My Story

Jocotenango, where my family and I live, is in the state of Sacatepequez, Guatemala, and is a suburb of Antigua. It is an urban environment inhabited by both Quiche Mayans 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 one out of ten children finish high school. Children in this area face temptations from gangs and drugs.

My name is Frankli Brayan Vicente Lucas, and I want to tell you about my life. I was born on May 21st, 2015, in Santa Cruz del Quiche, Guatemala. I am healthy and am a first-grade student. I enjoy painting my drawings in my spare time, and my favorite dish is rice with chicken. My favorite color is blue, and my favorite animal is the parrot. I live with my parents, and I have one brother and one sister. Thankfully, they are doing well. My father’s name is Miguel Angel Vicente Simaj. He works for other people by tending a shoe shop in the market of Antigua to cover our necessities with his income. My mother’s name is Lilia Maria Lucas Osorio, and she also works hard at home and takes care of my siblings and me. We attend a Christian Church called Prince of Peace.

We live in a rented house with four other families. Its walls and ceilings are comprised of concrete blocks, and the floors are ceramic. My father pays Q600.00 quetzals=$76.40 dollars monthly for one room; this amount also covers the payment of running water and electricity services. We sleep and prepare our meals in the same room. My family and I moved from El Quiche to San Isidro, Jocotenango because my both parents want to give my sibling and me better life opportunities. We are facing economic difficulties nowadays, so I would like to count on your prayers. Despite hardships, God has been watching over many families and children like me through Living Water. The feeding program is a 15-minute walk from where I live. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my information. I hope to receive a letter or a picture from you soon.

From the bottom of my heart,

Frankli Brayan Vicente Lucas

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary/Antigua