A letter from Mona Dresbach
September 14, 2001

(I wrote this last week with the intention of sending it on Tuesday,  but due to the horrific events Tuesday, I decided to wait a few days before sending it out.   Our prayers go out to all those affected by the horrible acts in New York, the Pentagon and elsewhere).

Last month was busy for all of us and filled with wonderful blessings.  My vacation to the States was a lot of fun and I'll try to be as brief as possible.  First, I stayed with my friend Stephenie Cooper in San Jose, CA, where we video-taped lots of great TV and movies that we don't get in Panama.  I also visited a Cursillo meeting, and gave a talk at my home parish, St. Francis, about our work here in Panama.  The best part was visiting with friends at the parish, meeting Fr. Chris and his wife, and seeing family members after church.

I spent a terrific week in Fresno staying with my parents and visiting my friends Barbara Van Gaasbeck and Gloria de la Rosa, who accompanied me on respective nights to my class reunion; Barbara on Friday night, and Gloria on Saturday night.  The reunion was the main reason for the trip since I have this unexplained need to reacquaint myself with old friends.   The reunion gave me the opportunity to do just that, and there are a few people I saw there that I would like to know better.

After Fresno, I went to Berkeley to stay with the always hospitable Rev. Robbins Clark.   I really enjoyed seeing so many wonder people when I visited CDSP, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, and most importantly, my daughter Tara.  I was happy to meet her new boyfriend Chris, who is very nice, will be enjoyable to have around at family gatherings and I believe will fit in quite nicely.

Back in Panama, Anne went to the Hogar de las Ninas for a week.  In the mornings she worked with the girls on their math homework.  She said she had a great time teaching them how to make paper clip jewelry and tissue paper flowers.

Afterwards, Anne spent 3 days at our campgrounds in Santa Clara helping out with Campamento Esperanza or Camp Hope and worked with people of all ages with Down's Syndrome and other mental and physical disabilities.  She helped with art and crafts and any other jobs they needed done --the "normal Anne thing," as she puts it.

She also worked at the school down the street from our house with her friend Dorm, discussing life situations, morals based on the Christian Church, and how to apply these morals to their own lives.  At each of these places she also said good-bye to all the children since she had to fly back to Boston to attend another year at Emerson College.

Besides Michael's normal duties and services at St. Christopher's, he took part in a continuing education workshop for clergy on "Morality and Ethics."  The leader was an Anglican Priest from El Salvador.  It was a three-day workshop all in Spanish which Michael survived and even understood most of.

Michael also planned and served as the Master of Ceremonies in a bilingual Eucharist on the first anniversary of the consecration of Bishop Murray. He continued his services as the diocesan liturgist by also planning and officiating a bilingual Evensong for the closing of the United Thank Offering workshop which took place in the diocese.

September 2 -8 was Bible Week at the Episcopal Schools in Panama; Michael went to Colegio Episcopal and gave a talk on the history of the Bible, the creation of the canon, and different approaches to reading the Bible with the High School students.  There was a lively question and answer session afterwards.  He also played guitar at a gathering of all four Episcopal schools in honor of Bible Week at Los Cumbres, a small community near Panama City.

In the last two weeks he's been very busy with the Youth of the parish planning a big anniversary service in the honor of the founding of the youth group of San Cristóbal, Luz de Mañana (Church Youth Groups here in Panama all have names).

I was told by Michael and several others that the Ms. Episcopalian contest was a great success and a lot of fun.  I'm so glad the event was successful since so much work went into it.  You may see pictures of it at the website listed below.

NOTE:  We have a new address for donations to the Dresbach Missionary Fund.

You may now make your checks out to: St. Francis Episcopal Church.
Be sure to indicate on the check: Dresbach Missionary Fund.

Send check to:

St. Francis Episcopal Church
Attn: Treasurer
1205 Pine Ave
San Jose, CA  95125

You may call them at 408-292-7090 if you have any questions.
Please feel free to check their website at www.stfrancisepiscopalchurch.org.   They were kind enough to add a couple of pages to archive my letters and pictures, including the Ms. Episcopalian Contest.

In Christ,
Mona and Michael Dresbach
Panama