My Story

PENDING PHOTO 2022

Hello! My name is Tomas Chingo Gutierrez, and I am glad to greet you through this letter. Happily, I want you to know that I am 13 years old, live with my parents, and am in seventh grade. I receive face-to-face classes and hand in homework two or three times per week. Moreover, my parents top up the phone with internet plans because I use it to look for information and complete my tasks. Unfortunately, the lack of live classes has affected my school performance because I have not learned enough. However, I am doing my best. In my spare time, I help my mother with her business. She makes a living by selling fruits and “granizadas” (shaved ice with fruit-flavored); she uses this money to help my father with the expenses. Moreover, she does the chores and takes care of me. On the other hand, my father works hard as a farmer or day laborer to cover our necessities. All of us live in our own home; its walls are block and the roof and floor are concrete. This has two rooms, running water and a separate kitchen, and this is made of wood. We do not have electricity, but fortunately, one of our neighbors provides us with the service, and my parents pay for it every month.

My parents and I seldom spend much time together because they keep busy. However, we sometimes take time in the afternoon to eat a delicious snack. As you know, Covid-19 has changed and affected our world. In my family’s case, this has affected our economy because basic food has been expensive. Because of that, we have not been able to celebrate Christmas as we used to do; money has not been enough. Despite that, none of us has gotten the virus, and we are healthy. I want to tell you that my family and I are members of Prince of Peace Church, which is a twenty-five-minute walk. At the beginning of the pandemic, our church closed. But thank God, the leaders took special time for praying and organized services in open areas to keep everyone safe. Our Heavenly Father has always shown us His love and mercy. Proof of that is that Living Water blessed us with food parcels while the feeding program was closed. What I missed the most were attending the Bible classes and eating the tasty lunches, especially fried chicken. Thankfully, the program is opening again; this is a five-minute walk. This is all for now, but before saying goodbye, let me tell you that my father gave this information to an evangelism team member to share with you my last news. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my update. May God bless you for all that you have done for many children like me through Living Water/Adopt a Child!

With much love,

Tomas Chingo Gutierrez

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary/Antigua