The Land of Peace with No Peace...Yet There is Hope

As Adele sings...."Hello" (marhabaaa, marhabaaaaa)

It has been a great year personally for me...becoming even more involved in communities and peoples lives around Nazareth, improving my Arabic speaking and daily walking with Jesus as best I can.

For most of the year it was the same for the situation here in the country. There were not any major conflicts or dramatic events between Israel and Palestine. However, when October began, the consistent recurrence of injustice, failure to communicate and hate have surfaced again. In the last month, it's common to watch the news and hear of a stabbings, cars driving into bus stations, and illogical arrests between these two peoples...mostly in the south around Jerusalem.
The title of my post comes from Youseff, one of the Qupty family dad's (as I live amongst 3 Arab Christian families).
Something I truly enjoy is sitting a couple times a week and having dinner with Youseff. We speak about whatever topics arise. Often he has given me some history lessons of this land as it was not something I learned about much in school. Through his entire life, there has not been Peace in this land (and beyond his life, for 1000's of years). It is normal to him. He share's some more of the dramatic moments - wars in 1948, 1967, 1984, Oslo in 1991, and conflict ever since. By the end we usually finish our conversations with this phrase - "the land where Jesus walked, that was meant for Peace has no Peace."

Just an update politically/culturally of what is going on here. I'm completely safe and act wisely to make sure of it. It is a topic that could always use some prayer if you are wanting things to pray for. That the people in power and extremists might see some higher call to the humanity of those who are innocent.

In more personal news... (: I'm thankful as always. Day to day I'm working hard to fulfill what I feel I can do to help high school kids, Young Life, and the Nazareth Village.

(Young Life Ibiliin game - watch Noor on the left haha

he's so focused on his attempts...then goes for a bite.)

 

Young Life:
- We continue to have clubs in both Nazareth & Ibiliin with an average of 40 kids at each meeting. Ibiliin is growing fast!
- Bible studies have started in both towns as well. Guys and Girls have been getting together with leaders to go deeper into scripture. The big focus is simply understanding who Jesus is, what was his character like, and what does that mean for us?
- A new involvement we have in Nazareth is being in charge of chapel at the Nazareth Baptist School. Something unique to the school different from any other in the country is all the kids attend chapel once a week (there are both cultural Christian and Muslim kids as well as Believers following Jesus in attendace). Our YL Nazareth team runs chapel for the 7th and 8th grade students and also help out with 11th and 12th grade.
I am actually giving the message tomorrow! Feel free to say a prayer for clear words and that the scripture (Jesus at the Pool of Bethesda) relates to the kids.

(club/talks/testimonys - top is myself, bottom left is Wael

and bottom right is a recent graduate Mira sharing her story)

 

Relationships with the high school kids are going to a whole new level. It is a true testament to the simple steps of consistency and perseverance making an impact. More and more I know kids names, conversations are easier to have, and almost always I get at least one small opportunity to give some encouragement, advice, or show that I care for a student.

(part of being a Young Life leader is going to the school to hang out with kids...

get to know them, and share life. Wael and Hunter here with students).

I also continue to volunteer at the Nazareth Village helping in whatever way I can. I've met some very nice people through tours (shout out to Dan & Murine Kaull, such a sweet couple who encouraged me in my ministry) and I still serve in the kitchen/restaurant.
It has taught me about leadership and working hard even when nobody is looking.
Because of seizing chances to step up and be a leader at the village, I felt confident to apply and accept an invitation to work at the Young Life All Staff Conference this January in Orlando. I'll be a leader amongst 60 people from around the world serving for a week at this amazing conference that happens once every 4 years for the YL Staff all around the world!

So there it is...just some news about my continued life and work with ministry in Nazareth. My current "normal" of living here brings joy. I feel useful, like I'm worth something and wanted (a feeling I think we all desire in our life).

Blessings to you, thanks for keeping up and in touch with me.
I am continuing to do some fundraising for my next year here (I have committed to staying through 2016 as God provides through his people). If you want to help out financially or through prayer let me know !

Zack

 Arab students from the other side of the world that I've come to care so much for (:

Blood Moon Over Nazareth

Whattuppp!

I'm sure you've seen the pictures today and if not check them out. If you stayed up, woke up, or even just looked up to see that pretty awesome 'Super Moon' meets 'Lunar Eclipse' last night, then I hope you were in awe for a moment and realized the magnitude of what was going on....cosmically speaking.

