Growing Like Crazy!

Good Sunday to you - Family, Friends and others who found their way here (:

Hope you are enjoying your day and the coming of Spring. I've decided it is my favorite season here in the Holy Land as all the colors show up after the rainy winter. Most of the year the land is all brown so these few months are great.

First thing - The VISA situation. Hunter (my boss), local friends and I are doing everything possible and exploring every option to find a way that I can extend my stay here. As of now, my VISA will be good until mid/late June but we're looking for options to go beyond that. You're prayers are  appreciated very much. I am trusting God with whatever happens, I mean that's how this whole thing started anyway and it is the title of my blog - An Expedition of Trust. There's been no reason to turn my focus in another direction with all the good things that have come already so I do not intend to.

In other news, lots of great Young Life stuff going on. As I mentioned before, we are seeing success with our ministry here after the early years of work have solidified good roots. My mom reminded me of a cool analogy that can relate to life.
When you plant Bamboo, it doesn't grow very much at the start. Not just for a couple months but for 1-2 years. You keep going back and watering/maintaining it but there isn't much of a visual result. Then suddenly after about 2 years, it grows at a crazy rate "exponentially" sometimes feet in short periods of time. It reminds me of what we are seeing here...thanks madre!

I have shared before about helping lead a new YL ministry in a village called Ibiliin. Wednesday Night I gave a 'Creation' focused message. It included this great video from Louie Giglio, a notable pastor from Atlanta, Georgia. He shared some amazing sounds of recordings from NASA telescopes listening to stars and the songs of whales, then put them together to form almost a galactic worship song. Also, there is this picture that shows similarities in the design of our universe, from the brain cell to the universe, a cell being born to the death of a star, and the iris of an eye to a nebula in space.

(there's a longer version where he shows the stars that were recorded)

 

After I finished, I received a great response from not only the kids, but the adult leaders as well. However, there was one response I don't think I'll forget for a long time. I walk by a 10th grade boy who actually has a muslim background and gave him the classic dap/hug embrace. I smile, he returns one and then says "You know Zack, I don't believe in God." My response - "It's okay man, I still love that you're here."

(Mt. Hermon in the background to the left - likely
where the transfiguration  of Jesus happened - Matthew 17 )

THAT RIGHT THERE, that is what I love about Young Life. The missional value of entering into adolescent kids lives, building relationships and no matter what they believe or don't believe, a Young Life leader is still there, invested in who they are as a person. I have experienced this on both sides and it is one of the purest forms of love. The coolest part is, He Still Comes! Here is a kid with a background of a different faith, nobody is forcing him to come to club, and he knows there will always be an ending message from the bible...and he still chooses to join.
I hope this story impacts you in a good way. My other thought was - why did he feel the need to tell me? I believe it is because something is going on inside him...he's thinking about what it would mean for God to be in his life.

Lastly, today was a great day. Hunter, his wife Laurie, their daughter Haley and I joined in with the YL Ibiliin leaders on a trip they planned for the kids to the north of Israel. Some hiking, a picnic lunch and "Golf Cart trail riding". The greatest part was none of us Americans were part of the planning, we just joined for support and fun. This was all done by 2 volunteer adult leaders from this Village (Renay and Bshara) who are giving their extra time to serve with YL and our newest staff member (Wael and his wife Lena). God is so Good and the 'bamboo is starting to grow really fast' (:

Some of the Galilee Region Young Life Team
(Me, Laurie, Lena, Renay, Wael, Hunter, Bshara)

Some people have fish...others Love, hahaha

From me to you,

may you live in love and

recognize the blessings

you already have in life.

- Be A Light - 

 

Zack