03 June 2003

Happy Easter everyone!

We started the Lenten season with visitors from the States.  The first visitors were my parents who came to for a week. Then Anita Atkinson from Holy Trinity in Oxford, Ohio came for a four day weekend.  Anita was here to meet with Bishop Murray, visit the Hogar de las Niñas de Capital and meet with the youth.  She’s Holy Trinity’s liaison. They are sponsoring one of the girls from the Hogar’s college education.  She’s also working to establish an exchange between our youth and the youth of Holy Trinity.  She and I went to various locations for molas and other small articles for the fundraising needed for the programs.

At the end of March, a group from Virginia Theological Seminary came to help work on the Chapel at the campgrounds in Santa Clara.  Jason Roberts (who was here last year as part of the Panama Project) was responsible for the project.  Also involved were Glenda McQueen (our seminarian from San Cristóbal), Jeanne Finan (whose ordination was May 31 in Ashville, NC) and her husband Tom Eshelman, Jeff Houston and Sarah Wood. Jeff and Sarah are VTS MDiv (Master of Divinity) Students.   Michael helped pick them up from the airport and drove them to Santa Clara.  He and I worked with them for a couple of days on the Chapel.  I originally went up to work in the kitchen, but the head chef seemed to have plenty of help.  A team of ladies from St. Christopher’s came to help cook, so I went to the chapel and helped with little things that could be done.

Father Nelson Edwards and another man came in to take care of the electricity.  Nelson was an electrician in his “other life” before becoming a priest.  Some helpers from one of the churches in the interiór came to help rebuild, too. They did most of the heavy labor such as building the walls and working on the roof.  Unfortunately, the VTS students didn’t have the time to complete the work, but left it in good hands.  We enjoyed our time with the seminarians and hope they can return for a visit to see the
completed chapel.

The Chapel is only one of many buildings on the Campgrounds that needed repairing.  It was exciting to see the work actually being done.  The ladies from St. Christopher who worked in the kitchen are hoping to do something to remodel and update it.

Michael created a bible study for the Lenten Series this year, followed by the Stations of the Cross.  It was fairly well attended and receive positive feedback.  Michael taught us a new song that we sang each week.  The biggest challenge was creating a study for people who tend to come late for the Bible study or early for the Stations of the Cross. We realize that many who came were coming after work and arrived when they could.

Our Easter Vigil was beautiful.  We held it early in the evening because most people don’t like to be out in the neighborhood late at night (San Cristóbal is located in a rough neighborhood).  We had two baptisms this year.  We also had a traditional Sunrise Service at 6:00am the next morning.  That service was packed and enjoyed by all who attended.

This Easter Season has been pretty quiet.  Michael is busy working with his responsibilities at St. Christopher’s and with the Regionalization Committee, which is similar to the Deaneries in the States.  We’re still buying and collecting food for the food pantry.  Michael has several regulars who he gives food to each week.

I’ve been continuing my tutoring at the Hogar de las Niñas each Monday.  There are now 22 girls at the Hogar.  I’m working with Dona, a new first grader, with her reading and math.  She’s eager to learn and a joy to work with.  I’m still working with Odette, Eveliana (both are in second grade), María Elena (14 -in special education) and occasionally other girls who need extra help for a test.  Jan Hill and her husband still have work on their boat before it can sail again, so she’s still coming to the Hogar with me.  It’s a real joy to have her company and help.

Pentecost is just around the corner and we have several baptisms lined up.  The seminarians of the Panama Project will be arriving soon, and Michael is preparing Canonical Exams for our returning seminarian, Glenda, and training Deacon Cáceres for his priesting.

We hope the Easter Season has been one filled with joy and blessings.   Please feel free to write us;  we would love to hear from you.


Your missionaries in Panamá,
Mona and Michael Dresbach
mgdbach@hotmail.com -Michael
mldresbach@hotmail.com -Mona

If you would like to make donations or a monthly 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' web site at www.stfrancisepiscopalchurch.org, which includes an archive of our letters and pictures of our mission.