Originally I tried to apply for September 2014 routes of the World Race. When God put me on Fusion I began seeing that January 2015 was better timing. One of the many ways was that I would get to do the entire calendar of God’s holidays in order starting with Passover.
I love Passover. I love the communal aspect of God’s holidays. I love the history and the tying of the past to the present and the future. I love that in celebrating God’s holidays we get to step into a rich tradition and heritage that Yeshua Himself participated in during His life. I love the ritual telling of Passover. I love that this holiday is a memorial to Yeshua’s death on the cross, His perfect sacrifice for all mankind. I love Passover because it is the beginning, the start of the annual retelling of God’s redemption plan through His holidays.
I packed my Haggadah and marked all the holidays in a calendar. This year the Passover Seder was Friday evening, April 3, we would be in China celebrating God’s salvation in the most closed country of our Race. Once we started the Race, I realized April 3 would be a travel day, or we would have just arrived in China. Either would make finding the Passover elements and conducting a Seder challenging. The Passover elements are a candle, wine, salt water, parsley, horseradish, kharoset (a sweet apple mixture), a lamb shank bone, and matzah (unleavened bread).
All of March (Viet Nam), I thought about Passover. I was excited for the upcoming holiday, wondering where I would be that day, wondering where one finds Matzah in China. It seemed possible to find the other elements at a grocery store but not Matzah.
In my own strength and logic I began to figure this puzzle out. I could make some, no oven. I could use crackers instead, needs to be unleavened. I could ask our squad coaches, Tim and Karen, to bring Matzah to debrief! God said, “No. Trust me. Wait. Search for a Jewish community in Ho Chi Minh City.” A Google search about halfway through the month revealed Chabad, a Jewish center in the city. I emailed explaining I am a traveler and asked where I might find matzah in HCMC. They responded that, as far as they knew, there was no place to buy matzah in HCMC. Well if the Jewish center didn’t know where to get matzah I would need to find a substitute.
It was getting late in the month, too late to ask Tim and Karen to bring some, and God still said, “Trust Me.” Our team went to the beach for Jen’s birthday. Returning to HCMC, I had an email from the Rabbi, “Next week we will have matzah if you would like to come pick some up.” Yes! I would like some matzah.
March 24, Steph, Beth, and I set out to find Chabad. The driver pulled into a technical university so I gave him the phone number to call for directions. We were on a three-lane, one way street about a block too far, so the driver backed up. Turning down the side street he stopped at a restaurant and gestured to the sign. Right street, wrong number. We thanked him, got out, and walked into the restaurant for help. Before I could pull out the address we were gestured farther up the street. The “street” was more of an alley, it was after dark, and past the restaurant there was not much light. A security guard approached us, it was obvious we were lost, and pointed to the wall behind his seat. There was the address we needed!
We were warmly welcomed by the Rabbi and several ladies with “Shalom.” As Rabbi got a box of Matzah, we chatted with an older Israeli woman who was encouraging and delighted we are traveling the world to spread love. Departing they all wished us “Chag Semeach Pesach!”
I practically hugged the box of matzah the whole ride home. A reminder of my home community. A reminder that God cares about the little things. I was satisfied.
But He was not done. March 29 just before squad church I walked into a teammate’s room where Karen was preparing for communion. I was so focused on my reason for being there it did not register why the box in Karen’s arms looked familiar. She was holding Manischevitz matzah! I burst into tears. She smiled and said, “I thought you would like this.”
“Who told you?”
“God.”
“No seriously. Who on my team told you?”
“Seriously, God. He told me to bring unleavened bread for communion a few weeks ago.” About the time I was planning to ask her myself.
A little beat up from travel but it survived and lasted all week.
Travel to ministry in China took nearly three days. We flew out of HCMC about 2am on March 31 and arrived at our city in northern China at 7pm on April 2 after a 26.5 hour train trip.
April 3 was our first day of ministry, and after school we went to a Good Friday service. I was watching the time hoping some of my teammates would be willing to go shopping. As we left the service with the sun setting I asked God if I should just forget it. He said, “Persevere.”
At a small grocery we found, candles, grape juice, salt, wasabi for horseradish, and apple jam for kharoset. Back at home Victoria drew a lamb for the Passover lamb. There was no parsley.
After dinner, feedback, and team time, my entire team assembled around our coffee table to join in the Seder. They asked why I celebrate Passover and what I mean by “the Exodus story” and then we began. The candle was in an upside down paper cup. The afikomen was wrapped in a light blue bandana. We dipped our finger rather than parsley in salt water. And if you think horseradish is bad try wasabi!
Our Seder table.
A little makeshift, a little last minute but God had this Passover planned for a long time. It was perfect, and I’ll remember it for the rest of my life. God provides for what is important to Him and to His people.
Passover in China! Next year in Jerusalem!
