters- when he was in Afghanistan they used gauze and duct tape. Are you serious? That is what the people fighting for our freedom are using? Here I am with a thousand options for foot care, and they are the ones keeping us safe yet suffering much more then me.

To those who offered the packages- I appreciate the kindness and generosity more than you know. However, there are other people in this world-Ghanaians, our own men and women in uniform, and so many others that are MUCH MORE deserving then me of care packages. So I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you. I'm very appreciative, just not deserving.

It took me forever to put this into something that made sense. You see, I think about Ghana each morning. When I start off my walk, it's usually dark out. It's not really scary, just lonely. I got into the habit of going through the whole morning assembly routine from Our Lady of Holy Cross School. I recite the "Good morning Sisters, good morning teachers, good morning friends... How are you... We are fine thank you and what about you... Onto the Ghana national anthem, the Ghana pledge, the prayers, and then... THE MARCHING SONGS! I sing as many as I can remember before zoning out. Before I left on this trip, I sewed the school patch onto my backpack. I wanted to keep my students and friends from Ghana on my mind. Of course my other students, friends, and family are on my mind as well. And with the outpouring of support for me, it made me think about what is possible for the outpouring of support of others. That's why I felt unworthy of the overload of generosity from you guys.

I am still in search of my mission on this Camino. I have thoughts and ideas of course... Nothing final or complete. But especially after today, the St. Catherine's motto comes to mind. "What we keep we lose, Only what we give remains our own." I realized today how so many of you live this out... Made visible by your offering to help me. Imagine the possibilities if together we found those truly worthy of this generosity.

With that said, I made it the 20km this morning to catch a bus to Leon. I even saw Christian from Denmark at the bus station! He got off before me in a other town. When I arrived, I got off the bus and was welcomed by a McDonald's. HEAVENNNNN!!! I was thinking very highly of this city until I started walking around. I thought it was just siesta since everything was closed. I came to find out that today and tomorrow are a festival (oh joy). It turns out THAT was why everything was closed. I wandered the city for a good hour following the farmacia signs to be let down at each one. I am hoping tomorrow will have more luck. As for tonight, I am passing on the festivities. I am going to church at the convent I am staying in and going to sleep early. Tomorrow I will be on the search for an open pharmacy and a shoe store. I passed one today called Santa Claus Deportes which looked promising... And I need to find a hotel. Rules of the camino for pilgrims... One night in a hostel before they kick you out to make room for new pilgrims the following day. I'm not complaining, but rather excited to have a room to myself.

*The picture is during my walk. You can see how boring it was, the shoulder I was walking on, the gravel I was forced to walk on after almost dying, and the ditch I fell into haha. If you look closely you can see a church steeple... Also known as a light at the end of a tunnel. I knew I was almost there giving me hope that I could finish the day strong and make the 20km.

Sent from my iPad