My Story

I will start by giving you thanks for taking the time to read my update. I walk for two hours to arrive to the feeding program. I am Antonio but everybody affectionately calls me Antonito. I am 12 years old and my birthday was in June. I take classes in my village and I am a fourth-grade student. My school is about thirty minutes away from my home. I love Artistic Expression but Communication and Language is a little difficult for me. Since my school is closed for Covid-19, my teacher comes every week to bring me homework. In my free time, I help with the duties at home.

The people who live in the house are my great grandmother, sister and me. Unfortunately, we do not know anything about my father. My mother is the only one that supports us. She works by making tortillas in Guatemala City. She usually comes home every two months to visit us. However, she has not been able to come for 4 months due to the pandemic situation because there is no public transportation. She is sad because she has not seen us but at least she can call us every day. Meanwhile, we stay under the care of our great grandmother but she does not work because she is an elderly woman. We are not members of any Church, but we are grateful to God because we all are in good health. In spite of the hard health situation that we are currently facing in our country, our Lord has been taking care of us. We trust in our Lord's mercy and that He will put His healing hands over all people who are suffering during this pandemic. I would like to receive a letter from you and have the opportunity to share our life experiences with each other.

Thinking of you!

Antonio Garcia

AAC NOTE: After the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in our country (March 13, 2020), our President ordered the closure of all the schools in order to prevent children becoming affected by this virus. We do not know when the schools will open again.  However, most of the schools are assigning homework to their students to cover the content for the current school year. As a team, we are praying that God takes control of this situation soon so that we may continue on with our lives.

Translated by: Mireya de Sandoval, AAC Secretary/Antigua