February 2002

Dear friends,

The Rainy Season has finally ended and Summer is here. We have been told that the Rainy Season always ends just before Christmas, but this is our third Summer in Panama, and the rains have continued into the middle of January every year; we seem to be going through a change in climate. Many of the trees here shed their leaves during the dry season, so although it is hot and it is Summer it looks a bit like Fall with all the bare trees.

Campamento Verano Diocesano (Diocesan Summer Camp) started the second week of January. Anne had a great time as a counselor at Campamento Niño, the camp for the younger children.  Michael, Anne and I drove to Playa Santa Clara for Campamento Intermedio, the camp for Middle School kids, on Sunday the 13th  with the newest member of our family, a six week old puppy, Chompita.  All the children wanted to hold her and she became quite a distraction at times.  Anne, Chompita and I stayed only one night.  We took a bus back to town because Michael needed the car at camp.  Part of his
responsibility, besides being the Chaplain and musician, was to be the go-fer, making runs into town for any needed item.  This is the third year for Michael as Chaplain at Campamento Intermedio and this year we had 46 campers and counselors. The Jr. High School group here is different than the same age group in the States; here they show up to everything on time, they participate without coercion, and they even clean the kitchen and their cabins without complaining! St. Christopher's sent sixteen kids and counselors to the three camps.

I came home from camp early to greet a couple of young adults, Andrew McMullian (20) and Rachel Nelson (23), who arrived that Wednesday. They started a bicycle journey from Half Moon Bay in the beginning of September and have traveled through Mexico and Central America and will continue to cycle through South America. I enjoyed hearing their stories of what they have encountered on their trip.  They are very charming and we enjoyed their company immensely.  Rachel told me we've changed her image of missionaries, something Michael and I hope to accomplish with everyone we encounter.  If you're interested in seeing pictures and reading about their adventures, you may visit their website at www.geocities.com/bikesouth .

Anne's boyfriend, Luis, arrived Thursday of the same week, so I had quite a housefull of young adults.  We took Anne to the airport early Saturday morning so she could return to Boston.  When we first arrived in Panama, we were often surprised to see armed guards at the airport, outside of banks, and even Supermarkets, but now we don't even notice them. Anne told us that the airports in the States now have heavily armed guards but this does not bother her because it reminds her of Panama.  Andrew and Rachel, with their bikes disassembled and packed in boxes, left that afternoon to the airport for Santiago, Chile.  I'm looking forward to hearing about their continuing
adventures in South America.

Missioner Sue Williams and I started teaching the girls from the Hogar de las Niñas to swim at the Paraíso pool this month.  The first day was for fun and so that Sue and I could assess their abilities and discuss a point system of learning.  They seem to work real well when there's visible progress like that.  We divided the kids into three groups, about 5 per group.  I teach each group for around 20 minutes before moving on to the
next.  Two of the older  girls joined the middle age kids because they are so determined to learn.  Omiara (12)  and Brunilda (11) are my best swimmers and learn quickly.   All the girls are very nice about helping me find the correct words when I have trouble with my Spanish.

Things have been very busy at St. Christopher's this Summer. We held Vacation Bible School for two weeks and we had 52 children attending. The teachers this year were students from Instituto Episcopal San Cristóbal, the school associated with our church.  The High School students are required to spend two summers doing social work. They usually work in hospitals or in the Interiór in small, poor villages. However, this year, the Chaplain for the Episcopal Schools, Revdo. Luis Cáceres, offered a chance for Inner-city ministry as part of their social work, so they helped teach Vacation Bible
School at Iglesia San Cristóbal. If this works (and it seemed to go very well) this option will be given to students of the other three Episcopal schools. Revdo. Cáceres is also the Transitional Deacon at Iglesia San Cristóbal. Michael helped with Morning Prayer and other spiritual aspects.  On Sunday 1/27, we had a special Spanish-language Eucharist which served as the Closura, or graduation for Vacation Bible School, with songs by each class and awards.

Once again, Michael was Co-chair of the Liturgy Committee for Diocesan Convention with Mr. Walter Smith. The Committee was responsible for all liturgies during the week of Convention, including the Daily Offices. In the Diocese of Panama, Convention lasts for five days, beginning with Clericus on Wednesday and ending on Sunday with a special Bilingual Eucharist held in an auditorium. Michael put together special books with Morning Prayer, Noonday Prayer, and Compline in English and Spanish. Wednesday evening we held a Revival and Healing Service which Michael planned and directed. Our
guest preacher was the Rev. Dr. Lynn Collins, head of Black and Urban Ministry for the Episcopal Church. The ECW  started their convention on Thursday with Holy Eucharist at St. Luke's Cathedral.  Friday morning began with Morning Prayer and then Workshops were held throughout the day. Convention business began at 7:00 P.M. Friday night and continued all day Saturday. Michael and retired Bishop Clarence Hayes presided at a Wedding at 8:00 A.M. Saturday morning at St. Christopher's and then drove across town
to get back to Convention. The Sunday morning Eucharist was really something, with a combined Diocesan Choir and four bishops in attendance: the Rt. Rev. M. Baharona, Bishop of El Salvador; the Rt. Rev. T. Daniels, Bishop of the Virgin Islands; the Rt. Rev. Clarence W. Hayes, retired Bishop of Panama, and the Rt. Rev. Julio E. Murray, Bishop of Panama. Michael was Master of Ceremonies and in charge of every aspect of the service. Our telephone began ringing at 6:30 Sunday morning! Every year we host Delegates from the Missions in the Interiór at our home so that they will not have to find a Hotel room, which would be very expensive for these folks who are poor Campesinos. Our guest this year was a delegate from Tortí, a community in the Darien. We enjoyed talking with him and learning about his farm.

As we write this we are in the midst of Carnival and Lent begins tomorrow.  May you all keep a Holy Lent.

Mona and Michael Dresbach
mgdbach@hotmail.com -Michael
mldresbach@hotmail.com -Mona

If you would like to make donations or a pledge to our mission, please contact St. Francis Episcopal Church, 1205 Pine Ave., San Jose, CA 95125, 408-292-7090.  Please feel free to check St. Francis' website at www.stfrancisepiscopalchurch.org which includes an archive of our letters and pictures or our mission.