The Eisenmann Initiative: December Update

Hello Friends and Family, and Hello December!

We write to you with thanksgiving on our hearts and minds for the faithful and tireless support that you give us. Whether it is a simple prayer, quick note, financial gift, or daily intercession, we are indebted to all of you. We realize more each day our utter need for spiritual and physical support. THANK YOU for taking a part in meeting that need!

Since our last update, things have really picked up, if that's even possible! I've continued to travel with the church construction supervisor, and I continue to find more and more interesting forms of travel and more adventuresome trips! You can check out one trip where we used five forms of transportation to arrive in the community of Baixão!

We blew through the fourth quarter of 2011 with speed and agility! It's seems like such a blur. We recently attended our churches disciplers' retreat as well as the National MDA Conference. These were two great opportunities that we had to sit down and soak in some great teaching to be more effective in our ministry. We learned much and are now trying to apply it all. We are seeing growth and sanctification in our disciples, so that is always encouraging, walking and growing with close friends, living in community. A couple weeks ago we were parents for two days as we babysat a two year old kid while his parents, our disciples, went to a couples retreat. It was quite the experience!

Last week we loaded our car on a barge, shipping it down the Amazon River to Belém. A few days later we flew there to pick it up and drove it to Southern Brazil, a trip over 2,000 miles! My father-in-law and I each drove our cars with our wives co-piloting and made the trip in 47 hours! Sounds crazy, huh? Well, our car (one that Silvia has had for over 7 years) was starting to rack up lots of maintenance costs and almost in need of major engine work! And since we're always hauling people around and would like to have a family some day, we decided it was time to upgrade to a bit bigger and more reliable car. The catch was that our car didn't have air conditioning, and so was unsellable in Santarém, at least for a reasonable price.

Here in Curitiba, we were able to trade it in on a wonderful, low-mileage car that will really meet our needs! Praise God for the quick work he made of this! As of yesterday, we closed on the car and brought it home, now just waiting for the new plates! We look forward to the blessing it will be to have a car with air conditioning in the tropics! With special gifts from many people, we were able to have to funds to buy an almost new car, that will be problem free for years, but hold it's resale value. If you would like to help with this purchase, we are still paying for the documentation and will have to transport it back to Santarém on another barge. Also, the taxes for the car will be due in January, which is 2.5% the value of the car! You can go here to learn about the various options for giving!

This next week will be spent with family and friends in preparation for the wedding of Silvia's sister. This was the real reason we made the trip to the South, but we just decided to take advantage of the car market! We look forward to this special time and blessing in their lives as we celebrate together!

Most people don't know this, but Silvia is also officially a citizen of Portugal! She was in the process of getting her passport when we decided to get married and totally messed up the process with the name change! We were able to go to the Consulate of Portugal yesterday, only to find out that she has to open another process at the consulate in the state where we now live. Please pray that this process will go smoothly for her! With a passport from Portugal, she won't have to worry any more about United States Visas for entry!

Thanks again for your love and support! Watch your mailbox for the year-end Eisenmann Initiative! If you've never gotten one but would like to, respond to this email with your mailing address.

Praises

Wonderful time at the disciplers' retreat and MDA conference.

Safe travels to southern Brazil and an upgraded car

Growing Cell groups!

The end of a fabulous year, filled with blessings and fruitful labor

Prayer Requests

Safe travels returning to Santarém

Blessed time together with family at the wedding of Silvia's sister

Ease in processing Silvia's Portuguese passport

Joy and fulfillment during the holidays in the absence of our family in the US

Blessings to all! We wish you warm Christmas memories and celebrations in honor of our Savior and Lord, Christ Jesus! With the hope of eternal life in our hearts, we joyfully contemplate His goodness and grace demonstrated in the fulfillment of His Word. In His Name, we send our love to you all!