Category: Ngosas

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

African Proverb
03/01/2020
Where are the Ngosas?

It’s no surprise that one may ask where we are or where we have been. For that reason, here is a short update.

Firstly, at the beginning of the last year 2018, Prima and I were exhausted and needed much time to rest. We ran Beats and Books, among other things, for two consecutive years without stopping. Through our loving Global Community church fellowship, we got treated to a classy condominium right on the Dolphin Beach.

Moreover, close to the end of the year, we got invited to two weddings in the States. It was an answered prayer that our leadership would bless us to travel not only for that but also for a much-needed sabbatical.

Where did the flights come from?

Quite recently, I started tent-making web-design freelance jobs. I was so sure that we would buy our flights if I struck a deal with one big client I had in mind. However, that deal didn’t materialise. Our hosts and very good friends decided to fund our return trip to and fro the USA with every cost in-between fully taken care of.

What did we do in the US?

We attended our friends’ beautiful wedding in Maryland. Thereafter we got treated to some much-needed time alone at a family cottage by the Potomac River. Loaded up with all manners of goodies imaginable, we were indeed spoilt rotten!

The second wedding was scheduled to take place in Alabama. Our time in Birmingham was unusual. The time we spent there was mostly with families that we have in the past become close to. The Grace Klein Community blessed us with a date to a fancy Italian restaurant for our 4th Anniversary. Meanwhile, we led Monday worship sessions at one of the GKC community houses. We experienced the American Thanks-Giving for the first time around was right there.

Back in Maryland, we had a time like no other with our hosts. Out of bonding, we felt incredibly loved and considered as a family by the Duncans. A good 5 months were spent there.

Who are the Duncans?

Dave, Valerie, Sarah and Cameron came to Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa in 2007 with a group of youth from the Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church. We have become close friends over the years. Every time I have been to the USA, their house is my first and last stop. It’s our overseas home. At least that’s how we feel. Dave and Valerie have four amazing daughters and one intellectual son.

The Duncans flew us to and fro and within the USA. They fed us, accommodated us and went far beyond what we could have possibly imagined. They provided us with the opportunity to give birth in the US. There is no way we would have been able to do that by ourselves. We are in awe of the Lord and what He accomplished for us through Dave and Valerie. These two phenomenal people took us out on dates to renowned restaurants with absolutely international cuisines to spoil our palates. We watched how they love each other and love others. Our lives are richer today because of them.

Are we moving to the USA?

So many people have asked, but as far as we are concerned, we have not heard the Lord say we must move to the US now.

So where are the Ngosas now?

We are in our South African at the time of writing. Prima and the kids are going to Zambia this Wednesday, July 24. She and Yosefe need to get new passports. Also, they all need to renew their South African visas.

My 90-day visitor’s visa expires this September 2019. Therefore, we opted for a work permit. Our application process started a few months back. The waiver process should be complete in hopefully a month. We consider Jeffreys Bay home. Consequently, we choose the Lord’s report above all else. We find serving here a great delight and privilege.

22/07/2019