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. This child lives on top of an old rubbish dump in Zone 5 of Guatemala City. It is an extremely dangerous area where criminals, prostitutes and drug addicts live.

Hello, it is so nice to greet you and share some information with you. My name is Marllory Dadiana Can Chub. I was born on March 12, 2020. I am five years old now. I am not attending school this year; hopefully, I can attend next year. I love playing outside with him and my oldest sister, Kimberly Marleny. We like playing soccer. I also love playing pretend kitchen and playing with my dolls. My favorite thing at school is coloring. My favorite color is pink, because it is so pretty. I also love eating chicken and beans. They often serve us chicken and black beans in the program, and it is always so delicious. I live with my siblings and my mom and dad in a small house. My dad’s name is Manuel Domingo Can Sub. He is the one who provides for our family with what he earns as a maintenance and gardens keeper at a company. My mom does not work, because she stays home to take care of me and my siblings. She also works at home to do the housework and chores. 

Our house is made of cinderblock, and we have a small terrace on the roof and a concrete floor. There are six rooms in the house, but we only rent one of the rooms for my family. It costs Q800.00 per month ($104), and thankfully, we have running water and lights included with the rent. Sadly, we don’t have any pets at home. I would like to have a cat, because cats are my favorite animal. They are so cute and nice. I want to tell you that we are a needy family. We go through some difficult times, but God always provides, and he has kept us in good health. Our biggest needs are groceries and shoes for school. Also, we would love to be able to buy a bunkbed so we can save some space in our home. My siblings and I always walk to the program each week. It takes us 20 minutes to get there. We love going together and eating the food they serve us. It is always very good. We also get to see the doctor when we need to, and we always have a prayer before we eat. I love being a part of the program. It is a blessing to me and my family. I hope you have enjoyed reading my information and learning a little bit about me. I hope God will bless you and your loved ones. Thank you for your heart that loves God’s people in Guatemala. I send you a big hug and many blessings.

With much love,

Marllory Dadiana Can Chub

Translated by: Olivia Gallardo, Missionary Intern