CHRIS ARVIDSON

Tony has his Vienna (pronounced here as VI-eeenas) ready for this year's Expedition, too. It was his food of choice last year as well.

Patty Cordero (left) was our "babysitter" on the trip. She works for Habitat Para la Humanidad El Salvador and is one terrific minder. Patty ALWAYS reminded us to stay in groups, shaking her finger and saying, "One is not a group...two is not a group...three now, is a small group..." I'm in the middle and Mary Nell McPherson, is at right; we worked together at Habitat Charlotte in the early 1990s.

Don't we all look clean here?

Beth VanGorp (left) of Habitat Charlotte led the El Salvador trip superbly. She's pictured here with Tammy Sanders, also known as "Monkee" for her stellar climbing ability.

By the end of the week, Beth was carrying stuff on her head - just like the Salvadoran women.

From left, Anna Carter, Mary Nell McPherson and Susan Sewell.

San Lorenzo's church, along with many homes, was damaged in last December's earthquake.

The Flash House crew: from left, Beth VanGorp, Mary Nell McPherson, Chris Arvidson, Susan Sewell, and horizontal is Tammy Sanders.

Douglas was our head mason on the Flash House. We worked on concrete block homes, reinforced with rebar, with tile floors.

Some might title this picture "TROUBLE." They'd be right! Susan Sewell at left and me at right. Susan was my boss at Habitat Charlotte in the early 1990s. We worked on the house next to us in this picture throughout the week.

Tying rebar to construct "ladders" was one of my specialities during the build.

Next door to one of the Habitat homes under construction.

A rural bridge across the Rio Paz; Guatemala is on the far side.

From the rooftop of our Santa Ana hotel during our building in San Lorenzo.

Time to take a breath.

Sunset Saturday night: on the beach near San Salvador, our last evening in El Salvador.