Have you ever wondered what drives someone to leave behind a comfortable life in South Africa and start over in a completely new country? Or what it really takes to rebuild everything from scratch - career, family life, even community - when you move abroad?

In this episode, I had the privilege of speaking with Zelda Botha, who left South Africa nearly thirty years ago for a new life in the United States. Zelda and her husband were both full-time pastors, living a stable and successful life before feeling a strong calling to move. They were seeking fairness and equality, which they found abroad. I was truly inspired by Zelda’s openness as she walked me through the many challenges their family faced, from having to start over with practically nothing, to juggling multiple jobs so that their children could have the best opportunities possible.

I really enjoyed my conversation with Zelda. Her determination and faith, as well as her candid accounts of embracing change and working incredibly hard, were deeply moving. She didn’t shy away from sharing just how tough moving overseas can be, or what it means to build a new life from the ground up. I found her story to be not only inspirational but also a helpful reality check for anyone considering the same journey.

“You have to have the attitude of the heart to become successful.” - Zelda Botha

00:00 Introduction

05:18 Leaving a pre-democratic country

07:53 Being a pastor in SA

11:29 Faith vs finances

18:16 The spiritual side of social media

20:13 Creating TikToks for South Africans

25:00 Career adjustment struggles

30:22 Affordable medical care

33:51 Balancing work, family and homeschooling

37:03 Embracing opportunity

40:23 Working in retail

49:01 Regret over language choices

50:17 Red tape and logistics

56:38 Willing to help others move abroad

This podcast was produced by the team at Zapods Podcast Agency:

https://www.zapods.com