Isemingerfamily@juno.com

Phone:  814-777-4231

Dear Praying Friends,

It is hard to believe that the end of summer is near, but as we enter the eighth month of 2006 that is clearly the case.  After a healthy dose of triple digit heat and high humidity, as far as our family is concerned, bring on the fall.

As is typical, there is a lot of information in this letter so I hope you will take a few minutes to read what is going on.

News From Macon

The work here at Ayers Road Baptist Church is continuing on, and as of late, things have been going pretty well. 

Since our last letter God seems to be answering prayer and blessing our efforts as we have had a number of visitors in the services and a family (Mother and teenage son) that have not missed since they started coming.  It seems that the overhanging “we’re doomed” mentality that some of the old members have had is starting to break loose.  Please pray with us that this attitude shift will continue.

One other thing we would ask you to continue to pray with us about is laborers.  There is much work going on and other work that needs to be going on and other than our family laborers are typically hard to find.  I realize that this can often be the case but we know that the members here must take ownership and get more involved. Please pray with us that this will happen.

Since our last letter we took a group mini golfing after a Sunday night service and  the last Sunday in July was declared to be Ice Cream Sunday, during which the first winner of the ongoing Bible Trivia contest was declared.  By the time you get this letter, pictures of all of these events should be on our website.

 Family Prayer Health Updates

The family health situation has calmed down considerably and Lord willing this will be the last letter in which I need todevote an entire section to family health Issues.  But let me give you a quick update of the situations: 

¨ Lena: Since our last letter, Lena has had a few more episodes with her vision.  We’ve gotten her to the new doctor, who is clearly an answer to prayer.  He ordered another EEG and an MRI.  Those tests have come back and both are good.  (He told Carmen that he was worried at first that she had an aneurism but all was good.)  He said that just because the tests showed no definite seizure causes didn’t mean there weren’t any.  He wants her in the office immediately if she looses her vision again so he can look at her retina when it is happening and also if she has another seizure.  He said he would be staying on top of this and watching her really close, but it is possible we will never know what happened.  We can only ask that you join us in praying that it never happens again.  When she looses her vision and then it returns, it comes back with a horrific headache that makes her really ill.

¨ (a getting ready to mail the letter update:  Lena has not lost any sight for almost 3 weeks) Keep Praying!

¨ Still getting ready to mail the letter and tonight (August 3rd) Lena lost vision again, we got her to the dr. and he thinks it must be some sort of neurological migraine disorder.  More info to follow.

¨ Carmen: As far as I know I have never been able to write what I am about to write about Carmen, but first a little background.  Obviously all that has gone on with Lena has had us more than a little freaked out, that coupled with the fact that Carmen was doing so poorly with the Dr’s and mine and Emilee’s blood sugar issues, lead us to make a drastic change.  Three months ago we decided to go in the direction of heath and wellness.  Serious diet changes, regular vitamins and exercise and avoiding all things chemical.  This has been a huge help to all of us, but Carmen has had the most drastic change.  She still has a number of issues with her back that plagues her,  but her fybromialgia pain, that has all but left her bedridden for nearly 10 years is completely gone.    She is honestly  a completely new person.  We do ask that you continue to pray for her that whatever it is God is doing that He continues and that He would also heal her back pain.   What else can you say but PRAISE THE LORD!!!   

¨ David II: Due to the information in our last letter he as been dubbed “tick boy” by more than one person.  I am happy to report that as of this writing “Tick Boy” is fine.  He was a little freaked out, about the time this happened there was a rash of news reports saying how serious Lymes disease has become and to really be cautious.  So if nothing else he is now educated on ticks. 

¨ David &Emilee: Again, not much can be said but praise the Lord.  Emilee and I have both had our blood sugar level out nicely.  We still watch Emilee closely with things but she is doing well.

 Again, thanks for praying.  This update is far different than the one in the last letter, so for a third time, Praise the Lord!

Family Update

It seems like in the last section I covered all of the major things going on with all of us.

