Countdown

We have been closing down on the days left on campus. From tomorrow it will be two days left. Unfortunately, students are going home to their families and I will never be able to see students again. As students leave the res hall I must come to the realization that there is an eternity at stake for their life. If I haven’t shared with them then I am driven to have them hear the gospel. Is there anything better for them to hear about than their eternity? I could talk about what they are going to do at home, if they are going to be with friends, what food they are eating, or anything else that seems pointless in light of eternity. Time draws to an end here on campus and I cannot leave any regrets as I go on the plane. I want to have gospel conversations with students!

So now that I got that out of the way let me fill you in on our last week... What an incredible time! My ministry partner and I have gotten a chance to see some pretty awesome (literally awe-inspiring) views of Jozi. We have climbed to the top of something called the Tower of Lights with one of my friends Themba.  

Though It doesn't seem high (it really isn't) the view is crystal clear and we are able to see out to Joburg all around...

After that the group we were with went around campus and they have something I call the "Tunnel of Graffiti"and some of the art is incredible! We had to get a picture in it. It is tunnel that goes underneath a main highway that connects East Campus and West Campus. I could stay in there all day and just look at the Art.

This past saturday we went to the Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden in South Africa. We had seen pictures of the gardens but arriving there was just incredible! The Gardens were HUGE!!!! It had a waterfall that we were able to climb to the top of and peek over it (a little intimidating... to be honest) and if kept climbing up we were able to see an incredible view of South Africa!

This week is going to be tough! I just ask that you can pray for our team as we--sadly-- say goodbye to students we will probably never see again. Pray that the gospel can penetrate their hearts. Also pray that the team, though utterly exhausted, can keep pressing on for Jesus' name to be made known!

This will probably be my last blog update before I head home... We have a lot of stuff to do in the next week and a half and I will actually not be anywhere with internet (I know... no excuse). I will write it when I get back to the States... But we have a lot ahead of us. Our Winter Camp is happening next week so pray that students will have a good time and hear the gospel with open ears. Thank you for praying for me this whole time in South Africa... I can't express it enough that the prayers of others have really made an impact on my life and the lives of others.

Grace and Peace,

Zach

Happy Fathers Day

What a busy week! This week we got Monday off because we worked all the way through our weekend and didn't get to take a sabbath. In that time I have been reading a book by Mark Driscoll called Death By Love... It certainly is an emotional read... Never-the-less it is an incredible book that points me back to the gospel every time I read it. I am also reading a book called Desiring God by John Piper. I would certainly advise you to read those books.

We hit up campus on tuesday and have been trying to recruit out to our retreat called the Unashamed 116 Winter Camp. Recruitment is quite difficult because we have been attempting to meet with students but they are in the midst of studying for exams (our equivalent to 1st semester finals). The Witsies are very hard workers and have incredibly hard tests.

This weekend we went to the Bruma Market. It is one of the biggest markets in the city of Joburg. Wow! What a blast! We spent a good 3 hours shopping and learning about the culture in Jozi. I was able to get some pretty neat things for a cheap price! The market really taught me about my greed because I was willing to keep knocking down prices without care of the person selling them (even though bartering is expected I still need to realize that the things being sold are the peoples' way of living).

I hope to keep you updated! Happy Fathers Day to my Dad, my Step-Dad, and my Brother. I hope you men are continuing to reflect christ!

God Answering Prayers

I will have to make this quick so I will give you just the fly-through!

1. A guy who came to Christ (on thursday) started to share the gospel with his family, roommate, and his classmates... He sees how great the gospel is and he can't keep it to himself!

2. I wanted to share the gospel with a guy and his roommate ended up hearing it (Note: his roommate is someone I have been, quite honestly, intimidated by). He was so interested by the gospel that we ended up having a whole conversation on Christ's love!

3. My ministry partner was sick and unable to go on campus for a couple of days and now he is feeling better!

4. God is growing me to understand how much I need Jesus more and more.

Sorry this isn't a lot but we have been extremely busy but extremely blessed!

Grace and Peace

Glorify Our Generous God

It has been a busy week! It has been an incredibly fun and busy week! To get right to the point, Jesus did answer the prayer about the young man who wanted to talk to me. I was doubtful at first because when I first came to see him he was asleep in his room but God brought him to the weekly meeting and I was able to show him (to my best ability) his need for Jesus and he ended up saying how powerful and simple the gospel was and how he had never heard it before! It was so sad to hear from him how the gospel had never been told to him.

We have been able to meet most of the freshmen on our floor and so have been able to build relationships with the guys. We have about 19 school days left on campus. It has been crazy to see what a BIG God can do on a (relatively) small area in the universe.

Yesterday as a treat we went out to a movie and then to dinner. We all dressed up and went out to eat and got an incredibly filling meal while also getting to know the rest of the team members. The whole night was so much fun and relaxing (which was needed).

Please post questions you have about what is going on in Jozi. I would love to help answer your questions!

Prayer Requests
1. The student I shared with comes to Christ
2. Energy to keep going hard on campus
3. Building good relationships with my teammates
4. Not a wasted minute on campus

Spamandla

Big news people! When I arrive back home from Jozi something incredible will happen to me. I am changing my name to Spamandla! Just kidding! But I was given that name by a fellow african brother in Christ. Spamandla means "give us strength". Ironically I don't go to God for enough strength. I ask that God really can point me to Him as much as possible.

Got to meet a guy who asked me how much sin can we have until we get kicked out of Heaven... WOW! If that question doesn't break someone's heart I don't know what does... I got to open up to him about how God changed my life and how his death on the cross saves us from sin. I told him how even one sin separates us from God and that we sin unconsciously! Today while at a bible study (which I'll get to) he texted me and asked to meet with me tomorrow... Lets pray that a seed is planted in his heart!

Today at the bible study the Wits CO student leaders talked about how we need to be satisfied in Jesus and how finding our joy in anything else is like using a broken bucket to get water out of a well... we would just be drinking drops of water when Jesus could satisfy our thirst with His life!

Prayer Request
1. God can let me depend on Him for strength
2. Students hear the gospel and want a changed heart
3. Students start to understand that the gospel is fully satisfying