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.

My full name is Edwar Jordani De La Cruz Riz and I am glad to share my information. I just turned 7 years old. My birthdate is March 13, 2018. I am in first grade and my favorite color is yellow. I like feeding my grandmother's cows in my free time. I love having hamburgers and pizza for my meals. My favorite animal is the leopard. Now, I want to tell you about my family. I have one brother and one sister. My father’s name is Ruben Israel De La Cruz Jimon. He makes a living by carrying people from one place to another on his motorcycle. He does his best to provide us with all we need, but it is sometimes difficult. The most demanding of our needs is clothes. My mother’s name is Jessica Marina Riz Chingo de la Cruz. She is a housewife and dedicates part of her time to taking care of my grandmother’s cows. She also raises domestic animals at home. We have chickens, cats, and one dog as a pet. 

By the grace of the Lord, my parents and sister are doing well. As for me, let me tell you that I got bronchitis when I was a baby and since then, I get sick frequently. At the moment, I am doing well. I ask you to pray for my brother Gerardo. He has suffered from strabismus in his left eye since he had an accident a few years ago. It happened while he was playing. My parents took him to the doctor to improve his vision, but when the pandemic started, they could not attend the appointments. My family and I attend a Christian Church called Rock of Salvation. We live in our own house. It is made of concrete blocks with a tin sheet roof and a concrete floor. It has two rooms, a separate kitchen, electricity, and running water. We pay for the electricity every month and the water every year. The feeding program is about 10 minutes from my house. My father usually takes me there on his motorcycle. I feel blessed to be part of LW. It is time to say goodbye, but I hope to hear from you soon.

In the name of Jesus,

Edwar Jordani De La Cruz Riz

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary/Antigua Guatemala