My Story

Jocotenango, where your child lives, is in the state of Sacatepéquez, Guatemala and is a suburb of Antigua. It is an urban environment and is inhabited by both Quiché Mayans and Ladinos (those with mixed European ancestry). Most of the children attend school, but financial hardship affects many families and forces most of the children to leave after the sixth grade. Only one out of ten children finish high school. Children in this area face temptations from gangs and drugs.

Hello! My name is Jeremy Jeancarlos Perez Chocon. I am a healthy child who was born on January 23, 2011. Currently, I am 12 years old, and I am in 5^th grade. I stay at home playing basketball in my free time. I love the color green, and I like elephants. My favorite food is lasagna. I have two brothers and four sisters. My family and I attend LW Church called Liberty. My father’s name is Tomy Wilson Perez Mendoza, and he has been in the United States for eight years. He works as a mason there to support us. My mother’s name is Olga Veronica Chocon Jimenez de Perez, and she also left for the United States two years ago.  She works as a waitress in a restaurant to help with the income. My oldest sister, Karen, is who takes care of me and covers my needs with the money that our parents send. She works as a dental assistant at LW Dental Clinic in the mornings, and she has another job in the afternoons.

We live in a rented house, and we pay Q2,000.00 quetzals (about $267) per month. The house has three rooms and a separate kitchen, and it is made of concrete block with a concrete roof and ceramic floor. Thankfully, we have running water and electricity services. We have one cat as a pet. Our frequent needs are groceries. I walk for 10 minutes to arrive at the feeding program. My sister, Karen, helped me to give this information to a LW Evangelism teacher. I thank you for reading my little letter, and I hope you find it interesting.

Many blessings

Jeremy Jeancarlos Perez Chocon

Translated by: Loyda de Osorio/A-A-C Secretary, Antigua Guatemala