Merry Christmas from Panama
December 7, 2001

Michael and I learned at the beginning of his vacation why so many priests leave the country when they're on vacation.  He received several calls during the first week of October; one was to go to the inauguration  of the chapel at Ft. Clayton that was converted into an Ecumenical Chapel.  The Beauty Classes and Cooking Classes at San Cristóbal ended the first week of October and the teachers wanted him to attend both graduations to hand out certificates and congratulate the participants, but he was able to attend only one.

At the end of October the Rev. Seth Polley had finished preparing  about 13 girls from the Hogar de las Niñas to be either baptized and/or confirmed at St. Luke's Cathedral. I was asked to be the godmother to Josefina, a 14-year-old who is new to the home.  She completed 6th grade, but was taken out of school by her family to work two years ago.  I was told she was living with her older sister and the situation was bad.  She seems like a very nice, quiet girl and is happy to be back in school.   Bishop Murray was terrific as always during the baptism and confirmation.  The girls were wearing wonderful white dresses , looked terrific and behaved beautifully at the service.

Michael's sister Melanie came to visit us for a week; this time without the kids.  We went to the Hogar de las Niñas on November 9 with lots of vitamins, clothes and Christmas presents  from Melanie's sixth grade class for the girls at the Hogar.  Sue Williams put the gifts aside to be handed out either on Three Kings Day or  at their own Christmas Party.  The girls took a break from their homework so we could show them the video the sixth-graders made especially for the girls. The girls enjoyed the video and were amazed that the kids at this school didn't have to wear uniforms.   Melanie donated colored pens to the girls and video taped them as Sue let each girl choose a color.  They were really excited about the pens.  I'm always amazed how little things are so special to this group of children.  The girls enjoyed watching the instant replay of themselves several times from Melanie's video.

The next day Melanie, Sue and I went to the market and bought lots of mola items for  Anita Atkinson from Holy Trinity in Columbus, Ohio (molas are colorful stitched cloths depicting plants and animals. They are used as blouses by women of the Kuna People).  She was with the group who was here in the summer painting the campgrounds at Santa Clara.  They're having a fundraiser to bring Reyito , the Official of Youth Programs, and some of our youth to the States.  They hope that by selling small items such as coin purses, patches, pot holders and ornaments to raise money needed for the project.  We had a great time bargaining down prices which is pretty easy when buying in quantity.  Melanie took the handmade crafts to the States with her to mail.  I had just a little more to buy and was able to send the rest a week later.

The next Wednesday I went to the Diocesan Center to the "White House"  (which is really the Deanery but now serves as a guest house for vistors to the diocese) and worked on a project with Ana Murray, the Bishop's wife, and Sybil Josiah, wife of the Rev. Canon Dennis Josiah, former Rector of San Cristóbal. In April we received some Christmas gifts from the Samaritan Purse that were supposed to be given out last Christmas. We're going through all 27 large boxes, separating the clothes and things that were ruined by the melted candy.  We discovered Smarties are the best candies to mail to the tropics.  Sybil took the clothes and stuffed animals home to wash.  We are repackaging everything to be taken to the Interiór and to the Darien Provence for distribution.  This project will be ongoing until all the items are given out, hopefully before Christmas.

On Sunday the 18th, Michael and I were invited to participate in honoring four distinguished members of the Isthmian Elks Charity Foundation.  Several times a year the Elks attend St. Christopher's Church for special occasions during our regular Sunday services.  Michael was asked in February to give the invocation and benediction for this event.  We marched in with the honorees and sat at the head table.  During the Recognition Ceremony, Michael was called up and it was announced that he was an honorary member of the Elks and was given a beautiful certificate which will be framed and hung in his office at the church.

The choir and orchestra that missioner Lori Keyne has been directing this semester at the University of Panama finally toured last week.  We went to La Chorrera, Penenomé, El Valle and Panama City.  All the places we performed in were beautiful Roman Catholic Churches with full audiences.    We stayed at a lovely convent in El Valle.  We sang 'O Magnum Mysterium' by Gabrieli, 'Gloria' by Vivaldi, 'Congregante y Festero' by Soler, and a traditional Spanish carol called 'A la Nanita Nana.'   It seems that people are hungry for this kind of sacred music which is rarely performed in Panamá.

Michael and I wish you a Blessed Advent, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.  May God's peace and love be with you during this holiday season and throughout the New Year.

Mona and Michael Dresbach

Please feel free to check the website of St. Francis' Episcopal Church at www.stfrancisepiscopalchurch.org which includes an archive of our letters and pictures of our mission.

[Editor's note:  Michael and Mona's younger daughter, Anne, continues to enjoy her sophomore year at Emerson College in Boston.  She'll head down to Panama on 18 December to be with Michael and Mona for Christmas, and return to Boston on 19th January.  The Dresbachs' older daughter, Tara continues to live and work in the Oakland area.