As many of you know, starting July 1st 2018, Lau and I took a second Sabbatical after almost twenty years of serving with WMF. Our goal for this time was to rest and be with God, discern for his guidance and find peace and encouragement for the next season of our life. In order to do all these the plan was to take some distance from our work, our city and even our place, but in the same time consider our medical insurance (since, I Vali need to check up regularly at hospital for thyroid problems). Other details in the plan included that Lau enrolls for further education in an area that he has passion for (computer science), and I will be considering writing a chapter about the interchangeable relationship between practice and theory in doing mission. I have also planned to do some internship and participate in The Northumbria Community daily activities. In addition, we planned to spent some time during Christmas with our family from the US whom we don’t get to see very often. This Sabbatical ended at March 31st.
So where are we in/with the Sabbatical? What’s been going on so far?
For a few months of our Sabbatical I (Vali) have been sick with severe headaches and dizziness. It took me many visits to my doctor in Romania and in Scotland until I got a clearer diagnosis. Apparently, I have eustachian tube dysfunction and it is worse after flying (which I did several times in the past seven months). Not knowing what the problem was made me very anxious and worried. Because of sickness I wasn’t able to finish writing the chapter for the School Workbook as I supposed to. I am holding the thought to finish it one day (because it is written 70 percents of it) even if it will not be published. Also I did not manage to go to the Northumbria Community because my available time to do this did not matched their most appropriate time to have me there. Anyway, they invited me for a retreat anytime, which hopefully I will go for some day.
We managed to be with our family in the US for Christmas where we had a very good time. Although, we wanted to see more of our friends in the US, we only manage to see a few of them due to short time and long distances to travel.
Now, after nine months of Sabbatical we settled down in Dundee, Scotland, because Lau has started to study for a Master Degree in Applied Computing with University of Dundee. He succeed well the first semester assignments and exams. His face radiates with joy when he is asked to talk about what he is learning.
Because we manage to rent a small apartment and be official residents in Scotland, it was easy to register with a General Practitioner and be approved to have medical check ups for my thyroid problem. The medical check-ups that I have to undertake for the rest of my life were a big concern for us when we were planning for our Sabbatical. In Romania I had to take a 34-hours trip, (form Galati to Cluj return way included) every six months to receive the specialized medical assistance I need for my thyroid problems. Being able to have specialized medical assistance here, was a great relief and a big contributor in influencing our decision-making for the next season of our life. It wasn’t and it still isn’t easy but we decided to not be involved (as full time staff) with WMF after our Sabbatical (starting April 1st).
Although there are a lot of uncertainties about our future - related to finding new jobs and the Brexit that might affect our status in UK, we will continue to stay in Scotland, (UK) for now or at least until Lau finishes his studies. If there is one thing we have learned in this Sabbatical that is to trust God, that He has our next season of life in his regard and that is OK to do something else. When we planned our Sabbatical, knowing our struggles, we had so many worries and concerns about how to find rest and how to be trusting in God regarding our financial needs for our Sabbatical. Although not every detail of our plan for Sabbatical worked out as we planned, we are positively overwhelmed by the way things were arranged for us regarding accommodation, medical assistance, school enrolment for Lau and financial needs so far. God is more than our Provider and Sustainer. He is the One giving us the power to wake up every morning and become ready for the challenges of a new day. We are most thankful for friends that knew about our struggle with this decision-making and chose to support us in one way or another. Their supportive friendship was one of the greatest encouragement and also an influence to our decision-making regarding our future.
So where are we in/with the Sabbatical? What’s been going on so far?
For a few months of our Sabbatical I (Vali) have been sick with severe headaches and dizziness. It took me many visits to my doctor in Romania and in Scotland until I got a clearer diagnosis. Apparently, I have eustachian tube dysfunction and it is worse after flying (which I did several times in the past seven months). Not knowing what the problem was made me very anxious and worried. Because of sickness I wasn’t able to finish writing the chapter for the School Workbook as I supposed to. I am holding the thought to finish it one day (because it is written 70 percents of it) even if it will not be published. Also I did not manage to go to the Northumbria Community because my available time to do this did not matched their most appropriate time to have me there. Anyway, they invited me for a retreat anytime, which hopefully I will go for some day.
