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France to Santiago

"...they look at you like you are an alien."

5/24/2014

 
There was an incident last night.  We went to a restaurant for dinner.   We found a place that the menu looked okay, so we went in.  The waiter met us at the door.  He then proceeded to yell at the group.  In Spanish, he was yelling, "How many are there in your group? "  He was very animated and had an awful scowl on his face.   I was the translator for the group and I told him I don't know, just a minute and I’ll count.   He then yelled at me again,  “How many?”  I repeated, “Just a minute, I need to count.”   There were 14 of us.  He then moved the tables, glasses, etc. to accommodate us.  By that time, everyone in the group was afraid of him.   It was like the episode of the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld!    The meal was okay, but we will never walk 60+ miles to go to that restaurant again!

Today was really good.  I spent some time walking alone and spent some quiet time sitting by a Roman spring and bath.   The water was flowing from the wall into a large pool located in a stone building. 

I got to spend a lot of time with the A&M students today as well.  Great kids!

When talking with a Spaniard today, he said that The Camino was great.  He said he has lived in his apartment building for years and still cannot talk to his neighbors like he can with people he just met on the Camino.   He said, “If you talk with your neighbors about the things you talk about with people on the Camino, they look at you like you’re an alien.   You can share your life and your story with people on the Camino and they really listen and care. Interesting for a relationship that is usually less than a day old.”

While the day was good I am struggling with tired muscles and hurting feet. I think we have a rest day coming up.   I really look forward to that.  I have had one 'casualty'... I think my iPod is officially dead.  I've had it in a bag of rice ever since the first big rain... the day that my rain jacket gave up the ghost and I had to find other rain gear.  My iPod was in my chest pocket so I could listen to some uplifting music and it got wet.  Still hasn't come back to life.  I think it's gone. That sucks... I still have at least 27 days to go...

I hope this post made sense.  I am exhausted.  ~Billy

Ellen bartlett
5/24/2014 05:54:42 am

Thank you for your honesty and vulnerability. Makes me want to try it :).

Tommy
5/24/2014 01:27:43 pm

I love you man! Thanks for all the updates. Praying for you guys. Sorry you lost the iPod. That does suck. Keep pushing bro!

Michael Sare
5/25/2014 12:24:27 am

Billy: i had a nice FB chat with Laurie yesterday. She has described how you two are communicating and how she is putting up the posts. Great job . . . transparent to the outside unless you are aware of the team process you have going. interesting comment and observation re "aliens and neighbors" - the Spaniard considers Camino pilgrims easier to talk with . . . perhaps he considers it "safer" to share feelings bc pilgrims move on. And perhaps he, or his neighbors, being more permanent, are less likely to share feelings bc the sharing has risk as he has to "live with them." More to think about in this "lesson" (parable?) about relationships . . . mis
p.s. prayers for you and Laurie! sorry to hear about iPod

Becky
5/31/2014 11:35:48 am

You DO realize, don't you, how many ipods will be waiting for you now when you get back home :-)

Hunter Van Wagenen
6/8/2014 06:33:35 am

Billy, my mom (Helen) gave me the link to your blog and I'm really enjoying reading about the relationships you're building and what the Lord is doing with you and through you and to you. Based on what you've seen so far, you must be able to understand why I want to do ministry among the diverse and interesting group of people known as "pilgrim."
Sorry you had to lose the iPod via its death, but in my opinion you're better off walking the Camino with as few opportunities for distraction as possible. I've always left mine at home, at least.


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    Billy & Laurie Drum

    29 years together. Parents to 3 awesome kids.  Followers of Jesus. Counselors. Coaches. Teachers. Pilgrims.

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