Category: Isaacsons

  • Enfrentando Un Doble Golpe Con Resiliencia Y Esperanza En 2020

    Enfrentando Un Doble Golpe Con Resiliencia Y Esperanza En 2020

    Noticias sobre el nuevo Corona Virus 

    Fue por esta época en enero de 2020 cuando me estaba relajando y preparándome para volver al trabajo a pleno rendimiento cuando concluía nuestro descanso. Debo admitir que una de mis debilidades es escuchar las noticias de actualidad de todo el mundo. Escuché rumores de un virus mortal en China que el Partido Comunista de China ocultó al resto del mundo para que no lo supiera. Estuvo en todos los medios de comunicación en muy poco tiempo. Inmediatamente pensé en lo resistentes que tendríamos que ser para que este virus no nos alcanzara. No tuvimos ninguna infección en Sudáfrica. ¿Tenía una falsa esperanza de que no llegaría aquí? ¿Cómo prepararse para la resiliencia y la esperanza?

    Doce meses después, hemos pasado por todos los niveles de restricción y hemos retrocedido al nivel 3 mientras hablamos de la segunda ola.

    La esperanza no decepciona 

    Sí, quiero hablar de la segunda ola, no en una perspectiva de desespero, sino de esperanza. 

    Esta esperanza no frustrada se basará en la premisa de que la forma en que nos reunimos podría repetirse. Un mayor grado de mentes resueltas haciendo comunidad con lazos de amor es todo lo que necesitamos. Amor respondiendo a la esperanza. Esperanza haciéndose eco de la fe. Acción proclamando fe. Acción basada en el amor.

    Tenemos numerosas historias de esperanza, pero aquí contaremos sólo algunas. 

    Por ejemplo, cuando recibimos un inmenso apoyo en oración para uno de nuestros estudiantes diagnosticado con una enfermedad cardíaca y debía someterse a una cirugía cardíaca. 

    Hoy podemos hablar de la provisión milagrosa para sus gastos médicos que fue totalmente cubierta por el gobierno de Sudáfrica. A pesar de que la operación aún no ha podido ser realizada, se mantiene visiblemente sana.

    De manera similar, cuando nuestra ciudad se vio duramente afectada por el bloqueo debido al COVID-19, amigos de todas partes intervinieron. Teníamos nada menos que un envío constante de alimentos para compartir más allá de nuestras familias de Beats and Books. Fue increíble presenciarlo. 

    Nace una nueva asociación 

    Cuando nos enteramos de que nuestra colega Grace no podía regresar (desde Australia), nos enfrentamos a una enorme montaña que escalar ya que no teníamos un reemplazo inmediato. Grace dirigía el departamento de música. En consecuencia, suspendimos el programa de música parcialmente porque todavía estábamos aprendiendo y adaptándonos para trabajar en una pandemia. El cielo nos iluminó cuando nos asociamos con la Fundación Internacional de Música Samuel Vargas. Esta organización con sede en EE. UU. tiene el corazón para elevar a las comunidades y la sociedad a través del poder y la influencia de la música. ¡Fue un ajuste perfecto! Desde entonces, los alumnos del proyecto Violines contra la violencia (VAV) han disfrutado de recibir instrucciones a través de Zoom.

    ¡Agradecidos por Conexión Wifi! 

    Aprender en línea significaba que teníamos que tener wifi en las instalaciones de Beats and Books. ¡Estamos en deuda con los amigos que patrocinaron la instalación! 

    Cuando las asociaciones hacen que la resiliencia parezca fácil.

    A través de nuestra organización colaboradora local, The Butterfly Foundation (Fundación Mariposa), fue posible arrendar la casa de nuestro ministerio por 12 meses. Eso permitió dar una respuesta positiva a las nuevas condiciones impuestas por causa del Covid.

    Por otro lado, la comunidad de Grace  Klein de Birmingham, USA, nos apoyó mediante el uso continuo de sus portales de donación; por lo que propició para nosotros recibir donaciones deducibles de impuestos de los EE. UU.

    La Organización Experiencia de Liderazgo (LXP) proporcionó una cobertura sin precedentes de nuestro ministerio y ha sido fundamental para mantener nuestro bienestar como organización.

    Global Challenge Expeditions,  (Expediciones Desafío Global) ofreció una asociación cohesiva a tener en cuenta. 

    Para resumir en lo que respecta a nuestros colaboradores, cada uno de ellos juega un papel integral en nuestra misión de crear entornos donde los niños prosperen musical, intelectual y espiritualmente. Su impacto atraviesa generaciones, fronteras geográficas e impacta a nuestros estudiantes, sus familias y nuestras comunidades eternamente.

    Líderes hoy y mañana 

    En 2020,  algunos de nuestros estudiantes fueron seleccionados para  formar parte del centro de alumnos en sus escuelas: dos de ellos eran del cuadro de honor de sus escuelas primarias (intermedias), respectivamente. Algunos otros fueron nominados como embajadores y prefectos. Con mucha alegría, les contamos también que otros dos estudiantes recibieron becas en el prestigioso Colegio de Enseñanza Media llamado Liderazgo Global – JBay (GLA) y otro estudiante más ha sido beneficiado para este año.

