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.

I feel so grateful to be part of the Feeding program. I greet you hopping you are well. My name is Madelyn Yarely Mendez Gomez, and I turned 7 years old in August 8. This year, I am in kindergarten at school. I enjoy playing hide-and-seek. My favorite color is pink and I like dogs and cats. I love to eat spaghetti. My family and I attend a Christian church called Assembly of God. I want to tell you that my father left us about two years ago. He does not communicate or support us. My mother does her best working in a furniture store. I live in my grandmother´s house. There are three rooms made of adobe walls, tin sheet roof, cement floor, and there is not a separate kitchen. My mother cooks in the hallway. We have running water and electricity, and my grandmother pays for it. Our main needs are groceries. It takes me about ten minutes by bus to come to the feeding program. Thank God, all my family is well. My mother helped me to give my information. God bless you.

With much love

Madelyn Yarely Mendez Gomez

Translated by: Lucia Gravez/AAC Secretary