So to begin, Saturday was a travel day and Sunday began bright and early with breakfast at Pastor Jorge's (prounced HOR-hay) home (attached to the church) which is delicious food prepared by his wife Mauritza and 2 wonderful lady helpers.
Sunday was basically a day to get settled in our new environment and start preparing ourselves mentally/emotionally for the upcoming week. We toured the town of San Vicente, the areas by the river that were devastated by the mudslides/floods in November 2009, the village we would be working in (San Antonio) and the emotional meetings of the families that we would be building the homes for. The day was capped with a wonderful church service where I couldn't understand a word that was said, but I clapped along with the locals, hugged them as they approached us with big smiles and chants of gracias, gracias, (thank you, thank you). Feeling a bit like a presidential candidate, I kissed babies, hugged many and said hola to almost every single person in church. I was caught off guard by how content and happy I felt after the service. I am not sure I have ever been that effected by a church service before, and I didn't even understand it.
I did try and edit the amount of pictures but there is just so much I wanted to share, so settle in and enjoy:
San Vicente Tour, there was no shortage of images to capture:
There is no such thing as "architecture control" or rules as it comes to housing materials in San Vicente, it is difficult to know if it is a home, a store or some combination:
the local casket store, every time we drove by it I thought it was just the strangest thing:
well until I saw the local gun shop
This is the son of one of the ladies that helped Mauritza with the cooking, I had taught him hello, goodbye, how are you and Scott taught him toodles. He was adorable trying to speak in english. He loved giving and receiving high cinqo's (high fives).
A sobering wall down by the river listing the names of the individuals (some were whole families) that lost their lives in the flooding/mudslides November 2009. 3 of the gentleman leading our group had been in San Vicente the day of the devastation and they shared many heartbreaking stories. 
There were over 70 homes down in this area by the river. There is no sign now at all that there was ever a community here. The road that went through the community was totally wiped out. One of these large beautiful trees were lost up river and no one thought this one was going to make it but here it is still standing proud.
I for one was glad as I envisioned this picture (in black and white) as soon as I saw it.
This is a skill, I wanted to master but didn't have a chance. The ladies, and even very young girls, made this look so easy but I know I would be spending a lot of time picking up my laundry.
We were off to the village and of course these bright sparkly eyes and big smiles had me hooked as soon as we drove into the village
Laundry down by the river using the rocks and lots of muscle power. 
Then off to the church service, I didn't take many photos out of respect and I truly was too busy kissing babies and hugging!I like this picture as it captures the simplest joys that they embrace, a little green bug of some kind had many of us captivated. This little girl's smile was contagious.
Pretty much the whole village of San Antonio came in for the service and this is how they roll...
The lack of child restraints and for that matter any passenger safety bothered me for about as long as it took me to jump in the back of the pick up truck that was our mode of transportation for the week complete with metal rails tied on with rope and a few bolts where all 23 of us stood like cattle. Quickly you realize this is just how it is.
Back soon with day two, our first building day.
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