Last day in Ixtepec

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September 5, 2023

Stephen and I arose early to catch a ride back to the migrant shelter. Our driver arrived and we were back at the migrant shelter quickly. We had time to get to know more migrants and their stories. So many people have been put into an impossible situation and must choose to leave quickley

Josué is here with his family from Izabal, Guatemala. He’s a semi-truck driver who was threatened when he wouldn’t join forces with the local gangs. When he saw a friend and colleague pulled out of a truck, beaten and shot, he knew he had to flee immediately. After getting his temporary permit in Mexico, he was able to send for his wife a children.

Currently most of the refugees in southern Oaxaca are from Central america, with a lot from Venezuela.

This family fled from Guatemala, which is experiencing increasing chaos and violence.

Six weeks ago the majority of the migrants at the shelter were African. The flow can change suddenly if one country opens up or closes programs for migrants, or if an easier route opens up. We only got to know one person from Africa during this visit.

Mohammad is from Morrocco. He’s the only migrant from Africa presently, but there have been people from 2/3 off all African countries.

We visited the school to see how the teachers, supplied by Save the Children, were doing.

Children seem to bounce back very quickly, but there can also be deep seated effects of trauma.
The teachers split the children into 3 age groups.

There are workshops set up at the shelter for people use there skills and help to improve or repair the shelter.

A man works in the metal shop.

We’ve also gotten to know more of the team at the shelter. Diana is a female priest in the Mexican Anglican church. Although she has two Ph.D. In history and theoogy, she’s moved down to Ixtepec to work the shelter.

Priest Diana put on her robe for 5 minutes for a portrait, but it’s not practical to wear in 100 degree weather.

we have so much more to share from this day, but time is limited. And this doesn’t even get into our harrowing ride to Zoquitlán on mountain roads. At least I didn’t get sick.