    Isabella va a Los Estados Unidos

    Isabella Isaacson (hijos de Carla y Jonathan) logró obtener una beca en la Universidad de Kuyper, en el estado de Michigan, EE. UU. Continúa obteniendo buenos resultados en sus estudios académicos. Estamos muy agradecidos por la beca que recibió hace unos años en GLA y todo el apoyo brindado durante y más allá de sus estudios. Gracias a todos los que hicieron que la universidad fuera una posibilidad para Isabella.

    Simamkele termina la escuela secundaria 

    Simamkele (una de nuestras primeras niñas en egresar del programa) se graduó de la escuela secundaria en 2020. Decidió servir durante un año con nosotros antes de continuar sus estudios. ¡Qué regalo! Estamos emocionados de viajar con ella a través del desarrollo de liderazgo.

    Golpear el progreso 

    Nuestros estudiantes han continuado mostrando progreso en lectura, escritura y habla, cálculos matemáticos y destreza musical. No estamos donde queremos estar, pero estamos seguros de hacia dónde nos dirigimos. Problemas de comportamiento son parte atribuible al impacto negativo del encierro, algunos de nuestros estudiantes exhibieron comportamientos desafiantes. Hemos retenido a 

    más del 78% de nuestros estudiantes que han mostrado un crecimiento positivo y se adhieren a nuestros valores.

    ¡Tanto que buscar en 2021! 

    2021 nos plantea multitud de obstáculos. Sin embargo, el retrovisor nos da una perspectiva positiva del camino en el que nos encontramos. Tu apoyo es invaluable. Es una de las fibras de nuestra resiliencia. A medida que nos adaptamos, seguimos aprendiendo que cuando alguien te anima, nada es inalcanzable. Gracias por ser esa persona que nos ha animado y empujado  en oración. Estamos agradecidos de que te hayas asociado con nosotros en más de una forma. Este año, te necesitamos aún más que nunca. También nos gustaría saber de usted para orar por usted y su familia. ¡Apuesto a que no es demasiado tarde para decir que tenga un 2021 saludable y bendecido!

  • If We Could Repeat A Decade…

    If We Could Repeat A Decade…

    If We Could Repeat A Decade…

    This past decade would be one we would use as a template for lessons learnt and we wouldn’t hesitate to call on many of you our friends and partners who have stood by us through thin and thick. As we look back and highlight some events, projects and especially people, one needs to note that there are lots of significant players who without their support Beats and Books wouldn’t be where it is today. So the highlighting of names here has nothing to do with how the people mentioned have preeminent importance over those not mentioned. Our existence, growth and sustainability is owed first and foremost to the Lord and everyone he has appointed to stand by us in prayer, through financial backing and by moral support. If we could repeat a decade, we would repeat this one with you all in it again.

    • 2010

      Birth Of A Vision

      The strong conviction and the pointed direction in what was to become known as Beats and Books has it’s roots in what Cornelius witnessed in many countries around Africa. The poverty, illiteracy levels, corruption, lack of servant leadership, infiltration of false religion and the list goes on made him realised that the time to act was not tomorrow. It was as urgent as yesterday.

    • 2011

      Ministry Genesis

      Upon return to Jeffreys Bay from a mission trip around Africa under the Global Challenge’s Explore Africa. He had a new found burden for the child of Africa. One day, about 8 young girls from the township showed up at 6 Salamander – LXP House then. God called them to us. This was an answered prayer that saw us investing time to influence their lives for Jesus. Our LXP students, Shalendah Bunga and Carol Sithole were instrumental in the formation of our new children’s ministry.

    • Gogo Hester with Lusanda

      2012

      The Year Of Reckoning

      Cornelius met Gogo Hester Ntombana for the first time. A lady of peace that quickly embraced us and welcomed us into her home and family. She gave up one of her backyard shacks (make-shift house) for us to use as a meeting place where children would receive vocal instructions and get help with their homework. She enabled our work by allowing us to partner with her in community transformation. During this year, our ministry transitioned from being nameless, to Sweet Melodies and eventually Taletha Koum amidst strong collaboration with Gogo Hester. Other people who were instrumental this year were Tamara Vilane and Howard Plaatjie.

    • 2013

      Coming To America

      Our long-standing partners and friends, Grace Klein Community (GKC) extended an invitation for Cornelius to travel to the US and share about our ministry.This was in partnership with the Duncans’ family who initially invited him to a wedding. Through GKC, Cornelius was granted entry into USA. That door has since remained open to date. Numerous vital relationships were formed during this trip that have facilitated the growth and sustenance of Beats and Books.

      Also, this was the year we received a good donation of musical instruments from Poetice International.

    • 2014

      The Book Drive

      Prima and Cornelius, with the help from Grace Klein Community began a book-drive that extended from Alabama to Florida, USA. Over a couple of years, various schools, churches, non-profits and individuals contributed to this amazing project. Three years later, a container would be shipped to South Africa packed to the brim with at least 12,000 books, clothes, music instruments and computer equipment among other goods.

