1 January 2017
Gary: I miss my kids so much, sent them messages but no reply, this is really hell, the neighbour`s children ran in here wishing me happy new year, I wish God will come and fetch me, had a few invites but those people all drink.
Kobus: This is a struggle between Satan and God, your children are being used to punish you because your ex knows your soft areas and she has the control over your children.
G: They have been so made up against me, she forces them to phone me to ask for money but they are not allowed to phone or message me on Christmas or New Year. It really hurts. I bought myself a new wedding band because I want to model a clean life to them. She indoctrinated them so much that they simply don`t care about me.
K: She knows very well where you are vulnerable. We all know how much your kids love you.
G: Yahweh Rapha, in Hebrew it means "God is my Healer"
K: Brother, your suffering makes you stronger and it will pass. Can we meet Thursday? Your kids love you.
G: Definitely. Let me just get over today. I will go for a walk on the beach to think. Thursday is fine. It feels as if my kids feel nothing for me. I am so depressed and lonely. Nobody cares for me. I am putting my sobriety at risk.
K: Your ex brainwashes the kids against you. Alcohol will not solve this problem and will give her all the ammunition against you.
G: I agree. Will read a while and then sleep.
K: I send you this video "He raised me up".
G: Beautiful my friend. I am crying. How can I be raised up again?
5 January 2017
K: When and where can we meet?
G: Just give me some space as I am on dangerous anti-depressants and I cannot focus.
K: I am waiting for you my friend.
G: My sobriety is very vulnerable today.
K: Then we must meet today.
11 January 2017
K: How are you?
G: This is a up and down roller coaster ride. I struggle with the anti-depressants and sleeping pills. I am scared I will get addicted to pills. I struggle to act normally, my psychologist wanted to send me away for sleep therapy but I refused, the loneliness and isolation is too much for me, I do not even go to church any more, I do not want to be amongst people, my business is going under, I make poor deci-sions, my identity is ruined, I am a loser. I need help urgently, my psychologist was worried I would commit suicide when I could not see my children in December, I am dead inside, my mother passed away, I had heart surgery and got divorced in 1 month, I have no support structures left.
K: In my opinion you are still a winner because you did not relapse. Can you please help me to help others like we did 10 years ago? Your mother is in heaven with Jesus. Come visit me on 12/1 in Betty`s Bay.
G: I really want to, Kobus, but my self-esteem is gone. My ex-wife threatens me with interdicts and she wants to ruin me financially. She took out a restraint order against me when I could not pay maintenance, I may not contact her which means I have no contact with my kids, this is a power play and I am helpless. How do I get to Betty`s Bay?
K: Through Gordon`s Bay along the sea for 30 km. You are still a perfect dad.
G: How long is the drive from Betty`s Bay? I must meet my son at 1430 at the school. I can leave here at 0700.
K: About 90 minutes. See you tomorrow in Betty`s Bay.
G: I will come as early as possible.
K: Looking forward to see you again. Nice outing for you.
G: Looking forward to the outing. Better than my room.
12 January 2012
K: 0500 Looking forward to today
G: 0523 I overslept in spite of alarm clock. Coming!
K: 0717 I am at my office.
G: On my way!!
K: Great, water is boiling for coffee.
0830 to 1130 G started telling K about all the negative things happening to him, K asked G to keep that for later and took G for a tour of BB, showed him Neelkraal and the new deck, focused on all the miracles and positives in BB, how G and his kids will climb up Leopard`s Kloof in Harold Porter Botanical Garden, how they will walk from Dawidskraal to the red tobies, see the penguin colony, G started taking photo`s to show to his kids, discussed how G can help K in RECREATE Private Practice and at rehabs, G requested a prayer to end off a wonderful morning in BB.
G: 1617 Thank you for a wonderful day and for what you deposited in me. It was life changing for me. This was what I needed. May God bless you in abundance. I am proud to have you as my mentor. Enjoy Betty`s Bay. See you soon.
K: Jesus is our mentor and He was at work today through nature and His creation. I enjoyed the morning very much. I have missed you for many years. Please phone L and take the books to her.
G: I will do so later. Just helping my son with his homework.
K: I will send you a recommendation letter still today.
