Misión Montana Vista
Montgomery Family Newsletter, April, May and June 2005
Greetings from VERY hot El Paso! We are doing our best to stay out of the sun and keep lots of liquids nearby. All I hope is that someone here may think, “If hell is supposed to be anything like this, then I want to do whatever it takes to avoid it!”
The last couple of months have been good, steady months filled with continued studies with individuals and groups. English/Bible classes that we have been using to evangelize continued through the end of May, when we decided to suspend them until next fall. Over the last months we have also begun several studies with different family members of our members here. Upon arrival we believed this was going to be one of the best methods of evangelization, and it has proved to be so. Likewise, I have begun studying with another couple who were reached through the monthly food distribution. It has truly been a wonderful and insightful study. The wife, for example, was elated to FINALLY understand what preachers were talking about when they would rattle-off names and numbers, like John 3:16! Both her and her husband have attended services the last couple of weeks and seem very glad to be with us.
One of the great highlights of the last couple of months was the baptism of our sister Vero. She has been visiting with us since long before Alicia and I arrived in El Paso. She finally put on Christ on May 1 and has continued to be a huge blessing for the church here. Her husband Pedro and I are continuing to study about truly becoming a disciple of the King. PLEASE pray for this couple. The Lord is certainly working in their lives but the enemy is attacking as well.
The Month of June has been filled with a lot of work but a lot of fun as well. The first week we spent at Pine Springs Youth Camp with 6 girls from Montana Vista (along with another 100+ from other places). Alicia and I were involved in teaching a class and helping in other activities. Again, we want to thank those involved in provided the scholarships to allow the kids to go, we couldn’t have done it without you. The girls had a great time and were greatly encouraged by being with other Christian youth. Also, we hope that new doors will be opened to a couple of the girls’ families who are not yet Christians.
At the end of June we hosted a Vacation Bible school. A group of workers came from the Jefferson Street church in Hobbs, NM to do the vast majority of the work. To each of you who came, “THANK YOU!” Everyone did a super job, and several new families were touched. Since VBS some of these families came to services on Sunday. On the last of the three days of VBS we had a total of 34 kids. It wasn’t as many as I had hoped, but I don’t think preachers are ever really content with numbers! I would like to relate to you one of the blessings that came from the time together. On Wednesday evening the group from Hobbs and the church here met at the local park for a cook-out and devotional. I can’t tell you how wonderful it was to see two culturally distinct groups worshipping the one true God together, even though they were singing and speaking different languages. I gained a greater understanding of God’s ideas of making two groups into one new man in Christ (Ephesians 2)! Indeed the Lord was praised, and I believe everyone present left the devotional greatly uplifted and encouraged.
On a personal note, Alicia continues to struggle with her health but is much improved from our last newsletter. We are not completely back to normal, but we are certainly headed in the right direction. We have appreciated your thoughts, cards and prayers. Hopefully soon she will be back to 100%! We love and miss you all. Please keep all of the studies here in your prayers—asking God to open doors, to help us to proclaim his gospel with boldness and clarity, and for God to protect the young Christians from Satan’s attacks. May God bless you all as you diligently serve Him.
Serving in El Paso, Kevin, Alicia and Bethany Montgomery