My Story

Zacualpa is a small but busy village in a mountain valley. The village is inhabited by both Quiche Mayans and Ladinos (those with mixed European ancestry). The prevalent language is Spanish. Families in this village live in one or two room homes generally constructed of either wood or adobe. Although many of the people are farmers, the village contains several small specialized stores, a body repair shop for buses, mechanics, plumbers and many other small-town tradesmen. It also has a large open-air market which serves much of the area. Even with all of this, the poverty level is very high and the children are very needy.

Hello! My name is Carlos Wilmer Enrique De La Cruz Ventura and I am so excited to share with you a little bit about my life. I was born on October 31, 2018. Thankfully, I am in good health and I am in first grade. Some of my interests are soccer and drawing. I like the color blue. My favorite animals are dogs, and I love having sausages for my meals. I live with my parents and siblings. I have two sisters and one brother. We are members of the Catholic Church My father’s name is Carlos Humberto De la Cruz Calel and he is the main supporter of our family. He makes a living as a street sweeper for the municipality. Besides being a deaf man, he is doing well.

My mother’s name is Dominga Ventura Morente and she is a healthy housewife. She also sells chickens and pigs that she raises to contribute to the household expenses. We live in a two-room house with a separate kitchen, electricity, and a well to get water. The property belongs to my paternal grandparents. It is made of concrete blocks with tin sheet roof and concrete floors. My family and I live about a 20-minute walk from the feeding program. My mother accompanies me and we usually take a bus to get there. It is time to say goodbye, but I kindly ask you to pray for my family and our needs. Most of them are groceries. Until next time!

With much love,

Carlos Wilmer Enrique De La Cruz Ventura

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Guatemala