I'm Dreaming of an AZ Christmas

doing some landscaping , what you cant see is that he has on hot pink crocs  lol

Lunch with  Elders and ?? 

Elder Merkley and Montgomery together for 2 transfers in Benfica

Elder Montgomery, Andre from Angola getting ready to leave on his mission to Portugal,

 Elder Hyde and Brown.

Week 70 OLA MINHA FAMILIA!!!!!                                                         Dec 16 2013

 First off, shout out to Susan Figgins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love and miss you my mom #2 and I hope your birthday was awesome!!!!! Sorry for the late wishes.

So this week was a good one. Me and Elder Banta are rocking it already and I am loving the chance to work with a new companion. I always thought I didn’t like change and felt I was a creature of habit in  my life until the mission, but I have figured out that I love adapting to changes and trying new things and changing up the routine. It’s fun!

So Monday we got transfer notices, and found out that Elder Merkley was leaving, so Tuesday was pretty much going around our whole area and elder Merkley was saying goodbye to all the people we taught and stuff, so that was fun. Then Wednesday morning elder Merkley packed his stuff and left for Vianna, and elder Banta came to Benfica.  He unpacked for about an hour, then we ate lunch and went straight to work. The whole week was pretty good, and we got to walk alllllot. But had some really good lessons, set one more baptismal date, and found some new people. Elder Banta  so we have already gotten into a really good teaching groove, and I’m excited to work with him!!!

We are focusing a lot in strengthening our recent convert and less active members, because our area will never grow and multiply and replenish if it doesn't have member support, so that is something we are working on really hard, but we do have some good baptismal dates set and have a healthy teaching pool.

 I finished the book or mormon this week again in my person reading and was strengthened by the powerful promises that Moroni gives us as we come unto Christ to be perfected in him. I am trying constantly to come unto him, and earn a forgiveness of my sins as I help those brothers and sisters here in Angola learn how they too can do the same. I have a lot of baggage on my conscience and have a hard time forgiving myself for my past mistakes, and how I could have been a better missionary if I would have done this or that, or if I would have studied the language harder and stuff, but I know that through the Lords help I can be forgiven, and as Alma puts , I can be made an instrument in the Lords hands to bring others to the gospel and eventually show them the way to salvation.

   It is definitely a daily struggle. I heard a quote that when an elder is set apart as a missionary he enters into a personal full time war with satan, and satan is constantly trying to tempt him, bring him down, an make in ineffective a s a missionary. ITS TRUE! ahha I have felt that since the very first day. But as that missionary does his best and stays on the Lord’s side, bringing souls unto Christ, he has the protection that Paul describes as the armor of god. It’s a good metaphor, but at the same time its 10000000% percent true. I think of that picture Greg and I had on our wall as kids of two missionaries getting ready in the morning in their apartment about to leave and one is doing his tie in the mirror, but in the reflection in the mirror is of a soldier putting on his helmet and holding his sword and shield. I feel like that every single day, that this is truly a battle of good versus evil, and that I am on the lords side bringing souls unto him. Like it says in the missionary handbook, HOW GREAT IS YOUR ((my) CALLING!

I’m fighting every day, someday are great battles’ I have been doing something lately that I love. Alcohol is a huge huge huge part of life here. I’m not just talking about a beer on the weekends or a wine with dinner, but men and women and teenagers who are from the time they wake-up to the time they pass out drinking beer whiskey and anything’s alcoholic they can get their hands on, just to make it through the day or to get out of the life that is so hard here. So my goal and its been working, is to make at least one person a day think twice about why and what they are drinking , what that drink does to them and in turn to their families, and to their kids the person they might hit in their car. Everything, and then I convince them to dump the drink out on the ground. I know they can go buy another one the second I weak away, but at least for one second, even if just to make me go away, they thought about their kids and wife and family and those who they have in their lives, and they valued those people  more than a bottle or a plastic whiskey packet. Hey I know I’m not doing much in a city of 8 million people, but I’m staying where I am and lifting where I stand as a representative of Jesus Christ called to the country of Angola to do what I can to bring souls to their redeemer.

