Camino Meets Emmaus Road: Walking the Way Together

August 22 – September 2, 2026

In a few days, Brandon and I will lace up our boots and begin a journey that has been stirring in my heart for a long time: five days walking the Camino Francés, followed by several days with dear friends in Basque Country.

About 68 miles on foot.

Roncesvalles → Zubiri → Pamplona → Puente la Reina → Estella → Los Arcos.

And then: ocean. Sabbath. Surfing. Vineyards. Ancient homes. Long tables. Stories. Friendship.

But the heart of this pilgrimage isn’t really the mileage or the places.

It’s the WITH.

THE WAY … “CAMINO”

One of the Scriptures I’m carrying with me comes from Psalm 50:

“It’s the praising life that honors me. As soon as you set your foot on the Way [Camino], I’ll show you my salvation.”
Psalm 50:23, MSG

The Way.

Camino literally means “way” in Spanish.

And I’m walking ready to receive what God will show us as we simply put one foot in front of the other.

This journey feels especially tender because of all that Brandon and I have walked through together.

Many of you companioned us through his open-heart surgery in 2023—through hospital sleepovers, scary moments, healing, setbacks, prayer, laughter, tears, and the slow work of recovery—and then again through his stroke in December 2024.

Each of these unexpected chapters has reminded us again and again: we don’t get to control the road ahead. We do get to choose how we walk it—and with Whom.

And now, what a GIFT to get to walk this road together.

Not a hospital hallway this time.

The Camino.

Two partners in life, love, family, faith and this wild Seeds adventure—walking side by side.

THE 3 B’s … WITH JESUS

I’ve been smiling about the three B’s who are woven into this pilgrimage:

Brandon — my hubby, partner in Seeds + LIFE
Bill — my beloved godfather
Basque sisters + brothers — friends who will welcome us into their homes, tables, history and lives

And there’s an EXTRA sweet layer: Bill’s two grandchildren will be part of the journey, too. What JOY to share some of the Way across generations.

But the three B’s aren’t the center.

We’re walking WITH Jesus.

Listening. Receiving. Paying attention.

Camino meets Emmaus Road.

And because of my time in Israel and Palestine—actually walking the Emmaus Road—this story has captured my imagination in an entirely new way: people walking down an ordinary road together, talking about life and all that has happened, and slowly discovering that Jesus Himself has been walking with them all along.

A BOOMERANG BLESSING

And Seeds family, here’s where YOU come in.

We’d love for you to journey with us in prayerFULL anticipation.

Pray for us. Send love. Hold us in your own faith tradition. Follow along. Wonder with us.

And we’re sending the blessing right back.

A Boomerang Blessing.

Whatever your Camino looks like right now—whether you’re walking with Jesus, wondering about Him, rooted in another faith tradition, or simply trying to find your next faithful step—may this little pilgrimage plant a seed in you, too.

May you notice beauty.

May you recognize the people walking beside you.

May you receive unexpected gifts.

May you discover that even the hard roads can hold goodness.

And may you know, somehow and somewhere along your Way, that you do not walk alone.

I’m carrying another little line from Romans:

“Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.”
Romans 12:1–2, MSG

So that’s our posture.

Hands open. Hearts open. Eyes open.

Ready to receive.

And to our Seeds of Exchange + ROOTED in Jesus communities:

I’ll be carrying you with me on the Way, too. Our beautiful Seeds family—across faith traditions, cultures and miles—is so much a part of how I’ve learned to walk through this world: loving, learning and receiving from one another.

And ROOTED family, so much of what we practice together—abiding, listening, praying and BEING WITH Jesus—is exactly how I hope to walk these miles. May this Camino deepen what we’re already learning together: Jesus is with us on the Way.

OFF THE GRID

For this stretch of the Way, I’m going off the grid—laptop staying HOME, email auto-reply ON, and making space to be fully present for the Camino + Basque Country.

Walking. Listening. Receiving. BEING WITH.

I’ll return to the beautiful work of Seeds of Exchange + ROOTED the week of September 7.

Until then, Buen Camino.

Come journey with us. Pray with us. Walk with us.

xo,
Sarah (and Bran) DT