My Story

Chixocol, where your child lives, is a very small village nestled in a mountain valley in the state of Quiché, 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 Quiché is always a challenge.

Hello! I am very happy to share my information through this. My full name is Herlinda Floricelda Esmeralda de la Cruz Morente. I do not have my father's last name because he had already traveled to the United States when I was born. I was born on March 24^th, 2021, in Zacualpa, Quiche, Guatemala. I am now 4 years old and I am healthy. Due to my young age, I am not attending school yet. For now, I enjoy playing tag and other games at home. My favorite color is pink and the animal I like the most is the duck. I love eating fried chicken. I live with my mother and two sisters. By the grace of God, my family is fine. I am very happy to be part of the feeding program and I get there by walking in 20 minutes. I will be attending the program with my grandmother, who is also enrolled in the WIN program.

My father is Daniel Elias Xirum. He has lived and worked in the USA for about four years. He does cleaning, but we do not know where he does it. Thankfully, he sends us financial support. My mother is Sara de la Cruz Morente. She takes care of the house and also raises hens, turkeys and pigs. We are members of the Rock of Salvation Methodist Church. The house in which we live belongs to my maternal grandmother; she lives there with some of my uncles. There are four adobe rooms, the roof is made of tin sheets, the floor is one part cement and the other is dirt. We use only one room, and my mother cooks inside in a gas stove. We have running water and electricity services; my father contributes to pay for those services. As a family, our greatest needs are groceries. Thank you for being interested in reading my letter. Many and rich blessings over you!

Kind regards,

Herlinda Floricelda Esmeralda de la Cruz Morente

Translated by: Violeta Hernandez, AAC Secretary / Antigua