 So that’s my mindset lately. do everything I can and give everything I got for these next four months, because I will one day look back and regret or rejoice in the work I did or didn’t do here in these two short years. I have a lot of regrets, but I wanna rejoice more! work work work, there is no substitute.

Anyway, elder Montgomery is good, healthy, and stoked for the days and months and weeks to come.

Skype, I’d like everyone there who can come. It’s the last one after all. Family, friends, whoever. It’s up to yall. just so everyone knows, President Merrill was specific in his instructions that we follow the handbook, that say 40 MINUTE LIMIT ON SKYPE. So I’m gonna be exactly obedient get all your questions and stuff written down and let’s not waste time we don’t have:) I’ll let you know what time though next Monday. Probably around 10 or nine in the morning there would be best right_ I think that time works here too, I’ll let you know. So keep in mind though 40 minute limit! Sorry, rules  R rules.

No box package yet, but I did get the envelopes like I said. I’m stoked to see all your smiling faces!!!!! I love you all and hope this week goes by fast. I know it will for me. Every week flies by. Especially when you’re having fun. If you’re NOT having fun in missionary work, you’re doing something wrong!

I love you all, best Christmas wishes and loves and kisses. I’ll talk to ya next week to confirm the times and everything. loves!!!!

com amor, Elder Montgomery 

Wonderful Week

Kito's baptism, he and his family have been taught for 9 months, last week he and his wife were married. 

Elder Mariquele, Yeanoplos, Kito, Elder Montgomery, Tingey, and Clifford

Dec. 7, 2013

69 Weeks in Angola                                                                                        Dec. 9, 2013

OLA MINHA FAMILIA!!!!!

So this week was as wonderful as the last. And this week coming will even be more wonderful. Why?? Hard, work, great attitude, thanksgiving, and consecration. Those are the things I’m focusing on to better myself lately. Its going good. I have a lot of work left to go though that’s for sure. 

So this week had a few awesome events!

 -mission conference with Elder Kevin S. Hamilton of the second quorum of the 70, 

-Kito got baptized

Transfers!!! I’m staying in Benfica, sad to say Elder Merkley is leaving, but stoked to work with Elder Banta!!!! Its gonna be super fun and he’s a very hard worker I know so we will do work. Elder Merkley goes to Viana to be with Elder Fergeson.

- I got the four envelope packages!!!!!

So yeah it was a very good week. But also the week was good with work. We set baptismal dates with three guys, 20 17 and 15, all prospective missionaries. So cool. I think they will all pull through!

So the highlight of the week was for sure the mission conference. I took like ten pages of notes in two hours that Elder Hamilton spoke. He definitely reminds me a lot of Elder Bednar in the way he teaches and talks and all that. super cool.

He spoke on the path that leads to exaltation. It is a straight and narrow path that has to pass through certain gaits and checkpoints, baptism, the temple, etc, an without those gaits and checkpoints people will NEVER make it to eternal life. It is essential that we teach the path. Elder Holland said, "if you can convince me of the WHY, I’ll figure out the HOW" he told a story of some members in the Congo, two men who rode ONE bicycle over 8 days to go to stake conference where they received the Melchizedek priesthood. Two guys one bike, 8 days, across the country to listen to their priesthood leaders and receive the power of God so they can serve others. Talk about consecration!!!!

 So he talked about how our investigators, if they do not take the very first steps, reading, praying, coming to church, they will not keep and honor baptismal their temple covenants. That’s how we can know who to focus on. The people who show the desire. Even if they’re not perfect. Desire is universal. 

So I learned a lot from that,  and me and Elder Banta will have some extra finding time, but we will find those who will receive us and the Lord. I’m so excited!!!!

I love doing this work. I am so blessed to have great leaders, and examples all around me. Not only my mission president, and family, and friends, but in the mission also. Elder Hyde and Clifford, as the assistants to the president, who I’m so stoked that Clifford will live with me and Hyde now, and also Elders Merkley, Mariquele, Rigby, and Petersen. All amazing elders who make me better every day.

