Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Mama Africa
My mother was raped before I was born
And I am a product of that sin…
See in her ignorance she was robbed of her strength, her offspring
And they took her sons in chains, and tainted her daughters blood
A picture not too different from those the hood paints today…
And she tells me…we were strong…as strong as we are today…only we don’t know it!
See now her sons are hard… not because of their strength but they forgot how they used to smile while they were with her…
They have forgotten how they held hands as they walk roads and they loved each other purely…
They do not remember that in them lies honor of Kings and Queens, they were royalty
So now her sons tote guns and fain hard because they don’t know who they are…
Trying to remember their strength…they are hard because they had to be…
They live in worlds now that have erased their ties to their Mother…
Taught now that they come from slaves, that’s where they originate, but no one told them that their mother bore kings…
And so our royals live as peasants in distant lands…unaware.
And she cries to her sons, is this what they died for…
Those whom were made slaves, my children..
Is this what their lives and their blood was spent for…
And she watches as her sons fill Ghettos countries wide
Embrace the title “Nigga” with pride
Taint their sister’s blood with AIDS
And murder one another to win acclaim
She watches…
As her sons leave their sons, fatherless
And their women to fend for themselves
Become slaves again for material wealth
And find home to be the insides of jails
I can her crying..
Is this what they died for…
Is this what their lives and blood was spent for…
And I am a product of that sin…
See in her ignorance she was robbed of her strength, her offspring
And they took her sons in chains, and tainted her daughters blood
A picture not too different from those the hood paints today…
And she tells me…we were strong…as strong as we are today…only we don’t know it!
See now her sons are hard… not because of their strength but they forgot how they used to smile while they were with her…
They have forgotten how they held hands as they walk roads and they loved each other purely…
They do not remember that in them lies honor of Kings and Queens, they were royalty
So now her sons tote guns and fain hard because they don’t know who they are…
Trying to remember their strength…they are hard because they had to be…
They live in worlds now that have erased their ties to their Mother…
Taught now that they come from slaves, that’s where they originate, but no one told them that their mother bore kings…
And so our royals live as peasants in distant lands…unaware.
And she cries to her sons, is this what they died for…
Those whom were made slaves, my children..
Is this what their lives and their blood was spent for…
And she watches as her sons fill Ghettos countries wide
Embrace the title “Nigga” with pride
Taint their sister’s blood with AIDS
And murder one another to win acclaim
She watches…
As her sons leave their sons, fatherless
And their women to fend for themselves
Become slaves again for material wealth
And find home to be the insides of jails
I can her crying..
Is this what they died for…
Is this what their lives and blood was spent for…
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Township time
So I taught a class yesterday...Poetry/Free Expression Class.
I used India Arie, Mya Angelou, Lauren Hill and Myself to convey how to share your story hurts and ways to deal with Anger...
I have done this kind of class a few times but this one here was so special...
I wish I could share the videos of the kids reading what they wrote...but Not in the states so I don't have High Speed....this is what I wrote while they spoke...and below are some of the kids poems and writings...
Pain
Scars, can they heal
Pain that I feel, will it ever go away…
So much pain, help me bare it
I again sit with those who are stronger than they know
They are strength and power, wisdom beyond their years
Can I wish it away can you take it away…
Can I erase what they have seen
Pain…
That they carry and shed no tears
And they trust in God in ways only they can explain
Raped by their fathers…
Losing their mother
Suffering from disease
Jesus Help them please
Pain…
Take it away…
Wash it away…
Will they ever know life without it…
It’s too hard for me to see
Lord take it away…their pain…
Some of the kids writings...
Struggle for Freedom
Viva Africka, Viva Freedom
These were the words our grandparents and great grandparents
Screamed as they were urgently ramping thru the streets
With iron fist and lieges of police after them like angry dogs
The day Father Mandela was released everybody was happy
Screaming freedom at last!
And it was the end of Whites killing blacks
But the start of Blacks killing Blacks
Now we are living like mice in a cage full if cats
Being killed in cold blood being scared of going out at night
Is this freedom because I am still struggling after freedom
-Sbongiseni Skeyi
My Life
The worlds up side down
I lost my mother when I was 7 yrs. Old
I thought my life was finished
I felt miserable
I felt guilty of my mother’s death
I wanted to kill myself
It was like life was going down the drain
But By God’s Wonderful Mercies
He gave me a mum, who loves me, the way I am, for who I am
God has wonderful mercies all the time
-Nosiphiwo Vonto
I am a loser
I lost my mother
I lost my father
I lost my home
I lost my family
I lost my sister
I lost my brother
I lost my friends
I think I am going to lose at school because I am a loser
My first time when I lose my mother
I lost my mother when I was born
I didn’t even see here but I know that only God nows everything
And God is my shepherd now I see the people say Life is difficult
But I say not to me life is easy because I except God.
