Dear friends and family,

We had the open house and free car wash at the church. The young missionaries had gone to so much work. All 6 of them had

spent 3 hours last night cleaning the church. We were having and open house where non members could come in and learn about

our church. We had different rooms set up to tell about our church. Elder Van Sickle was to do the employment section. I was

to do the section on temples. We had a lot of members come through that were non-menbers coming to see what our church was all

about. Elder Van Sickle and I enjoyed telling the non members about it.Each room was set up with something about our church. In the

chapel they had the video about the Restoration. In the Culteral hall the bishops of the two wards did there presentation. One did

The Book of Mormon and the other one talked about the restoration of the church. We had some people come through and ask

some very interesting questions. One asked if I woke up one morning and had fire in my heart and I felt like I should be a prophet

of your church. Why couldn't I be the prophet of your church? Elder Van Sickle said because God doesn't work tht way. He told them there was a process that the church goes through when there is a new prophet to be called. When I was showing the self employment and career workshop to a non-member. I read to him one of the things Gordon B. Hinkley said about employment. That God wants

you to be sucessful. He does. The man said if he wants you to be sucessful. Why is there so much poor and suffering in this world.

why does he let that happen. Elder Mooki said you have to have faith and be righteous. I told him some people inflict things on them-

selves. Some people infect things on other people. We have are free agency. We told him about the city of Enoch and what happens

when everyone is righteous. Then Mooki quoted one of my favorite scriptures to him Moses 7: 18 For the lord called his people Zion

because they were of one heart and one mind and they dwelt in righteousness and there were no poor among them.

Love, Brother and Sister Van Sickle

Letter 5/22/12

   Hi Everyone, My wife is forcing me to write, she said it is my turn. so here we go, ready or not.  We have had a tremendous month. When we went on mission, if any one were to tell me how hard it would be, i would not have believed them. It has been so hard to deal with all the different personality's in the church. It is such a diverse country and the church is experiencing so many growing pains. It has so many cultures colliding and the church is in the middle of it all. You have tribal rituals that still play a huge part of their lives. You have this world economy that is playing a huge factor in all of this. As the first presidency put it in conference, they want sustained growth, they want people remain active and going to the temple. With a people so humble and meek, it is in there culture to be incredibly selfless in there desires and wants. So many  of them are hungry and only want a great job. It is this hunger issue that really shakes there faith some how. On e of the bishops took his first councilor and there wives and children in there little car and drove 14 hours all night to attend the temple in the morning. It was the councilors first time to go to the temple and be sealed. They had everything planned out to the penny. They had a great time and made there way back. Upon arriving back all that they had money  to eat for two weeks was just bread and a little rice. what a great sacrifice. It really make me question if i would do that. what faith they have. We love these people so much. they are such a great people.

     Last fast Sunday we fasted for our area and our mission. The bishops here are so young and faithful. They have so many people to take care of. We were having transportation issues in the wards trying to get people in to Port Elizabeth to turn in resumes for jobs. We had our bosses boss come out with one of the employment specialist. When they arrived we had several people ready for them to see and talk to . That night we had a large gathering at the stake center with all the bishops and there ward councils. That night everything that we had hoped for took place in one meeting. the information that was given to every body at that meeting answered so many questions as it pertains to welfare and employment. It helped the Bishops and the Stake to better understand there rolls in each of there callings. It removed a whole lot of the hard out of our mission. The next day the miracle continued as we traveled to East London  where we have been trying to get open 3 employment centers for 4 wards that have the highest unemployment in the eastern cape. the Area office and the stake presidency have been  having some rough times together. We went to the stake center that evening at the appointed time to meet with the stake  leadership. Once again heavenly Father heard and answered our prayer and every thing got worked out. We are now in the process of opening them up. We really hated being in the middle of  it, all we wanted was to help the people. We knew that something had to happen so the people of the lord would win. It is all matter of who comes first, the lord and his people. It makes it so easy to fight for our savior and his people because we love them both so much. There is no doubt who is running,leading and guiding the Saviors church. he lives!!!!!

 

Elder and Sister Van Sickle

3 Versailles Ct, Verdun Rd, Lorraine, Port Elizabeth, 6070

Cell: 083-251-7791

Shipment

We will be sending packages to Brother and Sister Van Sickle by 5/7/2012.  It really makes their day to receive things.  If anyone has anything they would like to send please get it to me (Lyndsey Van Sickle) or Kelly Van Sickle by the 7th.

Shacks in Queens Town, South Africa

Letter received on 4/26/2012:

Our new address is for packages is:

#3 Versailles court Verdun Road

Lorraine 6070

Port Elizabeth

South Africa                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

The post office box is the same

P.O. box 29083 Sunridge Park

Port Elizabeth 6008

South Africa

We have been in East London. We are now in Cape Town. It is such a beautiful place. We met with President Cedras. He is a counselor to the

stake president here in Cape Town we went to his house for dinner tonight. They had a beautiful house. He has a ice cream business where he

sells ice cream on the beaches here. He showed us his business. He has ice cream carts on bicycles with umbrella's . We

thought this would be a good business for some of the unemployed in Port Elizabeth. We met some of the young boys

that ride the carts on the beaches. There was one young boy I stopped and talk to. He said he was so excited he wanted to see missionaries

today. He says he wants to go on a mission and he started working here at the ice cream place  two years ago. He has been saving his money but his family i

s very poor and he gives most of the money to them so it is hard to  s ave much money. Meanwhile time marches on and he is twenty five now. He

said his family are members but he is the only one that is active. He said he loves to go to church and wishes church was every day.

We have been in Capetown since Monday. This has been a very eventful trip. We have been invited to come back. Employment is coming

full force ahead. I know the lord  has been opening the doors in Capetown for employment for our members. President Cedras is the counselor over employment. He has such a

good heart. We are really blessed to have him.

We were able to go to Robbin Island today and learn about the Africans that were imprisoned for fighting for freedom against the par tide. We saw

the prison cell Nelson Mandela stayed in for 18 years. It is incredible the sacrifice they gave for the cause of freedom for the Africans.

It feels so good when you help people and put a smile on there face. We truly have a testimony of helping the poor and needy of the earth

especially in South Africa.

Kwanobuhle 1st ward career workshop. The largest group they've taught so far.

Tamara with her baby on her back.

  Ciskeywa Peya with her baby sleeping on her back.

   Elder Van Sickle lighting a birthday cake for two kids at the orphanage.