My Journey

2009-04-08T19:29:00.000-07:00

I've had quite the emotional and unexpected journey since I wrote you last. I didn't mention it in my last post because well honestly I didn't think it was that big of a deal but since about September I've been dealing with a stress fracture that I got in my foot. I've been in a boot all this time and have been on and off crutches for quite some time. The reality is my foot is just not healing. All this time I have had this weird feeling that something is just not right...for someone that is really taking care of their injury it should heal in about 6 wks., its been about 6 months. So I was sitting with my doctors last Thursday and they said you know this can't be what it is but lets get your bone density checked for osteoporosis. We are all thinking you know that would be crazy, thats what older women have why would a 27 yr. old have it. Well I received the call from one of my docs on Monday that I did have it, he was obviously as shocked as I was. So now we wait...it could take a couple of months for me to even get in to see an Endocrinologist. I am going to go to our family doc just to get some test run so that I am doing all I can do right now until I can see the endocrinologist. This is not the end of the world but it is definitely something that I need prayer for as I walk through. I mean if I had not had the fracture how would I have known. It could be too that after we get the lab work done that we figure out it is actually something else.

It has been extremely hard to be in this holding pattern for the past couple of months. To know that no one really understands the struggles I've had and how this has affected me. My mom and I sat down and did the Lords Supper tonight and she spoke truth over me. The Lord had been leading her to Jer. 29:11. The funny thing is the entire time I was in Africa the Lord kept leading me to Jer. 29:10-14. For me it was the Lord sending me back to the states. I've had lots of questions since being back...why am I still in Birmingham, why am I injured and not able go and do like I thought I would, why am I not able to get a job where I can grow and continue to be molded. I don't like admitting that I have those questions and haven't trusted more...I'm working through that. I know the Lord is continuing to mold my story, crazy stuff like this does not happen for no reason.

My friends told me about a blog yesterday that has sent me to my knees today. I don't know this girl but its you know a friend of a friend of a friend. The address is www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com. I haven't gotten to the whole story, there are lots of blogs ha but from what I've read it looks like she is in Uganda fostering orphans. This is the real deal...I can truly feel the Lords presence just from reading her blog entries. The Lord spoke to me so clearly in reading her entry from today of just saying I AM working and I AM faithful and just be still, know that I AM.

I loved what she wrote in one of her entries in which she was addressing some questions that her readers had:
"As a young single woman, don't you think living in Africa is dangerous? Are you afraid?"
I am more afraid of America. Matthew 10:28 tells us not to fear things that can destroy the body but to fear things that can destroy the soul. I can literally feel my soul suffocating in the safety of Brentwood and all it's numbness, complacency and comfort. Scary.

While that may have been a blunt way of putting it, I know what she means. I very much so struggle with the fear of becoming numb and complacent. Don't get me wrong I love Birmingham and the community I have here but I just fear that it is too comfortable for me and therefor I often feel very uneasy here. So that is where I have to sit in the Lords presence because its easy for me to get discouraged now knowing that there is something wrong which means medical bills and being here until I can get healing and released to GO and do. I also know that I need a job with full time benefits...I have to get past the feeling of being trapped and just know that it is a need that I have right now. I know that HE will provide the finances I need to get through this, HE always has.

I'm really not sure anyone is reading this anymore but that is totally fine, it is an outlet for me to get my thoughts out. If you do happen to read this I ask for prayer, prayer and more prayer. The last thing I want is the devil to creep in as I walk through this journey, please join me in praying against that.

I hope that you feel the LORDS presence today...there is nothing sweeter.

Sorry I've been a little absent...

2008-11-26T21:05:00.000-08:00

I have to confess that I haven't posted in awhile because I feel like there is no news. Then I was talking to Space tonight and got convicted because there is stuff happening just not what I "think" you want to hear...lay down your pride Amber. I must admit I have missed blogging about 'real' things...so here we go.

I am currently living at home in AL. I am working part time at my old job just helping them with qualifying the database and some bookkeeping things. I had an opportunity to take a job in TX but turned it down. So that's kind of the rundown of where I have been and what I have been doing for the past couple of months.

