October | 2018 | Jorge and Donna

At the end of each month we are able to assess the progress of our websites and there is always a sense of expectancy to see if we maintain the levels of outreach of previous months or if there is any decline. We thank the Lord that we receive many emails and comments during the month that tell us that people are listening and reading the precious Word of God, which is the main and almost sole content in our sites. Still, the assessment at the monthly stats gives us a better perspective of the extent and the impact of our labors. This month, for example, we noticed a raise in page views to over 7 million, 1.8 million visitors and 12 terabytes of audio downloaded. That output brought us to the highest international ranking ever, 33,500, on the international website ranking and 7,500 rank in India. This are just cold numbers, of course, but we do receive warm messages of appreciation from those who love the word of God and use It daily in our site everyday.

International ranking on October 2nd 2018

other rankings on Oct. 2nd 2018

Not least, our indirect outreach is becoming increasingly important as we have noticed that several sites all over the world use our materials to publish the Bible in their respective languages. This comes as a result of us placing all Bibles on a download format, where they can be used offline. This has resulted in several sites using our materials and even our format to implement new Bible websites and even a few apps. We find it interesting that in several cases our format and design is maintained and sometimes, even links to our disclaimers and resources. Here are a few examples of what we found this month:

A Luganda app (Android) which is a copy of our site.

An Hindi App based on our pages

Our narrations are also found on youtube, with some interesting combinations, like this one for the Portuguese book of I Kings, Chapter 22

This youtube video in fact scrolls the text as the image and includes a link to an APP for Android devices that is also quite good.

We thank God that others are using their time and energy to broadcast the Word in this way and we continue to encourage it by placing our site free for download and copy for mission purposes.

Salvation is simple and easy to understand, but to make it even simpler we are now using some of our favorite tracts offered by Chick Publications, and with permission we are now publishing ‘This was your life’, an illustrated tract available in several languages, on our site. For the moment we are offering the Chinese version:
https://www.wordproject.org/bibles/resources/tracts/cn/life/

This was your life tract

and the Portuguese version: https://www.wordproject.org/bibles/resources/tracts/pt/life/

and the English version: https://www.wordproject.org/bibles/resources/tracts/en/life/

This was your life, English version.

plus the Swahili, Hindi, Spanish and French.

Meanwhile, the Audio Bible devices we sent to Africa are being distributed. Our friend Judith, in Nairobi, who is part of a ministry for the blind, sent some very touching pictures of her group receiving the audio Bibles and reported that they were very thankful for such a precious gift, which they can use to listen to the Word of God personally any time.

Blind people are greatly blessed by our Audio Bible devices (machines)

Ruth, part of Samuel’s team in Nairobi, giving out a French Audio Bible to a gentleman from Congo. (photo sent by Samuel)

Not least, we sent another package of 50 audio Bibles to Portugal, which were well received by Cristiana and waiting there for opportunities of distribution.
We thank God and those who have the vision and vision and faith to continue to support this ministry with their gifts and prayers.

by Donna

The month of September was a month to remember! We were kept on high alert by the advance of the Mega Typhoon “Mangkhut” during the middle of the month. After last year’s event with typhoon Hato, neither the general populace nor the government agencies were taking any chances, consequently the supermarket shelves were emptied, low lying car parks were evacuated, loose debris was duly secured and windows were taped. Actually, a great debate whether to tape or not to tape was held, and each household had to decide in favor or against the suggested procedure. (We decided not to tape, just for the record.) Eventually, Mangkhut arrived with a reduced velocity than was forecast but, we were pretty much situated in the pathway of a direct hit. We withstood the wind and gusts and the intense rain. Our village remained practically unscathed, however other low lying areas in this city were deeply flooded as per usual. The aftermath clean- up crews were extremely efficient and after one day the city was back in function. Thank God for His protection! “For thous hast been a strength to the poor, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. “ Isaiah 25:4

Typhoon Mangkhut strong winds

Floods in the city

Near our house: less damage than last year but still bad. This was a road.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aK3_9Kpy-ZI6Hyk3NNgEfyRp7veh_lXL/view?usp=sharing

Another big wind of change blew thru on Sunday, September 9th. Gloria received an acceptance letter from Medical School in Lisbon. This was quite an amazing event and because of the timing of the academic schedule and the forecast arrival of another tropical storm which threatened to shut down the Hong Kong Airport, Gloria boarded to Lisbon within two days! It was definitely a whirlwind of activity with tickets to book, bags to pack, and good-byes to be held, but she was off in time to arrive for class sign up! She is staying with a friend who is enrolled in the exact same medical course so they can travel together to school by train early in the morning! God is faithful and has answered Gloria’s repeated prayers for entry into a medical school! We uphold her in prayer as she gets used to the intense curriculum and also learns Portuguese! “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16

Departing Gloria

Gloria at the entrance of the old building of the “Nova” Medical School in Lisbon

More changes were around the corner as Jorge, Jason and Donna stepped over the border into the mainland. On the local school front, Jason is pushing forward is his 10th grade studies, i.e., Portuguese, Biology, Algebra 2, English as well as his Chinese lessons. There have been several personal victories and accomplishments by other members of our family and we met regularly to read the Word and pray together on Sunday morning, which continues to be an encouraging time for all.

Here some family images: