To: Oprah Winfrey, With Thanks
()
About this ebook
This book is the story of my life. It is of my dream come true, to share these words with millions. Enjoy and do share my words. Please pray that humble be my words. Gavin Joachims
Gavin Joachims
My name is Gavin Joachims. I am 42. In 2013 I resigned as National Director of Trust for Community Outreach and Education (TCOE) - a land sector organisation. My words were calling me and I had to make space to fill my desire to write.As a young child with curly black hair, my greatest excitement was the first time I wrote my name. In those early days, I strengthened my skill in writing, and till today have a beautiful handwriting. All I remember of then, was my play on words, and my sketches which I called, Scrapios. Two things I knew back then is that I will see my name in print, often, and that Scrapio would one day be a trademark on mine.I was born in a small town called Ravensmead, 22km north-west of Cape Town. I am the third of four children (two brothers older and a beautiful sister, younger than me). I was gifted scholastically and from a young age was earmarked to be the doctor in the family. I guess being born a non-white under our South African Apartheid regime our parents did everything to push us into careers that were perceived as bringing not only financial success, but more so freedom. So although my parents acknowledged my gift for writing and storytelling, my successes in this field were never really encouraged. When I was 10 years old I won a National Poetry Competition and by time I was 16 my first collection of poems was submitted to a local publisher. This submission was not successful. I was told that I was too young. I think my disappointment was more felt by my mother for she knew, as now, of my first love: writing.In 1989 I was accepted for a medical degree (MBChB) at University of Stellenbosch. I didn't "fit in" and the next year I enrolled for a Bachelor of Social Science at the University of Natal. I furthered my studies at the same institution with post-graduates in Sociological Theory and Research Methodology. Much later I enrolled for a Master Philosophy in Urban Infrastructure Design and Management at the University of Cape Town.During my undergrad studies, I worked fulltime as a Restaurant Manager. I excelled at what I did and in my final year undergrad I was offered the post as Franchise Manager for the restaurant group. I remained with the company for 6 years and in this time many amazing people crossed my path.As a child I had another very special gift. I was able to foresee things.There were patrons at the restaurant that recognised this. Today many of them have passed on, yet their teaching and guidance remains with me. This was a part of my awakening; my understanding of things and of my writing and storytelling.I moved on to other companies where my focus remained management and people development. Yet, my heart yearned to write.In 2000, I went on a very special journey. It was a time of change for me. I left behind all my possessions and with R50 in my pocket I went hitchhiking for 5 months through five Southern African countries. I prayed much during that time. I left Mozambique two days before the devastating floods of 2000; I slept in squatter camps in some of the most dangerous townships; I hitched, alone, on dirt roads in the Okavango Delta region...all along writing, reading and talking to God.I realised that poverty in South Africa was nothing compared to our neighbouring states. On my return to Cape Town, I founded a Street Children Project called, Swerwerskind. Through this multi-media approach I highlighted the need for alternative forms of education for street children. In this time, I trained in the film and photographic industry and I approached two photographers (one from France and one from Sweden) and a Cape Town-based German Film Producer to stage an exhibition of poetry, photography and film to make society conscious of the needs of the homeless, especially street children.This work was well received and made real impact . The project (and i) were featured in Oprah Magazine, various national and international print and broadcast media, etc.The City of Cape Town approached me in 2004 to implement a Social Development Strategy and Programme for the Cape metropole, through an institution called, Cape Town Central City Partnership (CTP). I did so successfully and in 2007 I left CTP and hosted a weekly Social Development Programme on a local radio station (Radio Goodhope FM), whilst focusing on social and community development projects at grassroots level.In 2008, I was accepted for the post as Project Manager for the United National Development Programme working with the Limpopo Provincial Government. I loved this work. I felt as if I was back again hitchhiking through Africa. When another opportunity came early 2010 to work for a national land sector (rural) organisation I accepted the post as Deputy Director and a year later I was offered (and accepted) the post as National Director for TCOE.In life, I've been fortunate to have travelled extensively. I've seen most parts of Brazil; I've been to Central America; I visited the USA thrice; I've been to Europe multiple times; I've been to north, east, west and central Africa - mostly loving meeting the people, sharing in their culture and listening; listening finely to the nuances and stories of their lives...my words.Having said all this, I hope the one thing that shines through is my humility. And this is what I pray for, humble words, stilling to the soul. My most wonderful recent gifts have been the birth of my children: Hannah (6); Annie (3) and Zach (2). Not only have they made me see life in different ways, they have also rekindled my love for words.As for my wife, Joy, she has laid waste the worst of me. For the first time in my life I not only acknowledge my faults and my weaknesses, but I am granted opportunity to work on these. Joy is my love and the deepest understanding of my soul.
