SEMILLAS de ESPERANZA (SEEDS OF HOPE) A MINISTRY OF NICK AND WENDY SERIANNI CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

With Easter just around the corner, I cannot help but think about how we, as Christians, gain from the celebration of this religious holiday every year. Obviously, the death and resurrection of Jesus is central to our faith, and the message of our salvation is one of which we need to be reminded. Yet, now as a missionary, I can see the practical teaching of the Easter message meant to give all of us New Life. He is not here; He is risen, just as He said." Mat 28:6

EXCELLENT NEWS!

The month of March ended with some excellent news. Wendys visa was approved by the U.S. Government. We still have to await that approval to be sent to the U.S. Consulate in the D.R. More paperwork has to be filed here, Wendy needs to have a medical exam, and we need to go for a personal interview. Yet, we feel blessed. All requirements should be met by the end of April. Special thanks to my brother Demian, the immigration attorney who put many long hours into this affair on our behalf.

If this be the case, we plan to be in the States from mid-May through mid-July. In addition to visiting family and friends in Ticonderoga, Florida and elsewhere, we will be holding several speaking engagements and a reception for our supporters in Ticonderoga.

Once the specific details of these engagements have been finalized, they will be published in our May newsletter. Wendy and I are looking forward to seeing all of you in the not too distant future.

ARTS and CRAFTS THURSDAY

Wendys group of girls with whom she does her arts and crafts projects continues to grow. She now has fifteen girls in the Thursday class. They have done many small projects, practiced cooking and baking, and are currently sewing rag dolls.

Wendy feels blessed that God has given her the talent and ability to work with young girls. She continues to develop and strengthen her own skills through a sewing course she has been taking since last September. As she passes on the skills she is learning to the girls in her program, a practical need is being met as part of our community development efforts. More importantly, Wendy becomes for these girls a role model of what life can be for anyone who embraces the Good News" of Jesus Christ.
kids, and we are encouraged by the changes we see in them as they grow in their knowledge and relationship with God.

THE NEW CARPENTRY CLASS

The carpentry class I mentioned in the last newsletter is progressing well. It is a delight for me as well as the boys I am instructing. Besides doing projects, I take time to teach about the tools and how to use them. For example, most of the boys had to be taught how to read and use a measuring tape accurately.

I also took the boys to a large hardware store where I could show and explain to them tools, such as a joiner, plainer, drill press, shaper, etc. It is our dream someday to have a center with a well-equiped woodworking shop.

I also took the boys on another excursion to a local lumber yard where we purchased wood for our next project, a jewelry box with an inlaid ceramic tile top. The boys and I are thoroughly enjoying this new class.

DEAR TO OUR HEARTS

Our discipleship class is very dear to our hearts. The young people in this program have a sincere desire to learn more about their faith and to grow in a personal relationship with Jesus. In addition to the four original girls who started this class, another fifteen year-old girl and her fourteen year-old brother have joined. We have just completed a ten lesson study of the basic tenants of Christianity which all of the students learned enthusiastically. We will begin a new unit of study shortly.

Before we continue, however, we plan on rewarding these kids with something special to celebrate their hard work, such as a pizza party. We always mix in a little fun with all of our ministry work to hold the interest of the youth. Of course, Wendy and I are doubly blessed. We have fun with the

NEW LIFE

With Easter just around the corner, I cannot help but think about how we, as Christians, gain from the celebration of this religious holiday every year. Obviously, the death and resurrection of Jesus is central to our faith, and the message of our salvation is one of which we need to be reminded.

Yet, now as a missionary, I can see the practical teaching of the Easter message meant to give all of us New Life. The Resurrected Jesus" gives every individual who will embrace Him a new start in life. A persons circumstances or age have nothing to do with this new life. It can begin any place and at any time.

Wendy and I were given a new life when we embraced the calling to become missionaries. We, in turn, provide the opportunity for new life to the people of the Dominican Republic through our community development programs and the sharing of the faith we hold in our hearts.

You are also providers of new life when you pray for us and provide us with the financial assistance we need to run our programs. You are responding, in essence, to the Easter message. Wendy cannot teach arts and crafts and sewing without having funds to purchase the materials; I cannot teach caprentry without the funds for tools and lumber.

From the deepest recesses of our hearts, Wendy and I thank you in helping us bring New Life to the people of the Dominican Republic. May God bless you in a special way this Easter Season.

PRAYER POINTS

Pray that the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, will restore peace to Iraq with a minimal loss of life and injury on both sides.

Pray that we clearly hear Gods voice as he directs all that we do, especially our plans to reorganize as a nonprofit corporation.

Pray that our plans to speak in the States will come to pass.

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Please share this newsletter with other Christian family and friends whose hearts may be open to supporting our work in the Dominican Republic.
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Please send donations in the name of
Nick Serianni
75 Lake George Avenue
Ticonderoga, NY 12883
Email: serianni@codetel.net.do