Week 15 in Angola, 7 months out !!!

CLEANING OF THE WATER TANK !!!

Elder Kelsey sitting on the water (Agua)tank, Elder Borden standing , wheres

Elder Montgomery ???

Oh there you are... Elder Montgomery, he wrote his name in the green slim 

in the water tank. Thank goodness for water filters.

#15  in Angola   pictures # 2      Monday, November 19, 2012 6:22 AM

OLA MINHA FAMILIA!!!!! I LOVE YOU ALLL!!!!!!!

 holy cow this week has flown by! and guess what! yesterday I hit my SEVEN MONTH MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ya. it’s for real now, I’m no longer a new missionary ahhaahha even though at times I still make mistakes like new missionaries. so big news for the week, we have one more baptismal date, his name is Gilberto! ya its sick. I like his name because its home ya know? but ya! He is an awesome single guy in his thirties, he will be baptized next month. Its really cool to see the crazy changes he’s made in his life. The first time I went to his house two months ago on a division with elder Tilley, he was drunk out of his mind and couldn’t even talk straight. Now he’s a amazing learner and has completely given up alcohol and recovered from alcoholism and is gonna get baptized! super super cool!!!!

But ya a good week. The only other good news was that I hit seven months. It was very normal ahha but I rewarded myself with cleaning out our water tank, which had been full of that green water for some time now. I sent pictures hopefully they get through good. but ya. not  too crazy week  just those couple things that happened. The pictures are of me and the other missionaries cleaning out our water tank. I volunteered to go inside hahah it was groooooooss, the water smelled like fish and there was moss all over the inside. I spelled my name if you can read it in the one picture. I was happy when I finished, hence the conquering stance on top. To just answer questions,,, yes president Kretyl is awesome. I have learned a lot about working smart and how to teach effectively so that we don’t waste time an give people chances to let their family talk them out of baptism an stuff like that, sadly it happens a lot. I think were having thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, not sure though. I’ll try and get the stuff for the stuffing and oreo pie. super excited for that one:) 

  Mom if you could email me your cup cake and sugar cookie and frosting recipes, the branch presidents wife wants them because I was talking your cookies up one day when she made us " cup cakes ahah" so ill see if she can get your recipe down. it’s in Africa, so I don’t think you’ll lose any business:)

 The branch here is Lubango, there is only one, is very small. only about 50 members, about half are youth, and about half are inactive and I’ve never met them, so Sundays we definitely have more investigators at church than members, ever. it’s really cool. I love it. but ya the church just rents a Vivena, is what it’s called. Basically like a house with another house behind. We live in the annex out back and then the church is right in front. ha no dad, we didn’t have to stay in side all last Monday for Angolan independence, it was just that the internet cafe was closed so we couldn’t do internet.

   Anyways. I think that’s it for the questions! I loved the picture you sent from the zoo! gosh  those kids are so dang cute! Can’t even stand it. I miss them like crazy, make sure Graham, Claire, and Beau never forget uncle Colie!! also mom, I got an email from Kate Montgomery, if you could tell her thanks a ton and I love her. She sent a picture of her baptism date and stuff. super cute.

  ok, so I know like last week I said some stuff about loving that rechargeable light you sent and everything. and I did,,,, but it broke already ahaah I don’t know what even happened it just stopped working one day. sooooo if possible, the next person to send a package could send me one of those surefire flashlights if they’re not too expensive,,, that would be cool:)

Mom and dad, have you and the fam gotten my letter that I sent home yet? I sent it to Chels and Ise house, how often do you guys all check the mail? I hope it gets their soon. and let graham know that it is addressed to him but he has to share with the whole family!!!! haah but ya. I sent a letter. We’ll see how long it takes!

and I guess I better close this so I can send my letter to president... but I love you all! I hope you all have an amazing week and never forget that I’m always praying for yall! love ya!!!! and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!-»to all and to all a good night. ya I know wrong holiday. haha love ya!

Elder Montgomery

week #14 in Angola ~ FIRST'S - 1ST Baptism, 1ST Elder from Lubango, and 1ST Tribal Dancers

Henriques Baptism - Elder Kelsey and Montgomery's (- first,) 

Baptized by Pres.Marques

First Elder EVER called from Lubango, he is going to Mozambique

First time to see Memhuilas Tribal Dancers in traditional dress for a wedding.

