The Senica 7
We share stories of people who are transforming, restoring, redeeming and Blessing their communities out of the overflow of Jesus in their lives.
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Reflecting Today
This afternoon, for some strange reason, time has seemed to slow. We returned to the DR on January 9th from vacation and have gone literally nonstop since that moment. There has not been a chance to catch our breath. Kids school, Kristi and I Masters classes, sports, school activities, baby Elsie waking up at night and everything that goes along with a 6-month-old, teams arriving, teams going, exhaustion, meetings, home repairs, car repairs, middle schoolers emotions, family talks, emails, projects, finances, Dr. appointments, birthdays, etc, etc etc.
All these things contribute to the limited amount of time we have.
It’s been a roller coaster this month and a half in our lives.
I am asking myself. How much time have I spent reading the Word? Praying? Listening. I find myself asking this question of myself. And the answer - not enough. I need more.
It’s one thing to check off the Bible reading plan for the day, but it’s another to consume and eat the Word. Let the words be digested and reflected upon is a different and an important next step.
This next comment is not a knock against devotionals, or someone else’s words, Study Bibles, etc. Please don’t hear that. I always use them for guides; they are great additional resources. We need other vantage points, perspectives etc.
But this strange, slowing time right now this afternoon has me thinking; I am wondering what would happen if we truly let the words of the bible soak into our hearts and minds prior to reading another person's words on the topic. Before reading the study bible part. Before reading the devotional part. Instead of adding to it from the get go, what if we take it for what it is and let Jesus speak to us through it. What if we allowed Jesus to disciple us through the Word?
After all, the words on the page are breathed by the Creator. They are spoke into existence by our Heavenly Father and embodied by Jesus.
And they can be used to speak into us today and right now. To motivate, encourage, challenge, guide and push us out into the world and at the same time, pull us in closer to Him.
One disclaimer I have is we cannot take scriptures out of context and use them as stand alone. We must take the scriptures as the entirety word of God. An entire story of interrelated stories.
What do you think? Will you allow Jesus to disciple you through the reading and reflecting of scripture?
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Hurricane Fiona Relief Trip
On September 19th, 2022 the eye of Hurricane Fiona made landfall and wreaked havoc across the eastern Dominican Republic, bringing with it damaging winds and flooding. This was the first hurricane to make landfall in the Dominican Republic in 18 years. The DR was not the only place impacted. The Hurricane stretched from Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico, the DR, to Canada.
The aftermath of the storm left many people without power and without water. Immediately plans were in place through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) and Work and Witness DR to assist in providing relief to the affected areas. NCM coordinated Food distributions, mattresses, cooking stoves, and gas were all distributed to help those in need. Nazarene churches from all over the country collected clothing and other items to distribute to those who needed it most. Our children’s school also collected many items, such as diapers, baby formula, and clothing.
After the initial help, our Work and Witness team communicated with the District Superintendent on how best our ministry could assist with rebuilding. He informed us that he had several churches with roofs completely missing from the winds and other damages, so our team visited the affected areas and put together plans to help.
Through some very generous supporters, we were able to collect enough funds to distribute to multiple churches to help them in the rebuilding process. Before the funds ever reached the DR, however, the churches were already collecting offerings within their churches and communities and starting the reconstruction of their buildings. By the time our small team arrived in January, the church and local community members were doing the work!
From January 15th through January 20th, we hosted three gentlemen from the United States, one local volunteer, our team, and two additional workers who were interested in serving on a short-term work trip that we advertised for disaster relief. All these people came alongside the work already in process, and we all joined forces for these few days to continue and advance the work that was already being done. This team worked very hard alongside their Dominican and Haitian brothers and sisters. It was a great group participation and effort! The work continues by the local churches that were affected. May God bless each participant, and may God bless the local Nazarene church's work, both here in the Dominican Republic and around the world!
--Sam Senica – Work and Witness Coordinator in the Dominican Republic
Episodes
Tuesday Jan 24, 2023
Tuesday Jan 24, 2023
In this episode, Sam and Kristi share some insight on one of the year's three themes, Praying.
Thursday Dec 15, 2022
Thursday Dec 15, 2022
In this episode we talk about our annual report for this past year of ministry.
Annual Report Link: Download Here
Giving Link: give.nazarene.org/pledge/senica
Wednesday Nov 16, 2022
Wednesday Nov 16, 2022
We give a ministry update and we talk about the ways we are thankful this year!
Giving Link: give.nazarene.org/pledge/senica
Monday Oct 17, 2022
Monday Oct 17, 2022
In this episode we give an update as well as talk about "Third Culture Kids."
https://transformtheglobe.com/2022/09/30/wheres-home/?
Monday Sep 19, 2022
Monday Sep 19, 2022
This episode we are talking about practical ways to care for missionaries and what would really mean the most to us. We also shared that our theme for our supporters this upcoming year is PRAY, GIVE, GO.
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
In this episode we welcome Elsie Bea Senica to the family and we tell a little more of our experience of having a baby in the Dominican Republic. We also answer some questions that were sent in from our followers!
Monday Jul 18, 2022
Monday Jul 18, 2022
In this episode we give an update of what has happened the last month. We also interview our 4 kids by asking them a few questions each. We gave them the questions ahead of time but we told them not to tell us what they were going to say! We also interview our Intern, Caleb Powell that has been here with us in the DR since the beginning of May. He shares an update on what this experience has taught him. Also, remember to send us your questions so we can answer them for a future episode.
Friday Jun 17, 2022
Friday Jun 17, 2022
In this episode we share updates about our family and ministry. We talk about delighting in differences and some practices we have learned to help. Link to Article: https://www.nazarene.org/article/missionary-summer-begins-success-dominican-republic
"Cross-Cultural Servanthood, Duane Elmer" - https://amzn.to/3xZBMx2
Monday May 16, 2022
Monday May 16, 2022
Our first episode!!! We share an update about our family and our ministry. We also talk about our first year here in the Dominican Republic and share a few stories!
Books we Recommend!
Duane Elmer - Cross Cultural Servanthood.
Purchase Here...Copy and Paste link to your browser!
Link: amzn.to/3tKVF8B