Anoche en casa del obispo

OK, since Padre Mickey said I had to post photos from last night, I will (if the internet connection holds). I'll also put up a few from yesterday morning.


Here's Padre Mickey rehearsing his tunes before the 7.30 misa. What a great combo — high mass with gospel music accompanied by guitar, organ and drums. It works fabulously. The head acolyte also is incredibly smooth and knows everything.


Next a photo of TEC's treasurer and San Cristóbal's drummer post misa.


And one of the three clergy post 10.30 when we were all sufficiently drenched with sweat from the Panamanian humidity.


Then nighttime festivities at the bishop's house. First, a photo of the musicians. The man with the gourd-like instrument teaches at the Instituto San Cristóbal. The students are qrequired to take and pass a course in culture and learning how to dance is part of it. Two of the dancers were from the school. (P. Mickey, correct me in the comments if I am not remembering things correctly.)

Here is a bunch of shots of the dances.


One woman is wearing an elegant dress of white, orange and green designs. It's totally hand-made and takes a year to create. The totally white dress is one for weddings and the white blouse, green skirt is more a labourer's dress. Likewise for the hombres, one has on a white shirt -- wedding garb; the blue shirt is a fancy shirt, and the young muchacho with the machete is a labourer.


The two older guys did an incredible dance (note their shoes, almost tap-dancing) with super-fast foot work. It's a dance wherein the two compete for the lady's attention.


P. Mickey can probably help out with the names of the dances.

It was fascinating and quite entertaining... our last play before the day-long intense meeting today of the covenant committee between The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of the Region of Central America.