Island Missions Support, Phase 2:
As of today, all Island Missions Support, Inc. (IMS) blog postings/updates will be done by the home office (by either Tom or myself (Fiona)), on this new blog as we were having too many problems with the old blog. The last post, dated March 17, 2021, done by Mary, and all her previous posts, can still be found on the old website at: http://islandmissionsupport.blogspot.com/
Due to the way blogger has changed its interface, we are having difficulty transfering all the information we would like from the old blog to this new blog. So, please go to the old blog (link is above) in order to access all important ministry information not found here. These topics, which will be under the "Pages" section on the right side of the old blog, will include such things: Statement of Faith, Financial Accountability, About Us (a brief description of the four IMS Board Members), Contact Us and Donation Page. In the coming weeks we will be working on trying to bring those "Pages" onto this blog. Until then please use the old blog link.
One notable difference with blogger is they have removed the ability to insert your email address and get updates as they are put up. Therefore you will want to periodically check here to see if there has been any updates since you last looked. Eric intends to continue to post on Facebook when he is able, so that will also be a good source of information for you. Understandably when Eric and Mary are out of Facebook range, you will be able to get the latest updates here, as we get them. We decided that given today's climate with social media, we felt it best to continue a blog, in addition to being on Facebook.
In the next few weeks, IMS will be leaving the Louisiana area where S/V Far Horizons has been refitted and prepared to be used for full time ministry. Many of you who have followed IMS for a while will remember that at the beginning of this journey there was M/V Far Horizons, which was actually a much larger vessel, one that we had hoped would be able to do a lot of things to help out with various ministry and humanitarian needs. But over time, God showed us that He wanted us to downsize into a more manageable vessel that could traverse the waters easier around the South Seas islands. It has been a long journey for all of us, particularly for Eric and Mary who have tirelessly worked on both of the Far Horizons vessels. But the time has finally come to shove off.
Unfortunately, due to the virus, the route to the end destination (South Seas) will not be a straight course as had been anticipated, and planned, prior to the pandemic. At this point, Eric and Mary will be heading for, and remaining in, Guatemala until the Countries/Islands on the other side of the Panama Canal have opened their routes and will allow for visitors to transit through on the way to their final destinations. How long that may be, we don't know at this point. But after talking with some ministries in Guatemala, there are certainly many ministry and humanitarian needs there that Far Horizons can align themselves with and help out. While we are all eager to get to the South Seas, God has His timing in everything and His reasons for the stop over in Guatemala.
Eric and Mary are currently working on getting all their covid vaccine paperwork in order (they are both fully vaccinated now), in addition to getting the required vet paperwork for Penny to be allowed entrance into Guatemala. At that point, they will work with a vet there to get the required paperwork for her to be able to continue alongside them when they finally get to make their way to the South Seas.
