The Church of Christ is right next door (in the left picture, the church is to the right, the metal gate doors on the left are our entrance to Casa ACU; the bell tower above is very cool; the whole building is MUCH larger than it appears in the pictures), so naturally we go there for services each Sunday. The congregation is pretty small but filled with sweet, sweet people. [However, because of the Uruguayan custom of greeting people by kissing them on the left cheek, I get my weekly fill-up on human contact in about 82.4 seconds.]
I am proud to report that all thirty of us at Casa ACU (22 students, 4 Cukrowskis, and 4 Penyas) have attended church both Sundays we've been here. That's saying a lot, since most of us understand VERY little while we're there. Our group consists of a number of excellent singers, and that's been fun to sing in Spanish; also, we've actually contributed to the edification of the church in that we sing better than they do!
This kind group of people treated us to a reception after the first Sunday, where they served pizza and cokes. We all had to introduce ourselves--in Spanish--the regular members were very kind. Katie and Krista have met a couple of the kids from the youth group; perhaps there will be some chances to get together sometime.
The services are wonderful, but class, taught by a well-intentioned man who utilized completely narrow-minded readings of proof texts, was designed to make everyone understand that church attendance is the most important thing a Christian can do for salvation. It was both annoying and sad. I'm sure I will say more about church here at a later time.
