Time for an Update

NEWS UPDATE 

Great News!

I have been approved as a field worker under the organization Modern Day missions.  Modern Day’s mission is to partner in the equipping of missionaries and to facilitate their needs as they prepare to go and as they serve out in the field.  This is a tremendous blessing to me.  This tool will provide an opportunity for supporters to donate electronically and possibly gain more supporters through their own network.

Please view my profile at: http://www.modernday.org/field-workers/adrienne-arner/.  In the upper right corner of my profile, there is a button to click (Donate to Adrienne Arner) which will take you to a DonorGive login page.  Once you have registered, you will be routed to a donation page where you can choose to give a one time, weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly donation.  ModernDay is required by the government to take five percent of my monthly donations, so please keep that in mind while making your decisions.  Donations and support can still be received by Dayspring Christian Fellowship for those who would like to continue giving through the church.  Your donation is tax deductible regardless of how you choose to give.

Please check out my profile and feel free to share it with family and friends.  At the end of this newsletter is a list of needs and prayers, many of which require monetary means.  I live solely on your giving and support.  Please prayerfully consider supporting me if you do not already.  If you would like more information about my work here in Recife, Brazil and at Shores of Grace, you are welcome to contact me at adrienne.arner87@gmail.com.

Staking My Claim

The beginning of a new year is always exciting.  There have been many happenings in the first five months of 2016.  As I mentioned in my last update, many exciting things have taken place and are developing at Shores of Grace.

With all the commotion, I did not notice that my current stay in Brazil has officially been my longest.  Three months came and went.  It feels as if I blinked and missed it.  It is refreshing to know that packing-up-every-three-months is no longer a part of my normal life.  Henna, my roommate, and I have even been sprucing up the apartment, creating an atmosphere that is more our own.  We are letting Brazil know we are here for the long haul.

As my Portuguese progresses, I find enjoyment in being able to communicate with Brazilians, especially the kids in the communities, on the streets, and the beautiful girls at our Vila Betânia (Bethany Villa).  Love transcends all languages; although, the ability to convey one's feelings and thoughts brings a sense of fulfillment.

Who’s Got Spirit

Like all the schools in the United States, the kids (Christian, Forrest, and Leila) and I are bringing the 2015 - 2016 school year to a close.  The kids have really flourished in their studies this year.  Christian and Forrest both made the honor roll last semester and Christian received two other awards for his participation in classes and extra activities.  Leila has received high scores in all her classes and is gaining the confidence she needs to work more independently.

It is encouraging as a teacher to see even one student recognize their own potential, so my heart is bursting with pride as this school year comes to an end.

Please be in prayer as Nic, Rachael, and I head into making further educational decisions for the family.  Cássia will be entering kindergarten next year and we are considering all the options to make the best decision that will benefit everyone.

Shattered Dark & Kiss the Dawn

Through the past few months, we at Shores of Grace have encountered many precious moments.  God has been moving sweetly through all the areas of the ministry.  We have been experiencing powerful  prophecies  and declarations from children over lives and countries, healings on the streets when ministering to the prostitutes and homeless and breakthroughs in hardened hearts of girls who’ve never known true love.  God is stirring the hearts of his people in a time when there is dire need.

Along with the precious moments, many obstacles have risen.  Vila Betânia (Bethany Village) is growing and thriving into something more beautiful than we at Shores of Grace ever expected; however, the expansion of Bethany and its needs as well as the growth in other areas of ministry has created an ever-increasing  financial need.  The monthly bills required to run day to day living has risen as well.  If you are interested in giving to Shores of Grace and/or Vila Betânia, please visit https://shoresofgrace.com/donate/.  Shores of Grace is a non-profit organization and your donation is tax deductible.

Our staff have also encountered many physical attacks recently.  The area where we live and work has experienced many robberies and muggings in the past month.  One of the ladies here has been robbed  twice with the attacks being only a couple of weeks apart, losing everything each time.  Many of our staff, including myself, walk from place to place for it is the main source of transportation.  With the rise in crime, it is becoming increasingly unsafe for us to walk where we need to go.  Please be in prayer for safety along with finances for vehicles.  Shores of Grace has limited use of vehicles due to the ministry work, so personal vehicles are becoming a necessity.  Henna and I have been looking at purchasing a vehicle but are not able to do so at this time.