#14 from Angoal

 in lubango!!! 2

Tuesday, November 13, 2012 3:20 AM

OLA MINHA FAMILIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sorry I didn’t write yesterday! it was a national holiday so the internet cafe was closed. sorry also about the last two weeks I know I’ve been pretty bad in writing detailed emails!. I promise to be better this week though!

first off, highlight of the week!!! I HAD MY FIRST BAPTISM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

his name is Henriques Banda. me and Elder Kelsey taught his al the way through and he got baptized this Saturday, it was the most amazing thing to see him be baptized by the branch President  Marques, and to be able to give him a shirt and tie and welcome him into the church as he was confirmed Sunday morning. He is truly an amazing man and will be a future leader of the church here in Angola. it was so amazing to help him out of the font and to give him a hug and truly feel the spirit that was working in hi right then as he was literally he cleanest person in the world right then! HOLY COW. AWESOME AND AMAZING DAY. the second highlight, president Kretly and Elder and Sister Hartman, the area mental health advisors came this weekend to give us some training. Elder Hartman is the guy who wrote the book about people having colors and each person is different and their personalities and all that, really cool. he gave us training on how to know ourselves and the people we teach better so that we can infuse the spirit so that our investigators will be able to feel it most effectively. I found out that I am a white, which means I’m a peacekeeper and stuff like that. You can look up the profiles on google I’m sure. really cool though.

Then President Kretly gave us some training and also put on a fireside for a bunch of members and investigators about the seven habits de uma pessoa altimente efficaz. ( the seven habits of a highly effective person) obviously based off the book by steven r covey, because Pres Kretly was the president of Franklin Covey in brazil. Really cool and it was good for all the youth hear to see how they have to be the ones to control their own lives in order to become successful people who they want to be. really cool training.

The fourth highlight ahaahah was that there was a wedding across the street from the chapel/ our apartment this Friday Saturday and Sunday. The family hired tribal dancers and people from the local tribe from <Huila (the province the city Lubango is the capital of) the tribe is called Memhuilas. they are all around the city and stuff during the day because they sell things, but this time they were in front of the church for three days straight to put on a feast and to do tribal dancing and stuff for the party. it was so legit! Saturday we woke up to African drums and were like what is that!! so we went outside and their was like 35 to 40 Memhuilas dancing and singing. it was so cool. we took videos and pictures and it was definitely something I’ll never forget. true African tribal dancers hahaha so sweet! sorry for the pictures I sent if there are any bare chested women.. that’s just how they are! We’re all used to it by now because like I said, their everywhere. but the dancers were way super super cool!!!!!!

highlight number 5 was that the first missionary ever from Lubango got his mission call Saturday and opened it after the baptism! he’s going to Mozambique! really cool and excited or him. Here’s a picture of his call and him too sorry I took a picture of him doing the black power symbol ahahahahah

   But yeah this week has been totally amazing. I love it here in Lubango and I’m excited for all the baptisms that are coming up. I heard the day after that obama won the election, of course everyone here is suuuuuuper happy. you can imagine why ahhah but yeah, obama is really an icon for the African people.

Now to answer questions! or really there was only one I haven’t answered yet, about thanksgiving. We will be having it here in Lubango with the Violin’s. We call Sister Violin mom because she truly is the mom of Lubango. Mom its super funny, if sister violin and sister Thompsons looks and personalities were both combined, it would be you exactly!!!!!!!! super funny. but ya for Thanksgiving all the elders cook a family thing and Sister Violin cooks a turkey. I volunteered to do stuffing, but then I realized we just usually use the box kind ahah that’s my favorite,, BUT mom,. could you send a recipe for your homemade stuffing and for the oreo cream pie you make to Sister Violin and I’ll see if I can pull them off? if so that would be awesome.

