Me: So what was your
parents ministry?
Beth: My mom originally was a nurse/midwife (when she was a
single missionary). She isn't a registered nurse anymore, but she is the school
nurse and teaches literacy, sewing, and baking. She does book-keeping, runs a
small school store/book store and maintains a guest house on the Bible College
campus. My Dad is a seminary professor and academic dean, he served in this
capacity at a Bible College in South Africa (where we lived when I was little)
and continues to do that in Mozambique now.
Me: Wow, that's a
long time!
Beth: yep! we first went over in 1985!
Me: Were you able to
ever be involved in their ministry?
Beth: I think I was, maybe in indirect ways,
but my siblings and I befriended the students and especially their kids, we
participated in all activities on the campus, went to Bible studies and
services... I helped out a lot with
preparing meals for groups that came from the US to do building projects on the
campus. I think ministry was just a lifestyle, really. I did go back for a year
as a volunteer missionary in 2002/03 and set up the library at the Bible
College, so that was perhaps a much more direct means of helping in that
ministry
Me: With all your parents did it sounds like it would be
difficult to help directly! Yes, though, ministry is definitely a life style.
Beth: As a small child in South Africa, I'd go with my Dad
to take supplies to refugee camps for people fleeing the civil war in
Mozambique. I thought I was helping, but I'm sure I just got in the way, ha!
Me: From what I've heard already, you spent practically your
whole childhood in Africa ... a lot of missionary kids move later in their life
and then struggle to make friends. So I guess what I'm asking is ... did you
ever struggle making cross-cultural friends?
Beth: not really.... at least not at first. When you are
really little, you don't need language much to play with other kids. In South
Africa, my siblings and I were the only white kids for miles around and we
didn't notice...there was a gang of us (maybe 10 or so) and we'd do all sorts
of things (there was no TV or internet back then, so we'd roam the bush...it
was an amazing childhood), but coming to America (when I was 10 and then again
at age 14) was really tough. Then when we moved to Mozambique, (I was 12 then)
that was hard-- we moved from countryside (bush) to the middle of a big city. It
was just after the civil war and I couldn't speak Portuguese (the official
language) and I couldn't really run around and play with kids like I used to,
because being out in the city wasn't safe (the war had just ended). The local
pastor noticed we three kids were isolated and told one of the church members
to send her kids over. they came every
day -- we couldn't understand each other, but they were stubborn. I gradually
learned Portuguese and some Shangaan. My brother (who was born there) spoke it
before he learned English! I speak Portuguese pretty fluently now … funny
enough, I learned Zulu here in America through my work! (God gave me one of the
desires of me heart!)
Me: Four languages! Fluent in two. I guess that's easier to
do when you're younger! Speaking of African languages, I've heard of
missionaries earning African nicknames ... something I've always wanted but
never really got. Do you have one?
Beth: My sister and I were given names when we were born by
a Swazi nurse who had worked with my Mom. Mine is: Khanyisile, "Has
brought light" My sister's is Zanele "No More" (because, the
nurse said, "2 girls are enough") My brother was named by another
nurse in South Africa: Bongani'Nkosi "Praise the Lord" (because my
parents had a boy!)
Me: oh THAT'S what
Nkosi means. I've heard that word before. I guess that’s because it's in the
South African national anthem. The closest I've come to as a nickname is
'Oasie' (Afrikaans name for the oldest sister). I don't think the Namibians
really give out nicknames like they do in other countries.
Beth: I was often referred to as "Mana Beth" (Mana is sister)
Me: so were there any other mk's in your area?
Beth: there weren't any in South Africa much...we had MK
friends but we didn't see them often. When we were in Swaziland (for 18 months)
there was a family that had 2 kids and we did homeschooling together. Then in
Mozambique there were none for the first few years (that we knew of). In 1996,
a Christian school opened and we went there - by then there were more missionaries
in Mozambique and we met other MKs at the school. we almost all still keep in
touch, years later.
