April 2013

School Children

Elder Van Sickle baptized Victoria, She's the lady with the curly hair

Township barbershop ( only costs 20R for a haircut ) ( 2.00 in American money ) 

Elder Van Sickle baptized Sister Saul's granddaughter

4/6/13 - Experiences & Testimony of Tithing

April 6, 2013  We are now on our way to Mthatha 2 1/2 hours from East London. What a beautiful drive. So many farms everywhere. We saw people
herding animals. we also saw bles buck, many goats, a grey baboon. It must have been a grandpa because it was grey. At least that is what
Elder Van Sickle said. We have never seen mud huts in South Africa until on our drive to Mthatha. We were on our way to the L.D.S. Church
in Mthatha to present L.D.S. Jobs to the 1st counsellor seeing how the bishop was out of town. When we pulled up to the church and there
was a member there. She was also waiting for the 1st counsellor also. As soon as we saw her I knew we were suppose to help her. She started
talking to us. We asked her how long she had been a member. She said three years. She was going to college in East London and living
with her sister. She said she had come to visit her mother. She said that her mother was a member but hadn't been coming to church for a
long time because she can't afford to pay tithing. We asked her why she couldn't pay tithing. She started to cry. I am so worried about her. She said because she is to far
in debt. She is so stressed out. We told her people don't think they can afford to pay tithing but you can't afford not too.  It's
 all about putting the lord first in your life. He will bless your mother if she pays her tithing. Its not if you have enough money to pay tithing. It's do
you have enough faith to pay it. It's saying lord  I know better what to do with my money than you do. We are depending on our selves
and not the lord. I was prompted to tell her the story of the widow's mite. Mark 12:41-44 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how
the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.                                                     We asked her where her mother lived. She explained that she lives on the other side of Mthatha and that it
was a long ways. Elder Van Sickle said we would love to meet your mother. Will you take us there after our meeting. By then the 1st counsellor
had arrived. So we all went into the church. Elder Van Sickle taught L,D S. JOBS to the 1st counsellor and her. Then after the meeting Sinazo hopped into
our car and we headed to her mother's house. We drove out of town and onto a dirt road and went it seemed like forever. Sinazo explained
to us that they walk from there house down the dirt road all the way to the main road. Which is a 30 minute walk then they take a taxi to the
main part of town. Then another taxi to the church. We finally arrived at her mother's house. She led us into the house. She went and found
mama. We sat down and began to talk. We both knew the lord had sent us here today to help this member. She was very stressed and crying It was
as if she had a ton of bricks on her head. She told us she had be baptized 2010. She had stopped going to church. Because she was in such
debt. She couldn't afford to pay the taxi to get her and her family to church and pay her tithing. She was s school teacher. She pointed out the window. She said
I walk up over that hill for 30 minutes to the school I teach at. She made very good money for South Africa wages 17,500 R a month which
rounded off in American dollars is a little more than 1.750.00. We told her
in order to help her we needed to see her payslip. Elder Van Sickle looked through her finances. She was paying 14 different insurances companies
for burial insurance. She had bought a lot of things on credit
including furniture pots and pans and many other things.. She had no money left to live on. We gave her the church pamphlet on ONE FOR THE
MONEY BY MARVIN J ASHTON. It teaches you how to get out of debt and how to eliminate your debt and how important it is to stay out of
debt. Elder Van Sickle told her she was under water drowning. She was building a new house beside her house and she had bought the materials
at different companies on credit. Elder Van Sickle told her not to spend another dime on that house and to drop all the burial insurances she had except
on herself. Then as soon as you get your pay check pay your tithing first thing. that she would be blessed and she needed the blessings. She needed
to not buy one more thing on credit. Raise your hand and
promise to Elder Van Sickle that you will
not buy one more thing. She did. Practice saying no to yourself. He told her she should only pay cash for the materials on her house after she gets out of debt.
      The prophet tells us to pay our tithing and to get out of debt. This story is a testimony to us why we should stay out of debt. We have seen many
members in trouble out here. Because they didn't follow the prophet's council. D&C 82:10 I the lord am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do
not what I say, ye have no promise. We want the lord bound to us. Who better to be bound too. WE LOVE YOU AND KNOW THAT GOD LIVES AND LOVES US. LOVE MOM AND DAD, GRANDPA AND GRANDMA,
ELDER AND SISTER VAN SICKLE

April '13 - Homemade Go-kart

March- Update on Matric School

Hi everyone, We have been having a few problems with the Matric School. We had a English teacher that quit showing up. but the lord led us to another English

teacher. The Students are so excited about the new teacher. He is so willing to volunteer his time. Each night we have students come in with a lot of problems. One

night Tshepiso came in late and said her grandma had fell this morning and cut her head open. Her grandmother is in her late seventies. She said the cut was bleeding

so bad that they didn't even look how deep- it was and they wound her head up. Her grandmother had been sleeping all day. We were really worried about her having a

concussion. We went to the Bishop's house and told him about it. We didn't know what he wanted to do. We always  work through the bishop. We have to have his okay

to do anything to help his members.Tshepiso is a member even though her grandmother is not..The Bishop

immediately wanted us to take him to her shack. The grandma lives with Tshepiso, When we got there the grandmother looked really bad. Her eyes were dilated. She was

very dizzy and her head hurt. Tshepiso's mother tried to unwrap the wound to show us but, it hurt grandma to much. Tshepiso always tells us how much she loves her grandmother.

