Hello, my name is Feliciana Alvarado Viuda de Vargas. 

I am a single mother/grandmother.  I am 69 years old.  I live in a community in Guatemala called Duenas.  I attend Four Square Church, but I go to the monthly devotional/dinner at the Liberty Church campus in Duenas once a month.  I live very close to the campus, about a 2-minute walk. I was born in Parramos in 1950.  Sadly, now I am a widow.  My husband passed away about 14 months ago.  We were married for 48 years.  I have a total of 11 children: four sons and seven daughters.  All of them have their own homes and families to care for.  All of my sons try to help me each month with just a little bit of money.  Two of my sons work in a plant nursery from 8:00am to 5:00 pm.  One son works in a hospital for people with special needs, and he helps with my medicines.  I also raise chickens and sell them to earn money for my expenses.

I live in a house with my daughter and my grandson.  I am the one who is in charge of the care of my grandson.  His father abandoned the family some years ago.  My grandson did not want to live with his father, so he chose to live with my daughter and me.  My daughter has another husband now, but he has not been a very good worker.  Thanks to God, now he is changing little by little.  My grandson is 15 years old and is still attending school.  My daughter and I are doing our best to pay his school expenses, but it is not easy.  We live in a house located near the plant nursery.  We do not have to pay rent because we work at the nursery.  We have running water and electricity.  One of my sons pays for these services.  Our house has three rooms and two kitchens that are separated from the house.  I sleep in one room, my daughter sleeps in one and my grandson sleeps in the other.  The house is wood with a tin roof.  Two of the rooms have a cement floor, but my room has a dirt floor. 

I am in pretty good health for my age.  I suffer from pain in my bones when it is cold and damp.   At times, I also have some trouble with my nerves.  When I need medical attention, I go to the Municipal Hospital.   I love to talk to people.  Some people say that I am a brave speaker because I like to speak in public.  At the monthly meals here at the campus church in Duenas, I have actually taken the microphone a couple of times to publicly thank all of those who have provided our meals and our devotions and to thank our wonderful Lord and Savior for such a blessing.  My most immediate need at this moment is for about 12 feet of tin for the roof in my room.

Love and blessings,

Feliciana Alvarado Viuda de Vargas

Translated by: Edwina Lyons/AAC Missionary