An Interesting Day with Handel

Father Francis and Faith on their way to the favela 

 Hello from sunny Salvador! Katie and I have only been at the convent for seventeen days and already we feel as if we are a part of the community.  Each day we grow more comfortable and peaceful in our new vocation as missionaries. From teaching music, dancing, and art to restoring the convent and preparing the bakery, there is always work to be done. Everyone works with a smile on their face and it is clear that even the smallest task, if done for the honor and glory of Christ, is an enjoyable event.

Katie, Faith and Brother Francis enjoying a beautiful day! 

This week Katie and I had a wonderful time exploring different ways we could teach the children art.  On Wednesday we attempted to make “eggs” out of yarn. The goal was to have the children dip yarn into water mixed with glue and then wrap the yarn around a balloon until the balloon is covered. In the morning the eggs would be dry and perfect and the world would be a more magnificent place. The children would lift me on their shoulders praising my teaching abilities, and I would magically be able to speak fluent Portuguese.  Dreams however seldom correlate with reality. Within five minutes the project was proving to be challenging. Children were screaming, Brother Francis was playing Handel on the radio and glue and yarn was everywhere but on the balloons. Needless to say, when we returned in the morning the dry “yarn eggs” looked more Picasso than Michelangelo.  Katie and I learned two important lessons, “If the children are happy, all is well,” and “never under any circumstances attempt a craft project which mixes glue and five year olds.”

The children during their lesson 

Leo and Carlos having fun during their lesson 

Our yarn eggs :] 

My craft on Wednesday had gone differently than planned, but I returned Friday armed with a well organized lesson plan, and more importantly, no glue. I realized in order for the children to recognize their full potential it was important to first show them the basic building blocks of drawing and art. So, with the assistance of our wonderful friend Vicente, we sat the children down and explained the more basic aspects of art, building one concept on top of the other. By the end of the class, the children had learned how to properly hold the pencil for drawing and shading, how to use to curve of the wrist for drawing a more smooth curve on the paper, and the basics of edging and shading. Next week I will bring in fruit and basic three dimensional shapes and explore the use of shading to add volume to an image.  And who knows, if they’re good, maybe they can use glue again in year or two. Maybe…  

Katie, Faith, Edouard and Gabriel after a successful lesson 

As always you will stay in our prayers and please keep us in yours! God Bless! 

- Faith