We began at sea level around 3:30 pm on Saturday. We had a little prayer- asking for grace and strength on the journey and offering several petiticions before departing.
From L to R- Benito, Don Otto, Leoncio, Doris, Pepito and Don Isidro-in the opening prayer
From L to R- Deimer, Perez, Neder, the women of Casmiche, and Angela- in the opening prayer
We set out on the pilgrimmage as 20, young people and adults from more than 6 pueblos. Everyone on the pilgrimmage for a different reason. We would have been 21- but the father of Faustino passed away the night before the pilgrimmage- so he stayed back in his pueblo to have the velorio to honor his dad. We lifted him up in a special way on our pilgrimmage as he was the head of the CLM group who proposed and organized the whole event.
Starting off strong
We started off in a big group
Before dividing a little in smaller groups that were at our own pace
We are going to walk 65 km....ahhh
The first six hours of the pilgrimmage were pista (that is paved road), at the three hour point we paused for about 10 minutes before continuing on to Shiran- which would be our dinner stop. At three hours everyone remained in pretty good spirits.
At the six hour mark-we stopped for dinner. Everyone was visibly exhausted; but kilometer wise we had reached the half way point. We shared how we were feeling, changed socks and shirts and gave an update of our progress to Chami Radio. To sit down and eat, after walking for 6 straight hours was wonderful. When I reached Shiran- I was not sure I could continue. My feet were not blistered yet but it was 9:30p and I was just exhausted. But the majority of the group continued on and Jose Luis, who was accompanying us in the camioneta- said 'You can do it! See you in Samne'. So off we went.
The leg of the journey between Shiran and Samne was the only unpaved part of our journey. It was on the 'carretera vieja' (old road) which is dust and rocks. My unfortunate timing after dinner meant that my group (with whom I walked the first 6 hours, at my pace) had already left and I was now to accompany the slower group. (I have nothing against the slower walkers, it is just very difficult to walk at a pace that is not your own, you get tired a lot faster) So I headed out at my pace which meant I was a bit ahead of the big group. I used the first hour of more of less solitude- to give thanks for the graces in life. My friends, family (near and far) and the opportunities God has given me. It was a wonderful hour of reflection with God- in the darkness of the night. But after the hour- a strange thing happened- all of a sudden I wanted to cry. No- I wasn't sad- just exhausted- and while I tried to listen for God's voice- I was just overwhelmed and started to choke back tears. So I shouted back to Eloy and Leoncio- telling them that I needed some company and thankfully Leoncio obliged. I needed the community on this journey- it was impossible to complete the walk on my own. I tried to make conversation with Leoncio- but he was not a big talker- he just walked peacefully even offering to carry my backpack (cross) for part of the journey.
We finally arrived at Samne at 1am. We were scheduled to sleep for a few hours in the chapel- to regain our strength; but naturally there were a few glitches in this plan. When we arrived we knocked on Madaleine's door- because she had the chapel key- no response. We tried three or four times to wake her up with no success. Additionally- Jose Luis and Isela were trapped between two gates that the camioneta could not pass through- so we had to walk around to find the ronda (sort of like a local police person). After this long search- the camioneta was finally freed- but the gente decided that they did not want to sleep two or three hours in Samne (plus we couldn't get the chapel open) so we continued on to Casmiche.
We arrived in Casmiche at around 3 am. We saw that the velorio for the dad of Faustino was still going on and so we arrived to support and be present with him. The majority of the group entered into Faustino's house and blessed his Father's body with Holy Water, then sat and prayed with him. The only people present at this time were Faustino and his brother and the arrival of 20 people was such a surprise for him. We had the guitar with us in the camioneta- so Jose and I sang some songs- meanwhile all the campesinos who were seated- took a little nap. We sang until about 4 am- at which point Faustino thanked us with teary eyes and told us to continue on. This experience with Faustino strengthened me for the journey and reminded me that this is vocation. We were walking for vocation and were supporting a fellow community member at 4am in the midst of one of his most challenging hours. The Spirit of God is alive and well, and our response to this Spirit is vocation.
There were only 4 hours left from Casmiche to Otuzco and ten of us set off in a big group to complete the pilgrimmage. At this point everyone was walking fairly slowly- so we stayed together. We welcomed the new dawn with 'Alegre la Manana' and when we finally reached Otuzco we sang joyfully 'Hoy Senor te Damos Gracias'. The camioneta greeted us with the new dawn- supplying us with hard candies and water- and as each time before giving us the strength to carry on and finish strong. Every time the camioneta met us- it was like new hope- a little burst of energy to keep us going.
When we arrived in Otuzco at 8:15am- we visited the Virgen de la Puerta before retiring to the showers and beds.
We had done it, together as a community. A very difficult walk of 65 kilometers for 13.5 hours. We did not do it for obligation, nor for pride, but as a response to God, in the form of vocation.
I learned a lot in this pilgrimmage. I had the opportunity to listen to the stories of many. I had the opportunity to experience the power of encouragement. I learned that I could be united with friends and family far away through prayer- even when I couldn't be present for very important moments of their lives. I learned that I can do what I imagined impossible by the grace and Spirit of God in the presence of community.
A rich experience indeed of the Spirit's action this Pentecost weekend!
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