My Story

First, thank you so much for taking the time to read my letter. My name is Juan Ricardo, and I want to share a little about my life with you. I hope this finds you doing well. My family and I attend the Full Gospel Church every Tuesday. We already accepted Jesus in our hearts as our Savior. Thankfully, we are all healthy. My father, Juan Mendez, is 37 years old. He supports our family as a day laborer. He usually travels to the coast to work and get extra income. My whole family and I travel with him for about four or five months. My mother, Petrona Morente, is 34 years old. She is a businesswoman; she helps my father to cover some expenses with her income. Nowadays, we need groceries at home, especially corn. We are grateful to LW because we have received so much help in the most challenging moments. For instance, I receive delicious lunches. We raise hens and pigs to sell in case of need. We also grow corn, beans, apples, and peaches for our consumption.

As for me, I want you to know that I am ten years old. My family and I do not have the costume to celebrate birthdays. Nowadays, I am in third grade. I agree to attend school because teaching is good and that helps me to learn so much better. Unfortunately, there are not enough good job opportunities in my village, so my parents have trouble covering my school needs. I am planning to become a businessman when I am older. I also would love to learn how to speak English. The rainy season is my favorite because fields turn green and I can play on the grass. I love drinking “atol de masa” (a typical hot beverage made of corn dough, sugar, cinnamon, and water). Soccer is the most popular sport in my country, so it is my favorite. To end this update, I want you to know that a teacher of the LW evangelism team spoke with my older brother, Daniel, to collect all this information for you. I say goodbye to you for now, but I hope to hear from you soon.

With much love,

Juan Ricardo Mendez Morente

Translated by: Hillary Popol / AAC Secretary / Antigua Guatemala