We managed to be with our family in the US for Christmas where we had a very good time. Although, we wanted to see more of our friends in the US, we only manage to see a few of them due to short time and long distances to travel.
Now, after nine months of Sabbatical we settled down in Dundee, Scotland, because Lau has started to study for a Master Degree in Applied Computing with University of Dundee. He succeed well the first semester assignments and exams. His face radiates with joy when he is asked to talk about what he is learning.
Because we manage to rent a small apartment and be official residents in Scotland, it was easy to register with a General Practitioner and be approved to have medical check ups for my thyroid problem. The medical check-ups that I have to undertake for the rest of my life were a big concern for us when we were planning for our Sabbatical. In Romania I had to take a 34-hours trip, (form Galati to Cluj return way included) every six months to receive the specialized medical assistance I need for my thyroid problems. Being able to have specialized medical assistance here, was a great relief and a big contributor in influencing our decision-making for the next season of our life. It wasn’t and it still isn’t easy but we decided to not be involved (as full time staff) with WMF after our Sabbatical (starting April 1st).
Although there are a lot of uncertainties about our future - related to finding new jobs and the Brexit that might affect our status in UK, we will continue to stay in Scotland, (UK) for now or at least until Lau finishes his studies. If there is one thing we have learned in this Sabbatical that is to trust God, that He has our next season of life in his regard and that is OK to do something else. When we planned our Sabbatical, knowing our struggles, we had so many worries and concerns about how to find rest and how to be trusting in God regarding our financial needs for our Sabbatical. Although not every detail of our plan for Sabbatical worked out as we planned, we are positively overwhelmed by the way things were arranged for us regarding accommodation, medical assistance, school enrolment for Lau and financial needs so far. God is more than our Provider and Sustainer. He is the One giving us the power to wake up every morning and become ready for the challenges of a new day. We are most thankful for friends that knew about our struggle with this decision-making and chose to support us in one way or another. Their supportive friendship was one of the greatest encouragement and also an influence to our decision-making regarding our future.
An Ignatian Examination of our time
I would like to continue presenting a brief Ignatian examination of our Sabbatical time so far. I will use mostly present continuous tense because is a continuous process of living.
I would like to continue presenting a brief Ignatian examination of our Sabbatical time so far. I will use mostly present continuous tense because is a continuous process of living.
We are seeking everyday to become aware that we live in the presence of our God, that ‘we can never escape from [His] Spirit, ... we can never get away from His presence...because [He] is there [with us]’ (Psalm 139:7-8).
We are seeking to look at our days with gratitude, to be thankful that we are His beloved son and daughter, that He made us ‘so wonderfully complex’ (Psalm 139:14).
We are seeking to look at our days with gratitude, to be thankful that we are His beloved son and daughter, that He made us ‘so wonderfully complex’ (Psalm 139:14).
Sometimes we are obsessed with anxious feelings and become so intricate with the daily living. But we are asking the Holy Spirit for help to know and search our heart,...to test and know our anxious thoughts and concerns of our everyday life and future (Psalm 139:23).
Reviewing our time so far we are seeking to cherish God’s thoughts and love about us (Psalm 139:17).
The highest and the most life-giving moments so far of our Sabbatical were/are:
When did we fail?
We failed some of our relationships in the past and we are failing again every-time we succumb to our past failures letting them dictate who we are. Lord, have mercy!
When did we love?
We have loved when we chose to be compassionate, have patience and put others above us. We pray for more of these moments in our lives.
Do we observe any habits or life patterns?
We constantly observe habits or life patterns that need to be put to death and re-learn a new way of living. I (Vali) am daunted everyday by my perfectionistic life pattern and when I let feelings like shame, regret and guilt to downsize my life. In reverse I seek to practice the gifts of imperfections - that in Brene Brown’s words are courage, compassion and connection and that ultimately will lead us to what matters - love, belonging and worthiness (see Brene Brown’s book “The gifts of Imperfection”)
When did we see evidence of God’s presence?
