The Landslides

So last week I went back to my original host training community/family for Training II. After having been in our sites for two months, the whole group of volunteers I was sworn in with goes back to San Vicente for another few weeks of technical training. So we all got there and were super excited to be all back together again and to see our host families. So training started with a couple days of spanish classes. The first weekend we all planned a trip to the beach because we all wanted to be together and share stories about our sites, relax, etc. We had our bags packed for a one night trip to the beach, however the trip was cancelled because of a tropical depression that was causing a lot of rain in the country, so because of security reasons we weren't allowed to go . So we were all ready for a trip and we wanted to go somewhere, so most of us just came into San Salvador for the night to hang out and stay at a hotel. Some stayed behind in the host communities around San Vicente. That was Saturday night.
Sunday morning we found out that during the night rains had caused mudslides, landslides, and flooding throughout the country, the worst of which was a huge landslide of the side of the Chinchontipec Volcano that came down on the town of VeraPaz, basically right where my host community is. VeraPaz is right down the road, like a 10-15 min walk from Molineros, my host community. We used to go running there in the mornings during training, and thats where people in my community go to Mass. Now its completely covered in giant boudlers rocks and mud. There were a lot of deaths and a lot of people lost their homes. The death count in the country is over 130 and there are over 13,000 people without homes. The friends of mine that stayed behind had really intense experiences, and saw a lot of awful things that day. Even though it would have been good to be there with them to help, I'm really lucky we happened to be in San Sal for the night. They were all able to get out and eventually make it to San Salvador with us.
Peace Corps put us all on Standfast mode which means we cant leave where we are if were in a safe place. We couldnt go back to San Vicente because the rain hadn't stopped so the possibility of further destruction was to high, and with so much craziness going on and all... some bridges were down, so we couldnt get in to San V anyways. I talked to my host family and they are doing fine... but they said Molineros is covered in mud, and theres no water or anything. There are relief groups coming to help out with everything, and we all really want to be allowed to go back to San Vicente and help, but since its not safe we can't go yet. We will be notified when we can be a part of any relief effort. Training has been postposed until next sunday, were still in San Salvador, but tomorrow those of us who live in places that are doing alright are going back to our sites. The Sustainable Agriculture/Environmental Education group is going to have our training now in Santa Ana instead of San Vicente. Im sad that Im not going to get to stay with my host family in Molineros because I was looking forward to spending time with them, and I feel like I need to be with them right now. As soon as Im allowed to go back, Im going back. My stuff is still all there , too but someone from Peace Corps is going in to get all our bags and stuff from San Vicente and bring them to us.... but we've all been wearing the same clothes for a couple days. We cant complain though when all these people have lost homes and family members and we get to stay in a hotel in the city. Peace Corps sent in a Psycologist to the San Salvador office to speak to our group and some other volunteers whose sites were affected about disasters and dealing with the experience emotionally. Again, Im really lucky I wasnt there when it happened.
So the past few days have been sort of a whirlwind of not knowing whats going to happen next.
Unless things change and I'm allowed to go back to Molineros Im going to Milingo (my site) tomorrow and then going to Santa Ana, Sunday for two weeks.
I'll try and keep you guys updated on the situation in San Vicente.