Space and I were talking about the 'holding pattern' that I am in right now and how there are things to be learned during this. Its like I know that but it didn't start to sink in until probably last week. I don't know if you have seen the movie Definitely Maybe but the main guy in it moves to NY to work for Clinton and in his old job he wrote speeches for a local Senator and such. So when he is in NY stapling signs or delivering toilet paper to the bathroom he screams WHAT AM I DOING. I have had that thought a lot over the past couple of weeks. Then I was reading someones blog and they were describing how humble this man was and I thought I know that's what I should be learning but....WAIT yes that is exactly what I should be learning. It hit me that why do I think I am above qualifying a database or calling a person for being past due on their bill...what makes me better than that?

I was also listening to Wess Stafford, pres. of Compassion International, speak last week and he was talking about how this earth is not our home so don't settle in so much. That may not say much to you but it spoke volumes to me, something about it hit my soul. I have really struggled with settling in and just being lazy since I have been back. I hate that...why is it so hard to be back in the states? You have to be so intentional about listening and making time and not just filling your time with things that are 'appealing' and 'easy'.

I know the 'holding pattern' is intentional. It is extremely hard for me because of how I learned things in Africa is totally different from how I am learning them here. This is where faith really steps in and I have to remember where He has brought me and where He is taking me.

What you've been waiting for...

2008-09-14T16:52:00.000-07:00

A little entertainment for Alfie and Nondu

Mamelodi Camp...Lift Jesus Higher

Mamelodi Camp...Our translators singing I believe in Jesus

The next 2 are ladies from one of the communities that we did the medical clinic in. Watch the lady in the black hat and jacket on the right...she is crazy. If you get next to her when she's dancing you better watch out she will booty bump you!

A little Oh lay lay with Drew

Unpacking

2008-09-08T10:27:00.000-07:00

I landed on US soil Friday, the 29th. I have been "unpacking", processing and visiting friends. Its good but very weird to be back in the states. I have loved catching up with everyone and hearing what's new and what the Lord is doing in their lives. There are also a lot of hard things when you have come from a journey like this. A lot of people say why you were just gone for 3 months, but the Lord can do a lot in 3 months when He takes you away from all that is familiar. I will forever look back on this journey and see LIFE CHANGE.

On to the unpacking...what did I learn from this part of my journey?

-I learned that the Lord had to take me all the way out to Africa to restore my soul and self doubt. To quote Captivating "We cannot have intimacy with God or anyone else if we stay hidden and offer only who we think we ought to be or what we believe is wanted. God really does want you to know who you are. He wants you to be able to understand the story of your life, to know where you have come from, and to know where you are going."

-I learned about not living with an "agenda". I noticed that when I talk to people that I am always thinking about how they are perceiving what I am saying or I'm thinking about the next person I'm going to talk to or what I'm going to do next. Why can't I just sit there and really listen to that person and not worry about what is next. The person that is in front of me at that very moment is the most important person and nothing else matters, who cares if I miss something...the Lord has me in front of that person for His purpose at that very moment.

-Talking about agenda brings me to being on a journey. I am on a journey not constantly seeking the next thing. Journey brings trust in Him. If I am constantly thinking about what is next I miss that very thing right in front of me. Jesus knows our journey so is it really healthy to sit around and think about every next move? I even had my journey in Africa planned out before I left as to how I thought it would all go down. YEAH RIGHT. The Lord said yep you thought you were here just for the orphans...I'm going to put you in a house FULL of college girls and ROCK you. That He did...THANK YOU LORD. He knows me much better than I do :)

-I thought my gifting was in administration and the LORD broke me of that. I realized it was something I hid behind because I was scared to fully walk in my gifts. I know that seems strange why would you be scared of that...but I struggle with fear, fear of letting people down, of not being who I thought I was. I was broken of that daily. There is so much freedom found in that breaking.

-I found it very hard to be in worship this Sunday. I have seen the Lord first hand change lives and heal people. How can we not jump up and down excited about singing about our Jesus? It made me fear that people around me were sitting in a place of comfort because like me they feared in stepping out to be who Jesus is truly calling them to be. I never realized what a box and small story I lived in until I got outside of myself.

-It is a daily struggle for me to think about buying a car, getting a job and finding a place to live. Not because those things aren't good but I fear of walking back into my smaller story. I don't want this next journey to be about me, I want it to be about finding the identity that my Jesus has created for me. I feel like my story is very different and I don't want to settle for less. So my constant prayer is that I am continuing to hear Him amongst the noise and distractions of the states.

