Closing Weeks Before Israel

Hello Friends!

So the date is officially set! July 3rd I fly out and start the (at least) year long journey of living in Israel and working with Young Life Nazareth. The focus is to build relationships with adolescents and share life while earning the right to tell them the greatest love story ever...that God came to Earth in the flesh and in the person of Jesus Christ, provided an example of the best way to live out life, and then died a criminal's death so that we could have the chance to be in a right relationship with Him and live in paradise. And I can't freaking wait!!!

The last couple weeks have been filled with a lot of happiness. YoungLife College Camp at Rockbridge with over 300 college students and about 15 universities representing.

- flour bomb fight at YL College Camp some people I love -

I ran into some old teachers I had in high school while I was substituting and got to share with them what has been going on lately. Mr. Croyle especially, who was my guidance counselor, was great to hang with, share stories with, and simply be happy for each other regarding where we are at in our lives. It amazes me how God continues to work in the little things blessing me and I'm glad I have trained my eyes and mind to recognize these blessings. I also got to spend some time with friends I grew up as well as new friends saying "see ya later" for now. PLUS, the World Cup has been on and USA is looking like we have an opportunity to do some big things!!! Just gotta take advantage.
Needless to say, my heart is full of gratitude and continues to overflow. (FYI, there are always, always things in each day we can be thankful for. :)

I'm am well on my way to reaching my fundraising goal of $20,000 but still working towards it. If you feel called, or think that what I'm doing is something worthy of your help I gladly welcome any and all types of support (financial, letters, prayers, well wishes, encouragement, etc. Check my previous post 'Initiate Fundraising' for details on what to do). A huge thank you to Mr. Steve Price for you generous donation. While our relationship may be very new and brief, the fact that our paths were woven together reminds me that God is in control and He works in ways that I could never predict or even understand.

Thought for the post - As I've shared with people about my next year ahead, a common response I get from adults is "how fantastic it is that I'm doing this, or that I seem to have things together, or that I am mature." While I appreciate the kind words it makes me wonder a little bit. I wonder why when I say that I believe in Jesus and have chosen to do mission work for the next year that I get these words. What does that say about what others think of my peers and my generation? By no means do I have it all figured out. I still have stuff in my life that's messed up and very human.
Don't get me wrong, after placing my faith and trust in Christ my life has changed for the better. I look to serve others first before myself, I try to love unconditionally no matter how people may look or act towards me, I forgive as quick as I can, I wake up each morning and go throughout the day saying thank you to God for how He's blessed me along with and all kinds of other newly formed habits that I use make my life better for me.
But in my opinion, if saying I believe in Jesus and am doing mission work gets that response from adults...I say we need to raise the standard for myself and kids my age. (I say kids cuz I still feel like a kid haha, kinda ironic in terms of that maturity quip). Let's step it up my generation!

-------This is From His Holiness the Dalai Lama--------

"Hi World! I'm proud of you all. So many of my friends are doing such amazing things with their lives and its so incredibly beautiful to watch. We're in such a transitional and critical time in the world and in a transitional and opportunity-filled time of our lives! What better time than now? WE are the generation who grew up knowing terrorism, war, economic and environmental crisis on the news everyday. It is now OUR time to invent the future. The paradigm is shifting, the global consciousness is expanding, our generation is wiser than the past as we have witnessed the global effects of greed, hatred, and fear. WE are the generation who will take a stand against climate change and injustice. WE are the generation of game changers. A new time is coming and I cannot wait to see the world we create.
"The planet does not need more 'successful people'. The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers and lovers of all kinds. It needs people to live well in their places. It needs people with moral courage willing to join the struggle to make the world habitable and humane and these qualities have little to do with success as our culture is the set. " 

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My Friends, Please take this to heart or at least think about it. This is real, much more so than what is on your twitter / instagram / tv / magazine etc. This can have an impact if YOU CHOOSE to let it. 
Told we need to be successful all our lives, it makes sense that that is what we strive for. Yet Jesus, who lived the perfect life, went about his life more so in a way that relates closely to the 2nd paragraph. Yes, be diligent and wise to survive and continue living, but why not do it in a way that exudes positivity and love?!

Make fun if you like, I can take it. But in those moments when we are alone or sad or struggling, I know what it is that a person really desires...because I am a broken one myself.

That's all I got for now, thanks for following along and if you have ideas, opinions, arguments, or anything else to talk about, Come On Wit It. That's the kinda stuff I love.

Blessings, and #IBelieveThatWeWillWin #GoUSA

Zack