Dear Family and Friends,

First of all we want to THANK YOU for all your prayers, notes of encouragement and support we have received from so many of you. I would like to update you on some of our lastest happenings. PLEASE pay special attention to the paragraph beginning with PLEASE, PLEASE...

In our last newsletter we had announced that our oldest daughter, Hilary would be married to Cae on Jan. 6th in Johnson City, TN. As many of you already know, after two attempts Cae was unable to secure a visa. After much prayer we all decided that the time was right for them to get married but we didn't think it possible for us to be present due to the financial nature of traveling to Brazil. But our God proved to us again His faithfulness. Because of the generous donations of skymiles by friends and supporters we were able to purchase 5 tickets to Brazil for our 4 family members here and David's mother.

The next challenge was for us to make sure we had visas to get back into Brazil for the wedding. David flew to Miami (again with donated skymiles) to the Brazilian Consulate and once again God surprised us with 5 year, multiple entry tourists visas. (which they have not been giving out for some time)

The next challenge was Hilary and Cae's documents to get married. In Brazil, it is a very complicated process which takes time (which we were running out of fast since everything has to be completed and approved 1 month before there can be a legal, civil wedding). Religious weddings are not recognized by the government in Brazil. We had to have the wedding during Jacob and Taylor's Christmas break; they have to be back to school on Jan. 3rd.

First, the couple has to submit a stack of paperwork. One of the required documents was an original copy of Hilary's birth certicifate that had to be notarized in the U.S. by a Brazilian Consulate. We found this out after David already had plans to fly to Miami so he was able to take care of that there and then send it on to Hilary by express mail. Again, we see the hand of God working all things together.

I am happy to report that this last week they received approval on their "intent to be married" paperwork and will have a civil service on December 28th. Fortunately it is only two days before the REAL "church" wedding set for December 30th at 7pm. It will be conducted by the Rev. David Atkisson (smile) in one of our friends backyard's in Campinas. I wish I could tell you that all the plans are arranged and everything is in order but I am sure it will all come together in the end.

If you would like to send Hilary and Cae a card of congratulations, please send it to our address here in the States: Hilary and Cae Normanha, 2225 Hendersonville Road, Arden, NC 28704 to arrive on or before Dec. 18 so that I can take them to her. OR if you prefer, you can send CARDS to Hilary's current apt. address where they will live after they are married: Rua Antonio Cezarino 606, Edificio Eduardo Pereira Apt. 34, Jardim Bosque, Campinas - SP 13015-291 BRASIL HOWEVER, BE AWARE that if you send a card through the regular mail service it will take 2-4 weeks or longer to arrive.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT SEND GIFTS through the mail to her address as the likelihood of them arriving is very slim. Corruption in the mail service in Brazil is a huge problem. We cannot even send checks in the mail to pay our bills there, we have to go to the banks to do that. If you would like to send a monetary gift to Hilary and Cae, please send it to David or Lynn Atkisson at our address so that we can deposit into Hilary's online account here in the States. She can then have acess to it in Brazil. Unfortunately we will not be able to carry a lot of gifts. I already have two suitcases full of decorating items for the wedding that have to go. If you have any questions, email or just give us a call. (828)687-9144

In closing I would like to THANK YOU again for your part in our lives and our ministry. Here are a few
PRAYER REQUESTS:
*Lynn's college roommate, Robin, lost two sons, ages 15 & 17 on Nov. 22 in a tragic car accident. Please pray for Robin and for their father, Stephen.
*Lynn's cousin, Winnie's daughter, Heather, one of twins born prematurely in April. She has RSV, a dangerous respiratory virus. She has been in the hospital for two days and will be there until her breathing improves. Please pray that her sister, Anya, and their 3 year old brother, Liam, don't become infected.
FAMILY:
*Cae and Hilary in these days before the wedding - final exams, wedding plans, spiritual/emotional preparation.
*travel for us and Grandma Atkisson
*Grandma's health while we are in Brazil - esp. that she would not have any recurrent problem with stones in her bile duct, AND not have problems from the change in diet (she is diabetic with a very sensitive tummy)
*Lynn - continued emotional healing and medication adjustment and some time for relaxation in Brazil!
*David - time to relax in Brazil as he has a FULL calendar of mission conferences starting in January (this is good for support raising)
*Jacob and Taylor - motivation/persistence in school work, visit to Brazil and return to the States (could be good or more difficult?)
ATKISSON FAMILY - focus on the things that matter, in the right order: JOY (Jesus, Others, Ourselves) If we put Christ first, then others' needs before our own and put ourselves last, we will be filled with joy...not only the joy of knowing Christ but of serving Him. God bless you!
Lynn

- December 5, 2006