My Story

Chixocol, where your child lives, is a very small village nestled in a mountain valley in the state of Quiche, Guatemala. Life in this state is very difficult and somewhat isolated from the outside world. 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 Quiche is always a challenge.

Kind regards to you! My full name is Anderson Omar De La Cruz Lopez and I feel blessed to tell you about my life. I was born on December 17, 2020. I am 4 years old and I still do not attend school because of my age. I like the color red and I love having “tortitas de res” (hamburger patties) for my meals. My favorite hobbies are playing soccer and toy cars. I like domestic animals, but my favorite one is the horse. By the grace of the Lord, my whole family and I are doing well. We are members of Liberty Church. My father is Martin De La Cruz Cos. He makes a living as a blacksmith and repairs motorcycles and tuk-tuks. On the other hand, my mom embroiders typical blouses and takes care of our family. Her name is Lidia Esperanza Lopez Mucia. I am the youngest child at home. I have one sister but no brothers.

We live with my grandparents and great-grandmother. They are the owners of the house. It is made of concrete blocks with a tin sheet roof and a ceramic floor. The house has three rooms and a separate kitchen, but my family and I only use one room. Luckily, there is electricity and an artisanal well to get water. My parents pay half of the electricity bill. I ask you to pray for my family and our dreams. We would love to have our own house someday. The feeding program is about 10 minutes from my home. My mom and I usually get there on foot. Although I am a little shy, I like going there to have my meals and meet other children. To end this letter, I send you many kisses and hugs. I hope to hear from you soon. 

From the bottom of my heart,

Anderson Omar De La Cruz Lopez

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary/Antigua Guatemala