My Story

Nueva Esperanza, which means New Hope, is located in a slum area of Guatemala City, Guatemala. An extremely poor area, our program is squeezed in among the shanty dwellings built over an old city dump. Many houses in this area are without toilets or running water and are assembled with scrap wood, sheet metal, and cardboard. Zone 5, where Nueva Esperanza is located, is considered one of the most dangerous areas of Guatemala City. It is controlled by gangs and drug pushers. Robberies and murders are common in this area. Public education is available - however, many cannot afford it. Life in Zone 5 is very difficult.

Hello! I greet you in the name of Jesus and I hope you are fine. Let me tell you a little about my life. My name is Eunice Abigail Bustamante Barrios, and I turned 10 years old on January 17. I am a fourth-grade student. In my spare time, I enjoy playing basketball. I am in good health. I love the color blue and my favorite animal is the puma. I like to eat pizza and hamburgers. My family is formed by: my father Axel Obed Bustamante Sosa, who struggles to support our family by working making backpacks. My mother is Dulce Maribi Barrios Arias, and she stays at home taking care of our family. I have two sisters and both of them attend the feeding program. Our greatest need is a new bed. My family does not attend any church.

We live in a rented house. There are two rooms and a separate kitchen made of tin sheet walls, tin sheet roof, concrete floor, running water and electricity. My father pays for rent Q. 500.00 quetzals ($66.00) monthly in addition he pays other home services. We have two cats and three dogs. I would like to ask for your prayers for God to provide my parents a new pair of glasses because mine accidentally broke. It takes me about 10 minutes from my house to the feeding program. I say goodbye to you for now until next time.

Yours very truly,

Eunice Abigail Bustamante Barrios

Translated by: Lucia Gravez/AAC Secretary