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.

Hello! I am Esvin Alejandro Benito Lopez and I greet you in this opportunity hoping you are doing fine when my little story reaches you. I was born in Zacualpa, Quiche on October 13, 2019, so I will turn 6 years old soon. I am in Pre-Kindergarten at school. I enjoy playing toy cars and I love blue color and cats. My favorite food is fried chicken. I only have one brother. I am so happy because I am registered in the Feeding Center and my maternal aunt accompanies me. We arrive by bus in twenty minutes. My family and I are enjoying good health. I live under my mother`s care because my father is working in a grocery store in Guatemala City. He lives there and comes to visit us twice a year, but he calls us three times per week. His name is Juan Benito Riz and my mother`s name is Petrona Lopez Lopez. She is a housewife and dedicates her time to taking care of our family. So, my father is the only one that sustains the house financially, and due to this, our frequent needs are groceries. Thankfully, we are persevering in the Prince of Peace Christian Church and we believe in God.

The house where we live belongs to my maternal grandmother and we share it with my maternal grandparents and aunts. We have five rooms and one kitchen which are made of adobe walls, tin sheet roof and dirt floors. We have electricity and we get water from an artisanal well. My parents pay the electricity service monthly.  We have hens at home, and we would like to have more chicks too. Thank you for taking the time to read my little story and may God bless you and take care of you wherever you are. My best wishes are for you!

A bunch of hugs,

Esvin Alejandro Benito Lopez

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