Our guests this week are Vimbainashe Mutimba from Zimbabwe and Nomsa Ngqhosi from South Africa, currently studying and working in Germany. What are the challenges to overcome for young Africans living in Europe? Both ladies share their journeys and the wisdom they gained along the way. Have you been called coconut? Caleb and our guests talk about their hurts being called that for very different reasons. Why is it important to tell people that what they say is hurtful and not just laugh along? How do they respond to being called "coconut", racist remarks and white people's curiosity with their hair? "As someone who loves Jesus, I want my response to be out of love, but I also know there needs to be an urgency in fighting for what is right." - Caleb Bannister Vimbai talks about the characteristics of Germans she appreciates and celebrates, while Nomsa shares how the gifts of her African heritage can light a room. Nomsa and Vimbai encourage young people from Africa who comes to Europe. They talk about self-worth, identity, and "remember who you are", even facing difficulties. How to connect with our guests: Vimbai on Instagram: @flaming-lily Nomsa on Instagram: nomsie_grace7 Facebook : Nomsie Ngqhosi Find out more about us: https://www.sstories.co/podcast/ https://www.sstories.co

Angela Del Fava is a twenty-one-year-old young woman from Durban, South Africa, currently serving in South Roots International in Cape Town. She is passionate about arts and entertainment and seeing happy, whole individuals, families and communities. Angela talks about her: ~ Journey of discovering her cultural identity with a British/Zoeloe mother and an Italian/Xhosa father growing up in a Coloured community. ~ Her struggles with finding her identity growing up. ~ Growing more ashamed with her British side as she got to know the history, and recently, going full circle to a place of embracing that side of her. ~ Angela's thoughts on her role in cultural identity for her generation. ~ Trying to recall the steps of reconciliation and South Roots International's role in creating platforms for different cultures to observe each other. ~ Her family's response to her personal growth in the last couple of years being in South Roots International. ~ How to approach the challenges for the different cultures in South Africa to live in one house. ~ Her process in discovering her different cultural identities. Links below to different topics and people mentioned in the interview: Contact Angela: Email Instagram - angiie_martina06  Facebook - Angela Del Fava South Roots International: Instagram and Facebook Blog: Cultural Identity shame  Song: Reflection of Light Nolothando Shando Blog: Practical steps of reconciliation South Roots international internship 2022 🚩Are you on a journey to embrace and celebrate your cultural identity?🚩 Here is how we can help you on your journey.

Shaheen Suleman in her own words: " I'm a child of God and teacher of children. Teaching is my joy and my gifting. It's also what refines me and is my calling. I'm always seeking truth and learning. I love people and creation in general. The world is a miraculous place. " Growing up, Shaheen had two significant defining moments in her life. The moment she discovered the way she looked on the outside was different from who she felt inside herself. She also had a moment she accepted that she was an Indian, even though she grew up in America and East Africa. Shaheen talks extensively about the challenges of being a Third Culture Kid (TCK). Not belonging anywhere They have to figure out what cultural aspects are important to value in the place they are Confused TCK's tend to go deep in getting to know people. What are the treasures to value as a TCK? Being on the fringes, you can identify with lots of different types of people. Build bridges between different cultures. A framework of mostly belonging in a lot of places. Collect treasures from different cultures to take along with you on your journey. Shaheen talks about the dangers of not identifying yourself as anything or denying parts of who you are. "God made us on purpose, and He specifically designed us, so if we reject parts of ourselves, that is actually who we are supposed to be and rejects purposely being made, then you end up running amok. Rejection of any part of yourself is disastrous. " How did Shaheen lose her aversion to Jesus? Connect with Shaheen on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/shaheen.suleman.7 Are you a Third Culture Kid who would like to learn to embrace and celebrate your cultural identity? Here is a free resource to help you accomplish that. https://pages.sstories.co/my-time-to-shine

Peggie Shangwa, known as Umind?!, is a creative entrepreneur, storyteller, writer, commanding communicator and spoken word artist. Founder of Page Poetry Alive a poetry collective that nurtures storytellers from page poets and Spoken word artists. In our conversation we talked about: ~ What more is lost, when you lose your language? ~ Faith is an anchor. Grace to have survived and to become a trailblazer for coming generations. ~ Poems from African artists coming alive on digital platforms. ~ Keys to work across cultural divides ~ Peggie's revelation and passion for collaboration ~ How does a long poem link with encouragement for a young African person? ⁉️Don't miss Peggy perform a few lines from one of her well-known poems https://www.facebook.com/Umind-1377919029150962/ https://youtu.be/O1EUZhBwbpU http://indiefeedpp.libsyn.com/peggy-shangwa-leave-cleave-and-weave www.enthuseafrika.com/media/enthuse-blog/umind’s-live-dvd-recording- was-full-polkadot-moments https://groovemagintl.blogspot.com/2017/04/gm-its-interesting-that-you-are- on.html Peggie talk's about your light to shine. Here is a free resource to help you unpack some of that. https://pages.sstories.co/my-time-to-shine

