david@isemingerfamily.org

Phone:  814-777-4231

Dear Praying Friends,

Here we are once again closing out another year.  I know that virtually every prayer letter for the last several years has started with me commenting on the rapid advance of time, but I can never seem to quite get use to it.

As usual we have a number of things to update you on, so I hope you will take a few minutes and read about what is going on with us.

News From The Road

As you all know, we have not been spending much time on the road since we have been in Georgia, but as of late we have had a chance to get away a bit and have a chance to hear the tires humming on the highway even if for a brief time.  From Mid October until December 16 we have had cause to be away a few times.   During this two month stretch, when you combine road miles and air miles we will have logged some 15,000 miles.  We seem to always have a suitcase or two in the middle of being packed and unpacked and when December 16 arrives we will be ready to unpack, settle in and enjoy Christmas and then gear up for a busy 2007.  Here is how those miles breakdown.

October 12-16-Richfield, OH

After a Doctor’s appointment and Wednesday services here in GA on October 11th  Carmen drove me across town to ride the shuttle to the Atlanta airport so I could Catch a plane to Akron/Canton to be with Pastor Al Davis and Bible Baptist Church in Richfield, OH.  But for last year when I had to cancel we have been with these folks every year since 1997.  My trip was with out incident and God gave us good services.  After we wrapped up the services on Sunday night I was with Brother Davis on his radio show Late Night Live with Pastor Al  which was a lot of fun.  The trip home was without incident as well which is always Good.

October 30-November 10 MD, PA & NJ

On October 31 all five of us headed north

for almost 2 weeks on a combination trip to see friends & family and update 3 of our supporting churches.  During this trip we were able to accomplish a number of things:

¨ We were able to update 3 of our supporting churches (Ambassador Baptist-Frederick, MD Emmanuel Baptist-Claysburg, PA & Gospel Light Baptist-Kearny, NJ

¨ Carmen was able to surprise a good friend of hers at her 40th birthday

¨ We were able to spend time with a number of family and friends

¨ We spent Carmen’s Birthday in Amish country

¨ We had eye appointments and Carmen, Lena and I got new glasses

¨ We had safe travel all around

November 16-19 Crystal Springs, MS

After being back in GA for just a few days it was time for our annual trek to Mississippi.  Carmen arranged to have an open house for her Grandmother’s 95th birthday.  We had good services on Sunday at Harmony Baptist, God met with us in a great way, their church had their thanksgiving meal following the AM service which was also a  good time.

On the way home we blew a tire going about 80 MPH on I-20 outside of Tuscaloosa, AL.  We were able to get across the three lanes of traffic and get the spare on without getting squished by a semi so God was definitely watching over us.  Once we were back in GA we were able to get a new rim (the old one was ground flat during the process of getting off the highway) and two new tires.  I guess that is our one bit of drama for this set of trips.

News From Macon

Please continue to pray for Ayers Road Baptist Church here in Macon.  We are continuing to make progress in some areas and struggling in others. 

Please continue to pray for laborers and for a pastor.  It will take someone special but we know that God has just the right man lined up.

Please also pray for the Christmas

season here that we might be able to reach some folks with the Gospel.

Upcoming Western Survey Trip

We really need your prayers December 6th-16th.  Carmen and I are taking a survey trip out west to investigate two possible situations.  Here is the way the trip will lay out:
 

Dec 6th-Following the Wednesday Service here we will load up and head for Lake Ariel, PA (Scranton area)  We will arrive there sometime Thursday the 7th and get the kids and dogs settled in with some folks who have been kind enough to keep them safe in our absence.
 

Dec. 8th-Carmen and I will drive to Philadelphia and fly to Las Vegas.  Once we arrive we will pick up a rental car and drive south to Searchlight, NV where there is a church that is down to 6 members that is looking to rebuild.  We will be there until Monday.
 

Dec. 11th-Early Monday morning we will leave Searchlight and drive 300 miles to Chandler, AZ (Phoenix area) and meet with some folks who are wanting to start a church.
 

Dec. 14th-We will return to Las Vegas, drop off the car and fly back to Philadelphia, we will then drive back to the kids in Lake Ariel.  Then early on the 15th we will load up and head back to GA.

God has been gracious in setting this trip up, please pray that all will go well and God will show us what if anything we are to do about these situations we are checking out.  Please pray also that God will keep everyone safe.

 Family Update

The kids are doing well in school and looking forward to Christmas.

Lena’s health issues are staying steady

Her seizures are minimal and things are fairly normal.  She just had to get stronger glasses but the eye Dr really checked her eyes out and said that no damage is being done to her eyes by the seizures.  She is also getting contacts, which she is very excited about.

Carmen continues to do well.  She had a bout with her neck.  But that is all back to normal now.  She is no longer taking the physical therapy, but it seemed to be causing more problems that were not welcomed at all.  But other than that she has been able to hold her own

But for the new reading glasses 39 seems to be about like 38 was so perhaps it is not the end of the world after all.

Other than that it is pretty well business as usual for all of us, we are gearing up for our favorite time of year (minus Carmen’s snow that she loves) and are excited about the coming year.

Looking to the Future

It looks like 2007 will be another exciting year.  During the coming year (our 13th in this ministry) we will most likely take on another project.  We may well be facing a huge move (2,000 miles plus) and other changes.

On a personal note, during the next year Carmen and I will turn 39 & 40 respectively and the kids will be 16,14 and 12.

We are excited about what the future holds and are ready and willing to do whatever, wherever, which is a good mindset to have, especially in our line of work.

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

The big requests here are for a pastor and for many of the people to put feet to their prayers and follow-through with things they know need to be done.  We have led them to the water, poured it in a glass and even added a straw but only God will be able to get them to drink.

The Iseminger Family

Carmen and Lena’s health needs

direction and guidance for the future of our ministry and family.

Our kid’s schooling for the present year.   

Lena and Emilee’s progress on the piano.   (This is a rare opportunity for them and they want and need to get all they can.)

The Needs of the Ministry

There are a number of things that we are praying about in this area including:

¨ The best and most inexpensive way to move our camper when the time comes (there are several options available, we are weighing the options and praying about each of them) It looks like God is working something out here, please keep praying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

¨ The power of God on our ministry

¨ Safety, wisdom and provision on this upcoming survey trip

¨ Continued good service of our van

On behalf of my family, our pastor and 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 at it for another year.  We couldn’t do it without you and we are grateful for you doing your part in all of this. We will look forward to updating you again in February with all that is going on and with the results of our survey  Trip and with the progress here at Ayers Road Baptist Church.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

On Behalf of our entire family we want to wish each and everyone of you a blessed Christ filled   Christmas.  This has been a year filled with political  trials and war sadness.  We are living in a world that is so far removed from Christ that it is spiritually heart wrenching.  So our prayer for each of you is the same as last year, have some time for you and your families that you are able to separate from the world and just immerse yourselves in the love of Christ and the hope of his sweet awaited return.  And for the New Year, we will be praying that we will all  be able to be together in Glory at the feet of Jesus!!  God Bless you All!!

David, Carmen

Lena, David II, Emilee, Butter Bean

& Oscar Mayer