August 4, 2005

Dear friends,

Michael and I had a wonderful time in the States, but I have to admit, it’s good to be home. I got to the States early so I could help Tara with her last minute details of the wedding. I also had a chance to visit my parents and some friends in Fresno.

I preached my first sermon at St. Francis in San Jose. It seemed to go quite well. Everyone was so welcoming. St. Francis has always had a special place in my heart and brought back so many lovely memories. It was wonderful to see all my friends again. I picked up Michael from the airport and went back to Berkeley the Monday after I preached. We stayed in Berkeley for two weeks before the wedding/blessing. Tara and Chris married in Tahoe a year earlier. The date was the original wedding date. The Blessing was beautiful. St. Mark’s choir sang. They’re always soooooo good. Years ago, both Tara and I sang in the St. Mark’s choir. It’s the choir that got me back into music. They sang beautifully for the wedding and we’re happy that they were able to do it.

Michael, of course, had to start working the day after we got back from the States. The Panama Project was already here with four seminarians. They arrived on Tara’s wedding day, so we knew we had to return to Panama promptly. We arrived in Panama on Monday evening and Michael called Walter Smith to let him know he was back and Walter told him that they would be going to Santa Clara the next day, so Michael simply moved clothing from one suitcase to another. While we were in the States the President of Panama announced some changes to the Social Security system which were demanded by the International Monetary Fund. Many groups of people (teachers, nurses, doctors, and construction workers) who disagreed with the changes took to the streets in protest. Thus, getting around town was trickier than normal. As usual, the group had dinner at our house for their last meal with vegetables before they headed up to Bocas. I enjoy hosting these meals because it gives me a chance to meet the group.

The Panama Project went to Bocas del Toro by the Costa Rica border again. There are four churches and one priest so the members of the Panama Project help out. The water had been off for a week by the time they arrived and remained off most of the time they were there. Michael would wake up at 5:30 in the morning to see if any water was running so he could fill the barrels again. This would give them water during the day if it went out again, which it usually did.

Michael flew home for Fathers day to celebrate at church and with a special program presented by the ECW (Episcopal Church Women). Our very own Keith Green was being honored. Keith has been Michael’s Senior Warden for the past six years and has done a lot to help us. He’s become a good friend over the years.

Michael flew back to Changuinola to work with the Project several more days. He took the group to Santa Clara for debriefing and returned with them on Wednesday. I took the group out on a shopping spree for souvenirs and other goodies on Thursday. We went to my favorite artisan shops and then to the YMCA where more artisans sell their wares.

Our lives are getting back to our regular schedule. I’m working at the girl’s home on Monday’s again. The girls are reading better. I have a new girl in first grade who can copy words down quite nicely, but has no idea what they mean. So I’m starting the alphabet game with her since she doesn’t know most of the alphabet. She really likes playing it. I’m hoping it will help her as much as it has Johana and the others. Michael is working with the Commission on Ministry and the Department of Theological Education as well as at St. Christopher’s, which keeps him very busy. The COM is revising the ordination process and the Theological Ed. dept. are developing a course of study for those in the ordination process. This September they will be offering classes on the Book of Common Prayer and Anglicanism in three languages: Spanish, English, and Kuna, an indigenous language. From now on all classes will be offered in these three languages.

We want to thank everyone who made our stay in the States possible. Without your help and love it wouldn’t have been the success it was. Also, thank you for your donations to our Missionary Fund. Your donations have helped us send ten young people from our parish to Raices, the semester-break program in Santa Clara. This year some young people from the Diocese of Mississippi will be participating in Raices. They will also experience a week of total Spanish-language immersion for a week before Raices. I will be participating in this program.

Many blessings to you all.

Your missionaries in Panamá,
Mona and Michael Dresbach
mgdbach@hotmail.com -Michael
mldbach1@yahoo.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.