"Congratulations to You Both”: SA Couple Starts New Life in New Zealand After 5 Years Working in USA
- Leslie and Danielle Padley, a South African couple, announced they were leaving the United States for New Zealand after five years
- The couple said goodbye to employers, a church family, and close friends who became like family during their time in America
- Their emotional post about leaving loved ones behind touched many who followed their immigration journey
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Source: Facebook
A South African couple has announced they are starting a new chapter in New Zealand, after spending five years building a life in the United States.
Leslie and Danielle Padley shared an emotional Facebook post on 10 September 2026, reflecting on the journey that took them from South Africa's soil to American roads, and now toward the mountains of New Zealand.
The couple described their five years in America as a period of growth, faith and unexpected belonging. They wrote that they did not simply work there but truly lived there, forging deep friendships with colleagues and a church community at Shiloh. Among those who left a lasting mark was the Bivins family, who invited them to church within minutes of meeting them and welcomed them as their own.
Saying goodbye is the hardest part
For the Padleys, the most difficult part of the move was not the logistics of immigration but the emotional weight of leaving people behind. They wrote about the pain of knowing they could no longer visit their parents for coffee, or be present for their siblings and the children they had grown to love as their own.
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"How does one pack an entire family in a suitcase?"
They added that there were moments they looked at each other and questioned whether the move was truly worth it. Ultimately, faith carried them forward. They said they believed their future was secure, even in uncertainty.
The couple also made clear that South Africa will always live within them. The jacarandas, the braai, the language and the warmth of family remain part of who they are, no matter how far they travel.
View the Facebook post below:
Mzansi sends them off with love
Their post on their page resonated with friends, family and strangers alike, many of whom responded in Afrikaans and English:
Tiekie Hoffman said:
"My children, we are going to miss you so much. But best of luck for the new chapter in your lives. Everything will work out well for you as you walk with King Jesus. We now have a holiday visiting spot. Much love."
Braam Cilliers wrote:
"Make beautiful new memories there. I can see you are both happy and it will go well. May God protect you and bring only the most beautiful things for your future. Now your parents can come visit and you can show them the beautiful new places."
Hannah Jones shared:
"This is awesome!!!!! Wishing you God's best in everything you do! I am so excited for your new adventure and I know the Lord is going to bless and prosper you both more than you could have ever asked, imagined or hoped for! Will miss seeing you!"
Richelle Luvin Bivins added:
"We miss you both already!! I'm so thankful that God put you just where I needed you to be that night that I met y'all! You both have been such a blessing to everyone!"
Jaco Loubser said:
"Congratulations to you both."
More Briefly News stories on relocation
- A young KwaZulu-Natal couple documented their journey of transforming a dilapidated half-acre property into their dream home, capturing viewers’ attention online.
- An Afrikaner refugee named Sonet shared a heartfelt message on her first day at Walmart in the US, inspiring viewers with her positive attitude towards work and starting over.
- An American woman explained why she moved her family to South Africa, sharing insights into their relocation journey.
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Source: Briefly News