Prayers & Requests

Thank you for your continued support.  Below is a current list of needs and prayer requests.

• The government of Brazil
• The funds for Shores of Grace and Vila Betânia
• The volunteers and staff at Shores of Grace and Vila Betânia
• Wisdom for the direction of the Billmans’ education
• Funds for my personal dental work
• Finances for purchasing a vehicle
• Continued monthly support and progression of paying off student debt
• Funds for traveling to see family and raising support

If you have any questions or would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact me at adrienne.arner87@gmail.com.  Please do not forget to check out Modern Day (www.modernday.org) as well as Shores of Grace (www.shoresofgrace.com).

Blessings,

Adrienne Arner

No Time Like the Present

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  

First, I will express my gratitude to all of those who sent their monetary support to my GoFundMe campaign as well as those who continually send me support. I was in awe of how quickly the money came and from people I did not expect.

It has been a month; since, I returned to my home here in Brasil. I have been reflecting on my transition back to the normal chaos of my life, and the strange thing is it feels as if I never left in the first place.

I don't know if it is due to the welcoming arms of the family I have here with Shores of Grace, or if it is just a confirmation of this being where I belong. Regardless, I am blessed and overjoyed to be home again.

I will admit I catch myself thinking about not having to prepare to leave again in another month or so.... and it is a strange sensation. For most people, having to pack up the majority of your belongings every three months to travel to a different hemisphere is unfamiliar. But I have created the habit for about two years now, the lack of it is an unusual state of rest. I am definitely enjoying the rest; however, I don't believe the true peace of situation will hit me until my three month mark comes and I remain here.

The excitement of being here long term is overwhelming. I continually think about all the things I can do and be a part of; since, I will be here. And, there are so many exciting things happening here at Shores of Grace.

The base itself is now reflecting the life and excitement we at Shores of Grace share for the people of Brasil. The past several weeks two extremely talented artists have been fervently working on painting the walls of the mission base. Even in the incomplete stage, we caught people just stopping to admire the artwork.

Also, the new Vila Betânia (Bethany Village) is now open to receive girls from 0 - 18 years old needing a home and a safe place. The inauguration night was beautiful. The judge over children services and her team for our city came and shared publicly their support for the work of Shores of Grace. It was an emotional night for everyone as more and more people shared their hearts for the new home and welcomed in the new staff. After a traumatic closing of the first Betânia just over a year ago, it was a night of healing broken hearts and mending shattered dreams. It is a testimony of how God can turn the dark into light and morning into gladness if we keep our focus on him.

We now have 14 girls and 3 babies at Vila Betânia. The first of our babies is in the processof being adopted. We are all very excited for her to have a loving family but cannot help being saddened by her leaving our care. It is amazing how quickly a connection is made when your heart is open. Please be in prayer for a smooth and peaceful adoption process and transition not only of the baby and family but for the Betânia staff as well.

Nic and Rachael Billman, founders and directors of Shores of Grace, have recorded a new CD, Kiss the Dawn. The CD will be released during their Kiss the Dawn tour in the States next month. The CD is INCREDIBLE! It has a classic folk rock sound. It also features two songs with Steffany Grezinger from Bethel music.

I had the opportunity to spend some time with Nic and Rachael and the team during the recording process, and I guarantee you will not be disappointed. All of the songs came out of a time of hardship where complete abandonment to God was the only way to survive.

Along with the new CD, Nic and Rachael have released a music video of one of the songs, Blackbird, featuring their eldest daughter Leila. It is a gripping video produced by our own media team at Shores of Grace in association with a professional team from São Paulo.

If you would like to view some behind the scenes clips of the production of the CD as well as other Shores of Grace work, visit the Shores of Grace YouTube channel or the Shores of Grace Facebook page.

There are so many changes and new things happening here at Shores of Grace as well as in my own life. If you would like to continue hearing more from me, please follow this blog or send me your email address. I would love to share my stories with you.