Guide dogs were a common sight at the National Federation For The Blind Conference in Detroit, The American Council For The Blind Conference in Orlando, and the Sight Village Conference in England. It is amazing to watch these beautiful and wonderfully trained animals work and help their owners get safely from one place to another. It was a great opportunity for our staff to meet so many visually impaired individuals and share with them about the free Audio Bibles we can provide to them to help guide them in their spiritual life. We were also able to meet many professionals who work for organizations for the blind. Many told us their clients often inquired about Audio Bibles and they were anxious to receive the information to pass along to the visually impaired people they serve. The response we received at these conferences was most gratifying. Audio Bibles are now on their way to visually impaired people around the United States and the United Kingdom.

Betty and I had an interesting experience getting to Birmingham England for the Sight Village Conference. We almost missed our departing flight at the Bradenton Sarasota Airport. We did not notice a change of departure time, and were able to make our flight only because of the kind assistance of a Delta agent. We flew to Charles de Gaulle Airport in France for a connecting flight to Birmingham, England. When we finally arrived in Birmingham some 23 hours later, we had no luggage or display for the conference. We inquired at the baggage counter, and the agent told us that our luggage was still at Charles de Gaulle Airport, and was scheduled to be sent back to Birmingham, Alabama. Thankfully we got that situation turned around and received all our luggage the next day. Oh well, so goes traveling. We were able to get our display set up on time and had a wonderful response from the attendees at the conference. Sight Village does a wonderful job in providing this conference for blind people in the UK. We were able to stop over in London for a couple of days after the conference and meet up with Cettina, who came to the States last summer and volunteered in our office.

From Our Recipients

A social worker for an organization for the blind told us a rather sad story about a blind child who lived with relatives. The family did not have the child enrolled in school. He was very isolated in his dark world. The child loved music and was very talented. The social worker was excited to be able to get a Children's Audio Bible for this child. It would be a prize possession that would open up a new world for this child.

Story of the Month

Check out our Wounded Warriors story of the month. Don't miss it! You can find it on our AudioBiblesForTheBlind home page. We owe a great debt of gratitude to our soldiers. Many of them are coming back home severely wounded. Many have been blinded, or lost arms or legs by IED explosives. Thanks to our ministry partners, we are able to provide Audio Bibles to many wounded warriors. If you would like to bring a little cheer and send a word of thanks and encouragement to a wounded warrior, you may email it to me at jpike@auroraministries.org or mail it to me at P.O. Box 621, Bradenton, FL 34206, and I will see that it is passed along to a wounded warrior.

Thank you for standing with us as we seek to provide God's Word to those around the world who are unable to read print materials. You are indeed a blessing.

That is how I see it.

Until Next Time,
Jim