What next?

Joel will complete the third of the project's three murals with the young people in November 2011 as part of a Garden of Memories we are creating for Cidade de Deus in a corner of our church grounds. The Garden will feature a mural of the City of God - the New Jerusalem - foreseen by John in the Book of Revelation where 'there will be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, nor any more pain."

The City of God Garden of Memories will also feature scenes of the people and events that have formed the story of Cidade de Deus since it was built 45 years ago. Now we just need to set to work to raise the money!

If you would like what has been begun in the City of God Bible Mural Art Project to continue and could think about making a donation or helping to raise funds please contact me at priestmissioner@gmail.com

Get this party started

Bishop Filadelfo, the Anglican Bishop of Rio de Janeiro, was amongst the first to arrive for the party and talked to Joel about his work in poor communities across the world before the two posed for a photograph in front of Jesus at the Last Supper.

Parents and friends of the young people packed the church and the celebration soon got under way with a demonstration of capoeira - an Afro-Brazilian martial arts dance - by children from Projeto Rei.

Joel and Socorro, president of the Seed of Life Association, and I explained how the project had been conceived before the young people gave a blow by blow account of what they'd done.

Some told the stories behind the murals, some showed off the English words they learnt and others thanked Joel for all he had taught them.

Then it was out into the church grounds where Bishop Filadelfo blessed each of the murals and sprinkled them with holy water.

 But we were all swiftly back in church for refreshments which included hot dogs and a huge cake.

Making a song and dance of it

Young people from Projeto Rei stage a demonstration of capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial arts dance...

Race to the finish

Joel got up at the crack of dawn for an uninterrupted day of painting. With the bishop coming to bless the murals at 6pm there was a deadline to meet. The young people spent the morning hanging their own artwork in church in readiness for the project's closing event to which their families and friends had been invited.

At the end of each session, each of the young people got to have their photograph taken personally with Joel.

Speak up!

Joel and I have been very impressed by the young people's talents but, perhaps like many teenagers, they struggle to overcome their embarrassment to speak well in public. So we spent part of today's sessions writing scripts and trying to discover our best voices for Friday's project finale when every member of the group will say something before the assembled crowd.

The perfect blend

Every day the young people are brought to us by adult volunteers who belong to the Seed of Life Association. Whilst the children work they set about producing food for the snack time which ends each session. Today Katia produced a delicious banana vitamin drink.

Everyone has now completed their own big picture of either the Garden of Eden, the Last Supper or the City of God. Eric and Karen were the first to finish.

Then there was the chance for an individual coaching session with Joel who gave each of the young people feedback on what they had done. It´s been a showery day and Joel has had to stop painting more than he wants to when tomorrow is the last day. It´s going to be a race to the finish.

Mind your language

Tuesday began with an English lesson. With the World Cup and the Olympic Games on their way to Rio de Janeiro in the next few years more and more children are leaning English at school. We learnt the words for the colours Joel has been using on the murals and some of the objects that feature in them.

When Joel came to the City of God for three months last year he spent his time teaching English at a local arts association so all this was second nature. However, it wasn´t so straightforward for the young people who had to cope not just with the differences between a British and an American accent but even several different ways of spelling words.