by Ian and Polly Montgomery | Nov 14, 2013 | Peru, SAMS Missionaries
Dr. Glenn Petta (national director of SOMA-USA) invited me to join a SOMA team to Honduras.
Bishop Lloyd Allen
On October 23rd, I headed down to San Pedro Sula in Honduras. The other team members joining me were Edwina Thomas, our leader, and Mary Anne Weisinger. Both are from Texas. We prepared for an Episcopal clergy conference for the Diocese of Honduras at the invitation of Bishop Lloyd Allen.
After a week with the clergy, we moved on to the Cathedral for a day and a half of renewal meetings with clergy and laity.
Clergy Conference
With (left to right) Mary Anne, Bishop Allen and Edwina
I gave four expositions – one each morning.
1 Peter 2:1-12. We began with the focus on being living stones being built into God’s Temple, a royal nation and a holy priesthood – once no people but now God’s people.
Bishop Allen interpreted for me – while my Spanish was OK for all else, I wanted to be sure that the talks were not hindered by my lack of skill.
1 Cor. 2:4 and 5. “My speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” The title was, “The power of the Spirit and the humility of the servant.”
Bishop Lloyd Allen has been Bishop for over twelve years. He loves his clergy and is loved and respected by them.
Luke 3:21-22. The question was why Jesus needed a special anointing of the Holy Spirit.
The exposition then continued to the end of the gospels where Jesus says wait for the promised Holy Spirit. We looked at John 20:21 and 22. “Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
We continued into Acts 1 and 2– the great commission then followed by Pentecost Day.
Luke 6:17-26. The focus was Luke 6:19 “And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.” The critical words being “power came out from Him.”
Worship was lively and energetic
Most of the Honduras clergy
Cathedral renewal meetings.
Catedral Buen Pastor, San Pedro Sula
At the Cathedral we had three sessions – two of these were led by Honduran seminarians under our coaching. Edwina presented the last talk. The talks were (in order) – Salvation and God’s love, the Anointing of the Holy Spirit and, Living the Transformed Life.
Worship at the Cathedral
I preached on Sunday was based upon Luke 6:19 – power came out from him and healed them all – which is the verse that precedes the All Saints Gospel reading.
After the sermon on Sunday
The time in Honduras was hugely energizing for me. My Spanish returned sufficiently, for which I was most grateful. I asked Bishop Allen to interpret the talks as I wanted to be sure that the people heard exactly what I was saying. We got into a great rhythm. He is such a Godly man and a superb leader.
The clergy arrived at the conference tired and in need of rest and affirmation. By the time the conference was over they were transformed and renewed. Some asked for confession and some, spiritual direction. We were able to train some to give presentations that are part of the “Life in the Spirit” weekends. We had a number of group sessions – affirmation, silent prayers of blessing, and prayer ministry.
Thank you for the prayers and financial support that made it possible for me to participate in this trip.
I have been praying about how to be supportive of clergy and missionaries. Working with SOMA is a means to do so as well as a way to serve the larger Anglican community.
God is so Good.
by Ian and Polly Montgomery | Sep 12, 2013 | Peru, SAMS Missionaries
Dear Ones,
Many thanks for your prayers and support. We have much to report and so many things to be thankful for as we settle into our life back in the USA.
We just completed our “de-briefing” with Denise Cox at SAMS. It was most helpful as we transition to our roles as Missionary Associates, continuing to be involved with mission ventures and with Peru specifically.
This past July, I spent a week in Lima with a mission team from New Grace Church, Florida. Earlier in the summer, I had visited the parish for an information and orientation meeting with the members of the parish. Fr. Mike McDonald led the team of ten people which partnered with San Mateo Mission and School in San Juan de Lurigancho, an area of Lima.
I went along to facilitate and make the many introductions. This visit was primarily to get to know the diocese, Bishop Godfrey, and to begin a long-term relationship with San Mateo Mission and the attached school. It was very successful.
Polly and I are developing a relationship with the Diocese of Albany where we are involved with the Spiritual Life Center. There we participate in the weekly healing ministry and I am available to clergy for counsel and direction. We are exploring taking a short-term mission team from Albany to Madagascar in 2014 to visit and help Bishop Todd and the Rev. Patsy McGregor. We will keep you posted on this mission venture!
This summer we have been hosting and helping Bishop Bill Godfrey and Judith. They came to Connecticut in late July for surgery which turned out to be more extensive than expected. They have been recuperating with us for several weeks and before that with another couple in CT. Mostly healed and rested, they have now gone on to Texas prior to returning mid-September to Peru.
We had a brief visit from former Lima cathedral Dean John and Susan Park while they were here–what a joyful reunion for the six of us! Joining us in mid-September we have Pastor Sara Armstrong and her husband Rusty from Lima.
In early 2014 we are working on a group trip to Lima from our local community here in Chester to distribute water filters.
