My Story

Chixocol, where your child lives, is a very small village nestled in a mountain valley in the state of Quiché, Guatemala. Life in this state is very difficult. Most families live in one-room adobe houses with dirt floors and a small, attached kitchen. The extremely poor live in houses made of corn stalks. In the past few years, electricity and water have become available to most people in the area - however, indoor plumbing is very rare. Most of the families are farmers or shepherds and live off the fruits of their labors. Public education is available for those who can afford it and consider it of value.  Life in Quiché is always a challenge.

 It is a pleasure to greet you in name of Jesus. I feel so excited to be part of the Feeding Program. My name is Merlin Esmeralda Garcia de la Cruz. I was born on October 2, 2017. Now, I am 7 years old. This year I am in kindergarten at school. I enjoy playing with dolls. My favorite color is purple. I love rabbits and I like to eat fried chicken. I am in good health. My father is Carlos Garcia Lopez, and sadly he separated from my mother one year ago. However, he continues supporting our family working as a farmer on the coast, and he keeps in touch with us. My mother is Maria Isabel de la Cruz Toj, and she already has a new partner. His name is Juan Carlos Argueta Gutierrez, and he works as a mason and helps with our expenses while my mother stays at home taking care of us. She also weaves typical items, and sometimes, she leaves to wash clothing for others. I have 4 siblings and two of them are part of the feeding program. I do not attend any church.

My family and I live in the house of my grandmother. There are four rooms made of adobe and block walls, tin sheet roof and cement floor. We have running water and electricity. My mother helps to cover these services. At home, we have hens. Our main needs are shoes, corn and groceries. I walk for about 10 minutes to come to the feeding program.

Blessings

Merlin Esmeralda Garcia de la Cruz

Translated by: Lucia Gravez/AAC Secretary