-I feel very called to minister to college age girls. That is when they are going through change, forming their identity outside of their parents and high school friends, and when they start to learn who they are created to be. I want to see college girls really start to find their giftings and to walk in them. Just think if they could recognize the God given authority that they have...talk about impacting the world!

There you go. These things that I learned in Africa are still things that I am learning. I covet your prayers...please continue to pray that I would continue to listen among the noise of the typical life of an American. Its not that I am coming down on America, well maybe I am :), but I just desire to continue to live outside of who I am supposed to be. I have experienced life change and I do not want to go back. I don't know what is next. I have applied for a job sort of working with college students. Honestly its a little hard for me to sit here in the states right now, so maybe an opportunity will come for me to go out again. If you have suggestions I welcome them.

Thank you for your support of my time over there. I hope to upload videos soon. I posted some albums on Facebook, here are the links:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2010505&l=364c3&id=1005090795

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2010478&l=b7a16&id=1005090795

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2010482&l=cec57&id=1005090795

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2010485&l=c1ae3&id=1005090795

Medical Team

2008-08-20T11:38:00.000-07:00

So the medical team from Brookhills was with us last week. They were aaamazing. It was a mixture of young and older, just pretty much any stage of like over like 21 that you could think of. This made for a really great team. The devil was aware of this great team and was already scheming from the day they arrived. They came in on a Saturday night and one of the guys that works at the place I am staying was driving a lot of their luggage separately in his truck. Well he was on the road home and a car bumped him. So Hugo pulled over and got hit over the head with a gun and thrown in the back of his truck. He had been gone for quite some time and was not answering his phone so we were worried and praying by now. Then the guys stopped the truck and threw him out the back, he then proceeded to walk home. They stole his truck and all the luggage in the back, which was pretty much everyones personal luggage. Thankfully it was a medical team that we had there and they stitched his head up.

This did not stop the team. We were so thankful Hugo was alive after that. Then I ended up getting sick with a sinus infection or something almost all week. I did not get to go out with them until Mon. and then I was out for two days, then back out on Thursday and Friday. I was so disappointed, but so thankful that I finally got well enough to go out with them. The impact that a medical team can have is unbelievable. I mean I saw a baby come in that probably would have been dead the next day and they gave it an IV and brought her back to life. I heard doctors sharing the gospel with their patients. I was just amazed and thankful to be a part of it!

Here are some pics from the week:

Still alive...

2008-07-30T06:32:00.000-07:00

I apologize I have not been on the internet in forever. We have been sort of recovering from camp. We finished camp about two weeks ago and then had another group come in for two weeks just to do mission work around the area. All of the interns that I lived and worked with have all gone home now. So I am here getting ready for a medical team that we have coming in a little over a week. Then I will have a little over a week and return to the states on the 28th.

One quick story from our last week of camp. We had this kid that came and clearly had something wrong with this waste area and was quite smaller than the kids his age. This did not stop him. He was the most precious kid I have ever seen and just lived life not worried about his disability. His leader found out about mid week that the name he was given meant 'waste'. His leader knew that he had to give him a new name and tell him that Jesus did not think of him this way. So he sat with translators to figure out a new name for him, and they came up with a name that meant 'joy'. This kid also accepted Christ that day, it was the most beautiful picture of Christs love I have ever seen. Here is a pic of him and his leader:

I have learned so much about myself while being here. The Lord has really put a place in my heart for college age girls so I am just processing what that looks like right now. I am exploring job options and such for after August. So please continue to pray with me as I look into what is next. One day at a time...

cheers to liquifruit...

Lately...

2008-07-08T07:06:00.000-07:00

I apologize for the lack of posts. Getting the internet during camp time is quite challenging. We are now in our second and last week of camp. Last week was great. We had about 500 kids in a very poor township named Mamelodi. That is where I did camp last year so I was some what familiar with it. One interesting thing is that we have to have translators at this camp and we ended up getting a lot of them from a local high school. There were some that where not saved, so there they are translating the stories and the Lord really started working in some of their hearts. So not only was it for the kids, we really saw the Lord move in the translators lives, really cool.

This week we are in a nice school, we meet in an auditorium, we have power. Very different from last week. This week a lot of the kids know the story of salvation and almost all speak English. So this is more of a discipleship opportunity.

