Inspired by his previous summer's experience with the Panama Project (a multi-seminary cultural immersion in the culture and Episcopal Church in Panama), Virginia Theological Seminary senior Jason Roberts, working with Panamanian classmate Glenda McQueen, organized a group of five seminarians and one spouse to live and work with Episcopalians in Panama during Virginia Seminary's spring break. During the ten-day visit, participants lived, prayed, worshipped, and worked alongside Panamanians from local Episcopal Churches.

Their project was to begin the rebuilding of the chapel at the Bishop Lemuel B. Shirley Camp and Conference Center in Santa Clara, Panama. Prior to their trip, the group raised funds for the trip and for building materials. Support was given by Virginia Theological Seminary; St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Alexandria; Church of the Holy Cross, Valle Crucis; Valle Crucis Conference Center; the Diocese of Western North Carolina and Bishop Robert H. Johnson; and individuals, including the seminarians themselves. Inspired by the enthusiasm of the seminarians, individuals and churches in the Diocese of Panama matched the funds raised for the chapel's building supplies. The youth group from St. Patrick's, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, seminarian participant Jeff Huston's home parish, also raised money to present to the Youth Council of the Diocese of Panama for camp scholarships.

Even though every project needs financial support, this project was about much more than raising money. It was truly about people coming together to share their cultures and their love of God. Both clergy and laity from Panama's Episcopal parishes arrived at the work site to help with the chapel restoration and expansion. Mona and Michael Dresbach, two National Church missionaries serving in Panama, also arrived to help with the work.

In Panama, summer was ending and the school year, along with the rainy season, just beginning. Hundreds of young people from all over Panama had been at the Bishop Shirley Center for summer camp during January and February. The chapel was in desperate need of a new roof and new electrical wiring, as well as additional space for the sacristy and for meeting. Working together as part of the Diocese of Panama's Nehemiah Project, this American and Panamanian group labored to wash and scrape windows, add a new roof and interior ceiling, create new entry doors, expand the sacristy, and add a small meeting room to the chapel. They also scraped old paint off the altar, lectern, and pulpit in preparation for a new coat of paint and hauled away numerous truckloads of construction rubble and trash. The work was hard and the weather everyday was hot and humid, but there was always shared laughter and lively discussions, both in Spanish and English.

Each day the group shared prayers and meals, enjoying traditional Panamanian dishes, lovingly prepared by volunteer cooks from parishes around the Diocese.

The final night at the camp, speaking in Spanish, Senor Raoul, the Master Craftsman who supervised the work, lovingly told the seminarian group: "The first day when I saw you, I thought, they won't last two days. I was wrong. You have been worth your weight in gold."

The Right Reverend Julio Murray, Bishop of Panama, visited the work site several times during the week. He also presided and preached at the Sunday morning Holy Eucharist held outside under a large, spreading mango tree on the grounds of the Shirley Center. Mrs. Olga Shirley, wife of the late Bishop Shirley, also visited the work site and talked with the seminarians. Virginia Theological Seminary students who participated include: Jeanne Finan (Diocese of Western North Carolina); Jeff Huston (Diocese of Okalahoma); Glenda McQueen (Diocese of Panama); Jason Roberts (Diocese of Virginia); and Sarah Wood (Diocese of Virginia). The spouse participant was Jeanne Finan's husband, Tom Eshelman, Executive Director of the Valle Crucis Conference Center. Tom, not only participated in the work at the camp, but also donated his time to consult with the Diocese's Nehemiah Project Committee later that week at the Diocesan Office in Panama City.

Parishes in Panama that participated in the project include: Santa Maria Virgen, Arraijan; St. Cristobal, Panama City; St. Albano, Paraiso; and San Sebastian. The Reverend Carmen Saez and the Reverend Nelson Edwards gave generously of their time during the seminarians' visit. Work on the chapel and other facilities at the Center will continue.

If you are interested in being a part of this program through donations or future work trips, please contact Tom Eshelman at the Valle Crucis Conference Center at vccc@highsouth.com or call 828-963-4453.

Jeanne Finan & Tom Eshelman, Executive Director
Valle Crucis Conference Center
14 April 2003

More information:

• Joining Hands and Hearts Together: Panama Revisited 2004