When I first heard about the concept of volunteer travel in Habitat for Humanity, my ears perked up, grateful an authentic product, designed to bring about real change, rather than creating the Rich people feel happy that they have done something to help solve the world's problems. From day one, I knew my trip was in good hands. A few weeks before my trip to Guatemala, emails started pouring into my inbox encouraging us to fundraise, informing us about the project, and raising expectations. I realized there would be about 150 volunteers and that the Habitat for Humanity office had set a goal of building 10 houses in just 5 days. I received detailed directions and knew there was someone on the other end taking care of my food, lodging, safety and travel. When we arrived in Nebaj, the small town where the houses were to be built, we found our accommodation and received information packs. and protective helmets, and I met a large group of volunteers whose enthusiasm and cheerfulness it was difficult not to express. Arriving at the site Monday morning, I saw the foundations already laid and the trusses, lumber, plaster, other building materials and tools prepared. Toilets, information area, meal tent and cleaning area carefully arranged to make our time on site as efficient as possible. Really, I had a lot of surprises the first day. With more than two hundred people present on the site, all ready to lend a hand, it could have ended in disaster without impeccable organization of the site, the work and the individual groups. I was not surprised that on Friday, 10 entire houses were dedicated to the families of former orphans. During those five days, I learned how to nail, cut and glue insulation to the exterior shell and plaster it, build the interior walls, and add the final finish coat to the house. I have also observed how such low-cost houses come into existence.