To protect the identities of workers in sensitive areas and the integrity of their work, as well as our protection, we will be adopting a new coded method of communicating in our updates. We will be using code names for some countries so we can avoid showing up inappropriately in internet searches. If you are having trouble figuring out the code, just contact us directly and we'll help out.
The Montoya’s are together again as a family! It has been an adjustment for all of us, especially Betty, Gabriel and Emilia adjusting to change of food, living conditions, climate, language, and culture after being in Africa. We are excited to say that in Africa our team has delivered over 200 babies and have assisted other midwives and nurses in probably double that amount. We have given hats (helmets of salvation) to each baby praying over them and their mothers. Through our ministry we have planted many seeds and have seen many come to know God.
This week YWAM Perth will be celebrating 25 years in ministry. It is also the 50th anniversary of Youth With A Mission International and the founder Loren Cunningham and his wife will be speaking here at our celebration. There are 46 nations represented here for the celebration. The base is overflowing with YWAMers present and past. This will be a time of teaching, encouragement and hearing God’s voice.
After the celebration, our entire family and the team will leave Perth, January 30, and arrive in Hyderabad, India February 1st. We will be in India until end of April. In Hyderabad Betty and the team will be working in the top government hospital in which other hospitals refer their patients to. We will also be doing home visits, teaching and ministering in churches. Rick has been asked by the leaders of YWAM Perth to work on a documentary film on injustice issues (poverty, sex trafficking, HIV Aids etc…) while in India. He will be collaborating with Richard Simmons, who also works at Create International and whose wife is one of the leaders on the Birth Attendant School. This film will be used to mobilize individuals, groups, and churches into missions. We are also excited that our dear friend Barbara Greb will be coming to Hyderabad for 2 weeks in March to visit us and shadow Betty in the hospital and see the ministry of the BAS. In the beginning of April the Birth Attendant School will split into 2 groups. One group will be going to Philippines doing the same type of work and ministry. Our group will go to Siliguri, India for 3 weeks to do Simple Health Care Clinics which involves training community leaders in primary health care. Then we will travel to Afgh*n*sn to be part of a pioneering team. While we are there we will be going to clinics and hospitals, making contacts, teaching and hopefully delivering babies. This is the first time the Birth Attending School has been in this area and we hope to open opportunities for the future.
Also at the end of March, Create International in which Rick has been working with for the past 6 months will be having a staff conference in Jaipur, India. Rick will attend the conference and then join us in Siliguri.
Many have asked what is next after we come back from Afgh*n*sn. We return end of May to Perth with the team where we report back to the base. Sometime in June we will return to the United States in which we will spend time with our family and friends and share what God has done and where he will be taking us next. At this point we are trusting God for finances for our tickets so we do not have dates for when we will come home.
We are so grateful for your prayers and support for our family. There are many times when we are sick, tired, discouraged, weary or just homesick and we get strength from God to push forward so please continue to pray for us. We love hearing from you, so let us know how you are doing and how we can better pray for you.
Bless you all heaps,
The Montoya’s
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