I fondly greet you in the name of Jesus. My name is Maria Rafaela Gomez, and I am glad to tell you about my father, Jose Valentin Gomez Otzin. He is 85 years old, and he is thankful to the Lord for keeping him alive and providing us with the daily bread. He made a living as a farmer for many years. He no longer continues because of his age. Besides that, he suffers from a lot of pain in his knees and has a hernia in his intimate parts. Please pray for him. My siblings and I have taken him to the doctor and bought his medicines, but he has not felt better. My brother, Jose Victor Gomez, makes a living as a farmer. He takes care of our father at his house. My father had five children, but just three of us can help him with food and money. My brother, Vicente, works as a day laborer. My sister, Maria de Jesus, washes and irons clothes for other people.  

As for me, let me tell you that I earn a little money by washing clothes for other people. I praise the Lord for giving me the strength to work and move forward. Besides helping with a little money, I also make my father's meals. My siblings and I get along well. We like having one of our meals alongside our father. My father grew up in a catholic family. For him, Jesus is God, the one who makes miracles. He likes all the activities that the church holds during Holy Week. This is all for now, but I want you to know that a member of the LW-AAC staff encouraged me to continue seeking God. I am a Christian woman and appreciate that she visited my father and me. I took advantage of the opportunity to share all this information to update you about my father’s life. May God bless you! 

Sincerely yours,  

Jose Valentin Gomez Otzin and daughter 

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Antigua Guatemala