My Story

Chixocol, where your child lives, is a very small village nestled in a mountain valley in the state of Quiche, Guatemala. Life in this state is very difficult and somewhat isolated from the outside world. 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 Quiche is always a challenge.

Hello! My full name is Glendy Azucena de la Cruz Simaj and I was born on April 19, 2018. I am in first grade and fortunately, I am in good health. My favorite animal is the cat and I love playing with my dolls. I like the color pink and my favorite food is fried chicken. Now, let me tell you about my family. We attend a Christian Church called Prince of Peace. My father’s name is Roberto de la Cruz Ruiz. He works as a farmer and day laborer in our village to support our family. To earn extra money, he travels to the coast and cuts sugar cane from November to May. I beg you to pray for my father because he suffers from gastritis. His health condition has not improved because he is not consistent with his treatment. My mother’s name is Catarina Simaj Benito. She is healthy and dedicates her full time to taking care of our family. She also raises and sells chickens to help my father with the household expenses. Our priorities are groceries.

My family and I live at my aunt's house. The name of my aunt is Marta Simaj. We share the expenses for the services with her. The house is made of concrete blocks with a tin sheet roof and a ceramic floor. It has four rooms, a separate kitchen, electricity, and running water. I am glad because I am already part of LW-Adopt a Child. The feeding program is about 15 minutes from my house. My mom and I usually get there on foot. This is all for now, but I send you a huge hug. Until next time!

Kind regards,

Glendy Azucena de la Cruz Simaj

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary/Antigua Guatemala