day 135

Monday was our first day working at Las Flores. We all got on the bus for the 20 minute ride to the village, and our bus drivers blasted music for us the entire way. By the end of the trip, every bus ride was a dance party.

We got right to work when we got there. SHH provides all of the necessary materials to the community, and then whenever there is a trip they also provide the volunteers to help build. We worked side by side with the men and some kids from the community, and they'll continue the work now that we're gone with the supplies SHH gave them.

There was already foundation and roofing done on two classrooms that previous SHH trips had done, so we continued on their work, as well as broke ground on a third new classroom. It was amazing to see how much progress we made just in one day. According to the men from the community who were in charge, we got 3 days worth of work done in our first day.

It was SO hot out, and we were all sweaty and dirty and dehydrated, but you could just feel the energy and excitement from everyone at the worksite. By being there all day, we truly felt like we were a part of their community. The men were showing us how to do things, the kids were running around (some were even helping with construction!) and the women were cooking lunch for us all morning.

One thing that I reflected on after these two days was the realization at just how little these people have. They live in homes that aren't weatherproof, they eat the same food every day, their clothes and shoes are worn out and often have holes or tears - all they want is to go to a school with walls and a roof so they can still have class when it rains. And despite all of that, despite everything that's working against them, they are the happiest people I've ever met. Their happiness and enthusiasm and love is contagious, and it's what brought us back refreshed and ready to work every day.