   Well family, I hope you all like this email better than my past few. I know I was slacking sorry about that. but I love you all so much. I pray for and think about each and every one of you all every single day. I will try to be better at writing from now on. I love you all so much!!! I hope the pictures all get there so you can see the things I explained. I love you all! Have an amazing week everyone and know that I love ya’ll like noone other!!! Give my love to everyone and especially Graham, Claire, and Beau!!! I love you three! Graham, wassup mammy!!!!!!!!! haha anyways, everyone have amazing weeks. I love you all!!!!!

love, Elder Montgomery

Week #13 Novembro?? JA??

 #13  novembro?? JA?????

 first to explain the pictures,,, the first one is me using the light mom sent that I love, 

and studying in the dark on a rainy day, then the second one is my bath water,

to just explain how it comes out of our tank looking. yes, that is green:) 

don't worry we boil half a bucket to make it for hot showers, (sometimes) 

so we only get half the diseases! and no, that's

 not our drinking water we have special filters for that:)

Monday, November 5, 2012 7:20 AM

in translation, ITS ALREADY NOVEMBER!!!!!!!??????? holy cow, time is flying,

but anyways,

ola minha familia!!!!!

I love you al so much. ugh I was writing a message and then it got deleted so I’ll try and remembered the questions I already answered.

yes dad we use taxis, and that truck was the violins,

Mom, Elder Hyde is really cool, we get along great and he’s a cool kid, and Elder Borden is cool. we getting along great.

Anyway, the internet is super duper stupid slow, so sorry if the email just gets all jumbled.

Anyway, this week has been good though. I love it here in Lubango its just kinda like home, aside from the green water. cockroaches and the fact that its Africa ahahah

 but ya I love it here.

So first off, Jared and Tori!!! happy birthdays this week!!!!!!!!!  second, before I forget in my scatter brain, dear elder that thing you all used when I was in the mtc, still works here in Angola too if you wanna use it you al can.

So this week, I was a missionary for halloween haha shocker eh? but ya. I am sorry that I feel like I don’t have much to say. I hear that’s the curse of missionaries as they get older, time just goes all mixed together and I don’t remember anything that happens, but I have my journals so don’t worry I’ll tell you all about it better someday. I’m sorry but ya. I’m super excited for this next Saturday, because I will have the very first one of my investigators to ever get baptized!!! he’s in elder Kelsey and Hyde’s area now, but me and Elder Kelsey taught him the whole way through. I’m really excited for that. His name is Henrique, he’s awesome. but ya. That’s pretty much the only cool thing that happened this week. It’s been pretty slow. but the work s going good. We have 6 baptismal dates marked for this month and December so it will take off soon!! I’m super excited for it all. anyways, sorry for being so short, I promise to write more next week.  love you all so much! You are all in my prayers each and every day. I know that this gospel is true and that only though it will we one day return to our father in heaven. I love you all!

till next week. Elder Montgomery.

ps . there’s a real African rain storm outside right now. its LOUD when it rains here. because everyone’s roof is tin.

This week... Oct 29,2012 #12 in Lubango Angola,

Elder Montgomery and Hyde, Hyde is new to Lubango,

 he is Kelsey's new comp. Elder Tilley was transferred to

Luanda Casuquel Area and Colins Comp is Elder Borden. 

Watching General conf in in Portuguese 3 weeks 

after the US watched it. Can you find the American in the bunch. 

Elder Montgomery and Elder Borden New companions 

still in Lubango 

Elder Montgomery so excited the rain s have come.

Over  looking Lubango

mini crist statue they have on the mountain above Lubango 

that overlooks the whole city. It's cool, like the one in rio de janerio

#12   Oct 29.2012

Ola minha familia!!! I love you alllll so much! thanks for the emails and everything again this week. it makes the mission bearable and funner to know you’re all doing good.

so ill just jump right into everything about this week. new companion, Elder Borden is really cool. We already were around each other because he was with Elder Tilley so it’s cool and fun and the change was easy. yes mom he’s from North Carolina.

ok so I know this is pointless to say but I found out something about myself this week,,,,,, I LOVE NUTELLA! Elder Tilley left some when he went to Luanda and I tried it and love it . super weird don’t know how I never liked it. but ya. super good. I love it.

Our new area has a lot less people to teach, it’s more like the outskirts of the city, but we have a ton of baptismal dates, so I’m super excited for the next transfer. We’re gonna have some awesome people and families baptized.

