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

PDay with the young Elders - Wild Life in South Africa

Hi everyone, 

We just wanted to tell you about our Pday with the young missionaries. They wanted to go to Addo which is about 45 minutes from our flat in Port Elizabeth. They are not allowed to go to places like this without a senior missionary couple. So they called us and asked us to go with them. We were really excited, so on Monday we went to the Elders flats and picked up 14 young Elders and headed to Addo. We had Sherberts another senior couple with us. They are from St George. So we had a caravan of missionary cars following us. Addo has miles and miles of wild animals.The best place to find them was at the water holes. It is so incredible all the animals Heavenly father created. We saw Elephants, Zebra's, Black backed jackal, Lions, Warthogs, Bush Buck, Water Buffalo, So many more  It was a wonderful day. Look at the attached pictures. We love and miss all of you. 

Love Elder and Sister Van Sickle

New Years Elephant Ride

We got to ride elephants for our p-day today. It was so much fun.

Inspiring Temple Experience- Jan. 2013

I JUST WANTED TO WRITE AND TELL EVERYONE ABOUT OUR TRIP TO THE JOHNANESBURG TEMPLE WITH 10 MEMBERS FROM THE KWANOBUHLE WARD.

THE TEMPLE IS 12 HOURS AWAY FROM US. BOY, DID WE TAKE IT FOR GRANITE BACK HOME WHEN THE TEMPLE WAS 20 MINUTES AWAY. WE WERE SO EXCITED THAT WE COULD GO BECAUSE JOHANESBURG IS NOT IN OUR MISSION. THESE PEOPLE ARE REALLY POOR SO IT IS HARD FOR THEM TO GET TO THE

TEMPLE MOST OF THEM CAN'T AFFORD IT. THEY WAIT YEARS TO GO TO THE TEMPLE AND BE SEALED AND HAVE THERE FAMILY SEALED TO THEM. SUCH A

WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE. THE FIRST COUPLE THE MBUSI'S DID THERE ENDOWMENTS THEN WERE SEALED THEN HAD THERE FOUR YEAR OLD SON SEALED TO THEM. THEN BROTHER MBUSI HAD LOST HIS FATHER A COUPLE YEARS BACK SO HE DID HIS TEMPLE WORK. SISTER MBUSI'S PARENTS HAD PASSED A WAY

A LONG TIME AGO WHEN THEY DID HER PARENTS TEMPLE WORK SHE SAID SHE FELT SUCH A WONDERFUL FEELING.  WE ALL JUST KNOW HER PARENTS ACCEPTED THE GOSPEL. MTBELLI AND HIS WIFE GOT THERE

ENDOWMENTS. HIS WIFE GOT REALLY SICK AND WAS THROWING UP BEFORE THEY WENT IN TO THE TEMPLE.SO ELDER VAN SICKLE AND I DECIDED TO VENTURE OUT AND GET SOME STOMACH MEDICINE FOR HER AND BOY WAS THAT A VENTURE IN THE BIG CITY OF JOHNANNESBURG WITHOUT A GPS FIRST WE CAN'T FIND A PHARMACY. THEN WHEN

WE DID WE COULDN'T FIND OUR WAY BACK.OUR GPS HAD BEEN STOLEN. SO WE HAD TO BREAK DOWN AND BUY ANOTHER ONE.ONCE WE GOT

BACK AND GAVE HER THE MEDICINE WHICH DIDN'T STAY DOWN FOR LONG BECAUSE BY THE TIME SHE GOT INTO THE TEMPLE SHE THREW UP AGAIN. SO ELDER VAN SICKLE AND HER HUSBAND MTBELLI GAVE HER A BLESSING. SHE FELT FINE AFTER THAT. ANOTHER COUPLE GOT THERE ENDOWMENTS AND GOT SEALED. THE FIRST TIME WE MEET THEM WAS AT THE TEMPLE. ALL THESE MEMBERS

ARE  PIONEERS IN THE GOSPEL.THEY ARE THE FIRST TO BE MEMBERS IN THERE FAMILY. SINCE THE LIFE EXPECTANCY IN THE TOWNSHIPS IS 45 MOST

OF THERE PARENTS HAVE ALREADY PASSED AWAY. IT REALLY MAKES ME WANT TO DO TEMPLE WORK FOR MY ANCESTORS INSTEAD OF JUST GETTING

A NAME AT THE TEMPLE WHEN WE GO THERE.

 

BE SURE TO LOOK AT THE ATTACHED PICTURES