**Dear Mr. Gayton McKenzie,**

I trust this note finds you well and in a happy place. I am healthy and thriving, thanks to the grace of God.

I am reaching out to you with the purest intentions. One morning, during a quiet moment, your name came to mind, and I thought, "Switch the TV on and search for Gayton McKenzie on YouTube." I found myself engrossed in an over-hour-long podcast where you eloquently conveyed your life's journey. I was deeply moved; tears rolled down my face as I watched. The uncanny similarities between our lives struck me profoundly.

At 61, I have faced my own austerities, calamities, and abuse since birth and throughout my childhood. With three stepmothers and a biological father, whom I viewed as a stepfather, I endured unimaginable abuse. It became too much to bear. At the age of 11, I packed the few clothes I had, climbed through a window, and made my way to Ottery Station. I boarded a train to Cape Town Station, where I sat on the steps of the statue on the parade—my first day embarking on a journey of street life that would last for six years.

As a shy, introverted, English-speaking boy, my life had to change drastically to survive on the streets. I had to adapt, embracing a different language and lifestyle. The spirit of my father, which had haunted me in childhood, transformed into something else. I encountered dagga, mandrax, alcohol, and gangsterism, slept in bushes, lived with 23 different families, and ultimately aspired after the number (skombezo). My first visit to Pollsmoor at 17 changed me; I realized, "This is not what I aspired to be as a child."

In my mid-twenties, I took command of my life, extricating all negativity. I pursued adult education and started my own business at 35. To me, humanity is the greatest course, with God first.

While I haven't expanded as you have, I stand in awe of the beautiful human being you’ve become. Currently, I work in light current repair and DSTV trade, but I aspire to switch to the property business to help others on a massive scale. Unfortunately, I lack the connections to fulfill this dream before my time on earth comes to an end.

Dear Mr. Gayton McKenzie, there is so much more I wish to convey. I keep hope alive in finding your favor, and it would truly be a blessing to meet you in person one day. I apologize for the length of this message, and I sincerely appreciate your time.

God bless you and your family in all your future undertakings.

**My sincerest regards,**

**Theodore Spochter**