Winter 2026

After eight years of married life in South Africa, and several intense years of building Oasis, this sabbatical gave us something we had not had in a long time: space to recover from the startup season.

The early years of building an organization required a great deal of energy, flexibility, and attention. So much of life had been shaped around what Oasis needed next. During sabbatical, we wanted to step out of that pace long enough to rest, reflect, and begin building rhythms that could sustain both our lives and the work for the years ahead.

For Ben, part of that meant preparing for a new season of study. He begins his PhD in September, and used the sabbatical to experiment with rhythms of study and work that better support the way his ADHD brain functions rather than constantly working against it. It was an opportunity to think more intentionally about focus, energy, and how doctoral study can fit alongside leadership at Oasis in a healthy way.

For Katie, the season looked different. After a long stretch of health challenges, rest and recovery were the priority. She also finally had space to tackle the many practical pieces of life that had accumulated in the background while so much of our attention had gone toward building Oasis. Clearing some of that mental and administrative load created its own kind of breathing room.

What encouraged us most was how different Oasis felt when we returned.

While we were away, the work continued. Families were welcomed into restorative intensives, our care team carried greater responsibility, and the ministry did not depend on our constant presence in the way it once had. We returned deeply grateful for the team that has grown around this work, and with a growing sense that Oasis itself is beginning to move beyond its startup season.

There is still much to build, but the work now feels increasingly shared. We are entering this next season with more capacity, clearer roles, and renewed energy for what lies ahead.

Ben & Katie