-Ayanda Cithi
After the Poems they shares their stories, most orphaned it was hard to hear. Kid who have been raped by their fathers, losing parents and famil members, mistreated, abused and even living with HIV. But they have joy that ignites my faith. They have strength of men. They have courage and determination that I dream of. I am so inspired...I felt my river rising...from within sumthin leaped in me...
Its experiences like this that remind me of Mary greeting Martha and the babe leaping in her womb...I love having people around me that make sumthin leap in me! Make my destiny leap..the dream I have been carrying leap...the things that I know God wants to birth in me leap. I pray that I be that for someone.
River Rise! Rise!
I used India Arie, Mya Angelou, Lauren Hill and Myself to convey how to share your story hurts and ways to deal with Anger...
I have done this kind of class a few times but this one here was so special...
I wish I could share the videos of the kids reading what they wrote...but Not in the states so I don't have High Speed....this is what I wrote while they spoke...and below are some of the kids poems and writings...
Pain
Scars, can they heal
Pain that I feel, will it ever go away…
So much pain, help me bare it
I again sit with those who are stronger than they know
They are strength and power, wisdom beyond their years
Can I wish it away can you take it away…
Can I erase what they have seen
Pain…
That they carry and shed no tears
And they trust in God in ways only they can explain
Raped by their fathers…
Losing their mother
Suffering from disease
Jesus Help them please
Pain…
Take it away…
Wash it away…
Will they ever know life without it…
It’s too hard for me to see
Lord take it away…their pain…
Some of the kids writings...
Struggle for Freedom
Viva Africka, Viva Freedom
These were the words our grandparents and great grandparents
Screamed as they were urgently ramping thru the streets
With iron fist and lieges of police after them like angry dogs
The day Father Mandela was released everybody was happy
Screaming freedom at last!
And it was the end of Whites killing blacks
But the start of Blacks killing Blacks
Now we are living like mice in a cage full if cats
Being killed in cold blood being scared of going out at night
Is this freedom because I am still struggling after freedom
-Sbongiseni Skeyi
My Life
The worlds up side down
I lost my mother when I was 7 yrs. Old
I thought my life was finished
I felt miserable
I felt guilty of my mother’s death
I wanted to kill myself
It was like life was going down the drain
But By God’s Wonderful Mercies
He gave me a mum, who loves me, the way I am, for who I am
God has wonderful mercies all the time
-Nosiphiwo Vonto
I am a loser
I lost my mother
I lost my father
I lost my home
I lost my family
I lost my sister
I lost my brother
I lost my friends
I think I am going to lose at school because I am a loser
My first time when I lose my mother
I lost my mother when I was born
I didn’t even see here but I know that only God nows everything
And God is my shepherd now I see the people say Life is difficult
But I say not to me life is easy because I except God.
-Ayanda Cithi
After the Poems they shares their stories, most orphaned it was hard to hear. Kid who have been raped by their fathers, losing parents and famil members, mistreated, abused and even living with HIV. But they have joy that ignites my faith. They have strength of men. They have courage and determination that I dream of. I am so inspired...I felt my river rising...from within sumthin leaped in me...
Its experiences like this that remind me of Mary greeting Martha and the babe leaping in her womb...I love having people around me that make sumthin leap in me! Make my destiny leap..the dream I have been carrying leap...the things that I know God wants to birth in me leap. I pray that I be that for someone.
River Rise! Rise!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
in my mind
I am learning to say these words...
Its too hard for me, I can't do it alone, I need help!
It seems in life sometimes we think we have to be so strong...we go through so many things and deal with so much and often we do it on our own thinking we have to handle it and carry so much weight...
stressing and trying to be strong
trying to overcome the same struggle for years
trying to love those have hurt us
trying love myself
trying to be who God has called you to be...
and we live our lives so spent on trying...
I think Jesus waits to hear us say
Its too hard for me, I can't do it alone, I need help!
He is always willing to Help or to do thru you...
This has been my prayer today...
Its too hard for me, I can't do it, I need your help! repeating it...(thinking) you said you were a present help...its too hard for me, I can't do it, I need your help!