Myself, I did wake up at 5am to witness the period where the moon was most red. It was wild to see the moon in a different way I don't normally see it and then consider exactly what was happening. Through extensive research (aka Google) I read last night was the closest the moon is to the Earth during it's orbit each month (i.e. super moon which looks bigger than usual) and then it just happened to occur during a full lunar eclipse. The next time this happens it will be 2033.

For just a few hours last night it was all aligned perfectly for something amazing to happen.

....basically timing is everything....

And as I was just finishing my time observing and sitting in wonder I tried to think from a cosmic perspective.
The far distance from Moon to Earth (238,855 miles) and the really really far distance from the Sun to the Earth (92.96 million miles) were in a line for barely a breath in the cosmic timeline.

Afterwards this morning I wrote:
"There a few times when things are lined up exactly right. We live in a broken, fractured, fallen world where things collide, mix up, and chaos happens. But even in the midst of the chaos...sometimes in life things do fall into place exactly right. A couple falls in love, you get the job you've been pursuing, a new baby is on the way after years of prayer, etc...and sometimes the Sun, Earth and Moon are all aligned just right. It is a brief moment, however I know it is important to stop and recognize it. To stop and say, This Is Amazing! This Is A Blessing! It would be a bummer to stay stuck in the confined space of my mind and miss it rather than open up and see how BIG God is. Through my thoughts as what looks to be a one sided conversation with God this came to mind....

 - "Zack, look at the scale I work on and how I create amazing sights. How it all comes together at the right moment. If I can do this, then don't you think I can align the small things in your life for the greater good? Trust me to do it. But trust me in My Time, not Your Time. Often you make plans and want me to be part of them. Instead, why don't you be part of my plan. Take a different look, from my perspective. Follow my steps along the straight and narrow path. It is straight and narrow for a reason, aligned perfectly how I plan. But look at all the beauty that is along it."
(reference Matthew 7:13-14)

In other news...

(Back To School!)

It's all praise right now!
Today, yes today, the Christian School Strike in Israel that I wrote about in my last blog and which has been a major issue over the last month is officially over (:
The group leaders of this strike reached an agreement with the Education of Ministry and finally 33,000 students and 4,000 teachers went back to school today. Thank you all for your prayers and concerns through this time.
Honestly, I was so excited to get back to hanging out with high school friends at the Nazareth Baptist School. Furthermore, it was a huge change from a year ago where I didn't know anyone and felt scared, insecure and like I didn't belong. Today I walked in to hugs, high fives, and there was a smile on my face because of all these students I'm getting to know and love on.

(YL shirt swag with Mohammad and Khaled)

 

Young Life club has been going great as well. We had one for the Nazareth students Saturday 9/26. Some awesome kids are showing up (even without us to tell them at school) and with a mix of some new 9th and 10th graders and a solid group of 11th graders who are starting to make the club their own, it has been a lot of fun.

As school begins, keep the students in your prayers because they have to start fast and catch up with the school opening a month late.
For me, you can pray that as I meet more and more new friends, names will stick in my head, I'll see them through eyes of unconditional love and God will continue to bring kids to YL Club.

(laying chocolate pudding feed)

Blessings from ME in Nazareth to YOU wherever you are. Thanks for staying with me through this journey!

Zack

Up's and Down's

A couple quotes...

The greatest gift God gave us is the power to make decisions. - Paulo Cuelo

Nobody takes my life, I lay it down. - Pastor Judah Smith

As long as their is light ahead for them, it is worth it to me. - MLK Jr. in the movie Selma

As each quote builds upon each other, I consider (and hope you will as well) how they relate to my own life. I've made decisions about what it is I am doing. And by "doing" I encompass every aspect where there is action in my life. Work, relationships, service, beliefs, love, family, alone time, physical activity, etc. Each includes choices/decisions moment by moment.
Now at the heart of my decisions is a belief, a motivator, or what I have come to see as the best way for me to live. I choose willfully to lay who I am down to serve others. This is the result of pursing Jesus. Because I have experienced my best life living in this way, I continue to make my decisions focused around Him and it leads to the last quote of what can be considered "dying to myself". Ministry is on my mind every day and it gives me this perspective of; if I can deny myself first and hope to serve others so they can see a light of hope or trust or love...then it's worth it.

Just a reminder, I am not perfect in following through every single moment of every day with these moral words. But, all of this is a goal I keep in front of me and I have witnessed fruit from it.

