Update February 24, 2022 (update from Eric):

Four and a half months we've been doing this. We have done 22 prosthetics, 2 sets of communication teaching blocks to a school for special needs children and a few utensil holders. Not to mention a few home construction projects for some families in dire need. I think we're off to a good start!

 

Thanks to all who have helped, supported, backed, supplied designs, helped with dock space and encouraged us. Couldn't do this without all of you. You know who you are!

 Delivered an arm to Arnaldo today. He is a teacher from a neighboring village. He really started using it well! He thinks it will be very useful! Our favorite part of this work.

 

 

 

 Update February 17, 2022: (update from Eric): 

What a day! Very tired and got a lot done. We were able to deliver three arms today and measure a recipient for another. We still have one more to deliver but probably next week. 

 We also were able to give our visiting friends Shane Earle and Amy Boyles Kennedy a ride along to see what we do. They helped us get our first printer and it was great for them to see the results!

 

Thanks to Rita Rabre de Pinto, our partner, for providing the transportation for all of us including Monica, our office assistant, who is learning more about how the field side works and helps with measuring.

 

Our first delivery was to Ester. She was so happy and I think her daughter was maybe happier! Such big smiles. We were fed a very filling lunch. 

 

First thing she was figuring out besides how it worked was how to sweep with her broom and pick up objects.     This is my favorite part of the work!

 

 

 

 

We then brought Aaron his new arm. He was our first recipient with a hand. He's growing like most boys 13 years old. He was having some troubles with the hand prostheses as he didn't have much of a hand to operate it with and that arm was shorter so he had asked if he could get an arm. School starts next week and he wanted to be ready.

 

He tested it with his slingshot. He's becoming a great shot with it with his hand and is helping put meat on the table with it. I think the arm will work even better. His mother probably appreciates that as he eats like a growing young man she says!

 

 

  

Can't forget Julian! He was a truck driver when he lost his lower arm. He now has a small store. He took to it right off serving up some Powerade from the cooler with it!

 

 

 Update February 6, 2022 (updates from Eric):

So big day for the family we are helping. They finished the house, had a dedication ceremony and turned it over to them.

 

Now some folks in the first world might say it's so small or any number of other things but this is a pretty standard type house here. Her kitchen is a step up from the open fire. Having a toilet means not having to walk down the road in bad weather or darkness. A concrete floor means things can be so much cleaner and drier. A roof that doesn’t leak. Walls that are not a tarp or termite eaten boards. A curtain for the doorway and window for more privacy. Such a step up in quality of life!

 

We are so glad we could help with this. This family has struggled with a great deal and this will help their quality of life a great deal. Thank you God that we could help be part of the team that was able to bless them so. May God bless all of you who helped make this happen!

 

There are more of these in the near future as well as prosthetics. We can't fix all the problems but as God provides and puts things in front of us there will always be more to do. Anybody is interested in helping this keep moving please feel free to contact us!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Secondly, the new printer picking up the load for big and /or prints needing supports. This is the cuff for the largest arm yet. Since it has two separate print heads and two rolls of materials I can use a different approach. Our first printer, which is still cranking away in the next bay, we printed everything from one roll and large areas needing support sometimes were challenging to clean up. With this our primary khaki PETG is the part and the supports are cheap white asian PLA. It supports the elevated piece but doesn't really stick to it making removal easier. Further along the PETG will be printing arms right over the top of it. It also pretty much halves the time it takes to print the parts for a full arm. Just finishing up a set of pins and washers on our first printer. At the rate things are growing that's important! Our third bay just might be occupied soon as well. Thank you God for all you're providing! Our area that people have requested from now includes four countries! All word of mouth, no real publicity.

 

 

 Update February 1, 2022:

From home office:

Now that Island Missions Support (IMS) is physically operating out of Guatemala, we have set up a new  blog dedicated to detailing IMS 's Financial Accountability summaries, and Programs.  This information can be found here:  https://islandmissionssupportguatemala.blogspot.com/.  The links are on the right side of the page.

Prior Financial Accountability summaries will continue to be on this blog.  These can be found on the right side of this home page.   If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.