My last post ended rather abruptly and I apologize for that. I wasn't sure at the time why, but I just felt like I needed to get out and walk. I took a route that I don't usually take -- just wanted to see another part of the street. I had gotten a couple of blocks from my hotel home when I heard someone say, "Ms. Kennedy??!!" I don't usually hear that when I am walking around Antigua but I found myself walking right up to Christina Hunter, a Cary Christian School graduate who was a student of mine for at least two years.
Do you believe in divine appointments? I certainly do and I know this was one. Neither of us knew the other was in Antigua. Christina spent a week in Guatemala last summer and, as she told me when I saw her afterward, she came to understand why I love this country so much. This summer she has the opportunity to do two weeks of language school in Antigua and then she will be working in Guatemala City teaching English to children for about four weeks. She was just finishing her first week. Just running into Christina was remarkable. I see my students -- present and former -- out and about in Apex and Cary sometimes but not in Guatemala. I couldn't stop hugging her.
We arranged to meet Sunday and have a meal. What a blessing it was to share her experiences and hear more about her ministry. Six weeks is a long time to be away from home but, as Christina said, it will go by so fast while on the other hand, there's still five more weeks. I understand that. I do get homesick sometimes too. I miss my kids, my home, my dogs and my cats, yet, I cannot imagine a whole year going by without being in Guatemala. It's part of who I am. It's good for me to learn that I cannot hold anything or anyone tightly. Everything belongs to God and it is His concern to hold it. My hands are to remain open to receive and give back.
This is my last night in Antigua. The day started with a jolt. Literally. An earthquake. The quake was off the coast of Mexico but we felt it in Guatemala. The team in Huehue woke up to it as well. This is the second quake I have felt in Antigua. Apparently I slept through a strong one in Guatemala City a few years ago but then I also slept through Hurricane Katrina which went right over my house.
The Huehue team came to Antigua this afternoon on their way to Guatemala City. They return home to Kalamazoo, Michigan, tomorrow. I enjoyed hanging out with a group of them. I especially enjoyed exploring the ruins of the cathedral in Parque Central. To say that it is awesome to stand in the middle of the ruins of a 16th century cathedral seems like a cliche but it's hard to express it any other way. Even in this state they have a majestic beauty. They have gone through many very strong earthquakes which have reduced them to the ruin state they are now in and yet the grandeur and workmanship is still evident.
I have actually been in the country for twelve days so far. I have spent each the past six days in Antigua walking several hours just enjoying the sites. Tomorrow I will return to Huehue. Two weeks from tomorrow I am scheduled to return home. It's going by so fast, but there's still fourteen more days. I wonder what divine appointments are ahead. I'm grateful for the ones I have already had.
Blessings!
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