My Story

JT2482

Jocotenango, where your child lives, is in the state of Sacatepéquez, Guatemala and is a suburb of Antigua. It is an urban environment and is inhabited by both Quiché Indians and Ladinos (those with mixed European ancestry). Most of the children attend school, but financial hardship affects many families and forces most of the children to leave after the sixth grade. Only two out of ten children finishes high school. Children in this area face temptations from gangs and drugs.

Hello, my name is Ian Santiago Valle Jimenez. I was born on June 12, 2014 and I am 4 years old. I have a twin brother named Raul. I am in good health and I attend the Jocotenango feeding program. My father’s name is Hector David Valle Garcia and he works as a blacksmith in Ciudad Vieja (it is a town located near Antigua Guatemala). My mother’s name is Ruth Elizabeth Jimenez Alvarez and she is a teacher in a project called ¨La Esperanza¨ (the hope). Both of my parents are in good health. We rent the house where we live. It is made of cement blocks with a tin roof and a granite floor. It is only one room and all of us sleep together in this room. We have a bathroom outside our house and a place where we can cook.  Our grandfather lives with us. He is actually a carpenter, but he is not working at this time.  He is the one who takes care of us while my parents work. When he does have work, he helps to pay the household expenses. We do not have any animals at our home. In addition to my twin brother, I also have 2 sisters. My siblings and I have to walk for about 15 minutes to get to the feeding program. I am in kindergarten this year. After school, I like to play toy cars and to color. My favorite color is blue, and my favorite animal is the dog. The foods that I like to eat the most are beans and sausage. My family attends a catholic church.

With much love and many blessings,

Ian Santiago Valle Jimenez

Translated by Edwina Lyons/Living Water Missionary