Dear Family and Friends,

As usual, Michael and I have been busy.  I’ve been spending most of my time
between the university, the Hogar de Nińas, and the youth choir at St.
Christopher’s.  I finally finished the semester a week ago which gives me
lots of free time for the next three months.  Some of girls at the home and
I have been working on math skills.  I admit to playing Go Fish between
worksheets.  It’s actually for Rosa Mari who is mentally challenged.  She’s
nine-years-old and still has trouble recognizing some of the numbers.  She’s
counting fairly well up to 40, but still gets 9 and 6 mixed up on the cards.
  I’m hoping the game will help.  The other girls have joined me but
willingly practice their multiplication tables between games.

The youth choir sang “By the Rivers of Babylon” during the service today. 
It was Friendship Day for the Spanish service and we had a nice group of
friends that came.  They had a party after the service for all their guests.

Michael has been non-stop since before Advent.  He was the camp chaplain for
the Jr. High Camp in January.  He put together bible studies and daily talks
for the youth and played guitar for all the services.  He was also the
go-fer because he brings the car.  He took two children to the clinic in the
nearest town, which is about a 15 minute drive from the camp.  They were
dehydrated, but were able to return to camp.  St. Christopher’s was able to
give scholarships to all of our children and adult counselors who needed
assistance.  Thanks to donations from you, we were able to help send three
children who wouldn’t otherwise get to go.  We appreciate you helping us.

Michael also was in charge of all the liturgies for the Diocesan convention.
He produced a bilingual book with all the Daily Offices for use during
Convention. The Liturgy and Music Committee also designed the Closing
Eucharist. Their hard work paid off.  The service went beautifully at St.
Luke’s Cathedral.

We had a successful Vacation Bible School in February. Seventy children from
the neighborhood attended. Michael played guitar at the beginning and ending
of each day’s session. The Closing Eucharist and Graduation was held on
Friday before Carnaval.

St. Christopher’s offers classes to people in the neighborhood teaching
various skills so that folks may start their own businesses. So far this
year we had classes on International Cooking and classes on sewing Polleras.
Polleras are beautiful skirts which are used in Panamanian Folkloric
dancing. Michael taught one cooking class and everyone had a great time!  He
showed them how to make saag, an Indian dish with spinach, cream and lamb
that he loves to make.  They all loved it.

Michael, with the help of Walter Smith, also finished teaching his class on
the Prayer Book.  He had four students who are thinking about going through
the process to become ordained.  Michael is also on the Commission of
Ministry and has been working to set up an ordination process appropriate
for the Diocese of Panama which is true to Central American Anglicanism. 
The Commission is also preparing a program for the Vocational Deaconate, an
order which has not been active in Panama in many years. This has been an
interesting challenge for him and the committee.

For the Lenten Series, Michael talked about “Heresies Ancient and Modern.”
We looked at the heresies of the Early Church and their modern-day
manifestations. It was a fascinating series and we all learned a lot.

On a sadder note, our daughter Anne was pregnant with twins and went into
labor this morning.  She was only twenty-four weeks along and the doctors
can see no reason for the early labor.  She gave birth to a boy and a girl.
Unfortunately, the boy didn’t make it and the girl is barely hanging on with
the help of machines.  Please keep her and the girl, Evannie (pronounced
like Ebony, but with a v) in your prayers.    I’m currently working on
getting to Boston.  God willing, I will be able to travel within a couple of
days.

Bless you all and thank you for all the help and prayers you have been
giving us.

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

Please pass this letter on to everyone. 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.