NEWSLETTER MAY 2003 SEMILLAS de ESPERANZA (SEEDS OF HOPE) A MINISTRY OF NICK AND WENDY SERIANNI CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

You were taught... to put off your old self... and to put on the new self, created to be like God..." Eph 4:22

A SPECIAL EASTER

The Easter season was special for us this year. To prepare for Easter Sunday, we wanted to do something memorable for the kids in our discipleship class. Based on memories of my days at St. Marys Catholic School in Ticonderoga and the annual Passover celebration we held in the school gym, Wendy and I decided to prepare a biblical passover dinner.

On Thursday we prepared all the customary Jewish foods, such as the bitter herbs, celery and salt water, haroset, wine (grape juice) and lamb (goat as our replacement). Along with the dinner, we presented a teaching about the Exodus from Egypt. As it turned out, the kids were not familiar with the history of the Passover, and it was something different and exciting for them.

ENCOURAGED BY GROWTH

We have been encouraged by the growth and steady attendance at the various programs run by our ministry. The first children's group we began two years ago in Hoya del Caimito has grown dramatically in the past two months. Seven new kids between the ages of 7 and 9 and a few more between 9 and 14 have joined the group. Over thirty kids typically attend each meeting.

These campamentos," as they are called, have become a regular part of their weekly routine and they would not miss them for the world. Even the kids who have afternoon classes come directly from school in their uniforms and with their backpacks to the park where we hold the meetings. We feel blessed to be able to touch so many lives in such a positive, spiritual way.

CHANGED LIVES

More important to us than seeing a rise in attendance is to see the changes that have taken place in the lives of the young people. A good example of the seeds we plant bearing fruit is a fourteen year-old girl named Ada. When she first started attending the campamento a year ago, she was extremely difficult to deal with. She had a fiery temper, a bad attitude, wore tight, sexy clothes, and flirted with the boys. The change in her is like the difference between night and day. She has learned to control her temper and to act modestly. Now, she is in
our discipleship class, and she is the first one to volunteer to pray. It is clear that she is putting into practice the biblical principles that we have taught her. There is only one thing that could produce such a radical change in Ada. It is the power of the Holy Spirit transforming her life.

YOUR PRAYERS MAKE A    DIFFERENCE

Sometimes God blesses us by showing us the fruit of our work, as in the case of Ada. Other times, we never get to see it. All we can do is continue to plant our seeds of hope and pray that God will nurture them.
Just as the word of God has taken root in Ada, we ask that you join us in prayer that He will do miraculous things in the lives of all our kids.

There are two girls in Wendys arts and craft class who need special prayer. One girl, ironically, is named Lucky. She is fourteen and is in the first grade. She suffers from emotional and mental problems. We do not know much about her family background, but it cannot be good.

The second girl is named Zuleika. She is seven and has intense emotional and psychological problems. She lives with her father and stepmother, but she has contact with her real mother who is a prostitute. Zuleika is confused and rebellious. Frequently, she comes to class with bruises received from her parents scolding.

A SPECIAL TEENAGER

One teenager who has been a special blessing to us is a sixteen year-old young man from our church, Luis Jose Hernandez. He has been faithfully helping us with our ministry for the past two years. He has grown so much spiritually and is so capable, we will give him the responsibility of running the Hoya del Caimito and the Discipleship programs while we are in the States. When Luis finishes high school, he plans on doing a discipleship training school with Youth With A Mission. He also wants to go to medical school and become a missionary doctor.

WENDYS VISA

It is a long story, but thanks to the tireless efforts of my brother Demian, all documents are in order and Wendy has an appointment on May 15th at the American Consulate to get her visa. With Gods blessing we will find an affordable flight to the States the following week.

PRAYER POINTS

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
E-mail: serianni@codetel.net.do