Me: That must be nice. It's really nice to be in contact
with other TCK’s.
Beth: They understand you like no one else can!
Me: So in the capital city in Mozambique you weren't in
contact with other mk's for a while? I'm surprised there weren't a lot since it
was the capital city.
Beth: There were a few but in the early days, just after the
civil war, it wasn't really safe yet. I remember meeting one German gal … we
later became really, really good friends. [At first] it was pretty
isolating...to be in the middle of a big, crowded city and cut off because of
the language.
Me: That sounds very difficult. There weren’t many people
who spoke English?
Beth: No, not many at all, but a big help was that my
Mozambican friend, Joinha, helped me learn Portuguese … and I got involved with
the youth group/choir in the church. Once I knew the language, it didn't matter
that I was the only white gal.
Me: yes, once you speak the same language and feel
acceptance, culture and color don't make the slightest difference.
Beth: exactly!
Me: Our family gets care packages sometimes from people in
the United States. Did you get any when you were there?
Beth: We did. I remember one Christmas in Mozambique (maybe
in ‘93?) my parents really didn't know what they were going to do for presents
for us...they didn't have anything. A couple of care packages were sent that
had Christmas presents for us … there were presents suited for just each of us!
It was pretty amazing. But sometimes we'd get other [packages] with things like
chocolate chips and Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix .... oh, and cake mixes! Things
you used to not be able to get over there. We treasured those things!
Me: last question: you told me once about leaving for
America. How old were you when you moved back to the States?
Beth: We had two furloughs back to the States when I was a
kid; when I was 10, then when I was 14. Then at age 18, I came back to go to
college.
Me: in a few words, could you describe what that was like?
Beth: I think it was THE hardest thing I've had to do so far
in my life. I do think it was the first time I realized I could not rely on my
parents' faith, it was just me and God now … and He helped me. It was horrible
culture shock...I didn't know how to write a check, I had never used an ATM
machine or worked a job, I had never used voice mail … seeing blondes, redheads
and brunettes ...so many [differently] colored people in the college caf was
overwhelming -- I was used to being around all black people. The first year I withdrew into myself... I wanted
to reach out, but didn't know how. I went back to Africa that summer and
dreaded returning, but when it came time to go back, I felt God's presence in
such a real way...it wasn't so hard after all. I had to surrender my love of
Africa over to God... my priorities were out of whack. When I surrendered all
of that to Him, He did some pretty amazing things! I still miss it and often
question why I am here in the US still, but I believe God does want me here for
now so am just trusting Him for the next step.
Me: Quite a story. :) I'm a little nervous about going back
in about two years.
Beth: it's very normal! It will be tough at first, but it does get easier.So do you speak Afrikaans pretty well? I always wanted to learn it. All I can do is say a few phrases and count to twenty and sing 1 song!
Me: yes, I think I'm fluent, but I don't get enough practice
because a lot of people laugh when I speak Afrikaans ... therefore my accent is
bad. I understand practically everything, but my pronunciation is very poor. (Not
everyone laughs ... )
Beth: Aww... that was how I was with Portuguese for a long
time...but I got there, so keep it up!
Me: So is there any
other advice you have for mk's ... or anyone reading my blog? Anything you
want.
Beth: To sum everything up... I guess I have learned that
the most important thing is to surrender your hopes and dreams to God. I
thought I had my life planned out and that I knew best, but I was just
miserable. As soon as I handed everything over to God, it allowed Him to work
and He has done amazing things and gave me some of the desires of my heart. It's
still not easy, but I am trusting Him for the next step. I hope others can be
encouraged by that...
Me: Thanks! that means a lot. I have to go now ... thank you
VERY much for talking - I hope we can chat again sometime!
Beth: I love chatting with other MKs and if I can be any
help, just let me know! :)
Me: Sure! sometime we can just trade stories. =)
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