Sabba....what?

One of the main buildings at the Free-University of Amsterdam where Zach is an independent researching working on his New Testament dissertation.  He has been spending about ten days there every year since 2011.

It's official.  After nearly ten years of working with Christian Reformed World Missions, we have begun three months of sabbatical.  Most people probably don't know what a sabbatical is, though they might guess it is related to the biblical word, "sabbath" or "day of rest."  A sabbatical is a time study dedicated completely to professional and spiritual growth.  It isn't a vacation, though it often has a completely different rhythm focused on contemplation and learning.  Zach's sabbatical is to try to complete, as far as possible, his Ph.D. dissertation on New Testament missions that he started back in 2011.  On March 21 Zach will be leaving for the Netherlands for a week to get feedback from his supervisor on the last few chapters he has written.  Sharon's sabbatical has been focused on pastoral care training as she has been serving as a volunteer chaplain at a West-Michigan mental-health hospital.  She has been encouraging and praying with people who are passing through some of the most difficult times of their lives.  Zach and Sharon are looking forward to taking a week of vacation together in the Netherlands while the kids stay home with the grandparents.  We hope that these sabbatical experiences will give us renewed wisdom and grace to continue our ministry in Haiti when we return in early June.