I wrote this a year ago and as I re-read it, nothing has changed.
There are many reasons why people leave this country in search of a better life, but from what I have seen and read, it does not come easy. Leaving family and friends and going to a new culture, tears part of their inner being away. It’s the pain of uprooting and while it gets easier as time passes, the yearning of home and upbringing never quite leaves. There are several reasons that come to mind as to why I stay in South Africa.
~ My family are here. This is probably the first and most important reason. I think parents go where their children go. As long as my children are here, I don’t feel the yen to be anywhere else.
~ It’s cheap to live in South Africa. As soon as you move to Europe or Australia, the cost of living rises to a far higher rate than we are used to paying. Starting again AND paying higher prices is one of the hardest things in the world to do. It costs more than money – it costs emotionally – with heartache leading the way.
~ The weather. We live in the Southern Hemisphere were we enjoy amazing summers, mild winters and beautiful scenery. Within our borders lie sea, mountains, game reserves, hot springs, deserts & semi-deserts, forests, rivers, rapids, lakes, snow covered peaks, magnificent dunes, beaches and islands. We need not leave the country and shell out top dollar for a broad range of activities within driving distance of most of where we live.
~ While we worry about crime and it is a concern to us, knowing that we may become victims of crime allows us the opportunity to do something to prevent it. The dangers of the world are not confined to South Africa. We are seeing more and more that our lives are threatened wherever we go. I remember being seriously warned about Termini Railway Station in Rome and how dangerous it was. As we left the station, we clung nervously to our luggage, waiting in expectation for someone to rip our belongings away! Being aware of the dangers and being vigilant is not restricted to South Africa. The same level of care we take in this country most probably has to be had in half of the countries of the world. Here in South Africa we are able to protect ourselves and our homes.
~ In South Africa, as with many other African countries, we are blessed in that we have the opportunity to live & do what really counts. The golden rule is to love your neighbour as yourself. Many of our neighbours are poverty-stricken. We see it and it may not look nice. We may want to get away from it, but instead of seeing it as a morbid vice, let us see it as an opportunity to fulfil the golden rule. Seeing poverty on our doorstep keeps us humble and appreciative. In South Africa, we can make a far greater difference than in a magnificently wealthy first world country, where we would be the poor!
~ We live in a country where the Christian church is strong and active. In South Africa, we can worship freely – there is no suppression of our Christian faith. This is a great blessing and one not to be overlooked. Someone once told me of how they did an outreach at the Waterfront. When they approached Malawians and bought up the gospel, they were keen and receptive. When they approached someone from Northern Europe, they were arrogantly disinterested. A wealthy country that can manage on their own, often sees no need for God. Poorer nations depend more on God. Christianity is still taught in the schools, which is a lot more than we can say for many other so-called first world countries.
~ My attitude often is one of seeing it from the other side. Thousands of EU foreigners pour into our country to enjoy all we have to offer. Some come for a month and return for years. They find it inexpensive, warm and friendly. They get so much more for their money. I’m one of the blessed ones who got to come here 32 years ago and am still appreciating each morning. I love being a tourist in my own city. As a Capetonian, I never want to leave.
As far as infra-structure goes, things are going better than they were a year ago when we had load shedding and electricity issues. If required, we have the opportunity to tap into solar energy, put down boreholes and make ourselves more self-sufficient. The road infra-structure is still good. We have some of the best schools and universities on the continent with UCT being the top university in Africa – 141st in the world.
There are excellent medical facilities in our country. While government hospitals may have some weaknesses, when you need specialist care, they are staffed by some of the top specialists this country has to offer. Private medical care is considered some of the best on the continent.
Certainly, South Africa has issues, but so does every other nation on earth. We need to focus on the good and work towards making a difference in this beautiful land we call home.
Psalm 139:9-10
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there Your hand will guide me,
Your right hand will hold me fast.
No matter where you live, the above verses apply to you.
These are the days.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you!
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