My Story

Zacualpa is a small but busy village in a mountain valley. The village is inhabited by both Quiche Mayans and Ladinos (those with mixed European ancestry). The prevalent language is Spanish. Families in this village live in one or two room homes generally constructed of either wood or adobe. Although many of the people are farmers, the village contains several small specialized stores, a body repair shop for buses, mechanics, plumbers and many other small-town tradesmen. It also has a large open-air market which serves much of the area. Even with all of this, the poverty level is very high and the children are very needy.

Hello! It is such a blessing to greet you through this letter. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my information. My name is Jonatan Joel Abdias Jimon Gomez and I was born on June 6, 2022. Because of my young age, I still do not attend school. My favorite pastime is playing with toy cars. I love having sausages, spaghetti, or rice for my meals. My favorite color is blue and I like cats. I live with my parents and young brother. I have no sisters. Thankfully, we are all in good health and attend a Christian Church called Ebenezer.

My father works in a pharmacy, while my mother keeps busy doing the chores. Their names are Joel Jimon Osorio and Heidy Elizabeth Gomez Chingo. To earn a little extra income, my mother raises and sells chickens. We live with my maternal grandparents and one aunt at their house. My parents contribute to cover the household expenses. The house is made of adobe walls with tin sheet roof and concrete floors. It has three rooms, a separate kitchen, electricity, and running water. The feeding program is about fifteen minutes away from where I live. My mother usually accompanies me. We get there on foot, but we sometimes take a bus. This is all for now, but I hope to hear from you soon.

Huge hugs,

Jonatan Joel Abdias Jimon Gomez

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Guatemala