MC Video Journal 1

Our first day was into the city to get a feel, flavor, and fervor of one of the largest cities in the world. I will update this blog as often as I can to communicate through the making of a video journal of our journey here in the next 4 weeks.

on our way...

"In the Face of the Stranger"

Film by Richard Montoya

Montoya Mission UPDATE #22

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 6 weeks already being here in the United States. These past few weeks we have been sharing our story of the last 18 months with YWAM to our church, family, and friends. We have been blessed with so much love and support from everyone.

Our re-entry into the western world has been a difficult one and hard to explain. We had adapted better than we had imagined to our missionary life as we lived in developing nations. This made it more difficult to enter our blessed homeland. Through many prayers, and talks, our family is working through many different thoughts and emotions.

God continues to remind us of the verse He gave us in Isaiah 61, "The Spirit of the Lord God is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and freedom to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor." He has sent us and has been faithful throughout our journey.

OUR FUTURE PLANS:

• We will return to YWAM Perth, Australia which will be our base. We will be working as staff, serving the Indian Ocean Gateway which includes Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
• Betty, Emilia, and Isabelle will be leaving the U.S. for YWAM Perth on August 31.
• Betty will join Doctors Reach School that trains and equips medical professionals to work and function in developing nations.
• Emilia will be getting a part-time job and applying for college. Emilia has successfully completed her GED and will receive her High School Equivalency Diploma this July.
• Isabelle will be home-schooled.
• Richard and Gabriel will remain in Charlottesville till Sept 20 and will go on a mission trip to Mexico City, joining Media Boomerang led by YWAM Perth. They will be capturing on film and print, stories of individuals whose lives has been transformed by God’s grace.
• Richard and Gabriel will then head back to YWAM Perth by the end of October.
• Gabriel will be getting a part-time job and applying for college. Gabriel successfully completed his High School Equivalency while in Africa and India.
• Richard will be serving on staff, using media and the arts to bring beauty and truth to the nations.

WHAT IS DIFFERENT:

In finishing up our 18 months of training with YWAM we are now eligible to become full-time staff. Because of this transition, YWAM will now be handling our finances. (See sidebar "How You Can Partner With Us") We are so thankful to Blue Ridge Community Church and Sandy Payne for handling our contributions the last 2 years.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Safety in our travels
• Quality time with family and friends
• Finances for Richard and Gabriel’s mission trip to Mexico, need $2,000.
• Financial support for our family, need $3,500 monthly
• Finances to pay for our roundtrip tickets, $7,000
• Isabelle’s home-schooling
• Health for our family
• Peace and wisdom

We couldn’t be where we are now serving the nations for God’s kingdom to advance, if it were not for you loving, praying and partnering with us.

Salaam Alaykum (Peace be upon you)

The Montoya’s

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A short film "Rasoolpura" by Richard Montoya

Montoya Mission UPDATE #21

CONGRATULATIONS BETTY!!

with school leader Darcy Thiel at graduation.

We are back in Perth!

We have been through a processing time of debriefing and sharing with our team and have had our graduation ceremony. Betty has successfully completed the Birth Attending School!

We look forward to being back home in the states as we arrive next week. During our time home we will be visiting family and reconnecting with friends and churches sharing what God has done and where He is leading us next.

View our pictures from Narnia (Central Asia) by clicking on the sidebar photo.

Salaam Alaykum (Peace be upon you)

The Montoya’s

Montoya Mission UPDATE #19

In Memory of Our Dearest Friend

DAVID GEOFFROY WARD

1963-2010

David Ward was Jesus to me and my family. He reproduced Jesus. Starting with his wife Joanne, his children, Danielle, Karisa, Caleb and Nicole and then with all the people he has touched, that's because a life well lived has much influence. In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years. We reproduce who we are, so lets look like Jesus.

We are going to miss you Dave, but will see you again soon!

Love,

The Montoya's

Montoya Mission UPDATE #18

Barbara is in the HOUSE!!!

We are excited to have our dear friend Barbara Greb from our church in Virginia here visiting us. She is a blessing and an encouragement to us and has hit the ground running. As you can see from the pictures she fits right in with our team and the BAS girls love her. First day at the hospital she got a good taste of the antenatal clinic as hundreds of women line up for check ups. She was able to observe and help us examine the women. She immediately looked so natural in the newborn baby room where we take the babies straight from the labor room to examine and bathe them immediately after delivery. We are so thankful to all who sent us letters, cards, books, coffee, pictures and GOODIES!!!!!! It’s like Christmas in March. Thanks heaps!!!!!!

The Montoya's