My Story

DU-2108

Dueñas, where your child lives, is a small farming village located at the foot of one of Guatemala's active volcanoes, Fuego (Fire).  The fertile ground around the village allows for the cultivation of roses and coffee, two of Guatemala's largest exports.  Most of the families in this area live in one or two room wooden or adobe houses with tin roofs.  Electricity is available to those who can afford it.  Running water is available - however, most homes do not have indoor plumbing.  Life in Dueñas is quiet.

Hello, my name is Kimberly Damaris Guzman Gomez.  I was born on November 14, 2009 and I am 9 years old.  I am in good health.  I attend the Duenas feeding program.   I have a twin sister named Kimberly Belinda.  I also have two other siblings.  My biological father only legally recognized my oldest sibling.  He never legally recognized the rest of us nor does he support us financially. His name is Carlos Darwin Guzman. My mother is in jail since last year. We live with my aunt and uncle. They are the ones who take care of us.  My aunt’s name is Maria Evelia Gomez, and her husband’s name is Nicolas Julajuj.  He is a guard at a farm called Costa Sol.  My aunt works in a large store called Deposito San Miguel.  She also collects firewood, picks coffee beans and fertilizes plants to earn money for our expenses.  One of her children also works in order to help the family economically.  We live on the San Sebastian coffee farm. We do not pay rent because my great grandmother worked a lot for this farm, so we are allowed to live here on the same land with her.  Our house is made of cane with a tin sheet roof and dirt floor.  We have electricity and water.  There are four rooms in total for my great grandmother, my aunt and my family.  We all share the same kitchen.  We have rabbits, chickens and dogs at our house.  I walk for about twenty minutes to get to the feeding program.  I am repeating 1^st grade this year.  In my spare time, I like to play with toy dishes.  My favorite color is red, and my favorite animals are ducks.  The food that I like to eat the most is fried chicken.  Currently, my family and I do not attend any church.

With much love and many blessings,

Kimberly Damaris Guzman Gomez

Translated by Edwina Lyons, Living Water Missionary