My Story

It is a blessing to share a little bit about my life with you through this letter. I am Jacinta Veronica, and I hope you are doing well. I am twelve years old, and at the moment, I do not attend church. However, an evangelism teacher of LW shared the gospel with my mother and me to encourage us to gather with other people and know the Lord. He also collected this information for you. I want to take advantage of this moment to tell you that this project means a lot of blessings to us. The staff of LW provides us with delicious lunches and gifts for Christmastime. The people who I live with are my mother and my youngest brother Walter. Unfortunately, my biological father abandoned me many years ago. My mother established another relationship with Mr. Rodolfo de la Cruz, who is the father of my brother. He lived with us for over eight years, although he decided to leave us about six months ago. Now, he is in the United States and has another family. Despite this, he sometimes sends some money to my brother. My mother is Laura Barrera, and she is 30 years old. She is very hardworking. She washes clothes for other people, raises and sells hens, and sometimes travels to the city to work as a domestic employee. We live at the house of her brother Domingo, who works in the United States. My mother pays him Q300 = $38.45 for rent.

When she has to travel for some months to the city because of work, my brother and I stay under the care of my aunt. We are a humble family, and our priorities are food supplies, like corn. Nevertheless, we try to survive by growing corn and beans for our consumption. Thankfully, my whole family and I are healthy. I am in fourth grade now, and I prefer to receive face-to-face classes because I learn my lessons better than studying at home. Fortunately, my mother does not spend much money to buy my school supplies in our village. I am still younger, but I wish to work in the United States to help my family economically when I am older. Therefore, I also hope to learn how to speak English someday. I love celebrating Christmastime! I can enjoy delicious tamales (this is a typical dish) together with my family. Natural juices are good, but there is nothing more cooling than a glass of orange juice. My birthday was in March, and what I love doing the most is eating a delicious cake along with my loved ones. There are many sports, but my favorite is soccer. I say goodbye to you now, but if you want to hear something else about my life, feel free to ask me. See you later!

Many kisses and hugs,

Jacinta Veronica Morente Barrera

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Antigua Guatemala