Update August 28, 2021 (update from Eric):

Matthew 25:40

Hebrews 13:16

 

So to keep everyone up with what's happening. The house we built has now been equipped with a small solar system and a light in each area by Friends of Rio Dulce. Great work guys!!!   One of their neighbors talked with Rita Rabre de Pinto about how much of an impact this has made on this precious family who have struggled for a long time. This has meant so much to several generations and their future is looking so much better.

 

We are looking at another project if everything checks out. This will just be covering a dirt floor with concrete. We'll keep things up to date as developments move forward.

 

Now for our next big news. We are feeling very strongly about equipping our work in a new area. With a 3D printer we can produce basic hand prosthetics for those who have need. A group called e NABLE has done amazing work in this area. They offer designs and lots of support for those who do these for free. Not only that but there are many simple things like jar and bottle openers for people with severe arthritis or neurological issues. Book holders for those who can't hold one. Eating utensils for various issues. Wheelchair attachments and much more.

 

This is very much do able right on board and can meet an unmet need. Not only that but it can travel with us. Our biggest hope would be to get it in motion and then see it become something that can be repeated here locally. Currently no one is doing this here that we can find. 

 

We will have ongoing needs for raw materials and a few components but the cost is actually very reasonable. The printer equipment has become very affordable compared to ten years ago. Once here and set up we have several possibilities for incoming tourists to bring the materials and components in to us in luggage to save shipping.

 

We also are rapidly meeting contacts who get out in the rural villages who could tell people about what we could help with.  Yes there will be a learning curve but the 3D printing in many ways is similar to the CNC work I did for many years. 

 

If you would like to be involved, feel free to contact us!  Here is a video on what their focus has been.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFLxDEjQSbc

  

 

 

 Update August 19, 2021: (update from Eric):

Helping Friends of Rio Dulce replace a rotted metal roof. The senior lady who lives there is crippled with arthritis and barely gets around her house. At least we can fix the leaks for her. 

We tore out the rusty leaky roof of the wonderful lady's cooking area. All new metal up.

When asked why she was crying she said she will be dry now! The other is tears all around. Hard not to. She is in rough shape and can barely move around. We did just a little to ease her life. Here a little bit means the world to them and they are so moved, hard not to react to it.

 

 

 

 

 

 Update August 19, 2021:

From Fiona:  For those of you who don't follow the IMS  Facebook page, I'd like to share something that Eric just put up on the Facebook page that speaks volumes to the dedication that Eric and Mary have had for many years towards doing the Lord's work where and when He leads. 

The IMS post/story begins with an old photo of Mary when she needed to be in a wheelchair (before the Lord healed her and she was able to return to being mobile).  This was in the early days of IMS, when rather than IMS just mailing more Bibles over to their contacts in Fiji, the Lord told them to go to Fiji and take Bibles with them, even though Mary was in a wheelchair: 

 Eric wrote:

Places we've been, things we've done. This is a poorly taken picture of a picture. I can't begin to type all of the story around this or the miracles involved. This is Mary, in her wheelchair, in Fiji with a wonderful Sister in Christ, Subashni.

 

Mary was only around the second tourist to arrive in a wheelchair there. The first was an adventurous guy. In those days the handicapped stayed locked away in doors, never coming out in public. I pushed her everywhere to shocked stares. Crowds of stares, everywhere. It even started coming into the airport.

The director of security came up to us at the end of a full load from a 747 and gruffly demanded "Who is this woman to you?"

 

"She is my wife!"

 

The poor man was shocked and actually gasped.

 

"You....you would push your wife in a wheelchair?" In those days it simply was unimaginable to do such a thing.

 

"Yes, everywhere."

 

The man was shocked! He commanded me to give him our passports and follow him. Uh oh. We walked past all those people where he pushed one away from the customs inspector and told him firmly to bypass the interview and stamp them.

 

He then escorted us down several floors in the private security elevator and called over 4 uniformed officers to carry our bags. In those bags where 40 used Bibles and we were prepared for the inevitable shakedown at the customs table. 

 

You see there were very, very, very few Bibles there then. Each was worth months wages. Most pastors much less ordinary believers had never so much as held one much less read one. Corruption was a problem then and friends had warned us we would face a big shakedown for hundreds of dollars or they would be seized.

 

We saw friends waiting on the other side of the barrier for us and they feared the police might have grabbed us, they started praying hard! As we approached the tables with the director and police the inspector says "Open all your bags". The director of security says "They have nothing to declare!" We walked through to our friends. 

 

Semisi Naqica , I still remember your reaction when we opened those suitcases at the motel. You thought we might get one or two. You practically fainted. When we gave them to people over the next 2 weeks I wanted to faint. I could never have imagined a desire for one so great or that they could be so valued. The result of those Bibles amazes me to this day.

 

Mary had gone worried about what good was it for one handicapped, limited person to go on this trip. With no handicapped access she was afraid of even being able to get around. Between that and the crowds of hundreds at times maybe a thousand staring at us and the word that spread like wildfire that her husband was actually pushing her it was at times daunting! People asking us to visit homes, churches, businesses so they could see it was really true! It meant within weeks after leaving a handicapped association formed and they started demanding help and access to get out and live. I think you did pretty good Mary.