Its too hard for me, I can't do it alone, I need help!
It seems in life sometimes we think we have to be so strong...we go through so many things and deal with so much and often we do it on our own thinking we have to handle it and carry so much weight...
stressing and trying to be strong
trying to overcome the same struggle for years
trying to love those have hurt us
trying love myself
trying to be who God has called you to be...
and we live our lives so spent on trying...
I think Jesus waits to hear us say
Its too hard for me, I can't do it alone, I need help!
He is always willing to Help or to do thru you...
This has been my prayer today...
Its too hard for me, I can't do it, I need your help! repeating it...(thinking) you said you were a present help...its too hard for me, I can't do it, I need your help!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Today
SO today I woke up to the most Beautiful African Sunrise!...
Has a meeting with Justice Acts..the group I am working with here and this is what I have learned.
There is a lot to do in South Africa. The need for Justice Workers is so heavy.
Some of the things going on here..
They are trying to dis-criminalize prostitution here...this is worse than legalizing it.
Legalizing it will allow it but in certain areas...which is just as wrong.
But dis-criminalizing it will allow it anywhere even next to churches and schools.
The thought is to sort of make pimps more business man and to have contracts with the prostitutes...wow...yes this is actually what they are saying. There is an organization called SWEAT, I think is the acronym, and they are fighting for this.
The world cup is coming up and the amount of people to be trafficked is in the thousands, as sex slaves and just workers. This is a very real issue here...kids as young as 3 are being stolen and made to have sex with men. Same for young girls and BOYS. And the government is turning their head in most cases.
I say it is time for the church to stand up and open our mouth. And even more so for men...MEN where the hell are we...
I am the only man working with our organization and it seems to be the theme for these issues. Freaking make me so angry. The men in the church world wide, we have to stand up for this issue...its like Adam and Eve when we are quiet we allow what sin to happen...so in essence we condone it.
Okay a lot more happen today and I learned a lot...I will write a newsletter or something to keep you updated so much going on...I will admit it has been really hard here but the work here is so necessary and the need for man to speak out is so important
And as always...I need money to stay here...
I need 7000 to cover all my expenses for the next 10 months July-April 2010...I can only stay until money runs out which is looking like August.
...help me if HE leads you...
Paypal :cirvant@gmail.com
or send a check to:
Kingdom Builders Intl Inc.
P.O. Box 1869
Portsmouth, OH 45662
memo: Cirvant
Has a meeting with Justice Acts..the group I am working with here and this is what I have learned.
There is a lot to do in South Africa. The need for Justice Workers is so heavy.
Some of the things going on here..
They are trying to dis-criminalize prostitution here...this is worse than legalizing it.
Legalizing it will allow it but in certain areas...which is just as wrong.
But dis-criminalizing it will allow it anywhere even next to churches and schools.
The thought is to sort of make pimps more business man and to have contracts with the prostitutes...wow...yes this is actually what they are saying. There is an organization called SWEAT, I think is the acronym, and they are fighting for this.
The world cup is coming up and the amount of people to be trafficked is in the thousands, as sex slaves and just workers. This is a very real issue here...kids as young as 3 are being stolen and made to have sex with men. Same for young girls and BOYS. And the government is turning their head in most cases.
I say it is time for the church to stand up and open our mouth. And even more so for men...MEN where the hell are we...
I am the only man working with our organization and it seems to be the theme for these issues. Freaking make me so angry. The men in the church world wide, we have to stand up for this issue...its like Adam and Eve when we are quiet we allow what sin to happen...so in essence we condone it.
Okay a lot more happen today and I learned a lot...I will write a newsletter or something to keep you updated so much going on...I will admit it has been really hard here but the work here is so necessary and the need for man to speak out is so important
And as always...I need money to stay here...
I need 7000 to cover all my expenses for the next 10 months July-April 2010...I can only stay until money runs out which is looking like August.
...help me if HE leads you...
Paypal :cirvant@gmail.com
or send a check to:
Kingdom Builders Intl Inc.
P.O. Box 1869
Portsmouth, OH 45662
memo: Cirvant
Friday, May 22, 2009
Mama Africa
Stepping into darkness
Led by the light she brings
Told of the horrors she’s seen
Feeling the pain it brings
Invited to come in and receive the love she holds
She extends her hands and embraces me, welcome!
