Seeking Spiritual Equality In the United States with Zelda Botha - E18
The Relocated South African | Emigration storiesPlay episode
Show notes
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
