My Story

Chixocol, where your child lives, is a very small village nestled in a mountain valley in the state of Quiché, Guatemala. Life in this state is very difficult. Most families live in one-room adobe houses with dirt floors and a small, attached kitchen. The extremely poor live in houses made of corn stalks. In the past few years electricity and water have become available to most people in the area - however, indoor plumbing is very rare. Most of the families are farmers or shepherds and live off the fruits of their labors. Public education is available for those who can afford it and consider it of value.  Life in Quiché is always a challenge.

Hello! My name is Juan Luis Anderson Barrera Chingo, and I was born on March 27, 2016. I am now 7 years old, and I am in 1^st grade this year. I am in good health, and I enjoy playing with my toy cars in my free time. My favorite food is fried chicken. I love the color blue, and I like snakes. My family and I are not attending a church. I only have one brother. My father’s name is Luis Felipe Barrera Toj, and my mother’s name is Vilma Chingo de la Cruz. My dad left to go to the United States two years ago, and unfortunately, he separated from my mom. I have communication with him once or twice a month, and he only sometimes supports me financially; he works in the construction area. My mom also left for the United States one year ago. Fortunately, she calls me every two days and sends money for my needs every fifteen days; she is working as a maid. I stay under the care of my maternal grandmother, Margarita de la Cruz; she raises domestic animals and sells snacks at school.

I live in my grandmother’s house, and we share it with one aunt and two cousins. The house has three rooms and a separate kitchen, and it is made of concrete block with a tin sheet roof and concrete floor. Thankfully, we have running water and electricity services. We have hens and pigs as domestic animals. Our frequent needs are groceries. The feeding program is located 15 minutes aways from our house, and I take a moto-taxi to get there. I tell you that my grandmother helped me to give this information to an Evangelism teacher. I hope you can read my letter and find it interesting.

Kisses and hugs

Juan Luis Anderson Barrera Chingo

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