Her grandmother raised her. Usually in there society the grandmother raises the kids not the mother. The mother usually works in another township or city.We hated to think of her grandma passing away and Tshepiso being heart broken. Elder Van Sickle and Bishop were discussing her problems. If the church would pay for her going to the

emergency room. She had been to the clinic earlier today but was turned down because they already had too many patients to see. So they sent her away with her forehead bleeding.

Then I got this really strong feeling from the Holy Ghost that you are to help the poor and needy in this church or in any other church or in no church at all. Then the

thought came to me that she needed a blessing. Just then Elder Van Sickle said to the grandma would you like a priesthood blessing. He explained to her what the

priesthood blessing was. She said that she would like one. In the blessing it said she would be healed if she has the faith and I believe she has. All the people that Christ

healed had to have the faith to be healed. A few days later we checked up on her and she was out in her garden working. We love all of you keep the faith Love Mom and Dad

Grandpa and Grandma and Elder and Sister Van Sickle

New Grandson Born

CONGRATULATIONS
BUCK & LYNDSEY
ON THEIR NEW
BABY BOY:
CREW THOMAS VAN SICKLE
BORN:
FEB 19, AT 10:15 p.m.
6 lbs  12 ozs

Feb 2013 Pictures - Fruit stands and kids playing

Feb. 2013

 Hi everyone, Remember when I talked about the lord wanting us to start a school because people have failed high School or they got bad grades and it doesn't matter if you are

50 years old here and getting a job they still look at your High School grades.Well, We started the school. We started off the school with a big braai ( barbecue ) Elder Van Sickle barbecued for three hours straight. I felt sorry

for him. He was so tired by the time he was done. Six of the young elders helped us serve the meal. We invited

all the teachers, students, parents of the students or if it was a uncle or grandma or aunt that they were staying with we invited them also. We invited both ward bishoprics. We planned on 63 people if everyone came. As it

turned out. We had 83 people there. Alot of people came when they saw us cooking the food that was at other meetings at the church and some people off the street

that were hungry. But that's okay we planned on this happening so we had  alot of food. We had all six teachers get up and tell about themselves. Then Elder Van Sickle

gave a motivational talk on succeeding in the classes they were taking. Making Goals. Then we took pictures of everyone. Of course some people jumped into the pictures that

weren't in the classes but South Africans love to have there pictures taken. Then we made schedules for all the students. and started class the following week.

Once the school was started we have had a steady stream of members and non members who wanted to be a part of furthering there Matric So they can get into College

and University. So many blessings from this school we never dreamed of but the lord knew it would happen.We have ordered a lot of books but in November and as of today

we still do not have all of our books. Heavenly Father and the Savior has lead us in so many directions to get books and to get the school up and running. As we started

the school with no books. The teachers jumped right in like they have been teaching for years without books and doing a great job. The bishops and the ward leadership have been at the center of all of this.They went out and recruited teachers all over Kwanobuhle. These teachers that volunteer are teachers at the high schools and grade schools.

They teach during the day and at the night they serve the lord by volunteering to teach at his church for free. There is one young kid that is not a teacher that teaches accounting and tutors math. He is brilliant. A few kids have dropped out. But as they have dropped out others have come forward to take there place of learning.A lot of things have blessed the life's of the members and it is amazing how the lord knew what would happen putting school in Kwanobuhle. A lot of less actives have been fellow shipped and there

are a lot of nonmembers being taught the gospel. This has been a hub of activity for both wards. We have even had one of the nonmember teachers attend church.

The teachers have commented about the quality of the students and there great desire to learn. The lord has helped us so much. We both are not teachers and it has required

alot of things we knew nothing about. We originally started out at the high schools  trying to get them to respond to the needs of the students.It was apparent they were

having there own struggles. The lord wanted the school at his church.The Education department has been a great support. They are literally rooting for the kids and

the work of the lord. It all boils down to Education, Education, Education without it the Saints in South Africa can not get out of poverty. It has everything to do with

living the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They can achieve anything in this life with Heavenly Fathers help. We love the gospel. We know the Book of Mormon

is true. The Bible and Book of Mormon both testify of Jesus Christ. We miss you all. We hope to see you at Rob and Shoni's Wedding and Reception. Love Mom and Dad, Grandpa and Grandma. Elder and Sister Van Sickle

Grandpa and Grandma. Elder and Sister Van Sickle