Waverly Sebo…And tears fill my eyes
Waverly and I feel I haven’t done enough
She’s only eaten one meal all day
Cause while the sun is out her and her children Learn and play
Hoping that the sun will shade their hunger throughout the day
As regal as they come, my history in every inch of her being
She has given birth to what my eyes hold, and I want to hold her
Africa, Oh Mama Africa…
Can I Hold you as you embrace me
Can I live in you as you live in me…
Africa…oh Africa…oh Mama Africa
Beautiful, Beautiful I wonder if they’d fall as much as I did when I met you
Will they see the beauty in you I see...
I wonder if they’ll dream about you and realize they can’t live without you
Will their hearts beat with the vibrations of your sound…
And if you were water would they drink you down…
Can they embrace you as their past…
And feel like they know who they are now…at last
Will you help them feel again…
I wonder if pride will rise in them…
For you, are Beauty not to be compared...
Africa, Oh Mama Africa…
Can I Hold you as you embrace me
Can I live in you as you live in me…
Africa…oh Africa…oh Mama Africa
Led by the light she brings
Told of the horrors she’s seen
Feeling the pain it brings
Invited to come in and receive the love she holds
She extends her hands and embraces me, welcome!
Waverly Sebo…And tears fill my eyes
Waverly and I feel I haven’t done enough
She’s only eaten one meal all day
Cause while the sun is out her and her children Learn and play
Hoping that the sun will shade their hunger throughout the day
As regal as they come, my history in every inch of her being
She has given birth to what my eyes hold, and I want to hold her
Africa, Oh Mama Africa…
Can I Hold you as you embrace me
Can I live in you as you live in me…
Africa…oh Africa…oh Mama Africa
Beautiful, Beautiful I wonder if they’d fall as much as I did when I met you
Will they see the beauty in you I see...
I wonder if they’ll dream about you and realize they can’t live without you
Will their hearts beat with the vibrations of your sound…
And if you were water would they drink you down…
Can they embrace you as their past…
And feel like they know who they are now…at last
Will you help them feel again…
I wonder if pride will rise in them…
For you, are Beauty not to be compared...
Africa, Oh Mama Africa…
Can I Hold you as you embrace me
Can I live in you as you live in me…
Africa…oh Africa…oh Mama Africa
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Known
He heard the word…
“I know that it feels hard and it’s so tough now,
But if you would hold on change is coming”
And it moved him to tears
It brought a glimpse of light to what seemed deem
Someone knows, he thinks…
Cause he feels alone…
Carrying what most never understand
Words that part his lips born through pain
A view of life he cannot at time convey
It is far bigger than you, he hears God say
But he feels at times he carries it alone
Sometimes those that walk with him just don’t understand
I see God in you they say, yet so quick they run away
“I know that it feels hard…” a feeling he tries to hide
It’s hardier than you think, the call he walks alone
Cause sometimes its only God that can understand
Cause friends don’t realize that sometimes they are all he has
And their turns, and words cut deeper than they know
And he bares the reproach…
Of the dislike of strangers who can’t understand the justice in his poetry
They’d rather have service and go home feeling good
Crying silently, I only told them what I hear You say
The reproach…
Of leaving a nation he has always known
Aren’t their people you can help, here!
He heard the word…
“I know that it feels hard and it’s so tough now,
But if you would hold on change is coming”
And it waits for direction…
Realizing that the one who speaks thinks higher than man
And that sometimes it’s only Him that can hold his hand…
He thinks…You know me!
“I know that it feels hard and it’s so tough now,
But if you would hold on change is coming”
And it moved him to tears
It brought a glimpse of light to what seemed deem
Someone knows, he thinks…
Cause he feels alone…
Carrying what most never understand
Words that part his lips born through pain
A view of life he cannot at time convey
It is far bigger than you, he hears God say
But he feels at times he carries it alone
Sometimes those that walk with him just don’t understand
I see God in you they say, yet so quick they run away
“I know that it feels hard…” a feeling he tries to hide
It’s hardier than you think, the call he walks alone
Cause sometimes its only God that can understand
Cause friends don’t realize that sometimes they are all he has
And their turns, and words cut deeper than they know
And he bares the reproach…
Of the dislike of strangers who can’t understand the justice in his poetry
They’d rather have service and go home feeling good
Crying silently, I only told them what I hear You say
The reproach…
Of leaving a nation he has always known
Aren’t their people you can help, here!
He heard the word…
“I know that it feels hard and it’s so tough now,
But if you would hold on change is coming”
And it waits for direction…
Realizing that the one who speaks thinks higher than man
And that sometimes it’s only Him that can hold his hand…
He thinks…You know me!
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