Scott Montgomery was raised in southwest Virginia and was
privileged to have access to a fine education and an environment which
instilled the value of a strong work ethic. By having great mentors such as his
teachers, athletic coaches, Boy Scout leaders, and family members he had
already acquired many values needed to succeed in what they each expected he
should want to achieve. In his last year of high school he learned a lesson of
mortality when his grandmother’s life was cut short after a routine medical
operation. He drove the family to Florida the next night and at the funeral
(with little understanding) he promised that would make her proud.
In college he began to learn how to operate outside of a comfort
zone, until during his second year he learned that he had the digestive
disease, Crohns-Colitis. He was told he would have to take medicines in order
to live with it from that day forward. He learned during the rest of his
studies in accounting at Longwood University lessons of struggle, enduring, and
even dollar value retail method LIFO. He was able to graduate having only
missed one week of class during a hospital stay.
Upon graduating he began studying for the CPA exam and was well
for a few months. This was due to now taking a drug called Remicade in an
intravenous form each month. Six months after graduation he had completed one
of four parts to the CPA exam, but became ill again. By the end of February, he
was in worse health than ever, receiving recommendations to have his colon
removed, and was 90% of the time reserved to his childhood home. Before
visiting a specialist at the University of North Carolina, he had begun
changing his diet and overall lifestyle after learning of individuals healing
without the use of medication. After
discussing his plan with the specialist, he was told that he would return “even
sicker” than his current condition of making trips to the bathroom every hour
of each day.
Scott spent two days completely relearning everything he thought
he knew about food and began a plan to become well. By then he had exposed a
flaw in the common knowledge of Crohn’s disease and no longer accepted that the
cause was a design flaw within his body. He had acquired faith that it was an
absurd idea that he was put here to suffer. Therefore he would one day be
healthy again if he respects and listens to his body. By the end of the summer
after nearly six grueling months he was beginning to live a normal life and he
began studying again.
After this experience and with the help of some new role models,
he began to realize what he had learned over the past six months. These role
models had learned what he was starting to learn, that the goals and
aspirations which he was exposed to until now were goals that are unlikely to
satisfy even the dullest of individuals. How many celebrities have found no
happiness in satisfying all of their material wants and desires?
Unlike his prior role models (who he still uphold as fine
persons who have many things to be proud of) their focus was how to reach true
happiness and improve the lives of others, most importantly the ‘least’ of
these persons. (greatest need)
After finishing the CPA exam he applied for a few jobs with
little enthusiasm, but also one which appeared to be everything he was looking
for and even within two hours of his hometown. Within four days of sending his
cover letter and resume, he was working as an accountant with Kissito
Healthcare and Kissito Healthcare International. KHI at the time was supporting
a government health center in East Uganda and also in process of constructing a
hospital in rural Ethiopia. Scott was excited to travel overseas. Due to having
many wide responsibilities at Kissito, as well as a demanding accounting
position, he was unable to travel during his first one year with Kissito.
In September, Scott was offered the position which he had
originally applied for, with a change of being stationed permanently in East
Africa. The timing was perfect, and he immediately began winding up his affairs
and packing to leave in one month. Over the past year, he had learned many
skills and facets to managing all the support functions of a nonprofit. This
opportunity would now teach him the challenges and skills required to
accomplish goals of sustainably improving the lives of others. He was now
reassured that he was on the right path, by fate or chance he was saved of a
life of pleasure with no purpose. Alternatively he became aware of an
alternative filled with immense and nearly unbearable challenges, but also with
the opportunity to live a valuable life.
Scott is now working in Mbale, Uganda with Kissito as an
accountant as well as completing some small projects in his spare time. He is
currently investigating what areas to greatest serve those with the greatest on
the planet. He is also considering enrolling in a Master’s of Public Health
course through either an African college or online. He is currently setting up a website and
planning fundraisers for a vehicle to both research projects for the long-term
as well as complete short-term projects during his employment with Kissito
Healthcare. If you wish to volunteer, assist financially, or simply join his
mailing list, please email: scott.montgomery at roots-international dot org.
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