“We are engaged!” read the WhatsApp message early on a Sunday morning. This message filled us with joy and excitement as we loved Candice like our children. Her life path has been full of challenges, but her resilience and positivity have always served as an inspiration. We wanted to be part of this joyous wedding celebration.

Celebration of friendship and a 21st birthday

The wedding date of 5 March created the opportunity to celebrate other events in person in South Africa. We took advantage of the Swiss school’s ski holiday and exchanged snow for the sun. During our time in the Western Cape, we celebrated friendships and Christo’s special 21st birthday in my beloved Stellenbosch.

Celebration of wonderful childhood memories

It was a great privilege to spend time with my mom and sister in our childhood house. In Kathu, we visited places where memories originated and discussed the impact of time on the town. In the same way, I could laugh with old schoolmates who still live in Kathu about how time impacted us.

A special place is the golf course with its beautiful large thorn trees. When the marketing manager heard that we were from Switzerland, he offered us golf carts to drive around the golf course.

We enjoyed the curious meerkats and springboks who made this lovely place their home. We celebrated my mom’s birthday with a large piece of cake at the Kalahari Country Club‘s restaurant.

I greeted my hometown through the window of a small plane while looking at the beautiful views from above.

Tristan and Candice

We met Tristan during their visit in December 2019. They were excited about the opportunity to teach in Thailand. However, Covid-19 affected their plans and created many challenges and losses. The biggest of these is the loss of Justin, Candice’s beloved brother, who died at age 25.

During the Covid-19 lockdown, Tristan and Candice stayed with Tristan’s parents and spent time with his grandparents. Tristan and Candice have shared many stories about the family and the special friends in their lives. Meeting all the special people confirmed how our Heavenly Father sends the right people across our path to love, support and care for us in different ways.

These friends who supported them in their darkest times, gathered excitedly to celebrate their wedding with them.

The wedding was a celebration of joy

Their wedding was in Leeupoort, a holiday village in the Bushveld. The tranquillity in the game reserve, where zebras and warthogs graze between the houses and chalets, was soul food for everyone.

Zander attended his school in Zurich online during the week before the wedding. After his maths session, Zander asked if he could show the teacher the zebras and warthogs behind him on the screen. The teacher responded with surprise, “Wow, that is wild!” 

The wedding was a celebration of joy under the large thorn trees in which the birds sang. A few nyala antelopes approached curiously to witness Tristan and Candice’s marriage vows to each other.

Celebrate what is good in our lives

I had time for reflection during the return flight. The wedding and various celebrations reminded me that we must take time to celebrate what is good in our lives. The following words of Khalil Gibran came to mind:

Kind regards

Emsia