After the MTW summer conference held at Covenant College at the end of June, we visited 5 churches in the St. Louis area and in Washington state. We're thankful we were able to see so many of our friends during those two weeks. We arrived back in Atlanta on July 18th.

On July 22 we went to a retreat center north of Atlanta for a week-long vision and planning conference with the members of our church planting team in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Many of them are new to the team, and most were already in the States. Some flew up from Ecuador. The primary purpose of the conference was to realign the team vision and plan with the new philosophy of ministry of Mission to the World.

The following week we attended MTW's "reentry" conference for missionaries returning to the States for Home Ministry Assignment. During this same week, Micah and Seth went to Colorado Springs for a reentry conference designed for "missionary kids" (or "third culture kids," as they are often called) who are returning to the States for college.

We picked them up last night (Friday) at the Atlanta airport and headed to Chattanooga to move into the house we will be renting this year. We really didn't move in, though. We just dropped off our things, got a good night's sleep, and this morning we headed for Wilmington, DE, where we will be for about a week. During this time, I will have to fly to Lima for a quick but very important meeting (leaving Philadelphia on Monday the 6th and returning on the 9th). Please pray for this trip and meeting.

Then we will drive back to Chattanooga. After about two and half months of living out of suitcases, we will finally be able to get settled into our house. Micah will be entering Covenant College, and activities begin for him on August 18.

Yesterday I received a call from one of our missionaries in Chile, Jana Davila. A few nights ago she woke up at 4:00 AM for apparently no reason, and walked into the room of her three-year old daughter where she found that a humidifier had caught on fire and the smoke was beginning to fill the room! Thankfully the Lord woke her up in time to prevent sure disaster. Please pray for the Davilas as they have been feeling a number a attacks from the evil one.

Pray for the leadership training program in Chile. We have 8 students, with another wanting to join. These are young men who have finished or are finishing their college degree. Most of left their jobs to prepare for the ministry.

We're thankful to the Lord for the two Colombian men who recently passed their ordination exams. This allows us to form a presbytery in Colombia. Please pray for Rodney Davila as he plans to visit them soon to encourage them.

Pray that the Lord will provide more missionaries for us for the work in South America.

Thanks for your prayers.

Gary Waldecker
Regional Director for South America Gary