September 30, 2024

By the time you read these words, eleven members of Advent will be on a train from Madrid, Spain, to our starting place for the Camino de Santiago, in Tui, Spain. We will be meeting up with Laura Bluhm who has already walked for three weeks through Portugal.  From this point, forty-two Freedom Challenge participants will walk the remaining 100 kilometers to the legendary resting place of St. James, the apostle. Although this is certainly a “bucket-list” travel experience for many of us, the most important thing is that over $400,000 has been raised by this event to fund ministries that are aimed to fight human-trafficking. 

The devotions for the next two weeks will be written by our Freedom Challenge hikers. Most are based on the Psalm called the “Songs of Ascent.” These were sung by pilgrims as they headed from their hometown to Jerusalem for festivals. I thought they would be a good fit for us pilgrims walking the Camino as well as all of you disciples who are walking with the Lord.

Psalm 120  vs 5-7
Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek, that I live among the tents of Kedar! Too long have I lived
 among those who hate peace. I am for peace;  but when I speak, they are for war.

The speaker laments that she has had to live among strangers who do not honor her God and seek their own selfish ways. She is longing to go to Jerusalem where peace may be found.  All of the pilgrims with the Freedom Challenge are weary and incensed by the continued evil of human trafficking. Their steps on the Camino are prayers for peace and freedom for all. 
 
Pastor Andy

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