      The the Library Dreams Project was launched. Gayle and Joel Gilbert rented out a storage for all the books that would be collected.

    • 2015

      The Library Project

      With lots of excitement and pain, we traversed this project. Cornelius and Prima travelled across the US to create awareness for Beats and Books. The ministry had just changed names. In the US most people new it as the Library Dreams, back in South Africa it was known as Taletha Koum. 

      We renamed to Beats and Books and launched our website under the same name. Felix Mwaula and Edify Mudenda played a major role co-leading the ministry with support from Henry Penjani Kabaghe.

    • 2016

      The Valley

      This was a year of reflection and experimentation too. Our Numeracy program kick-started with our friend Elizna Loots championing it. Charnè Vorster also came and generously shared her time when she introduced the phonics to our literacy program. We were blessed with international volunteers from across the World. With  more than a handful of volunteers coming through to serve at our after-school program, we got a glimpse of things yet to come.

      Our friends, Zani Stoffberg and Madeleine Viljoen from Living Water ministry, helped us with regular volunteers including themselves.

    • 2017

      Violins Against Violence

      The Lord began replacing all that the locusts had eaten. This was a turn-around year. Our music deparment gained momentum when we were joined by Grace Wong who came and initiated the Violins Against Violence Project. Raytheo Afrika joined us on staff and instructed piano lessons. They both are gifted and annointed. Violins Against Violence project was launched and a successfull concert was held.

      Earlier this year, we were asked to vacate our after-school program venue. God opened up a new house. The shipment of 12,000 books plus extras arrived just after Cornelius and Prima gave birth to their first son – Liron Nehemiah.

      Our Numeracy Department got a facelift with Evelyn Lotz providing a developed curriculum and weekly lessons. Cornelius and Prima went through her Sophakama program the previous year to get more equiped in how to work with children with remedial learning needs.

    • The Isaacsons

      2018

      Team Expansion

      Our Chilean friends, the Isaacsons (Jonathan and Carla), joined Beats and Books after serving in Brazil for 8 years. Through their hardwork, leadership, creativity and servant-hearts, they had the freedom to run Beats and Books without much supervision.

      Cornelius and Prima took a six month sabatical in the US where their second son, Yosefe, was born.

    • 2019

      Change of Decades

      Our Team spent at least 1500 hours combined teaching and mentoring our children musically, intellectually and spiritually in the afternoons alone. We got our first local corporate sponsorship from The Butterfly Foundation who sponsored our Kids Nutrition and Stationary for the the last semester of the year. Grace Wong came back to continue with Violins Against Violence project yet ended up being our Music Director. Our music and worship hit the roof. We are ready for more. We had two Spelling Bees, continued with Numeracy and introduced a computer-based literacy program that we will roll-out in 2020. Our children have enjoyed access to the library and the ability to borrow books every week. We hit a record high of bringing in 50+ volunteers per week for most of the year who made it possible for our kids to enjoy one-on-one attention.

    • A picture of a beautiful African sunset.

      2020

      A New Dawn

      It’s a new era with a lot of possibilities.

      We look forward to creating an environment where our children will excel musically, intellectually and spiritually through unity in purpose at staff level.

    • The Ngosas family picture.

      Thank You!

      From the Ngosas, on behalf of Beats and Books

      You are our village. Even for the mere fact that you have read this far, your support is far-reaching than you may ever know. Our work is made possible through in-kind donations. Would you consider supporting our ministry financially today? To give, click the button below. God bless you!

    Donate

    “It takes the whole  village to raise a child.”

    African Proverb

  • Big Shoes, Big Heart

    Big Shoes, Big Heart

    Since arriving back in South Africa, it has been exciting to see the growth that is happening at Beats and Books. Two significant game players in that growth have definitely been our beloved Chilean staff members, Jonathan and Carla Isaacson. The Isaacsons have now been at Beats and Books for over a year. Over the past few months of working alongside them, I have learned so much. They are joyful, loving, and brimming with hopes and ideas for bettering the lives of those around them.

    Just this morning, we received the good news that Carla landed safely in South America. She received an unexpected opportunity to travel to Chile to visit her elderly father. After the past year of hard work at Beats and Books, we are so glad that Carla can have a break and spend a few weeks with family and friends on the other side of the globe.

    We all knew that Carla would leave behind some big shoes to fill. At Beats and Books, Carla is officially head of our literacy department, running daily tutoring groups and homework help. She also manages Beats and Books’ library borrowing system, coordinates meals / snacks for our kids nutrition program, works alongside our volunteers in the mornings and afternoons, connects all the dots in the daily program, presents memorable Bible stories with graphics, costumes and props on Fridays, communicates with the students’ parents, does community outreach and home visits, and takes care of countless details in between. Oh, and did I mention that she is a mother of four? During the past week, we began to realise just how huge those shoes are!

    Carla, we love you and are so grateful for you! We pray that you will be rested, refreshed and recharged in your time away.

    Also…we can’t wait to have you back!

    Photo Credits: Moriah Deane

    @moriahdeane