I’m really really trying to do my best to consecrate myself and these next few months of my mission. My favorite quote from Elder Hamilton, I don’t know if he made it up or not, but I liked it- 

"you have two years to do it, and a lifetime to think about it. " NO REGRETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m doing my best and will do better every day to make sure I am giving all my heart mind might and strength to the lord. I love this gospel so much and am so grateful to teach it to this people in Angola. 

I love allllll of you so much and am so thankful for the packages!!! The four bubble packages got here and Greg I got your letter! Loved it and am writing yours right now. 

I love you all, have good safe weeks, and know I love you! Make someone better, serve, be Christlike, and love one another! 

tchao!!

com amor,

Elder Colin Montgomery

Elder Clifford says hi!!!

So Much to Be Thankful for !

Simple things that make him Smile

Thanksgiving Day Soccer Tournament Championship 2013, 

does Elder Montgomery make the penalty shot for the win ? 

or does Elder Domingos (who has been playing soccer all of his life) block the shot.  

 

The long awaited marriage of Kito and Miloca,Congratulations.

68 Weeks in Angola

OLa miinha familia!                                                                                        Dec. 2, 2013

I love you all so much and hope that everyone had a marvelous Thanksgiving and is now in the awesome Christmas spirit! I sure am!

So this week was a really good one. crazy and stressful at a few times, but super good. 

Monday we had a half pday because of Thanksgiving, but it was good to get out and start the week off with a hard day of work!

   Elder Rigby and Elder Peterson are walking together as companions, and they are both in the field for only 9 weeks so far!!! >ELDER PETERSON AND RIGBY ARE STUDS!!!!! I never ever could have walked with someone my same time in the mission before I even got done training. But Elder Rigby and Peterson have completely amazed me and are rocking in their area, both with only 11 weeks in Angola. They are very diligent and are progressing both together very well. They’re my heroes of the week! 

Wednesday we received Elder Andre, (Angolan) and Elder Brown in our house, who were in Lubango, but for Elder Andre to get his visa to Portugal they are in Luanda, so there is 8 elders living in our house right now. It’s a lot!!!! Very crowded but FUN. There’s always someone to talk to haha

Wednesday night we went with our branch president to visit a member recent convert who needs some help, so we took our branch president there, and had a really good visit with her. But the really cool thing was when my comp, Elder Merkley, bore his testimony about a personal experience of keeping the  Sabbath day holy to the member, and the spirit was SO strong. Elder Merkley doesn’t usually say a lot, he’s a pretty quiet guy, but I am learning so much with him because when he bears his testimony he does it with power and authority, and the sprit floods upon the lesson. It’s truly amazing and I love learning with him. The spirit doesn’t care what we say, he wants to guide  our words and then they will be powerful. Something I’m trying to learn. Elder Merkley is teaching me so much!

Thursday,,, was AMaZING. Thanksgiving, turkey bowl, but soccer. We the Bem fica bate bwe beat the Luanda 2 big red underdogs in the first game semi finals, but then lost to the Lumbago laser cats in the final, the picture I sent of me taking a penalty shot would have won the game but Elder Domingo’s blocked it:(

So we lost but had so so much fun playing. Then we alllll helped to make the t-day diner, I peeled like 20 pound of potatoes and am now a pro at peeling a potatoes with just a knife. Dinner was amazing, then we made skits and just had fun. It was a blast to be with all the elders and have so much fun, even though I lost us the game for the championship:(!

So then Friday I went on a division with Elder Clifford  and that was fun , but the highlight of the day was the wedding of Kito and Miloca, Friday night. Me and Elder Clifford, then Dunkley then Tingey taught him and her in Cassequel forever, the whole five transfers when I was there and even more, and they finally got married. I was so happy I wanted to cry. Kito will be baptized on this Saturday, I’m so excited. 

Saturday and Sunday were normal but good days. Our branch had some awesome baptisms, and it was stress free and fun. I loved this week. I learned so much about following the spirit, I’ve been trying to learn from Elder Merkley and I have learned so much. He truly has the spirit and testifies with power and authority. I love watching people hearts be touched and then hearing how they describe the spirit. My face just lights up when someone recognizes the sprint and the lord working using us as his hammer such a fulfilling experience! 

