My Story

Zacualpa is a small but busy village in a mountain valley. Both Quiche Mayans and Ladinos (those with mixed European ancestry) inhabit the village. The prevalent language is Spanish. Families in this village live in one or two room homes usually constructed of either wood or adobe. Although many of the people are farmers, the village contains several small and 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 extremely high, and the children are very needy.

Special regards to all of you! My full name is Angel Gabriel Osorio de la Cruz, and it is a joy to write this letter to share with you a little about my life. I was born on March 23, 2014. Fortunately, I am a healthy 10-year-old boy. I am in fourth grade, and I love playing soccer with my friends in my free time. My favorite color is black. I like dogs, and my favorite food is chicken broth. The people who I live with are my mom, brother, and stepfather. I only have one brother. My stepfather is Abraham Bartolo de la Cruz. He makes a living by carrying people or heavy packages from one place to another in his car. He covers all the expenses and needs at home. My mother is Paulina Osorio de la Cruz. She keeps busy doing the housework and raises domestic animals to sell. She does her best to help at home with her income. However, it has been challenging to survive because everything is expensive. Some of our frequent needs are corn, groceries, and shoes. As for my biological father, let me tell you that he abandoned my mom before I was born. Therefore, I only have her last name.

My family and I are Christians and attend the Sovereign King Christian Church. The house where we live belongs to my stepfather. We also share it with his parents. The house is made of concrete blocks, a concrete roof, and a granite floor. It has four rooms, a separate kitchen, electricity, and running water. We have hens, two pigs, and two dogs at home. The feeding program is a ten-minute walk from where I live. The project is a great blessing for me, so I am glad to be part of it. I say goodbye to you now, but I would like to hear from you soon. 

With much love,

Angel Gabriel Osorio de la Cruz

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary