So it's true, I'm moving to Nazareth, Israel this summer! You've been directed to this blog I assume from hearing this news in some capacity and I hope you check it from time to time. I figured this would be an easy way to stay connected with you and keep you updated on how things are going through this sojourn I will be taking.
First, and bit of back story…
Last year in June, I had the opportunity to go on a two week trip (funded by some of you :) with 25 other JMU Young Life leaders. We got to tour much of the Holy Land and then finished with a week serving as work crew at a YL Camp in Bethlehem for Palestinian kids ages 10-16 years old. It was an amazing experience and I enjoyed every moment and memory I made during that time. After the trip I was actually asked if I wanted to join Hunter Lambeth (the area director who is heading YL Middle East) if I wanted to help him lead a cabin of 8 Nazareth high school boys who were attending Young Life camp at Windy Gap in North Carolina. That too was a treat as I got to pour my love and life into theirs being a volunteer leader. While I made friends with them and others through my Israel visit and they kept asking when I was coming back to visit, I didn't think it would be for a long time.
Ohh how funny it is when we make plans or think we know better…
Earlier this year in February I was asked by Hunter, if I would be interested in coming over for the summer again for a longer period. There are 7 college kids from a few different schools going over for 2 months to do a longer version of what we got to do last year. I was thankful for the opportunity, but realized it wouldn't work with where I was in life. Whether it was continuing to work as a school picture day photographer in Raleigh, NC which is where I've been since July 2013 or starting to apply for jobs in the Sport and Recreation field, which is what I studied at JMU, I figured I needed to be here as I was still in the midst of discovering where post college life would take me.
"No problem," Hunter said "But let me extend this offer to you while you are making choices about life. Would you be interested in coming to Israel for an extended stay? Commit to 2-3 years, love on kids with us, help disciple guys, go on all kinds of trips with me and them building relationships. Learn some Arabic, play soccer with teenagers, watch sunrises on the Sea of Galilee, travel to the West Bank to pour into leaders there as well as Palestinian kids, be a part of our camps and leadership retreats, have the most amazing few years of your life so far. It would be the experience of a lifetime many others don't get to or aren't willing to take."
I was shocked and had no idea how to respond. But over the next couple weeks I prayed about it. I talked to mentors who I trust and my parents seeking their advice. I listened to God and looked for him to act in my life that may encourage a Yes or No decision. On March 15th I officially decided to say Yes to this opportunity. Because how can I pass up a chance to continue doing what I love to do - build relationships with other people, encourage them to be the best version of themselves they can be, and tell them about the biggest impact I've had in my life… the Love of Jesus and the gift he gave us on the cross.
I'm insanely stoked for this next journey and experience in my life. With all the lessons it will teach and how it will make me a better Zack through the joys and struggles.
So begins the fundraising process and prayer process. I have to raise my own salary as I will be doing volunteer mission work which is unpaid. The goal is $16,000 for a year of living in Nazareth. Believe me, I know this all sounds absurd from an objective point of view and not the normal path we grow up expecting to lead and certainly not what I anticipated after graduating (Psalm 119:105 has helped comfort me in this). However, I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing if I didn't truly believe what I do as the ultimate truth - that Jesus did die for our sins so we could experience a life with Him and the hope of eternal ecstasy in heaven, a life denying our own ego and self desires, loving others as we want to be loved, and looking to glorify God in everything we do.
Stay tuned for more, and if you would remember me in your prayers from time to time I would truly appreciate it. Pray for fundraising, that I can meet my goal. That I can trust God and that he will provide. That my remaining days in Raleigh, NC leading YL College at NC State are good.
Bless you all, I truly Love you
Zack
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