I love you all! I hope the spirit of Christmas fills your weeks and you all remember the birth of the greatest man who ever was born or whoever will be born on this earth, and I promise that he lives! I love you all! Have a good week! I’ll give the details about skype when I find out. No idea yet! I love you!

Have a good week. Remember even though thanksgiving is over all that you are thankful for! Share with those who don’t have. It’s a commandment and part of our baptismal covenants! “weep with those who weep, comfort those that stand in need of comfort”. There are those who are without family or presents or food this holiday season.. My challenge to you all is to serve someone this week. Not someone who you know or who isn’t suffering, but be Christlike and truly help someone this week. YOU'LL HAVE TO LOOK! Opportunities won’t knock on the door. You might have to look a little. But you’ll find it, then don’t let it pass, because Christ wouldn’t!

Love you all!!!!!

com muito amor,

Elder Montgomery!

Nov 25 2013 Thankful

Elder Montgomery and Elder Merkley,  Benfica Nov 24, 2013 

67 Weeks in Angola                                                                            Nov 25, 2013

Ola minha familia!

So this weeks letter will be a little different!

First I wanna tell my family how much I love you all! Each and everyone of you are the best part of my life. And DAD HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOHOOOO PARABENS A VOCE NESTA DATA QUERIDA MUITAS FLICIDADES MUITOS ANOS DA VIDA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PARABENS!!! I love and am thankful for You Dad.

So this week was super cool. Nothing special, no amazing quantities of work that got done, but it was just good. 

We did have a awesome fireside that we put on Sunday night about member missionary work, and that was a huge success so it was fun. We’re trying to get our branch to really bump up the missionary work effort. It was fun to work with members because there is always success.  So that was the highlight of the week. It was fun for sure. 

Saturday we were locked in house all day because there was demonstrations in the city against the government so we had to stay in house and do nothing all day. We wrote letters and played soccer, video coming, and slept and studied and ate all that fun stuff.. Other than that I had a very average week. We’re getting geared up for Thanksgiving this week and I’m sure stoked. Today we only have half a p-day then work, because Thursday is a soccer tournament and diner at President and Sisters Merrill’s house I’m so excited. We are the Benfica bate bwe. which means we WIN!

So as this week is a week for giving thanks I wanted to give thanks for a few things. I'm thankful for my family. They continually support and love me and make me better each and every day. You’re everything to me family. I'm thankful for the Savior and his atoning sacrifice for each and every one of us. We would literally be lost without him. I'm thankful for HIM!

I'm thankful for the little things, like a smile, or a good appointment, or the spirit in a contact, or free rides, or energy in our house, or not getting kicked out of the internet cafe early. The little things can make the biggest difference.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to be a missionary. I know this is the Lords work! He is in it and makes changes in the lives of all those who come unto him. ~

I'm thankful for a loving Heavenly Father. As one of our recent converts says '' there is no Father so good like Heavenly Father'' true that! Our Heavenly father is the best father that could ever exist. He is perfect! I'm thankful for the opportunity to try and be like him every day.

I'm thankful for y friends who help me be better everyday. 

I'm thankful for my leaders like President Merrill who is called by god to lead this mission in Angola.

I'm thankful for food and clothes and a comfortable house. I’ve never gone without those things, and I have seen so many people who have., I'm thankful for the life I have and the people I know and the love of our Savior and Heavenly father every day. ~I love being a missionary. I’m thankful for each and every one of you! I love you all!  I'm thankful for Thanksgiving turkey. my favorite foods, pumpkin pie. all that. 

I'm thankful for my mission! I love it an I hope you all are having a wonderful amazing week, and have an awesome Thanksgiving! I love you all! 

I'm thankful for you! 

com muito amor,

Elder Montogmery

 Baptisms Nov 16,2013

Elder Montgomery with D, and Her Aunt E. 

Elder Montgomery with D., and her

 Aunt E, and Elder Merkley

Elder Montgomery with D at her Baptism 11/16/2013

66 Weeks in Angola                                                                            Nov 18, 2013

Ola Minha Familia! 