 

That is just the tip of the iceberg of what happened that trip. It still amazes me. Never underestimate your impact of even small things when led by a big God no matter how limited you think you are.

 P.S.  I have asked Eric to write a Part Two to this story because the wonderful  results that happened after the Bibles were distributed is amazing.  Please join me in coaxing him to tell us the rest of the story...

 

 

 Update August 15, 2021:

 

 IMS Financial Report  (January, 2021 - July, 2021):

Financial Accountability Information is for financial transparency.  For prior years, please refer to the "Financial Accountability" page on the right hand side of the blog.  Note that all crew and volunteers are self-supporting and do not receive a salary or income from the ministry.

Donations: (Cash Contributions)

Beginning of tax year:

Jan 1, 2021:     $57          

January, 2021 - July, 2021:   $15,445

Other Income: $930

Ministry Asset: 

(1980) S/V 46' Morgan 462:  $76,500 (purchase price)

 

Total Funds:   beginning of year + other income + contributions:  $16,332

Total Expenditures: (Operations):  $13,544

(diesel fuel, gasoline, oil, propane, electrical system, plumbing system, Engine/Generator/Outboard, Dingy/Inflatable, boat building supplies/materials, ship's tackle, equipment maintenance, ship's maintenance, safety, galley stores, household, medical stores, galley equipment. Dock rent, government filing fees, postage, bank fees, travel, misc. expenses, office supplies)

IMS Programs:

Location, June - July, 2021:  Rio Dulce, Guatemala

Humanitarian: works/assistance

Medical: supplies, equipment

Total Expenditures for Programs, June and July, 2021:  $1,266

Food;  Medical equipment (walkers, canes, grabbers, blood pressure cuffs);  Building materials (wood, rebar, cement, and misc. hardware)

 Update August 14, 2021:

There was a celebration and prayer blessing at the new house today.  Grandmother and children are excited to have their new, unexpected home.  IMS is thankful to have been able to have been a part of it, here are a couple of the photos, you can see more at the IMS Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/444644079017550

 

 

 Update August 12, 2021: 

The work is finished on the home! In the end there were quite a few people that had joined the group and helped with the work.  Here are a few photos that show more of the work that was done: 

 

 

More photos are available at our IMS Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/444644079017550

Now that the house is complete, we await the Lord's leading in what IMS is to do next.  Again, thanks to all for your prayers and support!

 

 Update August 6, 2021:

And the construction continues,here are a few photos.  For more photos, please go to the IMS Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/444644079017550.  We're hoping the house will be complete sometime next week...

 

 

 Update 8/5/21:

From the home office:  Thought you'd like to see some photos of the dismantling of the old, dilapidated house happening today...progress is wonderful!  Sadly we learned today that there were originally 5 children.  One died and one was sold...yes, I said "sold"!  That's when the grandmother stepped in and took over raising the 3 children, and the mother left.  So very sad and another reason we're determined to help this family create a real home for themselves...

The first two photos are volunteers working on the house, the last one is of a well-deserved break for a refreshing coconut drink...

 

 

 

 Update August 4, 2021 (update from Eric):

Today was the beginning of building the new home for the grandmother and her grandchildren. This is a very rainy time of the year in the area, and this much dis-repaired house has many holes in the roof, among other issues.  What we take for granted when we live in our warm, dry homes!  Eric wrote a brief explanation of the photo: 

 

From our visit today! The back row are those of us making it happen. The front row is the family we are helping. When asked what she was most excited about the grandmother said that being dry was the biggest.

The roof was covered in holes...

Cookies were distributed....

 

 

 

 

 And yesterday, IMS was able to help purchase two of the much needed blood pressure cuffs for the Centro de Salud...

 

 

Thank you for the contributions you have made to IMS so that we can make this happen.  God bless you!

 Update from the home office:

If you're following the IMS Facebook page, you'll know that Eric and Mary are currently experiencing phone company issues.  The phone company they've had for years back in the USA gave them wrong information when they departed, as they were told they could continue their regular phone service in Guatemala.  Unfortunately their phone company doesn't have service in this area of Guatemala.  Since their phone number has been used for quite a few years, it's connected to many things, for instance Paypal.  

So the question arose recently as to how to go about handling donations for the building of the family's house.  Eric says that for the next couple of weeks Paypal should continue to work.  If  you feel better sending a check to the home office, please find the home office's mailing address on this "Donation Information" page : http://islandmissionsupport.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_2.html .  

Please make the check out to IMS, Inc. and once it's received , it will be put into the IMS bank account. Please attach a note if you'd like a tax receipt.  The third option is a bank to bank transfer, but keep in mind that many banks now charge a fee for doing this. You'll need to contact your bank to find out the amount of that fee.   Adapting to logistical changes in a new Country is a lot of work, so hopefully this is the last surprise that Eric and Mary encounter.

On a happier note, Eric took take a very nice photo of Far Horizons tied up at it's new dock...