(YL Nazareth & Ibiliin Camp)

2 things I want to share from the last couple weeks...
First, an awesome thing happened - We had our Young Life Camp during the last week of August! It was sooo much fun and I can say honestly everyone enjoyed themselves. Some highlights included:

• 45 kids from Nazareth and 12 kids from Ibiliin (a village where we have started YL) attended.
• Program was done for the first time ever entirely by leaders from YL Palestine! (all in Arabic)
• I led cabin time of 8 guys and had some great conversation about what we all want from life, who Jesus is and what he did.
• A group of 7 Americans from Johnson Ferry Church in Atlanta came and helped serve as work crew.
• There was laughter, friendship, and new excitement about the coming year of YL in Naz.

("crab soccer" at camp)

 

It was great to experience my first camp with kids I've gotten to know over the past year (last years camp was cancelled due to Gaza War). Furthermore it was evident that kids were really impacted by the unconditional love that exists at YL Camp.

Now unfortunately something else is happening in Israel that is not so great. There are 47 Christian schools that are currently on strike in Israel. Since Sept 1st, 33,000 kids are not at school. The strike is a response to the Ministry of Education in the Israeli Gov't cutting funding to these Private Christian schools (many which have been operating since before Israel was a country). I'm including a link for more information on this but basically, the schools do not have enough funds to operate. The funding from the gov't has dropped to 29% of what the budget calls for. And then there is a limit to how much schools can charge parents. So from both sides the schools are stuck and don't have enough funds to operate for more than a few months. On the other hand, Private Religious Jewish schools which are categorized the same way as these Private Christian Schools are given 100% of their funding. It is an obvious fact of unjust treatment.
I share this because the kids who come to Young Life in Nazareth are almost all from these schools. Yes, I have not been able to go hang out with my YL friends because the school is closed.
Peaceful protests and demonstrations have been happening for the last 2 weeks
FOR MORE INFO CLICK HERE

(around 10,000 gathered outside the Kenneset in

 Jerusalem to demonstrate peacefully)

So there are praises and things to pray for...

Thanks for taking a few moments to keep up with my life here (: I hope you got to think about some of what I talked about. Have a great day!

Zack

(we also said Bon Voyage to 2 of the recent graduates who have been involved with 

YL Naz since the beginning! Razi, top middle, and Nancy, to his right in red, are studying

abroad this school year. Razi in Germany and Nancy in Romania).

 

On To The Next One...

So it's been a year....and I'm happy, stoked, excited, pumped, overjoyed (any other cheesy word describing those emotions) to announce that I will be continuing in Nazareth for another year! (:

The past few weeks have been my confirmation...what I'm doing means something. That it matters. And at the heart / the core of it all, it's been about Jesus.

I was in Petah Tikva at the Bapist Village working as a counselor (skit actor, dishwasher, human jungle gym in the pool, helper, food server, song leader, etc.) with other adults/young adults for the first two weeks of August. The first week the campers were rising 10th and 9th graders, the second, rising 8th and 7th graders.
The younger group listened a bit more to the authority of counselors and did what we asked when we asked, while the older group was easier to relate to and some good conversations of occurred regarding the deeper aspects of life.

(camp with rising 9th and 10th graders)

It was all exhausting as sleep never went above 5 or 6 hours a night followed by full days of activity. However, when Friday came all of us leaders could say "it was worth it". New relationships had been formed, kids knew that they had been loved unconditionally all week, and lots of kids were taking steps to making the biggest decision of life in my opinion, following Jesus.

Furthermore, in the middle of the two weeks, on Saturday, Aug 8th, I pretty much set up and ran my own Young Life club in this village called Ibiliin (ee-bi-leen) where we have literally just started YL. One introductory club happened in June, and we wanted to have one more before Young Life Camp - Aug 25th-Aug 29th (something to pray for).
My supervisor, Hunter, is the idea man behind this, but he was in America at the time. So it fell to me. This random kid from Ashburn, VA (more or less) to set up club in a little village just outside Nazareth.....hahaha. I went with a fellow part time YL leader here, Wa-el who's from Gaza (again, hahaha) and we did it. The games were fun, the songs could have used a better singer, and then I gave a message about Zacchaeus's encounter with Jesus. How some quality time spent with JC changed this wee little man's life. (oh and about 30% of my message was in Arabic, woop woop!)
It went great and I think there will be 10-15 kids from Ibiliin joining us for YL Camp! As Wa-el and I drove home, there was a smile on my face for most of the ride. I was simply happy and thankful thinking about what I get to do-----First camp, then club. I didn't think I could or would ever do stuff like this.

