Earlier this year, I left South Africa to begin a new chapter in the United States. Before I departed, I wrote a heartfelt letter of thanks to Jeffrey’s Bay—a place that has been home for so many years. It was my way of expressing gratitude and saying a final goodbye.
I am honoured to share that my letter has been published in the June 2026 edition of the Kouga Municipality Newsletter.
Although I now live in the United States, Jeffrey’s Bay will always hold a special place in my heart. The memories, healing, and opportunities I found there are part of who I am, and I will always be thankful for them.
Thank you, Jeffrey’s Bay, for being part of my journey.
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Thank You, Jeffrey’s Bay
When my mom and I moved to Jeffrey’s Bay from Bloemfontein, neither of us fully understood what those five years would mean. Looking back now, I can see that Jeffrey’s Bay became a place of healing, restoration, creativity, and new beginnings.
During my first year, my mom and I walked on the beach almost every single day. I picked up countless beautiful shells and we spent hours listening to the waves. It was there that we began dreaming again. After the loss of my dad, I carried so many questions and so much grief. Long walks along the shoreline gave my mom and me space to talk about him, to remember him, and to slowly heal.
In the second year, we ran Jeffrey’s Bay School of Ministry as well as a creative writing school. Those were years of sowing into others while continuing our own journey of growth.
The third year became a season of deep reflection. Living in Marina Martinique, in a house perched on a hill and surrounded by water, I felt as if I were living in a lighthouse. The 360-degree views inspired me daily. During that time, I worked on my memoir, typing out and revisiting all 31 of my journals. More than a million words later, I had pieced together the story of my life and found answers to questions I had carried for years. One of the paintings my mom painted for me during that season was of a whale—a symbol of going deep beneath the surface for long stretches, emerging only occasionally for air. That image perfectly captured that chapter of my life.
My fourth year was spent completing my Honours degree in Gqeberha. The daily drive was exhausting, but every evening I experienced immense relief as I crested the pass and saw Jeffrey’s Bay spread out before me. Coming home never felt sweeter. My Honours practical project became a television series set in Jeffrey’s Bay, inspired by the many eccentric, creative, and fascinating people I met there. The town itself became a character in the story.
The fifth year was devoted to making my short film, ThisAbility. There is something truly special about creating art in a small town. The support, encouragement, and willingness of people to help are extraordinary. I don’t think I would have experienced that same sense of community in Cape Town or Johannesburg.
At 36 years old, I have lived in more than 39 houses across nine towns and cities in six provinces. My mom and I often joke that we are experts in moving. Yet we both agree on one thing: Marina Martinique is the most beautiful place we have ever lived in South Africa. It felt safe, peaceful, and almost like a permanent holiday.
It is also where I buried my beloved cat, AllyCat, after 18 wonderful years together. I often wish I could have brought him with me to the United States, but it wasn’t meant to be. Even so, I cannot think of a more beautiful resting place for him.
When we first arrived in Jeffrey’s Bay, I told my mom, “We’ll only be here for five years.” At the time, it felt like a random comment. I wish it had not come true, because part of me would have loved to stay forever. Yet five years later, here we are in the US.
This year, the image I carry with me is that of a great tree putting down deep roots. That is what we hope to find in the United States—a place to grow, flourish, and establish ourselves for the future.
Someone once told my mom and me to write down a detailed list of our hopes and dreams for our future in America. At first, that felt difficult because we didn’t know what to expect. But over time, clarity came. We now know why we had to go and what we hope to build in the US.
One of my greatest hopes is to continue sharing ThisAbility with audiences through American festivals and competitions. In that way, Jeffrey’s Bay will travel with me across oceans and beyond South Africa’s borders. The film’s trailer, along with behind-the-scenes interviews with the cast and crew, is now available on YouTube for anyone who wishes to experience the story.
When I think of Jeffrey’s Bay, I think of palm trees, shells, and wind. I think of artistic growth and emotional healing. I think of restoration. More than anything, I think of a place where I learned to dream again after years in the wilderness.
Jeffrey’s Bay truly became my “Dorp van Drome”—my Town of Dreams.
Thank you, Jeffrey’s Bay, for all that you gave me, and for all that you awakened within me. You will always be part of my story.
