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)