I met Joe in Madagascar in 2013 and 2014. He was an energetic young man who asked me all kinds of difficult questions. During my visit to Madagascar, I appreciated the few who could speak English in a French / Malagasy world. Joe was one of them. Some topics we covered during our conversation: Crazy dreams of a village boy from the jungle of Madagascar The hard life of growing up, working hard to eat. How to beat a life of poverty Financial challenges - if people can see what you can see and you can communicate that, people are willing to help you. Racial challenges - Have a big heart to forgive. Remember, I am more valuable than how people treat me. Taiwanese culture: Value security for their children and care about their children. Cross-cultural marriage, if you put your culture first, you will struggle! You create culture through your marriage, and something beautiful can come from it. Communication is key. Not judging, championing young people. Finding my identity gives you the freedom to sparkling and shining to other people. A key for cross-cultural engagement is asking questions. Questions to make people think. How people react to a black man in Taiwan. Dreamer/visionary: God changed my heart towards my nation. Money only has value if you can use it. Help the dreamers of Madagascar! Behind the story: Behind a successful story is the years of suffering and struggles. Helping people Mind the gap - there is a gap, so know and understand the gap. Go on a journey and not saying no even though there is a lot to overcome. Contact Joe: Behind the story YouTube channel https://youtube.com/channel/UC7guEXBEx0TAeH3E63jpYAA [email protected] I help you unpack the beauty and the gifts that you received through your cultural identity. My time to shine - 15 min video teaching

*Listen to the end for a song by Jake Gill* Are you from an island? Or do you feel that your nation is too insignificant to have an impact on the world? Because that is a general feeling, that is also what you believe about yourself? Meet David and Jake Gill, father and son missionaries from Barbados. An island whose history and heritage is stooped in the Atlantic slave trade from Africa and colonized by European nations, just like the rest of the Caribbean. But this father and son duo have much bigger dreams for the people from that region. We talked about the dynamics that play into how people think and function there. Who are we as Caribbean people? Treating people with respect and dignity. So much sown in the Caribbean, but so little coming out! What are the obstacles to overcome? The power and value of the local dialect. They are hosting an online seminar called Principles of Redeeming Cultures (IPRCS). The seminar will have a Caribbean focus. But if you are a Christian who wants to see people from different nations and tribes walk in their redemptive purpose, then you are welcome to attend. Dates: 2 Aug 2021 - 2 Sept 2021 Registrations:  http://www.southrootsint.com/prcs/ Learn more about your own cultural identity: https://pages.sstories.co/my-time-to-shine

Get started unpacking your own story: https://pages.sstories.co/my-story-landscape Natalie Emmanuel is an Afrikaans lady who left South Africa at age 22. She lived around the world, but the majority of the time in the middle east. Natalie is married to an Egyptian man, and they have two beautiful children. Caleb and I had a riveting conversation with her, and here are some of the highlights. Life growing up in apartheid South Africa and seeing things with different eyes being in the United States during South Africa's first democratic election. How Natalie dealt with the shame she carried being an Afrikaner. Nothing new under the sun: things Natalie learned from growing up in the apartheid era and what we need to know to deal with more recent racist events happening in the last couple of years. Racism is a heart matter What Natalie learned being from a very individualistic culture to moving to the middle east where it is a "WE" communal culture. Wisdom about a cross-cultural marriage to an Egyptian man. Blessing and curses in our cultural heritage story. The opportunity to learn from each other in culturally diverse classes.

https://pages.sstories.co/my-time-to-shine What role does expression play in our times of worship to God? Selby Williams and I had a Facebook live discussion on worship. When it comes to cultural identity, then the expression of who we are comes to play a role in how we worship God. Some aspects that we touched on: The relationship we have with God. Worship starts in your secret place and then our corporate times of worship is only an expression of what happened in that place. Worship is everything of our daily lives. What is wrong with what you are wearing, because it should be acceptable before the throne of God and this is also who you are. When it comes to worship, the focus should be on God. Creating a platform for others to enter into God presence just as they are. In worship times we need to come with an expectation focus on God. In the times we are living in, God wants to do great things. Grap the opportunities to enter His presence. Don't miss the song that Selby sings at the end of our interview. You can find Selby on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/selbykeith.williams Find us at: https://www.sstories.co https://www.facebook.com/shineyourstories/ The link to the free download: https://pages.sstories.co/my-time-to-shine

https://pages.sstories.co/my-time-to-shine Erena van de Venter is an Afrikaner, a Social Worker by profession. She is the 3rd generation of German missionaries Peter and Louise Sterrenberg who came to SA in 1859, to serve the Cape Coloured people. The cross and the switchblade is the movie that planted the seed for her to start working with young men in gangs in the late 1980s in Worcester, South Africa. What was the challenges and obstacles that she had to overcome? A man of peace gave her really good advice for working cross-culturally with the gangs. Listen to find out what that was. Erena now works with the Change Maker program helping young men get out of gangs and drugs. Join me and Caleb in this exhilarating conversation. Like Caleb says, a story RIGHT out of the movies. Connect with Erena: [email protected] www.changemakersworcester.com The Story of Aubin, a Change Maker: https://youtu.be/9OOlIuLYXfI Connect with us: https://www.sstories.co [email protected]

https://pages.sstories.co/my-time-to-shine Welcome to the introduction episode of THE "We talk story..." podcast. Caleb Bannister sat ME down this time to talk about the WHY of the podcast. We cover my growing up years in apartheid, South Africa, living cross-culturally in a Coloured community in the Western Cape,  and me coming to terms with being an Afrikaner. Caleb and I travelled to different nations around the world. He remembers the first time I told my story in a church in Barbados, and why I had to hide for a while in Madagascar?! There is a lot more in this episode of "We talk story..." So, enjoy! Contact Louise Schoeman: https://www.sstories.co [email protected] https://www.instagram.com/shineyourstories/ https://www.facebook.com/shineyourstories/