FSL

What took me and 13 of my favorite Bulldogs to the Southern Cone, you ask? A week of witnessing at a Lutheran school whose students are, in large part, anything but - that's what. 

Colegio San Pablo might be the nation's only Lutheran school, but the 1,200 preschoolers through 12th graders mirror Uruguay's atheistic tendencies in that only a sliver are Christian. Many believe in nothing or don't know what they believe. Some are enrolled in a bilingual track where they learn ESL, English as a Second Language, from an early age, but all are unknowingly studying FSL, Faith as a Second Language. 

God assembled the CUNE team, period. The 10 students' courses of study naturally divided them into teams that concentrated on certain grade ranges. English lessons in the elementary and middle grades consisted of team members showing pictures of and talking about their families, pets, houses, favorite foods, hobbies, and the like. Christian Education lessons varied: 

The preschool/elementary school team prepared a lesson on the buen pastor (Good Shepherd). After introducing the concept of listening to Jesus's voice and ONLY Jesus's voice through a short drama, they passed out materials to make paper plate sheep masks and closed by teaching "I Just Wanna Be a Sheep."

Cassidy, Abby, and preschool Christian Education teacher Abi. 

The middle school team taught about Paul & Silas's miraculous escape from prison. I realized after observing/translating once or twice that the lesson included the school's namesake! They read the text, had students illustrate a scene, then also closed with a song ("In Christ Alone," in Spanish), which doubled as a craft as students decorated their lyrics sheets and wove yarn around the edges. 

The upper school team taught a Christian Education lesson on Stephen, focusing on what it looks like in 2024 to be persecuted for your faith. They took a bit of a different tack for English, sharing their favorite Bible verses and testimonies of faith in small groups. I got goosebumps every time I heard their bold confessions. The San Pablo students listened attentively, often times asking questions that eventually got around to "Why are you here?" - the perfect in for the CUNE students to unashamedly say they'd come to share who God is and what He'd done in their lives. 

Emily trying a Uruguayan favorite: mate (a bitter looseleaf tea that's drunk out of vessels also called mates and passed around like a peace pipe). 

All sections of 6th grade joined together for a special English class the morning of our last day. 

As if a full afternoon wasn't enough on arrival day, we also had the chance to join a weekly after school tutoring program at the local Lutheran Hour Ministries office.

The San Pablo cafeteria fed us lunch - with coffee & dessert - everyday. 

Sampling Uruguay's national dish, chivito, one night at dinner. Its literal translation is "little goat," perhaps because the plate of French fries, grilled skirt steak, ham, bacon, cheese, and fried eggs is as big as one.

We frequently commandeered the hotel lobby for team meetings/devotions. One night, team leader Dr. Gauthier guided the team through a discussion of three of the verbs in Isaiah 43:1: created, redeemed, and called.

Friday night, we joined Jusanpa, the church's youth group. Team members led music and shared their testimonies (old hat by now for the upper school team). They'd also brought American junk food to share. I don't think I'd had Gushers since...some sleepover in middle school?

Saturday took us outside Montevideo to Colonia del Sacramento, a quaint town about 2 hours away. 

I'm not sure what I was expecting when our driver stopped at what he called the "pencil museum" on the way, but it definitely was NOT Granja Colonia Arenas, Emilio Arenas' private collection of 24,026 pencils, 46,000 keychains, 3,800 ashtrays, and 4,200 ashtrays. 

We had lunch on Calle de los Suspiros ("Sighs"), named for a) condemned criminals walking down the street as they breathed their last; b) sailors sighing for their lovers at the brothels that lined the street; or c) a young woman stabbed to death whose ghost haunts its cobbled surface. 

It's possible to go up in the lighthouse, but it closed for lunch and the line was too long for us to wait by the time it reopened. 

I spy Argentina across the Río de la Plata!

Touring the bullring (today, an event/concert venue) 5 km. outside of town on our way back to Montevideo. 

Mother's Day breakfast before Divine Service on Sunday, May 12 (same as the US, but NOT the DR). 

Singing and playing together...again.

The weather didn't allow for an asado, but no one complained about James' oven method of preparing tri-tip for a delicious Sunday dinner.

"He (she) who teaches with love, educates for forever."

Our presence was requested at a monthly worship service for confirmands and their parents that coincided with our last night in-country. Someone manned the grill during it so we could enjoy a hamburgesada and run (to the airport). 

Abby C. and Lauren prepping buns and toppings.

The CUNE group with Christian Education teacher Hans (front row, right).

What a gift to become one of few missionary visitors - or visitors, period - to do life with the Sharp family after hearing them talk about Uruguay for years, and to stand back in awe as a phenomenal group of young people courageously and vocally stood up for what they believed in. They also gave me an extra measure of grace as I learned a new field alongside them; I'm ready to go back and host the next team - and there will be a next team - all the more capably and knowledgeably. 

Until next time, blessings!