Other than that, The kids are done with school and they all finished with good grades in all subjects.  It is hard to believe, but when they start back Lena will be in 10th, David II in 8th and Emilee in 6th.

The girls are still doing well in their piano lessons, and the chip off of the old block (David II) has discovered that  like his dad he enjoys golf, and I am enjoying

playing with him when we can find a couple early morning hours that are low in heat and humidity.  Believe it or not that is a rare thing in central Georgia.  

 Even the dogs are doing well.  I guess all in all things are all pretty good in the Iseminger household.

New Things

As you may or may not know, life for us never stops.  We are always working at things on several fronts and while working on the present task looking down the road a bit to see what may be coming.

Clearly the task here at Ayers Road Baptist Church will not last forever.  Knowing that is the case (as is the case with each of our tasks)  we are always on the lookout for churches that need help and situations that God may have for us.

We have asked several folks close to us to pray about a task that God may be opening up for us. 

Like everything, we want to be sure of God’s will and His timing as well.  I guess at this point I can say there is a huge need that is on our radar screen and we (and several others) are praying about it and I am gathering as much information as I can.

If we move forward I will be bringing you more information on this project in the future.

Regardless of that, please pray with us that we will follow the right leads, go through open doors and stay in the center of God’s will. 

Prayer Requests

In addition to all of the things I have already mentioned, as you pray for us, please remember things in the following areas:

Ayers Road Baptist Church

Please continue to pray for stability, finances, growth, workers, work on the building and especially for these door hanger packets as we are getting them out and following them up.  Please also pray for laborers.    Again, I know I have already said this multiple times, but this church needs people who will be on visitation who will be in church every time the doors are open or be willing to build and teach a Sunday School class and/or work in the field that God has for them. Please pray that God will either speak to the hearts of the folks that are here now or send the folks that he wants to use in these   areas. 

The Iseminger Family

Please keep each of us in your prayers, especially Lena, please pray that God would give the doctor wisdom and that they could figure out exactly what is going on and how to treat it.  Pray also for the kids schooling (purchase of upcoming curriculum) and development and all of our general well being.   

I am sure you are aware that the institution of the family, that was God’s Idea, not man’s, is under satanic attack.  The devil would like nothing more that to destroy our family and render us useless.  I am happy to report that we are closer than ever, but please pray that we can continue to thwart the attacks of the devil, stay close to God and close to each other. 

The Needs of the Ministry

Please continue to pray that God will continue to see fit to use us, and that he will meet our needs and bless our efforts.  Pray that God would lead, guide and direct and that He would continue to make His will for us crystal clear and keep us in it.  That with God showing us the beginnings of future tasks that He would also work a miracle in regards to a truck for the fifth wheel. 

Those on the Road

Please pray also for those on the road (evangelists, missionaries and folks  on deputation or furlough).  When we are traveling, our number one expense is fuel.  Last summer our one trip with the camper cost us nearly fifty cents a mile, which is enough to put someone off the road rather quickly.  Gas is now a dollar a gallon more than it was last summer and many of our preacher brethren are facing huge expenses to stay on the road.  Please pray that God would meet their needs and provide for the added expenses they are facing.

By the time you get our next letter, I will be preparing to celebrate my last birthday that starts with a three and the end of 2006 will be drawing near.

On behalf of my family, our pastor, church family at Lincoln Ave. Baptist Church in Ionia, MI and the folks we presently serve at Ayers Road Baptist church in Macon, GA: Thank you for doing your part to keep us on the firing line.  We couldn’t do it without you and we are grateful.

We will look forward to updating you again in October with all God is doing.

Because of Calvary,

The Iseminger Family

David & Carmen

Lena, David II & Emilee

Romans 10:13-15

Hello,

I wanted to take some space and thank each of you that have prayed for me all these years.  I can’t tell you how great it is to wake up in the morning and to be able to get through a day without being in horrible pain.  I can function again (as long as it doesn’t involve my back.)  Thank you all and please pray that God will keep it up, I just can’t imagine going back to that life.

God Bless!

Carmen