I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” Our feet are standing inside your gates, Jerusalem.

This psalm was written for the pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem. They were making an obligatory trip to celebrate the High Holy Days in the presence of the Lord.  These words also describe how I felt when I heard that the Freedom Challenge this year was a pilgrimage on El Camino de Santiago (The way of St. James). I rejoiced! This is a pilgrimage I have had on my heart for several years. The opportunity to make this pilgrimage as my first Freedom Challenge seemed like divine timing. 

For thousands of years, pilgrims have made the journey to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela via various routes through France, Spain, or Portugal. Historically, one undertook this pilgrimage to prove oneself worthy of entering the gates of Heaven. In modern times, though, this is a journey most take for personal reasons, be it a bucket list, a fitness challenge, or the perfect Instagram post. 

Our pilgrimage though, with the Freedom Challenge, definitely has a higher purpose. We walk not to guarantee our place in Heaven; we know that Jesus has already guaranteed that spot for eternity. We walk for those who can’t. We walk for those held against their will and trapped in the heartbreaking cycle of human trafficking. While we walk, we will speak on their behalf, raise awareness, and pray for their freedom.