13 January 2017
G: I could not respond to your letter yet because I have been in tears all day. You made me realise how I de-valued myself and that I made my wife and children more important than God the last few years. I am busy making appointments with all my children to tell them the truth about my struggles. I am now taking ownership of my problems. Please give me time to get through this. I want to come to Betty`s Bay again as something amazing happened to me there.
K: I like your new cover picture taken at Jock`s Bay. Beautiful!
G: Through Jesus we can have an impact on other`s lives. Your letter of recommendation is spot on and reminded me of who I really am. I have sent it to my children and await their response. I have stopped taking anti-depressants and sleeping pills and I sleep like a baby. My son is with me the whole weekend. When I look at his innocent face when he sleeps, I realise how adults can harm children. Not me any longer. I am a new person. Life is great!!!! I have so much energy.
14 January 2017
G: God showed me the last few days that I have taken the credit for my sobriety when my people and my family praised me so much for my involvement with my kids and the church/SANCA/CAD. I also put my wife on a pedestal. In Betty`s Bay God showed me through you and the Holy Spirit that I stopped praising Him for my success. I con-fessed last night and asked God for forgiveness. It was God who opened all the doors for me after Ramot. Can we please discuss this further asap?
K: We can meet Monday at 1000 in Parow.
G: God spoke to me so deeply that it is scary. I was a fool in accept-ing the divorce settlement because I now lost all my retirement money. Fortunately my adult children are standing behind me and I am not alone in this battle. I will follow your advice and go see the lawyer with my children as witnesses.
K: Great. You confessed and asked for forgiveness and now you can relax and allow God to do the miracles in your life again.
G: I feel so good. My son and I are going for a run. God is GREAT!!!
15 January 2017
G: We witnessed a traumatic incident yesterday where I stay and I took my son to Kentucky to have an ice cream. We sat in a corner and cried and prayed together in front of all the people there. We gave the ice cream to bergies as we lost our appetite. We are going to church now. Today is a new opportunity for miracles to happen. I saw a cousin last night and I am going to help him to sobriety.
K: The Holy Spirit is in you.
G: After a veld fire everything is black and dead. Soon you will see the new green sprouts coming through the black. The intense heat awakened the seeds underground. In the same way we can also be part of recreation if we allow God to work. See you tomorrow. Thank you for the revised testimonial. It is very well written and it helps me to see myself in a new light. Praise God!!!
K: Look at this stunning photo of sunrise this morning in Betty`s Bay. Only God can make such beautiful sceneries.
G: Enjoy my Brother, I will be back there soon. I cried my heart out at church and had counselling after the sermon. I am emotionally drained after a session with my ex. My mother would have been 85 today.
16 January 2017
G: My ex wants to meet me for coffee on Wednesday. She is prepared to withdraw the restraining order but still wants to control me from a distance.
K: God is working with her. See you at 1300 at the rugby field.
17 January 2017
G: I must get away from my room, ex and old environment because it is hell to be so close to my kids and not being able to see them daily. I am in contact with a rehab centre to do spiritual counselling with the youth. I have to be busy as it is so depressing to sit in my small room all day. I can`t get work and business is very slow.
K: Focus on the positives in you and trust God for open doors.
G: I wish I can be as calm as you. Nothing seems to upset you. Yesterday my psychologist delved too deep and opened up all the old wounds.
K: Give the pain to God. He has a plan for you.
23 January 2017
G: I am on my way to Betty`s Bay. Just can`t stay away. Give your steering wheel to God and be obedient. Are you prepared to follow Him unconditionally?
K: Enjoy! Go meet the ladies of Touching Hearts. I will give you the leader`s numbers.
25 January 2017
G: I made friends with Barbara and Denise and yesterday I gave my testimony to these faithful ladies. Wonderful!! I am so excited!! They prayed so deeply for me and my family.
K: God is at work with you. He has great things planned for you.
30 January 2017
G: Thank you for arranging that I can go to Cornerstone to do 1 week of spiritual counselling. This is a good practice round for the work I have to do at the rehab centre. I feel needed again and there is purpose in my life. Help, support, empathy, testify is in my blood. Thank you so much for the opportunities you have created for me. Doors are starting to really swing open fast now.
K: That is because God has taken over your life again like 10 years ago. You did not allow Satan to succeed. Enjoy this exciting journey!