At YWAM Muizenberg we value families in missions and therefore have many families with many different and beautiful parenting styles and rhythms of doing ‘life’ in missions. Raising children overseas in missions can be a life enriching choice for the whole family, however it doesn’t come without its own set of challenges.

Our YWAM Moms have a Whatsapp group — YWAM Mamas and Babies — so if you’re a new parent or joining our community as a parent, ask if you can arrange a night to ask questions to a group of moms, “there isn't much some of us won't give advice towards!”

Tip: In South Africa many people work as ‘Domestic Workers’ meaning that you can hire someone to help with housework. This is a great option for families (especially if both parents are serving with YWAM full time) as it creates a job for someone (the unemployment rate in South Africa is very high) and it takes a load off of your shoulders. This is something many families choose to budget for. Most domestic workers charge between R50-70 per hour (but you can also choose to pay them more).

Tip: Included on our Orientation Hub is a list of Family Friendly Activities in Cape Town

Single Parent Families in Missions

We in YWAM Muizenberg welcome and champion Single Parent Families into our community. We believe you and your child/children have so much to give and offer and will be an integral part of our community. That being said the mission field can at times be a very lonely place and, although we try to create as many opportunities as possible for isolation not to be felt, this can be a reality for anyone moving their lives to join a new community (and for many a new nation). We recommend doing whatever you can to plug yourself into the YWAM Community. Speak up, express your needs. We want to help your time on Staff with us be as meaningful and life giving as possible. We want to know you and your children, and to see you all flourishing in your missionary journey.

A few things to consider as a Single Parent Family in missions:

  • Will you send your children to school/homeschool them? What roles do you see yourselves filling?

  • What are your plans for your child/children’s education?

  • Have you budgeted for your child’s education, appropriate accommodation and transportation to get your family to where they need to be each day?

  • Does your schedule line up with your children’s? Do you have access to childcare when there is an overlap?

  • What do you value? Would you prefer to send your child to an international school/home school so that if you move back to your home country they have recognisable school standards or would you prefer them to be raised as a South African and attend a local school?

  • What type of accommodation is right for you? Where is right for you? What can you afford?

  • What are your individual expectations for joiningYWAM Muizenberg? And moving to Cape Town? (if old enough talk this over with your kids).

  • What do you need in order to not feel isolated or lonely as a family in your time in missions?

We highly recommend as a family (if your child/children are old enough) that you have many conversations about your expectations before you arrive as YWAM Muizenberg staff. Often upon joining something new (especially if you are moving to another part of the world) there are many expectations (and much excitement) that you may have (whether or not you are aware of it). These could be expectations of the culture, your accommodation, yourself, your ministry role, your children, your team, your team leader or YWAM leadership (to name a few). It would be a great idea to speak these over with your family and team leader. Does your child think there will be Lions in his backyard? Do you expect to have a weekly coffee with your team leader? Do you expect a welcome party upon arrival? Often uncommunicated expectations can be areas that create deep pain if they go unmet, especially if they happen early on in your missionary journey. If you have expectations of your children: tell them. If you have expectations of your leader (even before arriving): tell them. Ask your children what they are ‘expecting’ and make sure you are all on the same page. We as YWAM Muizenberg are far from perfect and may not meet all your expectations but it is better to communicate them up front so that you can be told whether or not that is realistic and achievable.

Dual Parent Families

Here are a few things to consider and chat over as a couple/family joining the mission field:

  • How will we share the ‘ministry load’ as a family AKA will one of you  be staying at home with the kids, while the other ministers/will you take turns? Will you send your children to school/homeschool them? What roles do you see yourselves filling?

  • What are your plans for your child/children’s education?

  • Have you budgeted for your child’s education, appropriate accommodation and transportation to get your family to where they need to be each day

  • If as a couple you are both doing ministry, will you work together or on different projects? Do your schedules line up?

  • What do you value as a family? Would you prefer to send your child to an international school/home school so that if you move back to your home country they have recognisable school standards or would you prefer them to be raised as a South African and attend a local school?

  • What type of accommodation is right for you? Where is right for you? What can you afford?

  • What are your individual expectations for joining YWAM Muizenberg? And moving to Cape Town?

