As I said in a recent prayer update, Mission to the World has asked me to take on a new position. For those of you who might have missed that prayer letter, let me repeat a paragraph from it:

As of November, at MTW's annual leadership meeting, I have been moved to a new position. Instead of being Regional Director for South America, I will lead a new team whose task is to help sharpen operational effectiveness for MTW's work in Latin America. In some ways I will continue what I was doing as Regional Director, but without the administrative work. I will be able to focus more on investing in our missionaries and national leaders. As of now there is only one other person on this team, Dave Strumbeck, who has been my assistant Regional Director.

My new position is called "Director of Operational Effectiveness for Latin America." Of course, the International Director for Latin America, Ken Thompson, has the ultimate responsibility for operational effectiveness, but he has asked me and this new team to help him by focusing on this area.

In conjunction with this change, Mission to the World has been encouraging me to look into the possibility of further study that would enhance my effectiveness in this new position. Over the last few years I have experienced a growing desire and sense of need to prepare myself in the area of how organizations work, as I have continually run into problems on the field that require knowledge that goes beyond my training in theology and missiology. However, had not certain people encouraged me in this direction--including PCA pastors whom I consider to be my fathers in the faith-- I probably would never have considered asking MTW to let me work on another doctorate.

I began investigating the doctoral programs that were being offered in Organizational Development, and found one at George Washington University (Washington D.C.) that is very highly rated. According to some groups who rate these things, it's the best program in the country. In December I visited the campus, talked to professors and students, and sat in on some classes. I was very pleased with the program, and with the approval of MTW , began the arduous application process.

At that time I didn't realize how hard it was to get into the program. Just a couple of weeks ago I found out that over two hundred people applied to the program this year for only twenty four openings. When I began the process of application some of these openings had already been filled. Furthermore, they have to fill half the positions with women, and they also have to make sure they have enough minorities represented. So the opportunities for white males are limited--especially for those who don't apply early. When I found this out, I was a little discouraged but decided that "If the Lord wants me in, he'll get me in."

I was about to write you all today to ask for prayer for this, when I received notice from George Washington University confirming my acceptance into the program. This means that for the next few years while I finish the program, half of my time will be dedicated to study, and with the other half I will continue to work in, and apply what I am learning to, our mission work in Latin America. During this time of study it will obviously be more economically reasonable for us to live in the States and make trips to Latin America. So for the next few years we will be making our home in the States, but with extensive involvement in and trips to Latin America.

The program is designed for executives, and requires going to the campus once a month, plus a more extended stay every June. Since it's so expensive to live in the DC area, we will probably continue to live in Chattanooga.

The program begins in April. However, in a sense I have already begun. There is one class that people who are not in the program can take, and I signed up for that class in December and began in January. This class will now count as one of the two electives required in the program. The class work takes a little over two years, and then comes the dissertation.

As always, we will continue to be very dependent on your prayers and financial support as we go through this new phase of work on behalf of missions in Latin America. Thank you for your support of us in so many ways.

Gary and Phyllis Waldecker

P.S. There are some churches we have not yet been able to visit. Please let us know if you would like to work something out. We would very much like to visit all of you.