Betty and I had the opportunity to represent Aurora Ministries/Audio Bibles For The Blind as exhibitors at the annual conference of the American Association of Diabetes Educators at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia. We received an overwhelming response from the diabetes educators as they learned of the availability of free Audio Bibles for their visually impaired patients.

• Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness among most adults.
• More than 21 million people in the United States have diabetes.
• 6.2 million people with diabetes are unaware they have the disease.
• Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults ages 20 to 74.
• People with diabetes are 40 percent more likely to develop glaucoma.
• People with diabetes are 60 percent more likely to develop cataracts.
• 16 million diabetics are prime targets for blinding disorders.
• 700,000 diabetics are presently at risk of blindness.
• 25,000 new cases of blindness are caused annually by complications of diabetes.

When learning about this free service for her blind patients, one health care professional said, "This alone was worth my trip to Atlanta." Another said, "Your booth is the most important one here. Thank you for being here." Another health care provider said, "You have no idea how many Audio Bibles I have ordered for my visually impaired patients. This is a real ministry. The Word of God is the best thing we can give. God bless you for being here."

Responses From Audio Bible Recipients.

"My dad who had terminal cancer was given one of your Audio Bibles. It was such a comfort to him in his last days. Thank you for providing this valuable gift to him."

"I have patients who listen to your Audio Bibles as they walk to lower their blood sugar."

"I recently ordered an Audio Bible for a friend of mine who is a 91 year old woman in a nursing home. Up until last year, she was a very active Christian woman. I brought her the Audio Bible and she was beyond thanks. The Audio Bible made her very happy. Enclosed is my donation."

Have you read our Stories Of The Month? If not, you will enjoy doing so. Just click on STORY OF THE MONTH on the right side bar of our home page and read stories about Wounded Warriors, Mike, Marie, Richard and others.

Thanks again to all our ministry partners. This is a busy time of the year for us. Your prayers and support mean more than I can say. Our staff is working full time to keep up with the requests for Audio Bibles, and to produce and ship them as quickly as possible. We count it a joy and privilege to be able to provide free Audio Bibles to anyone who cannot read print materials because of their physical limitations, and we are so thankful for our ministry partners who help us through your prayers and financial support.

That is how I see it.

Until Next Time,
Jim

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

My heart was really touched by this story.

Last week Betty and I were in Orlando to attend the meeting of the Home Care Association of Florida. We had the opportunity to share with home health nurses from around Florida and some from neighboring states about our free Audio Bibles for their handicapped patients.

A nurse stopped by our booth and shared a remarkable story with us, yet there was a sad note at the end. Her family often goes to Haiti on medical mission trips. They came in contact with a family who had a little girl who was blind and deaf. The family was very poor and had several other children. The nurse was able to bring the little girl to the States and found doctors who donated their services to perform surgery on the little girl. Operations were performed on her eyes to restore her sight and on her ears so she can now hear with hearing aids. The little girl has just blossomed with life.

The sad part is that she is going to have to be returned to Haiti. Her parents don't want her back, and they are going to give her to some relative who lives up in a remote mountain area. There is suspicion that the parents may be selling the little girl to this family, but it is only a suspicion. The nurse would like to adopt the little girl, but she is running into all kinds of resistance and red tape from our government. Government officials are demanding that the little girl be returned to Haiti by the end of July and have not been willing to even grant an extension. The nurse has come to love this little girl and can not stand the thought of what may happen to her if she has to go back to Haiti. She has asked for prayer that something might be worked out so she can keep her and raise her as her child.

From Our Recipients

We often receive braille letters and letters in various foreign languages. We are fortunate to have someone who can translate our braille letters into print and our foreign letters into English. We received the following letter from Helena who lives in Poland:

We had a hot time in Phoenix at the Case Management Society of America Expo. However, they had a cool front come through and the daytime temperatures had dropped down into the 90s. It is equally as hot in Florida, the only difference being the high humidity in Florida compared to the low humidity in Phoenix. Either way, it is hot.

A case manager came by our booth and said she had a story she wanted to share with us. She had given one of our Audio Bibles to one of her patients who had lost his sight. This individual had lived a very active life, and had been very involved in his church. After retirement he was able to do some traveling and even worked in some of the national parks in the summer. He also did various volunteer work, that is until he lost his sight. He did not adjust well, and became very depressed. The case manager gave him one of our Audio Bibles, and she marveled at the change that it made in this gentleman. She said he just came alive since he was now able to again daily "read" his Bible.

In my last blog I mentioned that we are now able to offer assistance in estate planning and planned giving. I was able to be in the audience and hear our representative Marvin Horton give a presentation, and was amazed at the helpful information that was presented. It made me realize even more how important it is for people to take measures to protect their assets and make sure their wishes are carried out and not those directed by the courts or some disinterested party. If Marvin can be of assistance to you or your family, you may contact him by phone at 941-748-4100 or email him at mhorton@auroraministries.org

Recipients

We received the following message from a visually impaired person in Virginia who said, "I am deeply grateful for your sending me this wonderful gift of the New King James Audio Bible. My loss of vision was fairly sudden from dry to wet macular degeneration. God is the light of the world and this gift will help me to make Him my light and life. I have been quite sad and lost having this happen. This gift is truly a sign of God's individual love for me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."