(dunno if I'm the boss but love this dude Nezar from Ibiliin.

Thumbs up because he's coming to camp)

 

All of this to say, I know for sure God's got more for me to do here...And I'm happy to do it (:
After the camps I received some more words of affirmation from some of the "grown up adults" thanking me for my help and being a blessing of service.
For me, it's all I want. To say yes to opportunities to help while being apart of something that matters.

(cabin #40 boys - first week)

(while it took 30-40min to get the older kids to get ready for breakfast,

this is how the younger ones approached. First cabin to sit ate first...crazy)

 

Thanks for keeping up, and here's to another year of day to day life in Nazareth!

Your prayers and support are still needed as none of this happens without you.

donation link - https://ylx.managedmissions.com/MyTrip/zackmiller1

 

Cheers to the last weeks of Summer - Zack

1 Year Later

Happy Independence Day America!
I hope you all have a great day with family and friends this holiday!

For me, after living abroad, I've gained an appreciative perspective of my home country. Lots of people want to have what we have as Americans. So, I say Thank You to the men and women who have made it possible for us to have the freedoms we do.

In the ironic contrast to today's holiday, it marks a full year of me living away from home in Nazareth, Israel. And Praise God for it has been an amazing year!

- I've had to stretch myself continually out of my comfort zone
- I'm always learning  (Arabic, to history of the land, to elements of the conflict, to how to do life better, and simply what it means to grow up).
- I've met so many amazing people! Shared laughs, thoughts, wishes, goals, heartaches, and everything in between. This is what life is all about for me!
- I've seen some incredible places (some many times).
- God has reminded me over and over of how much he provides, how much he loves me and us, and led to me into opportunities to succeed.

Coming into the country 1 year ago all I focused on was:
1) I'm moving to Nazareth
2) I'm working with Young Life.

I don't know if it was intentional but it made everything simpler. It helped me not to expect very much. And because of that, my eyes and heart recognize all the blessings that God has brought upon me.

This past year sent my life in a new direction. One of the things I've thought about is, when I'm older sharing about my life experiences, I will get to throw in "this is something I learned when I lived in Nazareth." Haha, I mean how cool is that sentence in itself?!

Some direct impacts in my life from this past year include:
- I'm closer to Jesus than I was a year ago.
- I can kind of speak a 2nd language (something I've wanted for a while).
- Living a day by day life is best.
- I wake up more often than not comfortably at peace and look forward to what great things will come.
- So many new friends!

I just wanted to spend some time in thankfulness and remembering all the good things over the past year. It's necessary from to do from time to time because it fills the heart with joy and positivity.

To you, thank you for your support, your prayers, and simply thank you for you. Without YOU, I would not have seen kids lives change for the better as they encounter and fall in Love with Jesus. I would not see the kids who still feel broken and lost and have the motivation and desire to make them feel important and love them. Without YOU, I would not be who I am today (:

You are all superstars to me!
(special shout out to Dad and Mom. You guys mean everything to me, I love you so much).

A slideshow of pictures from the past year!

Blessings, Zack

JMU YL Visits and YL Palestine Camp

Hello Friends and Happy Summer,

The past 2 weeks were busy, fun, and full of activities! First, after a long 8ish months of waiting, finally the James Madison University (my alma mater) Young Life came for their tour of the Holy Land. Then, the time finished with serving as work crew/program at Young Life Palestine camp!

(JMU Friends with YL Naz kids at the Lambeth's home)

 

This was one of the unlikely times where you are really excited for something and build it up in your mind...and then it actually exceeds expectations. It was awesome to spend time and instantly become friends with good people from home. Even more so, my fellow JMU DUKES!

I joined for most of their touring time around the country and my heart, body, and spirit were filled again with Jesus. It was my 3rd in-depth tour around the country (spoiled, I know) and I'm continually amazed at how deep the well goes. There is so much to learn. The history and context of the bible continues to have more and more layers, spiritually I was strengthened at a great time of the year and for my ministry here, and the community we developed was something that cannot be beaten.
When a group of people commit to opening up their heart to God on such a deep level, it is impossible to not connect and become a family.

