Dear friends,

This year I lived and worked on the shores of Lake Atitlan, "one of the most beautiful lakes in the world" according to Aldous Huxley, and according to me too. There I found a place to learn Spanish, a job to support me while I lived there, and friendly people who made me part of their families. It is a peaceful place where children play with kites from the building tops and farmers walk up into the steep mountain sides every day to tend their milpas (corn fields).

That peace was shattered by Hurricane Stan, which came ashore as a mere force one hurricane, but then lingered over land and dumped huge amounts of rain on the region. With shallow porous volcanic soil on top of steep volcanos, the rains resulted in floods and landslides, making thousands homeless, and killing over 1000 people.

I worked for Planeta en Línea, a non-profit Internet Cafe in San Pedro la Laguna. The organization operates public internet cafes for local residents and foreign travelers. They offer free internet service to a school in town, and employ 5 San Pedranos. One of my coworkers, Ventura, had the foundation washed out from under his house, setting him back from the dream of completing it. Here's what his boss, Ben Sywulka says:

Ventura was close to finishing his house and I believe he might have been sort of living in it. The water flowed down like a river and basically undermined the entire foundation of his house. As you can see in the picture, the floor exists no more. I'm not entirely sure what the correct architectural process will be to fix it - or how much it will cost, but it is clear that he will need help. He's been saving up to build this house for a long time. Another major need will be income and food - as many of the crops used for food and income were washed away. I'm trying to think of a good long-term solution to that one. Hope this helps a bit. Thanks again. -Ben

Sometimes people ask you to donate for a far off cause, and it is hard to understand how your donation will be used. This is a chance to donate to a particular need: Ventura needs to get back where he was, and finish his house. I'd like to help him. I'd like your help too.

I'll be sending a contribution to Planeta en Línea's US-based parent organization, Planet Outreach. They will pass my donations, and others they receive, to Planeta en Línea, where they will be given to Ventura as a grant to help him rebuild his house. Please help me return the gift that the people of the Lake Atitlan region gave to me: friendship.

Jeff Allen
jra@nella.org

PlanetOutreach
2365 Auburn Ave.,
Cincinnati, OH 45219

Lush vegetation and steep hillsides make Lake Atitlan one of the world's most beautiful lakes.

Many of the houses were of wood, tin and thatch, now gone.

The mud was 12 feet or more deep in places.

God bless Panabaj.

The source of the landslide.

The sad results.

The damage to Ventana's unfinished house.