Happy birthday to Aunt Coco and Marlise! Have awesome birthdays and I love you both!!!

This week was awesome. I’m grateful to be where I am right now. I know this is exactly where the lord wants me and when. I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission and help others. I know that service is the best way we can show charity, and without charity, NADA SOMOS!

This week i learned a lot about patience, and my weaknesses, and relying on prayer and the lord. We had two more baptisms this week, D, and E, the sister and the aunt of the two boys baptized this last week. It was a really good service, and finally for once all the people responsible for the baptismal meeting came and it ran smoothly. Rare! But it was really good. I baptized them both, so that was really cool. Then on Sunday they were both confirmed, and then right after D sang a solo in the primary program. It was so cute! She’s the smartest little girl, and definitely the most in touch with the spirit in her whole family, and she’s only 11!

Our hour of consecration worked perfectly! We met a lady who knew about the church from Portugal, but never sat with the missionaries, and really wants too, so were gonna go to here house tomorrow! She seems really prepared, so we’ll see! But thanks for the idea Jake, it works for sure!

Other than that it was just another week, nothing that stuck out huge amazing, sorry everyone! Missionary life is just that way sometimes!

I’m excited to see your smiling faces here in about a month though!

I know this work is the lord’s work and that this is his gospel. I was reading in ether this week, and i was amazed at how over and over again, the brother of Jared would just turn to the lord in prayer and receive an answer or a blessing, and I thought "now why doesn’t that happen to me????" and then I read a little more, and the lord said to him, all these things I have done unto you because of this long time ye have cried unto me. Then later it talks about how the faith of the brother of Jared was so perfect that he knew nothing doubting. I wish I could have faith like that! But that’s why we’re all here is to grow our tree of faith every day, we have to water our tree everyday or it won’t grow. If it’s not growing it’s dying, so make sure each and every one of you is watering your tree of faith daily, and praying unceasingly to the lord. 

I love you all! sorry my letters are increasingly shorter as time goes on. But I have missionary Alzheimer’s. I don’t remember what i did last week or the week before. it’s all a blur!

I love you’ll ad I love the lord, and I know this is his work I’m doin. Have good weeks, and don’t forget, if your trees not growing, it’s dying!

com muito amor,

Elder Montgomery

Be a Hammer

Elder Montgomery, Antonio (recent convert) , Elder Merkley, Joao  life long member  from the Congo.

Brothers baptized T & J with Elder Montgomery, Benfica.

T & J 's family, their Aunt and Sister will be baptized next week. What a beautiful Family!!  Benfica

Beautiful Peacock

KTM Bike Store that sell Electra Beach Cruisers the store is right 

next door to where Colin lives in Benfica. 

( I wonder where they ride them and who buys them they are expensive here in the States)

65 weeks in Angola                                                                            Nov, 12, 2013

ola minha familia!!!

so this week i can actually write a good letter, we made sure the internet cafe wasn’t gonna close on us randomly. sorry about that last week.

So this week was really cool. We did tons of work, and have been having alot of success. Still pretty stressful, but with a good attitude and lots of prayer and trust in the lord, everything went ok.

So the week started off just normal workweek, and we set another baptismal date with a young kid named D. He is seventeen and has come to church three times, but because his parents are kind a flakes he hasn’t been able to progress really good, so we started sitting with him alone and taught him the law of chastity on Tuesday night e loved it and was so excited to be able to set his standards to be equal to the Lords, not the worlds. The spirit told me to ask him if he was ready to commit to baptism, so i did, and he committed to a date of the 30th of November, so we’re really excited. Even if he doesn’t make his date,( which is like 100% of the time), he still knows that he has the desire to be baptized and follow the lords example. so that was a good way to start out the week. Then that night we took A__. , a recent convert to is J__, a member form the Congo, the one in the picture I sent with me Elder Merk, A__. and him. It was an awesome visit. I shared the scripture in alma I think 19 or 17 about when alma reunites with the sons of Mosiah, and he is so full of joy to see that they were still his brethren in the Lord.. after that J__. the one from the Congo who was without the church until this week, after being a member his whole life, said in french (but we could understand almost perfectly, SO COOL! GIFT OF TONGUES) that he felt the exact same way and he knew it was inspired for me to share that scripture to help the spirit lift him up. So that was a really strong testimony builder for me. I love when I follow the spirit and it is the right thing. It sure is hard for me, I always mix up the spirit with my conscience and then it ends up and if I don’t follow it. So that’s one thing I’ve been working on lately.