  • What sort of support do you need for your marriage as you transition- what expectations do you have of friends, mentors or the local church? 

We highly recommend as a couple/family you have many conversations about your expectations before you arrive as YWAM Muizenberg staff. Often upon joining something new (especially if you are moving to another part of the world) there are many expectations (and much excitement) that you may have (whether or not you are aware of it). These could be expectations of the culture, your accommodation, yourself, your ministry role, your spouse, your children, your team, your team leader or YWAM leadership (to name a few). It would be a great idea to speak these over with your family and team leader. Does your child think there will be Lions in his backyard? Do you expect to have a weekly coffee with your team leader? Do you expect a welcome party upon arrival? Do you expect your spouse to care for your children while you minister? Often uncommunicated expectations can be areas that create deep pain if they go unmet, especially if they happen early on in your missionary journey. If you have expectations of your spouse: tell them. If you have expectations of your leader (even before arriving): tell them. Ask your children what they are ‘expecting’ and make sure you are all on the same page. We as YWAM Muizenberg are far from perfect and may not meet all your expectations but it is better to communicate them up front so that you can be told whether or not that is realistic and achievable.

Local Education Options:

Schools Our YWAM Families Attend:

Other Schools Recommended by Parents in the Area:

Other Advice from Local YWAMers:

  • Gynaecologist or Obstetrician: Belete Woldu or Dr. Lerm (both at Constantiaberg)

  • Birthing Classes or Speciality Services: Birth Options Antenatal (classes + midwives), Dr Belete Woldu, Joy King (Doula, massage therapist, yoga teacher and essential oil specialist), Dr. Rushmere (Observatory — doctor with a natural / holistic approach)

  • Hospitals: Melomed, Constantiaberg. If you have SA medical aid, make sure to purchase gap coverage otherwise you will end up with a huge bill

  • Pediatricians: Dr. Tessa McKechnie (Tokai), Dr Michelle Roos (Constantiaberg)

  • Vaccinations: you have to go to a clinic in a pharmacy, some recommend the baby clinic at Medicross Tokai

  • For any Children with Special Needs, we have quite a few families in our community that can give advice: Joanna Parada and Diane Fillies are great resources

  • Stay and Play @ Saint Peter’s Church (Fish Hoek) — A casual atmosphere where moms can have a cup of tea, chat and play with their child in our children’s centre. Age appropriate craft table and music time. 0-3 years on Tuesdays from 10-11:15 am, R10. Message Tamlyn Gibson (0764913540) or Mariska Pienaar (0794596745)

  • Join the South Peninsula Moms Facebook page and check out Whats On from Southern Peninsula Moms for upcoming events!

  • Recommendations for helping your kids learn about missions or being a Third Culture Kid: Third Culture Kids, David Pollock and Ruth Van Reken, one of our missionaries shared “Cape Town is an excellent place to live cross culturally because of its diversity. My kids have no idea they are TCKs yet!”

  • Recommendations for helping your kids learn about South Africa: The best thing when they are young is just to get out of the YWAM bubble, find a local church, discover all the things in nature, go to the Christmas Carol's in Kirstenbosch, whale watching in Hermanus in September, things like this. Interact with locals and let your kids experience the culture through you…

  • Shopping for Baby or Kids: as a community of moms, we are really good to just share with each other what we have need of and pass things around so you can just to ask the moms group, but if you want are looking for some other recommendations:

  • Recommended Baby Sitters: Lia Fillies +27 (84) 399-6188, Leecia McNamara +27 (82) 780-1576‬

  • How to help your kids with all the transitions involved with missions: We are careful who we let them get close to knowing people come and go a lot. Always involve them in our activities and decisions. Make them feel part of the mission and calling as they are so receptive to the Holy Spirit and can also confirm or help with decisions the family faces. Lots of reaffirming and grace, and a realization that they will process things differently than me, and will make different decisions from me to handle their stress. Routine and family traditions. We are very protective of our kids routine especially when we have been traveling to our home countries. And we have taken extra effort to create our own family traditions that we can do anywhere in the world so they always stay a part of us.

  • Resources that helps kids to process being a Third Culture Kid: Michele Phoenix

More to come!

BEING A FAMILY IN MISSIONS :