I am now actively exploring how best to bring pastoral care and visitation to missionaries in the field. SAMS works with another agency that specializes in this ministry and have encouraged me to work with them. More on this later.
In October I will be joining a SOMA mission team going to Honduras. We will be leading a clergy conference and a Life in the Spirit weekend.
Our lives are busy and bearing fruit in terms of mission and ministry. Your support helps this continue, though now different. THANK YOU and BLESS YOU.
Please continue to lift us up. Thank you for your financial support.
Ian and Polly
by Guy and Summer Benton | Aug 28, 2013 | Cambodia, SAMS Missionaries
I love my life
I love my city
I love waking up in the morning to the sound of roosters
I love doing school drop off on a moto
I love dodging pot holes
I love when people cut me off and then throw a wave to apologize
I love seeing children wear helmets
I love seeing people leave their house and wave goodbye to their loved one
I love seeing people walk their pets
I love the hustle and bustle of my neighborhood in the morning
I love the smell of street food
I love seeing people eating street food
I love seeing people sitting and yarning to one another
I love the before work interactions with the neighbors
I love my city
I love my life
by Guy and Summer Benton | Jul 30, 2013 | Cambodia, SAMS Missionaries
Last Sunday the Bishop of Singapore come over to visit what a special day it was.
Pirum took a liking to the Bishop.
We were privileged to go out for lunch with the Bishop and other clergy. (another post coming with information about these conversations)
Photo: Dean Kuan Kim Seng, Summer, Pirum, Bishop Rennis Ponniah and Guy
by Guy and Summer Benton | Jul 30, 2013 | Cambodia, SAMS Missionaries
Family and Friends. I hope you will forgive me from being absent from the blogisphere for sometime.
but let me fill you in on what has been happening here in The Kingdom of Wonder. (although there have been moments over the last week where I wonder if the slogan actually reflects the country)
A couple of weeks ago Summer and I jetted over to Thailand. now before you get any ideas and start thinking “I never get to jet off to exotic countries like they do” we popped over to get a full body scan 1 year after Summer had some surgery. what a week it was jam packed with Hospital visits daily and then trying to squeeze in some sight seeing and then a quick trip to visit some friends 2 hours south of Bangkok.
after being at the hospital all week and have numerous things pumped into her and a full body scan, Sunday was results day and what a relief. we had been praying for clear results and praise the lord thats what was delivered.
Thailand is beautiful. and dare I say it the roads are a lot more civilized that Cambodia!!
after we arrived back from Thailand we had a couple of days turn around
Then we had the Whitaker family arrive from America to start life here in Cambodia. The Whitaker’s are with the same mission agency as us and so we were super stoked to welcome them to town and help them settle in.
2 days after they arrived we had some great friends of ours, the Coleman family, arrive in country and we had a pretty full on week worked out for them
A family of 4 from New Zealand; James, Julia, Jacob, and Sam. James and Julia are both priest in the anglican church and I was fortunate enough to work with Julia at St Mary’s Karori and also have Jacob in my youth group.
So it was a special moment for me to welcome them to Cambodia.
The week started of with a hiss and a roar. church on the first day with loads of conversation with many missionary families and then that evening a dinner with the head of investigations for IJM and his family, followed by a drive around to see the underbelly of the city.
The week continued at the same pace with many meetings with many different people.
A Visit to the IJM Cambodia field office and a lunch with some staff there.
Coffee with the Dean of the Anglican Church of Cambodia.
Dinner with our new team mates.
A trip to the Benton household for dinner and football.
And Julia taking a trip to visit the trafficking shelter where Summer works.
Along with loads of fun touristy things to see and do.
And of course LOTS OF EATING!!!
As a family we just felt extremely blessed to share our life with the Colemans for 1 short week. we felt that we were able to show them a good chunk of Phnom Penh and Life in Cambodia for the week that they were here.
We hope and pray that we can continue to host and bless others as they come to Cambodia, for what ever reason.
let me finish with this.
my family and I have had the opportunity to spend time with some amazing people this week and talk and share about how God is moving in this country and around the world.
sooo
May you continue to Shine the love of christ in all situations, whether it be through giving way on the road in a country that doesn’t give way or a cheeky smile when someone is staring at you.
Bless you all and much love
Guy
PS my wife didn’t spell check this for me and i write how i talk so please enjoy but any grammar criticism can be fired my way 🙂
by Guy and Summer Benton | Jun 23, 2013 | Cambodia, SAMS Missionaries
Pirum’s Radio Commercial Voice
Click here for a listen of Pirum’s Khmer Radio voice (not really its been recorded in our kitchen) we thought it was pretty awesome.
Blessings Guy and Summer
Dr. Glenn Petta (national director of SOMA-USA) invited me to join a SOMA team to Honduras.