(YL Palestine Camp Picture)

 

Then, after touring we all headed to Bet Sahour (just outside of Bethlehem) for YL Palestine camp. Around 115 kids from the West Bank towns of Zababdee, Tubas, and Ramalla all came to have one of the greatest weeks of their lives and hear about who Jesus is and what he did for them.
Now YL camp is one of the best things in the entire ministry and I witnessed that wherever you go in this world, much of the ministry elements remain the same. For example, we had club with the kids (singing songs, skits, games, and a message), cabin time (going deeper talking about the scripture, and how we feel about it connecting with our own life), fun activities, program/skits and more.
Yet being international YL in a different, it came with it's own flair.

(1 Thes. 2:8 "Because we loved you so much, we were delighted not only to

share the Gospel of God with you but our very lives as well.")

At the end of the week, kids lives were changed and I am just thankful I was there to witness it all (:
- A short post with pictures today...but I plan to write tomorrow as well because it is a special day for me.

Much Love, Zack

(Young Life Shenanigans - Flour bombs, and water balloons)

 

Snapshots

Hello (:
It's been a busy last couple weeks.

// Highlights //
- Served lunch to 300 people in 1 day at the Nazareth Village
- Graduation for the seniors from the Nazareth Baptist School where we are directly involved with Young Life and this group specifically was special as they had been the kids I went to camp with 2 summers ago at Windy Gap and our staff has strong connections with most of them.
- NC State Young Life College group came to visit for 12ish days
- Toured some of the country with said YL group
- Young Life Capernaum (special needs kids) camp in Bethlehem
- More Nazareth Village work...but there of course was some fun, a.k.a. dinner with the staff on the Sea of Galilee

Now understand, I'm so thankful and love all of this. Busyness helps keep the mind from thinking too much, makes me feel productive, and what a joy to be in the land I am in doing what I am doing.
Nothing better than a 4 hour nap though when it all caught up to me on Friday.

So, this period of the year has been long awaited for me personally. Graduation for the seniors was so much fun. To share in their excitement made it easy to be happy and smile...and then it also made me remember my own graduation (Spring 2009). I thought how it would be absolutely ridiculous for my present self to tell my 18 year old self what I would be doing right now. "Yeahhh, sure I'll transfer from VT to JMU then move to NC, then move again to Nazareth, Israel working with Young Life ministries. Okayyy crazy Zack from the future."
But that's how life is...we plan our life, which we have very little proof or experience that it will happen as we think, then it goes in a completely different direction.

Also, June meant friends from NC State YL would make their visit! It was great to host them and see them experience the Holy Land for the first time as I once did. Oh, and even better...James Madison University Young Life is coming in a week. (The school I attended and the same trip I took 2 years ago) LETS GOOO!

----- There's the info of what's happened. Now for the deeper, lessons learned part -----

The NC State group was actually just girls (a group of 9). It's all good, I was a fan haha
This equated to a lot more pictures. I personally am a simplistic picture taker...I try to be in the moment without the camera and then get just 1 reminder pic.
However, I am super thankful these awesome ladies captured some great snapshots. As life happens, pictures are so helpful and great at bringing back emotions and thoughts of favorite memories and friends. Easy to see why Instagram is so popular.
- So I'm gunna share a few and just some thoughts.

 

Young Life brought this room of people together. Just outside Bethlehem people from Israel, Palestine, Ukraine, USA, Canada, and Kenya were in a room together worshiping, talking about Jesus and praying for kids, teens, and adults who feel lost in this big world. 

 

Young Life - for some reason this organization has been immensely influential in my life. From my working activities today, to how I gave my life over to following Jesus, to lots of laugher and learning, to get this....how my parents met! In the background are students waiting for the last club of the school year and it was a blast. PTL (praise the Lord)

 

 

This land is so special. It's where God chose to come to Earth in Jesus. I join tours each chance I get just to learn more about the history and what happened as people have lived in this area for thousands of years! This is from the top of Mt. Arbel on the Sea of Galilee which I've hiked about 5 times now. 

 

The Nazareth Village is my unexpected blessings/volunteer opportunity during my time here. From being a tour guide, to hanging out as a shepherd, to making bread/meals...it's a testament to 'you never know what may happen.'

 

Now these "Snapshots"...they show just a moment. And this is what came to mind when I wanted to write this up. A picture is great. We take, post, and share them. Usually the top moments are the ones we try to capture. However...pictures lack the backstory...the behind the scenes. For example, you don't see the 2 hour drive to Bethlehem, serving special needs kids, and not getting enough sleep. You don't see the hours spent at school, trying to befriend high school kids you don't know and don't speak the same first language as, planning clubs/bible study, then being bummed when kids cancel on plans. You don't see the work and exercise to make it to the top of the mountain. You don't see the hours of waiting just for a group to pass by for a couple minutes, or the thousands of other pieces of bread made standing next to a fire when it's 90 degrees outside or serving 300 people in the span of a few hours.

