Update - 7/7/14

We are now in the process of shutting down the wood shop and are scheduled to be finished by the end of July. It's a huge job and there are only the two of us but we are making good headway. It is amazing the amount of stuff one can accumulate over 11 years! As we are cleaning everything out, we are also setting aside many items that will be used on and for the future mission work boat. At this point we have a good supply of wire for re-doing the electrical systems (Which our son DJ will be in charge of) and various large metal boxes and tie-downs for the cargo hold, some wood, fasteners and fiberglass for refurbishing and building the interior to our needed specifications. There are also many tools that will be used for working on the vessel and also for a small on-board shop (which will be very important).

After the shop is closed Eric will be working in a wood shop that is only about 15 minutes away. He will be running the CNC Robotic Router (They bought it from us on the condition that Eric came with it :) The owner is very well aware of our calling to the mission field and understands that Eric will only be temporary. He will be training others to use the machine.

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Update!! The Missions Support Vessel!

In December of 2014, we were donated a one hundred and fouteen foot vessel that will be perfect for the work the Lord has called us to do in the South Pacific. Unfortunately, prior to it being donated, it received some damage in the forward cabin areas as the result of a small on-board fire. Because of this, *some work will be necessary in order to tear out the damaged areas and do an extensive cleaning due to the soot damage that happened as a result of the fire. Fortunately, redoing the damaged areas will give us the ability to rebuild the interior to our own unique needs and specifications, which we would have needed to do anyhow. The carpets and vinyl overhead have already been removed, and one of the first things we will do is the soot removal.

*Update: This phase has been completed and progress photos may be viewed here.

Both Eric and DJ are very experienced when it comes to boat repair. As a result, they are fully capable of doing any and all work required to complete this refit, which means we expect to be able to do most of the work ourselves.

At the time of this writing, the vessel continues to be docked in Louisiana. Even though there is quite a lot of work that needs to be done to her, we know that she is a very well built vessel and is in extremely good condition. Fortunately none of the mechanical systems were damaged by the fire, so we will be able to focus most of our attention on the refit and clean-up operation. We expect this work to begin on February 23, 2015.

Our Facebook page and this website will be updated as often as is possible, and we will include not only update reports but we will also post photos of the work in progress as we move closer towards the goal of getting her ready for the task the Lord has laid before us.
An interesting fact is that this vessel was originally built in 1971, in accordance with the ABS shipping standards of that time. During that time the requirements were such that vessels like this were required to be built with a heavier aluminum construction. Therefore, she was built far heavier than today's boats, which will turn out to be very important given the islands we want to be able to access.

Her specifications:

Length 114'
Beam 22'
Draft 6'

Engines are a pair of Cat 346 diesels. Non computer controlled and equipped with air starters. We consider that a bonus for where she will be serving! Fresh water cooled via raw water heat exchangers. They are in excellent condition.

She has 3" two piece stainless shafts and 39" four bladed stainless steel propellers. 

Fuel capacity is around 6000 gallons in four tanks.

Water capacity is 1500 gallons in two tanks.

5 bilge pumps with high water alarms plus a 240 volt dewatering / firefighting pump with two hose stations.

Electric generation via a 45 KW Perkins diesel genset and a 65 KW Isuzu genset.

She is equipped with a hydraulic system via a power pack and a pto on the Perkins generator. The hydraulic system runs the anchor windlass, bow thruster and a 2500 lb Hiab knuckle boom crane.

As you can see from the photos she is a very well built vessel and we feel very blessed to have been given a vessel that will meet our needs perfectly.

From the laundry room forward things will be getting torn out and replaced. There will be additional bunk space, a small workshop and possibly a small sound / recording booth for supporting language translation work.

Faithful with a little... prepares for faithful with a lot!

Faithful with a little...
For eleven years (2001-2012) our small missions organization, Island Ministries International (IMI) sent over 7000 new and used bibles to islands in the South Pacific. The bibles were shipped to various indigenous contacts in Fiji, Western Samoa, Tonga, Wallis and Futuna, The Cook Islands and The Philippines. Small shipments were also sent to East Timor and French Guyana.

It was amazing to see the impact of God's word  in the hands of those who are so hungry for it! God used some of those Bibles as part of moving people's hearts that lead to a large revival in Fiji!

In addition to providing bibles we supported several indigenous missionaries and native pastors. We also provided hardship relief in the form of financial aid for several years for one particular widow and her children. IMI also provided tuition for many students entering YWAM (Youth With A Mission) in Fiji and Western Samoa.

We were also involved in food shipments that were sent to North Korea and hardship relief was also sent during the Asian Tsunami of December 26, 2004. This immediate relief included helping to build five single-room ''homes'' for Myanmar (Burma) refugee families. As we were not able to get there physically ourselves, we worked long distance with an organization already ''on the ground'' and requesting help.

Nearing the end of the eleven years, when it became impossible to ship bibles due to M-Bag shipping rate increases, we discovered ''Faith Comes By Hearing'', an organization that records and distributes audio bible 'Proclaimers' throughout the world. We funded shipments of 'Proclaimers' for the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, with some also distributed in Fiji.

In 2012, we closed the ministry due to our covering organization, 'Arbol De Vida' retiring its non-profit status.


Faithful with a lot.

In Feb. 2014, we began heading in a new direction.

We are now incorporated and have our 501 (c) 3 status. Our new ministry, 'Island Missions Support, Inc.', will be a hands on work among the islands in the South Pacific. This work will be primarily maritime transport of mission teams, medical and disaster relief teams and supplies.