We have had really great teams come in to help with the camps. Last week we had a group from Savannah come, and they were amazing, Josh Hawk their leader and Audra do a great job with them. They were perfect for the Mamelodi camp. We also had a small group from Brookhills of girls around 26 and one girl come on her own...shout out Mak!

This week we have one from Brookhills, one from Dallas, a group from Hueytown, and a father and daughter from Texas. Love this group as well, they have been a lot of fun to serve with.

I'm learning a lot about myself. I have realized that a lot of times I have just said that administration was my gifting but have never been completely happy or secure in it. One day this past week it was like that is not necessarily my gifting but maybe more so what I hide behind because I am afraid of the unknown. Anyway I'm very thankful to be aware of that and just continuing to learn who the Lord has made and is making me to be.

Its amazing how the Lord knows exactly what you need when you need it. I was so thankful to have a small group of girls come from my home church and they were all around my age! The crazy thing is I had never met any of them, what in the world. I do not know what the Lord is calling me to after this but I am thankful to have those girls in the Ham. The Lord continues to restore me while I'm here and they were just such a breath of fresh air. So shout out to my BHAM girls!

here are some from camp

Camp Time...

2008-06-28T03:18:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, hopefully I will have more pics of where we are living and such. It is freeeezing here. I can see my breath when I wake up in the morning lieing in my bed...I'm sure you thought Africa was supposed to be hot. It is winter here, its great during the day though just like Spring. Our first team comes in today so we are excited to welcome them and welcome their help :). The Foxworthy's from Brookhills have been here this week and have been a joy to be with.

We start camp on Monday and are expecting around 400 kids, we have about 40 translators there as most of the kids will speak a couple different languages. So please pray for communication, healing ( a lot of people on our team are sick), and that the LORD multiplies our resources and the kids come to know the love of our LORD.

Here is a pic of us in the back of the blue bullet with camp supplies, and yes we road the whole way with hula hoops around us...we got some looks

I live with a famous kid...

2008-06-21T02:55:00.000-07:00

This is Alfie, this missionaries adopted son. He really is famous. Every place we go people will pick him up and hold him and they don't even know him...I promise its EVERYWHERE. Then we went to a restaurant that cooks pizza and they let him cook his own in the kitchen, I look over and Alfman is just hanging out with the cooks. On the plane from Cape Town to Pretoria the girl that was doing the announcing at the end of the flight told him to be good at school the next day. Its histerical, he could make friends with the wall.

Quick update

2008-06-21T02:47:00.000-07:00

Hello all. Sorry the post have been few and far between. We get internet about once a week for an hour, so if I'm scattered thats why. I have been learning a lot in the past couple of days and experienced some healing that I needed. When you are in Africa and you have nothing to distract you the Lord really starts dealing with you. I was talking to someone the other night about being on this journey of life and we were just talking about how so many times we want to be doing the next thing. Its like we keep looking to that next destination in life and pretty soon we have just missed the life that is right in front of us. This life is a journey not a destination. I am learning that daily.

Restoration has been so good for me. The Lord continues to restore me daily. I am working with three other college age girls and my heart grows for them daily. I can not picture doing this journey without them. It has really birthed a passion in me for working with college aged girls.

I am also overcoming my fear of mice...HA. Right I know...basically overcoming consists of me being able to fall asleep at night. Hopefully we have about gotten rid of them all, although I'm fairly positive one died under our cabin, or we just all stink pretty bad.

This week we will continue to prepare for camp and just continue to let the LORD deal with us so that we are ready to invest in kids and the teams coming. Our first team comes in on Saturday and then we will start camp that following Monday!

Pics from the Cape

2008-06-13T07:03:00.000-07:00

We are back at Alabanza, planning camp and getting settled. Here are the pics requested:

Cape Town

2008-06-07T12:51:00.000-07:00

These posts are just going to be short and sweet sorry my internet is not very fast. We are here in Cape Town until Tuesday. Its amazing, all you imagine and more. I went to Cape Point today, southernmost tip of Africa. I sat on the side of this mountain and just looked at the beauty the Lord has created and cried. I really can not describe. I took pics and will hopefully get to post soon. I feel like Cape Town has just been this blessing that the Lord has been saving for me...after all those long nights of thinking Lord why am I here what am I doing with my life and then to show up here and let Him just minister to me through his creation. My heart has just been full of joy, I never sleep in the car just waiting to see what the next turn holds. If you know me you know I can't be in the car without falling asleep.