 

Day to day life is a lot of work and grind with few glorious, movie worthy moments. Relationships, work, and self growth are all tasks we undertake continuously. But when the time comes and you get a snapshot, it is a good moment. And that good moment makes it all worth it. For me personally, Jesus is in that good moment smiling with me. Even more important though, I believe He is in ALL the moments - tough, mundane, difficult, stressful, joyful, happy, thankful...

 

Love you all, happy Sunday and Blessings to you!

 



Day to Day and Inspiration

It's May already?!

This year is really moving quickly and it being May, that means Nazareth has been home for 10 months! Also, this month and next month there are 2 special groups coming who are very close to my heart.
NC State YL College where I volunteered as a leader for a year post graduation has a small group of 10 people coming this month. Then in June, 35 James Madison University YL leaders are visiting the Holy Land. This is my alma mater (Go Dukes) and 2 years ago it was this very trip that put me where I am today.
In the fall last year I began looking forward to hosting these 2 groups and I'm stoked the waiting is almost over (:

Since my sister visited, I traveled to Cypress for a week of rest and vacation (went with The Lambeth family and it was awesome), there have been some long and hard work days at the Nazareth Village (such as serving 250+ lunch on multiple accounts), I've had some tougher down days, and then some amazing days I never wanted to end. As it goes according to the law of undulation = the natural ebb and flow/up and down movement of life.

(Paphos, Cypress - the water was super duper blue....and cold)

 

Now, to delve deeper and share a little more personally about my day to day, I've been doing something the last 2 weeks that has really helped me remain aware of the holy spirit always being around. We all have idle time during the day (watching tv, on fb, on our phone). During this time I've chosen to watch online sermons of messages from pastors I really connect with...like the way they bring Jesus out of scripture and how they deliver their message resonates with me.
Steven Furtick and Judah Smith are my top 2 guys right now (from Charlotte, NC and Seattle, WA). Just 30-45mintues out of my day to hear a message from the Bible helps me so much. And with technology today there is so much available to me...honestly it's pretty sweet.
Doing this regularly is also a reminder that Jesus and Church isn't just a Sunday thing. Jesus is an everyday thing because He's not a thing He's a person, and we don't just hang out 1 day a week at a place called church, it's a daily, personal relationship I have with Him.

These two pastors, Steven and Judah inspire me with how they preach. And I'll admit sometimes when I'm watching them I get all jacked up and think "yeahh buddyyyy! that's what I wanna do!" haha.

links for talks if you wanna check them out
Pastor Judah Smith talk
Pastor Steven Furtick talk

I'll tell you over and over, ministry is not something I predicted or wanted to do with my life. There were moments even when I felt kinda like my parents were pushing me into it...(not that they were, it was all encouragement and parents usually know you pretty well and what is good for you #lifetipsfromzack). But here I am living it out with YL in Nazareth and I'm loving it.
Also today, and this has happened a couple times now, I gave a tour at the Nazareth Village. Afterwards two different people came up and said "Zack you have something in you that comes alive when you share about Jesus." I say thank you, you're very kind. And usually tell them I have no idea what is ahead in my future they reply "think about continuing with ministry because you have a gift."

- Surrender -
I've had these conversations a couple times and try to be humble and thankful during them. However, later in the day as I sit alone and think about life, the future and try to figure out what it is that God's got for me...maybe it does make sense.
Either way, I'm going to continue to give my all to God (in the good and the bad days) because I've found it's a fuller life than whatever I tried before.

I hope the May flowers are coming after the April showers wherever you are.
Cheers from Nazareth, it's starting to get hot here...Bring on the Summer!

(my worship jam recently, not new but so good)

Love Zack

Big Sis in the Holy Land

This past week one of my big sisters Emily came to visit me in the Holy Land! (I have a 2nd big sister Kate just fyi) She was my first visitor to come specifically to Israel because I am here.

Quick background - Emily is 3 years older than me and a math teacher. She's been to 22 different countries all around the world doing ministry mostly so I was gearing up to hopefully provide her with a fun time and new things to see.