Once again, I say a big thank you to all our ministry partners for all your prayers, encouragements, and financial support. You are a vital part of our ministry. We could not make it without you.

That is the way I see it.

Until next time,

Jim

I am delighted to announce that Aurora Ministries can now offer assistance with estate planning for those who want to ensure their hard earned assets will be protected according to their wishes. Marvin Horton, who comes to us with years of experience, will be able to offer valuable assistance in estate planning and planned giving, and help people avoid pit falls and overcome hurdles that often interfere with the wishes of the estate holder. Regardless of your net worth, it is important to have an estate plan in place. You may contact Marvin by phone at 941-748-4100 or email him at mhorton@auroraministries.org.

Our staff is busy getting out the orders for Audio Bibles. Each day we receive a stack of orders coming through the mail, fax and the Internet from people around the world . Our production staff is working at maximum capacity to keep up with demand.

The coming months will be very demanding with heavy travel schedules, working conventions and keeping up with the demand, but we look forward with great anticipation to getting as many Audio Bibles as possible to those who are visually impaired or print handicapped.

Recipients

Jane, a well educated lady, went blind in just a matter of hours. We were able to provide an Audio Bible for her. Jane's friend wrote on her behalf,

"I am writing on behalf of Jane to thank you for her. She was so elated when the audio Bible came. She cannot thank you enough. If you could have seen her when she received the audio Bible, it would have blessed you so. Many, many blessings to you for the work that you are doing for those who cannot see to read. May you be blessed always. "

Conferences

Our conference schedules are beginning to become very busy. We will have teams in the coming days in Phoenix at the Case Management Society of America conference, in Washington, D.C. at the American Optometric Association meeting, and in Orlando for the Home Care Association of Florida. July will find us in Detroit at the National Federation for the Blind, in Orlando at the American Council for the Blind, and the Florida Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, and in Birmingham, England for the Sight Village Conference. If you are attending one of these conferences, be sure and look us up.

How we appreciate our ministry partners who support us with your prayers and contributions!! With your help, Audio Bibles are shipped out five days of the week to thousands around the world. Without your help, it is likely that many of those would never have an Audio Bible, and that would be tragic. Thank you for caring enough to be involved in this great outreach.

That is the way I see it.

Until Next Time,
Jim

Have you ever received a "real picker upper?" I received a "Picker Upper" a couple of days ago that really lifted my spirits. We have a faithful donor who is blind, and who will be celebrating his 50th. birthday next month. He is asking his friends who attend his birthday party to make a donation to Audio Bibles for the Blind instead of giving him gifts. What a unique and unselfish gesture on his part. In reality, his birthday gifts will provide Audio Bibles for others who are visually impaired or print handicapped.

It is a moving experience to be able to personally meet and talk with people who are so severely challenged and see their positive outlook on life in spite of the difficulties they face. Some of the most touching encounters are those with children and parents of handicapped children. Our heart always goes out to them. We are delighted to be able to provide not only adult Audio Bibles, but also our Children's Bible for the visually impaired and print handicapped children.

Recipients

We received a letter from a lady whose mother is almost blind due to macular degeneration. We had sent her an audio Bible along with some of our Bible studies. She said her mother was thrilled when she received them. She said,

Certifiers and providers are already finding our Rapid Order Service (ROS) helpful in ordering Audio Bibles for their patients and clients. Certifiers and providers can now log on to our web site at http://www.AudioBiblesForTheBlind.org/ROS and place their order on line. By entering their account number, each provider/certifier will be able to place an order for their client or patient. Account numbers can readily be provided for those who do not know their number by emailing us at Bibles@auroraministries.org or calling us at 941-748-3031.


I could not end my blog without once again saying a big thank you to all of our partners who support us with your prayers and contributions. I don't know what we would do without you. I cannot tell you what you mean to this ministry. Together we will continue to reach out to the visually impaired and print handicapped people around the world with God's Word.

That is the way I see it.

Until Next time,

Jim

I am delighted to announce that we have developed a RAPID ORDER SERVICE (ROS) to make it easier and more convenient for all certifiers and providers to place orders for Audio Bibles for their visually impaired and print handicapped patients and clients. Certifiers and providers can now simply log on to www.AudioBiblesForTheBlind.org/ROS.html and place their order on line. Each provider/certifier will be able to enter their account number and place an order for their client or patient. Account numbers can readily be provided for those who do not know their number by emailing us at Bibles@auroraministries.org or calling us at 941-748-3031. Give a look. Click on the web site listed above and check it out. We think it will be a great help. We want to do what we can to make it easier to get Audio Bibles to the visually impaired and print handicapped.

Recipients



You will certainly want to click on our Story of the Month and read about Mike and how his Audio Bible has been instrumental in his transformed life. He is a blind man who went from a punk kid on the drug infested streets of Miami to a minister of the Gospel. With your prayers and support, you are a very important part of our team that is reaching out to those like Mike and to people like Mary whose note is listed above. Thank you for your caring concern.

That is how I see it.

Until next time,
Jim