Reviewing our time so far we are seeking to cherish God’s thoughts and love about us (Psalm 139:17).
The highest and the most life-giving moments so far of our Sabbatical were/are:
- Studying a subject he has passion for (Lau)
- Rest
- Being treated with so much dignity and respect by the doctors I (Vali) am seeing for medical assistance (this is the way is supposed to be)
- Learning new things from books I red and from interaction with other people
- Spending time with our family in Romania and the US for parts of our Sabbatical
- Seeing (visiting) some friends and talking on the phone or Skype with others in the UK and US
- Making new friends through Connection Cafe project where I (Vali) am volunteering for the past four months
- Worrying about our future
- Getting discouraged and doubtful about our decision
- Getting homesick
- Losing hope
- Being sick for a long time and not knowing what the problem was
When did we fail?
We failed some of our relationships in the past and we are failing again every-time we succumb to our past failures letting them dictate who we are. Lord, have mercy!
When did we love?
We have loved when we chose to be compassionate, have patience and put others above us. We pray for more of these moments in our lives.
Do we observe any habits or life patterns?
We constantly observe habits or life patterns that need to be put to death and re-learn a new way of living. I (Vali) am daunted everyday by my perfectionistic life pattern and when I let feelings like shame, regret and guilt to downsize my life. In reverse I seek to practice the gifts of imperfections - that in Brene Brown’s words are courage, compassion and connection and that ultimately will lead us to what matters - love, belonging and worthiness (see Brene Brown’s book “The gifts of Imperfection”)
When did we see evidence of God’s presence?
- In the way things have been so far for us (accomodation, medical assistance, new and old relationships).
- In the way we were supported financially by our community in Galati and by other friends’ generosity.
- In the way God provided us with qualitative medical assistance.
- In the way we were welcomed and integrated in their home-group by the people in the church.
- In the way God gives us hope and turns our whole beings (mind, soul, heart) again and again to Him giving us eyes to see “the beauty of the Lord” in the daily living.
We surrender our individual life and our life together to God. Lord, have mercy!
Say the Prayer of Ignatius for Surrender with us and for us
Take O Lord and receive
All my liberty, my memory, my understanding
And my entire will
All that I have and possess
You have given all to me
To You O Lord I surrender it and I return it
All is yours
Dispose of it all according to Your will
Give me Your love and Your grace.
With these I will be rich enough, and will desire nothing more.
Acknowledgments
We know some of you might not like your names to be put up front, but we would like to thank to all those people who somehow had a contribution to our time for Sabbatical.
First of all, we would like to thank to our Word Made Flesh community in Galati for granting us a time for rest and continuing to support us (financially) through this time. Thank you for helping us discern a clearer plan for our Sabbatical and pushing us have a clear vision for the purpose of our time (that involved resting).
Also, we want to say thank you to all people who supported us financially and with friendship (advice and encouragement) through this time. We could not make it without you. Thank you for believing in us, and with us in this time for rest and discernment.
Lau&Vali Archip
Take O Lord and receive
All my liberty, my memory, my understanding
And my entire will
All that I have and possess
You have given all to me
To You O Lord I surrender it and I return it
All is yours
Dispose of it all according to Your will
Give me Your love and Your grace.
With these I will be rich enough, and will desire nothing more.
Acknowledgments
We know some of you might not like your names to be put up front, but we would like to thank to all those people who somehow had a contribution to our time for Sabbatical.
First of all, we would like to thank to our Word Made Flesh community in Galati for granting us a time for rest and continuing to support us (financially) through this time. Thank you for helping us discern a clearer plan for our Sabbatical and pushing us have a clear vision for the purpose of our time (that involved resting).
Also, we want to say thank you to all people who supported us financially and with friendship (advice and encouragement) through this time. We could not make it without you. Thank you for believing in us, and with us in this time for rest and discernment.
Lau&Vali Archip
