I’ve been stateside nearly seven months now after three years in Mexico (two coordinating the Casa de la Paz in Chiapas). And though the initial tidal waves of rage and despair have quieted somewhat, I can’t say that I’m any closer to embracing my new lifestyle.

Last week Hurricane Stan smashed into southern Mexico and Central American. It has received very little media coverage and was quickly eclipsed by crushing natural disasters in other parts of the world. This does not lessen the impact for the people whose homes, crops, roads and livelihoods have been destroyed. Relief is trickling in, but so much more is needed (See IMAP announcement, an organizational partner of the Peace House, gathering funds for the devastated communities around Lake Atitlan) . I spent last week trapped or traveling in the hurricane, through some of the most damaged areas. What follows is my account of how I escaped.

Written by Indigo J. Eriksen

Indigo is also a volunteer with BVS-GMP (Brethren Volunteer Service and Global Mission Partnerships). She spent 8 months in a small town in Guatemala, San Lucas Tolíman, where she worked with a US-based parish.

Article by Michelle Akane Storey

The rains had already begun when we arrived in the crime, corruption, and prostitution-laden immigration-hot-bed-of-a-city, Tapachula, which sits by the coast on Mexico's southern border with Guatemala. We had travelled from San Cristóbal to connect with groups working on migration issues. Migration has been gaining increased intention, with the number of factors pushing people from off their homelands in Central America and Southern Mexico increasing. Migrants are compelled to risk long and diffuclt journeys in hopes of attaining an intangible “sueño americano” (American dream), or just an opportunity to survive, on the other side.