RIO DE JANEIRO Edge of the Community

From Rio de Janeiro, Brazil  

Took this photo along the drive to Christ the Redeemer, this past  Saturday. 

Up on that mountainside is the largest community in all of South America. People are born, raised and die there, spending little time outside their community.  I'm learning that the societal classes do not mix here.

I put the original photo (pictured)  in photoshop and came up with this colorful new header. 

Tomorrow, at the invitation of a local pastor, I'll be going into another community, where his church is.  We'll be making colorful story ropes,  a way for women to tell the stories of their lives inside the community. There are so many hard stories in these places.  It will be a blessing to serve there.

RIO DE JANEIRO Quilts at Celivre

From Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Yesterday, Sunday, we set up a display of my 2 quilts, story rope and art quilt postcards in the church. 

Our upcoming workshop had already been advertised to the church community on FaceBook but it was good to show the art in person and have conversations after the service.   

Nelson explaining my quilts.

Raquel and I talking about next Saturday's workshop

Later in the afternoon, Diane and I met with Raquel and 3 other women leaders to plan next Saturday's story rope teaching with the women. 

They may have 30-40 women from their own church, Celivre and have asked their friends.

They've invited another church to also take advantage of the teaching. So we don't know how many will be coming.

Click on photos to enlarge.


Talking about connecting into missions.

Our numbers seem to be growing for the 4-5 workshops we have coming up in these 2 remaining weeks we are in Brazil.  

Click here for earlier Creative Process blog posts on experiences in Rio de Janeiro.  

Click here for Our Stories blog posts about story rope experiences during my time in Rio.  

RIO DE JANEIRO View From The Village

Writing from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Yesterday was Saturday. Not the best day to see Christ the Redeemer, considering it was the weekend. As our car got closer to the top of the mountain, we observed the long line of parked cars. At the end of the road, many people stood in long lines, waiting for vans to take them the rest of the way up to see Christ the Redeemer.  

Best to go back another day. Perhaps on Friday when we visit Alba, my new found Brazilian cousin. Actually cousin of my Brazilian brother-in-law, Robert, back in Florida. But I figure, mi familia es su familia,  right? Oh that's Spanish-does not work here, but I think the sentiment does!

Though I only saw Christ the Redeemer from a distance, I have been impacted and inspired by the sculpture of a 'living' Jesus, with outstretched arms, embracing all of Rio de Janeiro.

This morning I made some notes and sketched ideas for a series of collages, each with Christ the Redeemer on the mountaintop and some aspect of this culture.

• Christ the Redeemer on top of Corcovado  Mountain.

• My friend Carla and family took Nelson and I to see Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain and the beaches of Rio.

• Zooming in on Christ the Redeemer.

BRAZIL From Rio de Janeiro

I'm excited! 

We're off this morning to see the amazing statue of Christ the Redeemer-with arms out-stretched over all of Rio. 

I have a feeling this day may inspire some art work. We are learning about so much.