On the road!

April 11, 2014

We finished the first part of our journey- a 5 day stop over in Manteca- and are about to get on the road again. We parked on our friends' property and celebrated Passover with them and their fellowship.

Passover was sweet. There were about 70 of us in a reserved room at a golf course. We took advantage of the dance floor and did some fun and worshipful Israeli dances. Each table was set up beautifully and it was catered....a little different than other Passovers we have done or been to which have usually been in a home, but it was very nice. Our hagaddah (story about Passover) was simple and sweet. Our 2 year old, Judah, decided to crawl under the table and hang out during the story.

I love how every year I learn something new and deeper about the meaning of the holy days. One of the things talked about at our Passover seder (meal) was when Yeshua(Jesus) washed the feet of his disciples on what is known as the Last Supper.  This "Last Supper", as you probably know, was a Passover seder. He died on Passover, and was raised 3 days later on the feast of Firstfruits.  Yeshua puts himself in the position of a servant, and rinses the dirt off of the feet of the disciples. We talked about how the "dirt" symbolizes the things of this world that cling to us. Sins, attitudes, addictions, bondage. It is hard for us to accept that we cannot "fix" ourselves, though we often try. When we come to Yeshua, He cleanses us of all of our uncleanness (leaven). Only He can wash it away. I find myself longing for this cleansing this year. I want him to remove all of the dirt that I have picked up, both willingly and unknowingly.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 Peter 1:9

 Here is another insight about foot washing from hope-of-israel.org:
"When Yeshua the Messiah commanded his disciples to wash one another's feet he was building upon an ancient ritual carried out by the Levitical priesthood when they ministered in the Temple. The parallel between the foot-washing at the Laver in the outer court of the Temple, and that performed by the Messiah at his last meal, is clear and unerring. Both the Old and New Testaments point to a REGULAR -- not just once a year at the Passover -- foot-washing ceremony to remove sin that occurs AFTER baptism. Failure to do so renders us UNCLEAN in YEHOVAH's sight and allows "death" to enter into His weekly Sabbath meetings."

Back to the trip. :) We also had a chance to visit our friends in Elk Grove, the Vasquezes. At their house we met one of their friends, a high school teacher who has a government grant to build solar panels with his students. They donate these solar panels (which are slightly bigger than large laptops) to people in 3rd world countries, or missionaries to undeveloped places. He wanted to give us one of these solar panels, and also a unit that would create colloidal silver water, a value of about $500! What a blessing! This may come in handy if we end up being "out in the bush" somewhere without electricity.

Our next stop is Orosi, California, at the property we stayed at for Sukkot. We will spend some time (a few days?) with our friends, the Barnes, and a group of teenagers/young adults who are going through their Growing in Torah program- a discipleship program that teaches them about agriculture, farming, and has regular bible study and devotions.  We are excited to observe this program in action, connect with our friends there, lend a hand, and hopefully learn a thing or two ourselves about farming.;)