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.

I am so excited to share my information this time! My name Debora Magdalena Gomez Garcia. I was born on September 26^th of 2016, in Zacualpa, Quiche, Guatemala. I turn 9 years old this year. My father´s name is Francisco Gomez Mucia. He struggles to provide for our family; he works both as a farmer and day laborer in our village. My mother´s name is Magdalena Garcia Gutierrez de Gomez. She usually does the housework and takes care for our family. We raise hens and a cow. Our pet is a dog. I have two brothers and one sister. My mother has had diabetes for about 8 years, and she also suffers from Helicobacter pylori. Thanks to God, she is under medical treatment.

I am a second-grade student this year. My hobby is playing with toy dishes. I love the color purple, and the animal I like the most is the panda. My favorite meal is ground meat. As for my health, I recently had a urinary infection, and fortunately, I received medicines for it; now, I am feeling much better. My family and I are attending Restoration Ebenezer Christian Church. Fortunately, my father owns the house in which we live. There are two rooms and a separated kitchen. It is an adobe house with a tile roof and a dirt floor. We have running water and electricity services, and my father pays for them. For now, our greatest needs are groceries and clothes. I am so happy to attend the feeding program and receive tasty meals. My father takes me by motorcycle and I arrive in 10 minutes. I say goodbye to you for now, and I hope to hear news from you. May our Lord bless you!

With all my love,

Debora Magdalena Gomez Garcia

Translated by: Violeta Hernandez / A-A-C Secretary-Antigua Guatemala