Update January 19, 2021:

For the first time, Tom and I at the home office were able to talk with Eric and Mary on the phone since they left Slidell, Louisiana almost four weeks ago.  Thanks to technology,  it sounded like they were in the next room!   It was great to hear their voices,  and to hear how they had endured the nerve-racking journey from Louisiana, USA, through the very rough waters off the coast of Belize,  to their current location.  And as Mary has recently posted on the IMS Facebook page, they told us some more of the very interesting, and funny, stories of their acclimating to the local language/culture.  If you want to read Mary's funny story, in particular, you can find it here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/444644079017550.  

Not only is the language something they need to learn and acclimate to,so is the weather.  They've learned, rather quickly, that work begins as the sun comes up because around noon - 1 p.m. the heat/humidity becomes so oppressive that everyone has to stop and go take a break (the word "siesta" may come to mind),  until around early evening when the temperatures become more bearable.  Mary said that at first it was very difficult for them, even after having lived in the Southern part of the Untied States for many years, but they're gradually adjusting and coming up with a new daily routine.

They have been able to begin making some inroads with the locals and are slowly getting a feel for some of the humanitarian needs of the area. As time goes on, we're sure more needs will present themselves.   At present they have had to briefly change focus in order to work on some much-needed repairs to the boat (i.e  rewire the anchor windlass).

For those following this blog and Facebook page, you may remember that IMS has donated all of the eagerly -received meat to the local orphanage , in addition to passing on the medical supplies Far Horizons had taken with them.  All of us at IMS want to say, again, thank you to all in the United States who took the time and made the effort to gather the many medical supplies/equipment that have been successfully donated.  Eric and Mary also want to pass on, from the recipients of those supplies/equipment, that they are all very, very grateful and appreciative of what has to be sent to them,  and want to say THANK YOU to all who sent them!  They assured us it will all be put to good use!

Talking with Mary, we were able to learn a bit more about the orphanage, Casa Guatemala.  It is run by a lady from Canada, by the name of Heather.  It started out solely as an orphanage, but with Heather's hard work and support from the locals, she has been able to also turn it into a school where not only those who live in the orphanage can attend, but also the local children.  Heather's work in the community has definitely been a big help to them, and IMS hopes to be able to do more to help her in whatever way we can. 

 Far Horizons has moved and is now currently docked in a slip (as is the dingy!), at a marina in Rio Dulce,  run by Captain John.  He has given us a  slip to use for a reasonable price, and there's wifi, too!  A wonderful bonus that we hadn't been expecting! We are very grateful to Captain John for allowing us to stay at his marina.  The current plan is that once the repairs have been made to Far Horizons, IMS will begin to look into what additional needs are in the area.