Home Sweet Home

As I laid in my bed, I was consumed with the thoughts of "this is MY bed, this is MY room, this is MY space."  

For the average person, this may not be something you contemplate frequently; but for me, it has been a daily thought for the past week. Why???

Well, after a year and a half, I finally have my OWN place again. I don't have to unpack a suitcase just to repack it in a couple months. I don't have to plan on where to store things that I can't bring with me on my travels. I only have to take what I want and leave the others in their place. 

It's an amazing and strange feeling.... You don't realize how much you missed the feeling of "being at home" until it returns to you. 

This is my new favorite place.

Thank you for all the prayers and the support to have this opportunity. Henna (my roommate) and I couldn't have been done it with out you. 

A HUGE THANK YOU...... actually UM GRANDE OBRIGADA to our friend Wellington who made numerous calls and meetings for us to help us find our place. We DEFINATELY couldn't have done it with out you. :)

Our housewarming party with our friends and "family."

We have found so much favor through the whole process. The apartment came fully furnished with beds, tables, chairs, closets, even cups, and plates. The landlord even replaced mattresses and purchased a microwave and coffeemaker for us. 

The landlord is a testimony as well. Our team at Shores of Grace goes on "treasure hunts" on Tuesday nights to one of the area malls. One night, one of the treasures for evening happened to be our landlord. She was very touched by the prayers of the group. 

When we contacted her about the apartment and told her we volunteer with Shores of Grace, she was overjoyed to have us rent the apartment. 

Henna and I don't spend too much time at the apartment due to the volunteer work we do, but it has been a blessing to come home to our own space to relax and unwind and to have a quiet place to prepare for the day ahead.

Please keep us in your prayers as we adjust to leaving on our own in a foreign country and continued favor with our landlord and neighbors.

News Update

This is just a quick update on what's been happening on my side of the world.

I am busy settling back into a routine here in Recife with the Billmans and my Shores of Grace family. There has been a lot of great things happening.


The Billmans have found a new house to better suit their needs and it is amazing!


They are excited to make it a home and have already enjoyed the yard with grass instead of concrete.


I am also working on my personal move to an apartment with another missionary from Finland. We have found a few places of interest and hope to be moved in my the end of this month. Please me in prayer for us to find the best deal and the ideal location. Both of us are fully funded by supporters, so also pray for a consistency of financial means.

More good news.... I have received my last document needed to complete my volunteer visa applications. I will be submitting the application while I am here in Brazil, so please be in prayer over the process. I hope to have the visa upon my return to the States in November or December. 

Last but definitely not least, thank you for all the prayers and support you all have already provided. I am truly amazed by God's goodness and the goodness of others everyday. 

If you would like to send a contribution to me, please do the following:

For my Midwest folks:

Make checks to DCF Missions with my name (Adrienne Arner) on the memo line.
Send it to:     Dayspring Christian Fellowship
                       2157 N. Prospect Ave
                       Springfield, MO 65803

For my East coast folks:

Make checks to Landmark Church with my name (Adrienne Arner) on the memo line.
Send it to:    Landmark Church
                      3220 Platts Springs Road
                      West Columbia, SC 29170
               

Without Borders

      This update is long overdue. I have struggled with what to write for many months now, because there are many things to share and not enough words to convey the heart of it all. God has shown new aspects of who He is throughout this journey, and it has been an amazing and beautiful revelation of what He intends for his children.

As many of you already know, I am now a full-time missionary. I live solely off your financial support, and you have been a tremendous blessing. I have had few monetary concerns. I have learned to trust “without borders,” and God has exceeded my needs; however, when I return to Brazil this month, I will be searching for new housing. With the new living expenses I will need to at least double the funding I am now receiving, so I am looking for more monthly support. Do not feel obligated or feel you do not have enough to give. Any amount will help. Additionally, the exchange rate for the U.S. dollar to the Brazilian Real is 1 to 3.37, so whatever amount you can give will more than triple.

    For those who do not know, I am the teacher

(learning coach) for the children of Nic and

Rachael Billman. Nic and Rachael are the

co-founders and co-directors of Shores of Grace. Their main focus is to bring the love of the Father to the women, men, and children of Brazil who are facing abuse and are being forced into sex-trafficking and prostitution. Shores of Grace has many branches including a street ministry (homeless districts), favela ministry (slum districts), prostitution street ministry, and many more.

   During this past year, I have been blessed to serve in all areas of Shores of Grace. I have seen women come off the streets to pursue a better life. We were able to bless a few of the women with opportunities to go to law school, nursing school, and cosmetology school. The story that touches my heart the most is the mother of the boy pictured to the right. She is a mother of eleven. She and her family live in one of the favelas we minister to on a weekly basis. She walks over an hour to go to school to learn how to read and write. I had the privilege to assist her in writing her children’s names and birthdays for the first time. Her face was illuminated with joy when she was able to completed her list on her own.

   Thank you for all your prayers and support this past year. I cannot wait to share more about God’s work in Recife, Brazil.

    

Blessings!

Financial support:

Make checks payable to DCF Missions.  Include Adrienne Arner on the memo line. Please send to:

      Dayspring Christian Fellowship

     2157 N. Prospect Ave

     Springfield, MO 65803