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To - Gavin Joachims
To: Oprah Winfrey,
with thanks
By Gavin Joachims
***
Published by Gavin Joachims Publishing at Smashwords
Copyright GavinJoachims2021
ISBN: 978-0-620-95017-6
***
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
***
To my mom and dad, my brothers Neil and Ivan, and my sister Merle.
Beautiful things, in His time.
(Psalms 121: 1-2 & 7-8)
"I will lift mine eyes unto the
hills,
from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the Lord,
which made heaven and earth.
The Lord shall preserve thee from
all evil:
he shall preserve thy soul.
The Lord shall preserve thy going
out and thy coming in
from this time forth, and even for
evermore."
***
Table of Contents
Dear Oprah
10 JANUARY 2000
The Sands and My Dream
The summers when I was five
At the circus
Floating tranquillity
Porky Pig and I
Ivan
Bedtime loving
Merle
Perdy was our cat
My soul mate
Mr Raggerty
On God’s playing fields of love
What was her name?
To Neil
flicker-flicker
Cherries on a tree
Beautiful Pictures
Mother Eternity
Love healing love
Jasmine trees
It’s a new day
Mama holds her baby
My cousin Gwen
To my teachers
Her love
Hello Birthday
Shuaib and Taryn
Let’s say grace
Playing quietly; How?
The Moon by my Window
Will the real Santa Claus please, rise
Psssssssst…My Tabby
Time stood still
Humbling quiet
Annabele
The Moon by my Window
Hello
My love
Peace in Zion
Missing you
A prayer
My love,
King of Hearts
To my baby
Tales of The Abbajah - The Travellers
Tales of The Abbajah - The Man by the Peppercorn Tree
Tales of The Abbajah - The Mentor
Tales of The Abbajah - The House of Nyahbinghi
I write the words that rhyme
God, set them free
Gypsy May
Titus
Pray, Jesus blood me free
God’s messengers
Sursumcorda
Your Name I Praise
But one repent?
Thanksgiving
The rape of Eternity
Burned offering
I humble before Thee
Sunset
Notes of a Suicide Man
Naomi
Owen and his clownies
Upon a shore
Rhythm of life
Lately
Use me
Doubting Thomas
Words of love
No place for doubt.
Love of my love
Almighty, give me strength
A baby cries (17 December 2002)
Seven days
I’m taking back the words
Gardenias reminding me
Thanking the faces
And I thought
Anecdote
Déjàvu
Love’s name
Dear birds
Perfect Peace
I pray these words be just
From me,
God, bless Cape Town
Sally
Other people
THANKS
Sangreal
Questions and Answers
Almighty Trinity
Times like these
I forgive me
Thank You Lord, Thy faithfulness
Love cleansed this soul
Poetry in motion
Swerwerskind
Prince
My Good Samaritan
Sounds like Jesus
Summa in Theologica
Rain, keep falling
Praise the Holy Spirit
Delight in God
Christmas bells a-ringing
Celebrate the Lord
I don’t know
Angels are sent
The End
Amen
About the Author
***
Dear Oprah,
Thank you for being a big part of my life. Thank you for being a part of my thinking of how we can make this world a better place.
I dreamt of meeting. I shared this dream with my friend, Gerard. I told him not to worry; because I would get him an introduction as well.
He looked at me in utter disbelief.
No nigga,
he replied. I will meet Oprah before you!
We both had a good chuckle. We both knew that journeys do lead to where thoughts take us and that everything positive is yes.
I set many things in motion. I wrote letters to the Oprah Winfrey Show. On 18 December 2000, I was at work, when this feeling coursed through me. I could not get you out of my mind. I felt your presence. I later learned that you were in South Africa. I smiled inwardly.
Some years later, O Magazine launched in South Africa. I sent a letter to editor. Now this is a beautiful story. In the letter, I asked to be with you on the cover of O. Then one day, I was in a local retail store. The magazines were all displayed near the pay point. My inner voice told me: Buy the O Magazine.
It was the weirdest urge, yet I listened, and I bought the magazine. Later that afternoon, I paged through the magazine and there was an excerpt of my letter to the editor.