My Story

Zacualpa is a small but busy village in a mountain valley.  The village is inhabited by both Quiché Indians 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.

My name is Victoria Adriana Jimon Simaj. I greet you cordially and hope that you are blessed by our Lord Jesus. I was born in Joyabaj, Quiche on April 30, 2021, so I am 4 years old. I like to play with dolls and also help my mother wash dishes at home. I love pink color and cats. My favorite food is fried chicken. I have five brothers and one sister. I am happy because two of them are registered in the Feeding Center and we walk fifteen minutes along with my mother to arrive there. Her name is Luisa Jimon Simaj, and she earns a living by selling home-made food and hot drinks. She is the only one that supports us financially because my biological father abandoned my mother when she was pregnant with me. So, I only have my mother`s last names. Now, he has another family and he is not supporting my family financially. For my mother, it is so difficult to cover all our needs and we frequently are in need of groceries and clothing. Thankfully, she is in good health and my whole family is too. We are attending the Methodist Christian Church.

We live in my aunt`s house and we have one room and one kitchen. The walls are made of block with a tin sheet roof and cemented floors. We have running water and electricity. My mother pays for those services. It was a pleasure to tell you a little about my family and my life. I hope you enjoy reading it. Blessings to you!

In Jesus’ name,

Victoria Adriana Jimon Simaj

Translated by:  Gladys Chavez / A-A-C Secretary-Antigua