This week we got to finally watch general conference and I sent a picture of it. Just wanna say para bems to me, (congrats) because I watched eight hours of conference in another language, and stayed awake!,, and that is saying something!

I cut my hair this week, nothing too important ahha don’t know why I wrote that down,

MOM thank you sosossoso much for the package! it got to Luanda the 22nd and elder Hyde brought it down so I got it this last week. I LOVE EVERYTHING!!! thank you so much!! the flash light is freaking legit!!! ya, I don’t need the other one I asked for now, I love the new one!  thank you! haha I laughed my head off when I pulled out the rainforest plumbing shirt hahahaahah thank you so much. I loved the letters and pictures and everything, thank you!!!

also this last week with Elder Hyde I got two letters from the Heap’s and the Hubble’s, make sure you tell them thanks a million for those! It’s really nice to hear from people. tell them thanks for me.

ok so I thought of a couple more Christmas things if possible,,, just pictures of everyone, and one of those family calendars if you made another of this year, sorry if that ruins any stocking stuffing surprises haha

I also need a fitted sheet for my bed, don’t know how I never brought one of those but ya, if possible that would be awesome ,

and just some peanut butter and almond mms I’m definitely down for any sort of candy you can send:)

 Anyway’s to answer questions though, I’m doing fine really. The water situation is way better because we have a water truck come fill our tank every week now so that takes care of it.

Dad ahah no, we don’t have any sort of maids or anything like that. I wish!!!!!

I am in Elder Borden’s and Elder Tilley’s old area, so I have to learn all new people and area and stuff, but ive pretty much caught on, our area is just one straight line with a lot of little barros on the outsides.

MOM!! if you could also send me some DIFI that hair stuff I always used, the white jar with the blue cap they only have it at ulta,,,, that would be amazing  How’s the work? 

ya I hear from Zach and Hunter  weekly, we have a little brotherly email going. its fun.

 I’m doing good. We’ve had lots of rain this week so I’ve gotten o be in a great mood. I and  got to use my rain coat for the first time. I love it works great.

but ya, I’m doing good. just a normal week minus the small changes. I love you all and hope you all have an awesome week. Know that I am always missing and praying for all of you, but that I am ok and none of you need to worry about me. I love you all!! Have an awesome week, and dad, make sure you get out to highlands playoff gameS. yes they will win haha but ya, love you all so much! 

graham, wassup MAMMY!!!!

love ya!

Elder Montgomery

Life in Lubango week #11 in Angola

 #11 Life in Lubango!!!                                                    Monday, October 22, 2012 6:16 AM

OLA MINHA FAMILIA!!!

ok so first: transfer news!!! I will be staying here in Lubango, and will be switching companions to work with Elder Borden he’s a cool guy. I like him a lot and so it should be fun. Then Elder Tilley is going up to Luanda, we'll miss him here, and another newer guy ( we found out it is Elder Hyde) is coming down to Lubango to work with Elder Kelsey. so ya, nothing to big, but it will be fun!!!. and dad to answer, we just get our transfer news in an email, so I literally just found out minutes ago.

now to answer questions,,,

 Primeiro, Christmas stuff. I’m doing this little kid style,

dear santa, I would like

1.( personal stuff J)

2. a new flashlight, their called "surefire", and their like the ones the cops use. This ones kinda optional.

3. pictures of everyone preeeety please.~

4.scribbles from Graham, Claire and Beau and cozies assim (? Not sure what he means by this ).

and I’ll send more next week. That’s all I can think of. oh ya, and some pop tarts.

next thing,,, in order to skype for Christmas, the best way to do it is over facetime on an ipad or mac computer, I guess that’s the fastest connection and way better than skype,,, soooo dad and mom you have a few options,,,,,

1 buy each other ipads for Christmas ahhhhaah

2 buy a mac computer.

