If We Could Repeat A Decade…

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.