My Story

Hello, my name is Jose Leonidas Lopez Hernandez. I am a single man. I am 55 years old. I live in a community in Guatemala called Duenas. I attend a catholic church. I walk about 15 minutes from my house to the feeding program. I was born in San Miguel Dueñas in 1971. I never married. I live in the house with my mother. I work as a farmer. I earn 50.00Q = 6.56$ per week. However, it is not a stable job. It is difficult for me because I must walk for around two hours and I have some problems walking. I am concerned about my family’s needs, but I trust in God and in his provision. Thank God, sometimes my two sisters help us with a plate of food. The house in which I live with my mother is not ours, but blessedly, we do not have to pay rent either. We live in a little space that one of my brothers lends us. There is one room and a little kitchen. I share the room with my mother.

The house in which we live is made of block walls, wood roof and dirt floor. We do not have our own services. One of my brothers shares them with us. We do not have to pay for electricity just for water. At home, we have some hens and roosters. My mother has a little space in which she raises them. About my health, I suffer from pain in my left knee because one year ago I was hit by a motorcycle and have not visited any doctor for lack of economic resources. My mother is not in the best of health. She suffers from permanent cough, and she does not have any medical treatment for lack of economic resources. She also suffers from pain in her legs due to her age. Now, I have some problems walking. I know that God can take control of my health. We are a family with many needs and some of them are medical attention and food. From the bottom of my heart, I say thank you for reading my letter.

Love and blessings,

Jose Leonidas Lopez Hernandez

Translated by: Magnolia Gómez /AAC Secretary - Guatemala