It really turned out to be quality bro/sis time as I showed her around the country and took on a bit of the tour guide role sharing all about what I have learned so far. We went to Caesarea, Hiked in Galilee, visited the Mt. of Beatitudes, Capernaum, Jerusalem on Good Friday walking the Via De La Rosa (path of the cross), Haifa, floated in the Dead Sea, Jericho, Bethlehem, and hung around my current hometown, Nazareth.
- This is all incentive for you to come visit me!!! Just get here, I'll do the rest

(Dead Sea mud, Nazareth Village, Jerusalem, and Mt. Arbel above Sea of Galilee)

 

Now, this is the first time I've ever had extended just 'Emily and I time' in our life. Growing up we loved each other cuz we had to as family, but never really would've chosen to be around one another. So I was a little nervous because I wanted to entertain her and also didn't want to argue/fight. Also this would be an opportunity to build some good memories to in our relationship for the years to come and as we've gotten older it has been easier to relate and enjoy each others company. The cliche is family first, or family over everything...but do we really live that day to day? I know I don't however I've learned a lot about how family is such a strong element here in the Arab culture. I am fully aware of the blessing of my family and thankful for my parents and sisters...and this time with Emily was I think a big step in our friendship down the road.

Hope you had a wonderful Easter! It was interesting in Nazareth, there are actually 2 Easters celebrated a week apart - one for the western/catholic Christians, and then the Greek Orthodox Christians celebrated a week later. I don't get it...we all believe in the same Jesus and little things getting in the way seem silly to me. It is a truly special time of year thought and reminder of the Genius of Jesus and what I think is the greatest moment in human history...the cross and then resurrection. PTL!!!

Go tell someone in your family you love them! - or - Do something nice as a surprise!

God Bless - Zack

Easter

Happy Easter Week!

I don't think I'm aware of the significance of how cool it is to be living in the Holy Land during this time of year. While there is the fun of eggs to be hunted by kids and the large amount of chocolate bunnies that will be eaten, we are all aware of the reason for this holiday. Jesus came to Jerusalem amongst a party of people who were all singing His praise, yet He knew exactly what was coming a week later.

I'm even more excited because my sister will be joining me here in Israel for 10 days! Emily is visiting during her spring break and I think I've told everyone I can that she will be here (partially because it is a sentence in Arabic I know I can say haha). I'm looking forward to hosting her, showing her around the land, and most of all introducing her to the amazing people I have built relationships with.
Even more so on the family aspect, my dad's brother and his wife came at the beginning of this month and I took a bus to Tiberias (city on the Sea of Galilee) to enjoy some time with them.

(with Aunt Debbie and Uncle Jim)

 

I've continued my time volunteering at the village (30-35hrs a week) during the tourist season and been blessed through that. While it is demanding and definitely "grind work", there are moments that I am truly thankful for as I've persevered and been willing to give of myself. (I call these "alter moments" taking a tip from Abraham, amongst many others in the Old Testament, who when God showed up in their life, they built a physical alter of stone usually to commemorate and remind them of it. These alters help me remember when God answered prayer or blessed me so I can look back at them during the grind work or when it feels like nothing is happening).

(baking bread at the Nazareth Village)

Young Life will happen Thursday this week and it is time for the "Cross Talk". In YL terms, this is the club where we share the message from scripture of what Jesus did by taking a punishment intended for us, and defeating death as the Son of Man on the Cross. I'm praying the kids who come are impacted by this truth and the gift that is for each of them...and each of you...and me.

Prayers are always welcome - that God continues to reveal himself to the kids we are getting to know and also for my time with my sister...and I pray that you get some quiet moments to contemplate Jesus on the Cross and the Resurrection this week.

Love Zack

Touches of God's Grace

Greetings and happy weekend to you all!

It has been a little over a month since returning to Nazareth for this next part of my expedition. Things have been going very well and I continue to learn day to day through experiences and how I hope to live my best life.

Young Life has gone to another level with lots of new kids and the regulars attending club. We can usually count on around at least 30 students to show up and sometimes get up to 60! Furthermore, while we are directly involved with just one high school, students "our" school have invited their friends from other schools...and then they invite their friends. So students from around 4-5 different schools have at least had one experience with Young Life Nazareth which is exciting. Hunter and I continue with our bible study of some solid guys who want to go deeper into the bible questions and thoughts about discovering who Jesus is. Laurie (Hunter's wife) facilitates the girls group and sometimes we all come together for study with a little worship - this has given me an opportunity to lead on the guitar which has been fun to pick back up after learning some basics when I was younger. B.Study nights usually end with a game of Settlers of Catan which I brought from America and the kids here love it!! Buttt, they still are working to beat me haha.

