Day 6: Arzua to Amenal
Amenal – 23km [14 miles]
The past few days you’ve been lucky to read the lyrics of the amazing songs that Ellie created for us with her AI assistant ;) She plays them for us at dinner, and we wanted to memorialize the delight it has brought all of us!
Tonight, though, we’re treating you to a traditional trip journal by your trusty Beyond Hosts, Mary & Chandler.
Today we’ve walked from Arzúa to Amenal (roughly 23 km) with two representatives from Young Life Spain that joined our group last night at dinner. Hearing from Sarah and Cris has been a highlight of our trip. Tonight at dinner we talked about how meaningful it has been to make this pilgrimage together instead of alone. There’s something powerful about walking beside one another day after day — sharing snacks, stories, sore feet, laughter, prayers, and encouragement when the miles start to feel long. The Camino is certainly possible alone, but it’s easier, richer, and far more joyful when experienced in community.
And we were reminded tonight that the same is true of life and faith. Following Jesus was never meant to be a solo journey. We need people walking beside us; encouraging us, challenging us, reminding us of truth, and helping carry burdens when the road gets difficult. This trip has been a beautiful picture of that kind of community, and we’re incredibly grateful for every conversation and every step shared together.
Sarah and Cris also shared more tonight about Young Life camp in Spain and the life change they’ve seen happen there. We loved hearing stories about Mateo and Andreu coming to camp, hearing about Jesus in a personal way, and experiencing His love through authentic community and fun. One of our favorite moments was hearing about campers singing and swaying together to “Good Good Father” — voices joined together in worship, some maybe hearing those words with fresh ears for the very first time. It was one of those stories that reminds you how God meets people in all kinds of places and moments.
Tomorrow we walk into Santiago to complete our pilgrimage, and honestly, we can’t believe it’s almost over. The days have somehow felt both long and impossibly fast. We’re excited for the finish, but already feeling grateful for everything this journey has given us — the conversations, the friendships, the laughter, the blisters, the prayers, and the miles. One more day of walking together.