Questions and Answers

Over the last few months I’ve answered a lot of questions about my move to South Africa so I thought I’d post a few of them here since many of you have probably been wondering about them as well.

When do you leave?

My tickets are booked to leave Seattle on June 10^th and arrive in South Africa on June 12^th.

Are you worried about safety?

Although I will take basic precautions, my life is not ruled by fear because I know my God is sovereign. 

Thankfully, although Mafikeng is a reasonably large city, it does not have the same crime problems for which Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town are famous.    Also, I will be living in a 2^nd floor flat (apartment) with surrounding walls and a gate. 

Since it isn’t wise to walk on my own, I’ll have a car to travel to and from work and run errands and most shop’s parking lots have “attendants” to watch over cars and, hopefully, reduce theft.

Will you be treating exotic/wild animals?

No.  The clinic where I will be working/teaching is a small animal clinic for cats and dogs.  There is also a farm animal side where I may help out with small ruminants, but no lions and tigers and bears, oh my! J

Where are you going?

I will be living in a city that is actually two towns side by side that were combined in the 1980’s, Mafikeng and Mmabatho. Mmabatho was formerly the capital of the Bophuthatswana, an independent state set up within South Africa as a homeland for Tswana speaking people.  In 1994, Bophuthatswana was reintegrated into South Africa and Mmabatho became the capital of the North-West Province.  A few years later, the capital was renamed to Mafikeng and Mmabatho became just a suburb.

Mafikeng was founded by the Barolong people in the early 1800’s and was the location of the Siege of Mafikeng, during the Boer War.  The British colonel at the Siege of Mafikeng, Robert Baden-Powell, held the town with 1,100 men against 8,000 Boer (Dutch) troops for 217 days until finally relieved by additional British troops. Colonel Baden-Powell went on to write Scouting for Boys and formed the youth scouting movement that became the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts we know here today.

Mafikeng is located just a few miles from the border with Botswana and is on the edge of the Kalahari Desert. As such, it is fairly dry (~21 inches of rain/year) and the average high temperature ranges from 68-88 degrees year round.

How can I be involved?

You can pray!  Your prayers will be even more important the first few months as I adjust to living in South Africa and develop friendships and relationships there.

You can keep in touch!  Although I will be living thousands of miles away, email still arrives just as quickly.  Snail mail will also be greatly appreciated once I’m settled.

You can support me financially!  Although I have met my anticipated budget, there will doubtless be many unexpected expenses over the next three years and current supporters who may become unable to continue their monthly support.  Also, as I get involved, extra support can go to setting up projects in the community or with the students.