What Have I Been Up To?!

February & March 2026

Happy Holy Week,

For us here in Guatemala, from Wednesday on, a lot of the businesses and places are closed to observe Holy Week and so are we. That means, our team gets a much needed reset, and we can be intentional about some time of rest and reflection with Christ. I am extremely thankful for this rest as I was fighting an illness for about a month while having one of my busiest stretches of the year! However, God provided me with the strength I needed to face each day.

In the last couple of months, I have been developing a more structured and scalable approach to inventory management by designing a system built around an Inventory platform. While the system has not yet been fully launched, it is actively in development, with key supplies such as labeling and barcode materials currently on the way. The objective is to move away from manual tracking methods and instead establish a centralized, real-time system that will provide clear visibility across all inventory items once fully implemented. This will first be launched for just wheelchairs and mobility related items.

A major focus of this effort has been rethinking and reorganizing existing processes rather than simply digitizing them. An important milestone in this process was an executive meeting where we reviewed the overall strategy in detail, discussed operational implications, and ensured alignment across leadership. This meeting helped confirm that everyone is on board with the direction and prepared for implementation. At a higher level, this project is about building a stronger, more comprehensive understanding of inventory throughout the organization. I outlined how workflows will be streamlined and automated from receiving donated items to categorizing, storing, and distributing them. A barcode labeling system, for example, is a foundational component that will enable accurate tracking and quick identification of inventory. Although these systems are not yet live, the framework is in place to significantly reduce errors, improve efficiency, and create consistency.

By improving visibility and data accuracy, we will be better equipped to make informed decisions regarding resource allocation, planning, and long-term stewardship, ultimately enhancing its ability to serve others effectively.

In the previous post, you were able to see the backend production and 3D printing process for creating the wheel pegs for people to use that have limited hand strength and mobility. I am excited to share that we found someone that would benefit from them and were able to bless him with the first set! Fortunately, I had two different colors printed and gave him the option of picking. I wasn't prepared for his response of both! However, below you will see photos and it looks awesome on the chair! I hope it benefits him in the long run even more than how well it turned out during the distribution.

At the next distribution, I was blessed to be able to really work on my first specialty kids chair. I have helped here and there before, but this was the first one that I was the main person but questions when needed. He fit really well in the chair to begin with, so it was a great introduction for me. This last week, while working with CrossPoint church and the Couchman's, I was apart of my second specialty chair. This one was not near as simple as the first, and there was a lot of learning involved. At one point, Nick Frey jokingly stated that he's hearing a lot of "Oohs and Ahhs" from my direction. I was definitely learning a lot and it was making sense!

I would like to give some context of the below photo of the rain. This photo was taken in almost the exact same spot as one of the first photo's I took while here in Guatemala almost 8 years ago. It was the first rain of the year while out with a team, at the same hotel where this whole journey of working with BMI all started. It was a real full circle moment and was a moment of reflection and reminiscense on all God has done in the past 8 years.

Here at BMI, there are constant changes and improvements happening all the time. The last couple of teams have donated wash stations, "pilas", with the house, and we decided to create a covered area alongside the bathroom to put them. It takes an extra bag of concrete when mixing the bathroom pad, a half packet of bathroom beams and two more pieces of 6" sheet metal to create an expanded covered area. It truly makes the whole bathroom area also feel more homey, at least in my opinion!

Finally, before we closed we made sure everything was ready to go for the next team coming down on Monday! Please be praying for us in the coming weeks as it has been raining quite heavy down here this week and causing mudslides and road closures in the areas we will be traveling. I am not worried for safety, but please be praying that we will be able to arrive to every destination that was initially planned. God will provide and His work will be completed, in that I don't doubt. However, sometimes it just doesn't look exactly how we initially thought.

Enjoy your Easter festivities with family and friends. He is Risen!

Love Laugh Live,

Bryan Crabtree

1 John 3:16-18

Love God, Love Others

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