After a two year wait, the Bermuda Bible Society will be presenting 200 audio Bibles to the Bermuda Society for the Blind this week.

"Roughly two years ago, we began this project," said Rev. Duncan Jeffrey, pastor of St. Andrew's Church in Hamilton.

Concerned for the needs of Bermuda's blind and the understanding that many, especially those who had lost their site later in life, could not read Braille, the Bermuda Bible Society quickly became excited when they first saw the hand-held audio Bible players in Canada. Unfortunately, the units were not available there.

"Eventually, we made a direct contact with the Japanese Bible Society," Rev. Duncan explained. "We were able to work with them directly."

Knowing that the group only had $8000 to work with, the Japanese society promised that the group would be able to purchase 200 units and even shipped the units free of charge of the Bermuda society.

The monies for the units were raised through the two Hike/Bike for Bibles in 2006 and 2007, which leads bike riders and walkers from the Botanical Gardens to Somerset, and a Music and Praise event that was held last fall at St. Andrew's Church.

"It seemed to us that we had more money for this project than for any other project," Rev. Jeffrey added.

The Bible Talk New Testament reads allowed passages from the Contemporary English Version, through controls on the front of the unit with raised symbols. At only 70 grammes, the unit takes two AAA batteries, and can be listened to through the built-in speaker or through headphones. The Society is also providing an AC adapter with each unit.

"We're so thankful to God for making this possible. It was two years of work for the Bermuda Bible Society and really it is a tribute to the Bermudian people who contributed," Rev. Jeffrey said.

The Japanese Bible Society has been equally excited about the initiative, and they have sent their General Secretary, Makoto Watrube, to the Island for a special dedication service that will be held on Sunday at St. Andrew's Church, and for the presentation to the Society of the Blind at Beacon House on Monday.

The worship service at St. Andrew's at 11 a.m. tomorrow is expected to be very exciting, featuring prayers of dedication for the audio units, as well as special music by Mikiko Inoua playing the Koto, a traditional Japanese instrument. The presentation will be held on Monday at 11 a.m..