We return to Alabanza Tuesday night and then hit the ground running preparing for camp and such.

here

2008-06-05T09:38:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Jo'burg yesterday afternoon, got somewhat of a nights rest and then jumped back on a plane this morning. We will be in Capetown until Tues. Let me tell you it is a blessing to be here. Capetown is beautiful and you can see two different oceans from the balcony of the house we are staying in. I will probably spend a lot of time out there :). I have a very slow connection right now so just wanted to check in and let you know that I'm doing great.

Love and miss you all...Han and Drew only 2 brown cars and they were security hmmmm

Here we go....

2008-06-02T20:05:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted nearly enough on here. So many little details of my life that I have yet to share. Not that I will have more time in Africa but I will post when I get there...hopefully. I am almost all packed. I'm convinced I have too much stuff, how do you pack for 3 months in the dead winter of africa???

Okay more thank you notes to write...if you don't receive one its not because I don't love you, I just may have fallen asleep before I got to your name :).

Amber Out

UPDATE

2008-05-19T09:31:00.000-07:00

If you are sending a donation for my time in South Africa to Mission Sebenzela that address has changed. If you have already sent it to the PO Box do not worry because they are having the mail forwarded.

Here is the new address:
Steve Kinsley
16 Camellia Cove
Madison, MS 39110

Again you will make the check out to Mission Sebenzela, putting my name in the memo section of the check and mail to the address above.

My Support

2008-05-08T15:31:00.000-07:00

Here is a little update on my support. My plane ticket costs about $2200, then my living expenses will be about $3400. So far the Lord has blessed me with around $1000. I have been amazed at some of the sacrifices people are making to help me get to South Africa. My mom's hair dresser has offered to give me her tips for the month of May and put my letter up at her chair. People that my mom and dad work with are donating money and some of them have never even met me. All that to say it is very confirming that I am supposed to go on this journey. I continue to be amazed...

If you would like to donate here is the info:

-You can send a check directly to me:
-make it payable to me: Amber Montgomery
-mail to:Amber Montgomery
478 Heathersage Rd.
Maylene, AL 35114

-You can send a check to Mission Sebenzela for a tax deductable gift:
-this will go to support my living expenses there
-make check payable to Mission Sebenzela
-put my name in the memo section of the check
-mail to:Steve Kinsley
16 Camellia Cove
Madison, MS 39110

-Also if you click the donate button in the post about the Braai that money will go straight to me, paypal takes out a small portion but if that is easier for you to just pay with a CC that is fine.

Thanks for your support!

Now that I have seen I am responsible - Brooke Fraser

2008-05-04T20:26:00.000-07:00

My friend Emily Mills told me about this song. Brooke says it very well...

Donate to My South African Braai

2008-04-29T17:39:00.000-07:00

If you received the evite for my South African Braai Benefit and would like to donate by using a credit card you may click the button below to do so. If you did not receive the evite and would be interested in coming or would like to donate just let me know your email address and I can send the evite to you.

My time...

2008-04-24T20:11:00.000-07:00

"And so my prayer is that your story will have involved some leaving and some coming home, some summer and some winter, some roses blooming out like children in a play. My hope is your story will be about changing, about getting something beautiful born inside of you, about learning to love a woman or a man, about learning to love a child, about moving yourself around water, around mountains, around friends, about learning to love others more than we love ourselves, about learning oneness as a way of understanding God. We get one story, you and I, and one story alone. God has established the elements, the setting and the climax and the resolution. It would be a crime not to venture out, wouldn't it?
It might be time for you to go. It might be time to change,to shine out.
I want to repeat one word for you:
Leave.
Roll the word around on your tongue for a bit. It is a beautiful word, isn't it? So strong and forceful, the way you have always wanted to be. And you will not be alone. You have never been alone. Don't worry. Everything will still be here when you get back. It is you who will have changed." - Donald Miller Through Painted Deserts

I read this book about a year ago and knew after reading that portion that my time would come. I have been very restless for about two years knowing that the Lord was preparing me for something different. There were so many times that I wished I had a 'normal' life like everyone else making a living and enjoying their job, but I couldn't shake my restless spirit. So I will go to South Africa in June and have the pure joy of just living out the passions that the Lord has been stirring in me.