 Later in the week we got an awesome reference from elder Mariquele and Hyde this young couple named G__. and L___. , they are really cool and we sat with them once didn’t even get to teach the restoration but they loved it and accepted the invite to church and c,me! VERY RARE! G. is 27 and works as a gardener at the US embassy, and L. is 17,,,, ya haha we laughed at that when we left their house. They’re not even forced to be together by a early baby or anything. O its good, they just really are a normal couple~, both really smart and tons of potential. So we’ll see where that one goes stay tuned!

 So that was basically the cool things that happened this week, me and elder Merkley did SO much work and it felt so good to be exhausted on Sunday night ready for pday.

 I know the lord is in this work. He gives us so many small miracles every single day and according to our faith and prayers, he will give us even more. Elder Merkley and I are gonna do the one hour consecration to the lord to be in the right time at the right place for the lord to show us what we need to do, who we need to meet serve or teach. We’re calling it happy hour! also I’ll let you all know how it goes next week.

 I love this gospel. I know that truly this is the lords work, and we are all just tools in his hands. BUT it’s up to us if we are the hammer,  right by his side on his tool belt, the hammer that he uses every day, or the little tiny alan wrench that never gets taken out of the box. My challenge for the week, BE HAMMERS!

I love you all! Hope your weeks are awesome, and know I love and pray for you all everyday! till next time,

com amor,

elder Montgomery

ps to answer questions!

 dad, yes it is HOTT. not full on summer yet, but getting there. for example, I’m sitting in a shaded cyber cafe right now, with the windows open, and sweat just dripped off my forehead onto the keyboard... that means it’s not full on summer yet!

1 to 10 in white man Portuguese, I have no idea. I’m fluent? but not perfect? I guess you’d say 7 or 8. I have no idea probably not even that good.

Mom, the only thing I know about visas is that the Americans and 5 mocambicanos (Mozambique’s)  SHOULD be here in December.

love ya all!

64 weeks in Angola

Pictures from Sister Merrills blog since Colin had problems sending some this week

                                                               Elder Merkley and Montgomery mixing up some of their favorite food for Conf Week End at Pres Merrill's

 Conf Week end at Pres Merrill's, who knows what their up to.  

 P-Day at he beach FOOTBALL 

 Looks Serious 

 Traffic Luanda Style 

64 weeks in Angola                                                                                          Nov. 3, 2013

I hope everyone had amazing weeks, i sure did. talk about stressful though. wow. so we had two baptisms this Saturday, two sons of a family I’ve been teaching with elder Merkley who are just waiting on marriage! It was the most stressful week of my mission yet, and the baptismal service was very very unorganized because none of our branch showed up, just the missionaries, but it was good. Sorry no pics of the baptisms, this computer is not working with my sd card

Also we had so many miracles this week, and I really really wanted to tell you all about them but the stupid internet cafe just told us they are closing in 5 minutes and we have to get off, and they didn’t tell us before. I’m sorry everyone!!!!!!! This is Angola people, forgive me haah

But anyways, ya I’m doing good, just having a blast with elder Merkley, our area is really droping good right now we have a goal of 6 baptisms this transfer and its totally reach able for us, so I’m stoked!!! I love being a missionary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry this is SO short, gotta love people who don’t tell you important things like the internet closes in 30 minutes when we needed an hour and a half. sorry! I love you all! have a good week!

Mom, I have literally no idea what classes I’ll need when I go back to BYU.. but for my Christmas package,

Old spice sweat defense deodorant, crest tooth paste,, Christmas cards from people and  wedding invites, stuff like that and 3x5 post it notes, more next week love you all!

Elder Montgomery