This past September, during my trip to Indonesia, I had an unexpected overnight layover in Hong Kong. I managed to snag very affordable flight tickets on Cathay Pacific airline, flying from Chicago O’Hare to Hong Kong and then onward to Surabaya, Indonesia. While I initially had no plans to transit through Hong Kong, I saw it as an opportunity to reconnect with leaders at the Hong Kong Mennonite Church.
This trip brought back memories of my first international flight in August 2000. I was on my way to the United States to join a discipleship training program run by Eastern Mennonite Mission. During that journey, I transited through Hong Kong, also with Cathay Pacific. As a first-time international traveler, I was hesitant to leave the airport. My friend and I waited nervously during our layover, but eventually, hunger compelled us to venture out.
We found a Chinese food stall in the airport’s food court and ordered Hong Kong fried noodles. When the dish arrived, it looked and smelled incredible. But just as I was about to dig in, an announcement boomed: “All Cathay Pacific passengers to Philadelphia, please return to the plane immediately!” I couldn’t risk being left behind, so I left my untouched bowl of noodles and hurried back to the gate.
Fast forward to September 2024. As I planned my trip, I intentionally chose a layover in Hong Kong to revisit that memory and finally claim the noodles I had longed for. This experience felt symbolic, especially during the Advent season, a time rooted in the theme of waiting. Just as I waited 24 years for those noodles, Advent invites us to reflect on the anticipation of Christ’s coming.
Advent teaches us the art of waiting—not passively, but with a sense of hope, resilience, and preparation. It’s a time to trust in God’s perfect timing, much like the Israelites awaited the fulfillment of prophecies in Bethlehem. This season encourages us to embrace patience and find joy in the mystery of what lies ahead, assured by the promise of Emmanuel: God with us.
The story of my journey doesn’t end with noodles. This trip to Indonesia was meaningful in many ways. I accompanied David Boshart, president of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS), to teach at the Sekolah Tinggi Agama Wiyata Wacana (STAKWW) of the Gereja Injili di Tanah Jawa Synod in Pati, Central Java. Alongside us was Mission Network Training and Resources Facilitator Joe Sawatzky who facilitated training sessions at both the Sangkakala Seminary of the Jemaat Kristen Indonesia Synod and STAKWW.
From September 15 to 18, we gathered with leaders from Canada, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Myanmar, the Philippines, South Korea, and the U.S. at Duta Wacana Christian University in Yogyakarta. The goal was to explore ways to connect, share, and learn from one another in contextualizing Anabaptist theology for the Asian church. This gathering, informally dubbed the “Asia Anabaptist Education Theology Potluck,” was initiated during the Global Mennonite Peacebuilding Conference at Eastern Mennonite University in June 2023. Over shared meals, we envisioned creating a platform to build upon past efforts.
Jeanette Hanson, Director of International Witness at Mennonite Church Canada, reflected on the challenges and blessings of waiting for the right moment to rekindle this initiative. After years of dormancy, the consultation symbolized the hope that comes with patience and trust in God’s timing. It reminded us, again, of the Advent message: the art of waiting is central to our faith journey.
Whether waiting for Christ’s arrival, personal growth, or global reconciliation, waiting is rarely easy. Yet, it is in these moments of longing that we are shaped by patience, hope, and the assurance of God’s faithfulness.
This Advent, let us embrace waiting—not with despair, but with expectation and joy. Whether it’s for a bowl of noodles, a personal breakthrough, or the fulfillment of God’s promises, we can trust in the beauty and purpose of the journey.