I also returned as a volunteer to the Nazareth Village Tourist site. This includes dressing as a 1st century villager "working" the land, helping serve meals in the kitchen/restaurant, and finally as a guide leading tours through the village. Current circumstances also led the director of the village to asking if I could give a bit more time and have a more involved role. Basically, I am her personal assistant which has a role similar to that of an operations manager for the other volunteers & staff just making sure people are where they need to be and managing the timing of things to provide the best experience for the tourists. I work about 35 hours a week but still remain a volunteer and while this may seem crazy and not logical on my part...for me it was simply an opportunity to fill a need for a place I have come to love.
My favorite thing by far is leading tours because I am directly involved with tourists from all over the world and share about life during Jesus's time. One example - I led a group from Singapore of pastors who were full of energy. They were a delight to share knowledge with, laugh with, and then at the end they provided a memory that will stay with me forever as they prayed for me and the ministry I'm involved with here. A line that has stuck in my head was - "Lord, let Zack continue to pursue You, and finish with the same passion and energy that he started with." At moments when I feel I am tired or just want to stop, I remember this.

Then, actually today I led a group from Canada. Now, every tour I give, my focus is to give my best and that those the group will learn something new. At the end of the tour the group leader, Pastor Todd took a moment with me. He said "Zack, thank you so much, you did a great job. And can I tell you something?" I replied, "Of Course." And he said "You have a touch of God with you."
I've come to strongly believe that one of the ways God works in our lives is through people - words, actions, service, etc...and things like these kind words are a treasure for me.

I'm thankful that every day I am involved with things centered around Christ because it makes it much easier to keep my focus on pursuing Him and what he taught. I know we all don't have this privilege, however I believe He is always there for us, wherever we may be.

Hope you have a great weekend, and Blessings to you. I'm giving the talk/message tomorrow at club so that's something you could keep in your prayers for me.

(this was taken from my "porch" last Sunday after a storm

a reminder of God's first covenant)

Love Zack

Home and Back Again!

Mar-haba (hello in Arabic) Friends and Fam!

So I took some time away for the holidays as I got to go home to America and see family and friends! It was a perfect 4 weeks at home back in Northern Virginia (and Raleigh to visit my NC State friends). All my love and gratitude to everyone I got to see and swap life updates with. Some hang outs were planned and others were spontaneous but I was blessed by all of them. I'm continually reminded that life is about relationships and building quality ones is my favorite thing to do.  

Making visits to see everyone I could was a blast and I was happy to share all about my initial adventures and learning from my first 6 months in Israel serving with Young Life. Then, to listen to others' stories of where life is taking them and hear about the good things going on, some things that didn't happen maybe how initially predicted, and new dreams created...these are the ways to cultivate meaningful friendships. I'm reminded that we all have our own path and God's directing us in different ways (all in His timing of course). I encourage you to be 100% YOU...aka, find what makes you come alive and pursue it!

I will miss The States, however after the first week back here in Nazareth I find myself full of energy, joy and excitement to continue serving The Lord through Young Life (and my volunteering at the Nazareth Village as well). I cannot explain it, but Naz really does feel like home now. For this season of life, God's got me here...and I've decided all I can do is give my entire body, mind and spirit to being here in the present moment.

A brief post, but just wanted to get back in the flow of sharing about my trip. When this journey began I was hoping for at least a year long expedition and through your generosity, prayer and support that has become possible AND MORE! I have enough fundraised to make it through this whole calendar year (2015)!! I'll continue to stay and serve here as long as there is money donated by those who believe in what I'm doing. I think it could continue beyond just 2015. As you read and follow along with my trip, if you feel called to, here is the link to donate:

https://ylx.managedmissions.com/MyTrip/zackmiller1

Few shout outs:
Dad and Mom: I am who I am because of you. Thanks for guiding me in life while also giving me freedom to become who I am today. Love You
PT, ZT, Bryce, Prince, Daniel, Arlandis, TWebb, Nate: my friends from grade school, I'm thankful that we've remained friends through the many years. What we have as a group of friends isn't common and I'm blessed because of your friendships.
Mackenzie Kelleher: it was so great to see you randomly and hear about your move to NYC in pursuit of your dream of working in music.
My NC State YL friends: What a treat to visit Raleigh and see most of you! Hope you can come visit with YLC

(family crossfit day - with bro in law)

 

Love you all and Blessings from me to you! Cheers - Zack