My Story

Duenas, where your child lives, is a small farming village located at the foot of one of Guatemala's active volcanoes, Fuego (Fire). The fertile ground around the village allows for the cultivation of roses and coffee, two of Guatemala's largest exports. Most of the families in this area live in one or two room wooden or adobe houses with tin roofs. Electricity is available to those who can afford it. Running water is available - however, most homes do not have indoor plumbing. Public education is available for those who can afford it and consider education of value. Life in Duenas is quiet and sometimes difficult.

It is my pleasure to greet you, and I hope you find my letter interesting! Let me introduce myself and share a little about me. This is Eymelin Monserrath Godinez Xulu. My birthdate is on January 24, 2021. My current age is 5 years old. I have only one brother. I am so happy to say that my family and I are in good health. Evelyn Sucely Xulu Reyes is my mother. She is a housewife; however, she goes to do clean in a house twice a week to get some income. Milton Omar Godinez Yapan is my father. He works as a construction assistant, and he provides for our home needs. We are members of the Vision of Faith Church of Noah's Ark.

I am still not attending school, and I usually stay at home and I like coloring. I love eating hamburgers, and the animal I like the most is the giraffe. My favorite color is pink. We are living in my grandparents’ house. There are two apartments, my grandparents use one of them and use the other. The walls and roof are made of metal sheets with a cement floor. There is water and electricity services, and my parents pay for them every month. Each of the apartments have separate services. As a family, our greatest need is medical care because when some of us get sick it is hard to buy medicines. I am so grateful to be enrolled in the feeding program because I will receive medical care, especially because I suffer from cough. I walk for 30 minutes to arrive at the program, but I enjoy going to the program. That is all for now, and I would like to hear news from you soon. Many abundant blessings over you!

With all my love,

Eymelin Monserrath Godinez Xulu

Translated by: Violeta Hernandez, A-A-C Secretary-Antigua