3 find someone you know who will be there when we all skype who already has an ipad or mac computer.... aka tori. :)

 face time is the better way to do it and there should be somewhere available for me to use a ipad or something. so ya.

 more questions,,,, ~

Lubango has been warming up a little bit, but it’s been raining more too. about twice a week at least. The rain cancelled our pday activities last week so well try again to go sight seeing today.

we don’t have ZLs in Lubango, only in Luanda, and Lubango and Huambo just get grouped in.
haahhh. The water situation..... last week we didn’t have water all week.-... so yes, some days i went without showering, some days I used the green mossy fish smelling water in the bottom of our water tank, and some days I had to use water that had decaying ... roaches in it. They were decaying,, ,, so not 100 percent on the roaches ahahahaha

   Don’t worry mom,. I’ll get my package eventually. 

 ok.... SHOUTOUT TO ALL MY HOMIES BACK IN G-TOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Crazy Elder M. ) 

I can’t name all of you but you know who you are!!!! you all who are 18 and can serve missions early you better get in gear and get out there and serve!!! that way we can all get home closer to the same time and party it up, haha!!!!! love you all! do work!!!!!!! 

 Alright sorry for the little outburst. 

but ya. This week has been good. we finished the transfer with a total of over 155 lessons taught, and not including p days that was all in like 36 days. ya I know still no baptisms, but there will be a TON of baptisms here in a few months. Lubango is growing like crazy...

   ok so this week I actually hit my six month mark!!! I know I’ve been talking about it for a while, but it actually happened! and >THE CRAZYIEST THING HAPPENED THAT DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 I hit six months, and the day was completely normal and nothing happened ahaha that's kind a the life of a missionary. I love it and it’s tough at the same time.  

   Anyways, I love you all so much. I hope that as your weeks are passing you ALL feel my love for you and know that I pray for each and every one of you. I know I always say that, but its just true. I’m growing as a person in my testimony and in the language and I’m super excited to see where this next transfer will take me. I love you all!!! Have amazing weeks!!!!!

I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Montgomery

 ps, the picture is just us transporting our groceries home from Shoprite in the back of the Violin’s truck.

 ** anything in (  ) is input form Elder M's Mom :) 

Left is Elder Kelsey, and Tilley, right is Elder Borden, and Montgomery

 taken Oct. 22, 2012 don't they look great!!!

Blog for Mission President Kretly, Mozambique Maputo Mission, ( Angola is part of that Mission)

For some reason with I try to add this to Mozambique Maputo/Angola Mission Blog it will not let it
be pulled up when it is clicked on so I will post it here if any of you are interested.
www.presidentandsisterkretly.blogspot.com

Friendly bugs sequel, eeewwww!!! 10 weeks in Lubango

Elder M's new house pet 

Eeeeeewwwww Roaches

Hey they have canned corn, and OTHER  proteins.

Makin Dad proud checkin out a Fire Station in Lubango

#10 weeks in Lubango                                                                                  Oct. 15, 2012

OLA MINHA FAMILIA!!! I love you all so much and thank you for the emails this week. I really have like noooo time because they told us to hurry up were going somewhere special so this will be really short but there’s picture’s to make up for it!! hah anyways o answer questions., this week was really good. Just long and full of a ton of work. I hit the six month mark this week on the 18th it’s so crazy how fast time is flying . My language is improving and I’m 90 percent sure I’ll be taking over the area when transfers come around this next week. vamos ver! ( we will see) and yes dad, we really only get 1 hour to 1 hour an ten minutes to email. its super hard to do everything so that’s why my typing stinks haha sorry everyone!

DAD YOU CANNOT SELL THE TUNDRA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO PLEASE?  I'll buy it from you when I get home haha just don’t sell it! hahahha I’m really sad to hear that. That was my high school car. I feel like the elder off of the RM. Haha.

Mom, Paolo and Loide are much better she is improving immensely and we took them dinner Saturday night and had an awesome noite familiar  (family night). 

In other news, I gave my first ever blessing in Portuguese. It was really cool. I think I said everything the sprit was telling me, but I don’t know for sure because he was speaking Portuguese haha. but it was a really cool experience.

Other than that this week just has been really full of work. It will be the last week of the transfer this next week. That marks two transfers here in Lubango, and six months in the mission. I can’t believe it’s already one fourth over!!

But ya. I’m super sorry I’m getting cut off. The Violin’s are taking us sightseeing so we gotta go. I love you all so much and pray you can all feel it! Have an amazing week. Thank you for everything! I love you alllllll!!

Elder Montgomery