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.

Hello, first, I want to thank you for taking the time to read my letter. I send you my best wishes and hope you are doing well. This is Joselin Cecilia Mishel de la Cruz Pacheco. I am a healthy eight-year-old boy and I was born in September 9, 2017. I attend school in second grade. In my spare time, I enjoy playing hide-and-seek. I love cats and my favorite color is pink. The most delicious meal for me is ground meat. Our family consists of my father, my stepmother and half-sister. My mother abandoned us about six years ago. My father is Josias Horacio de la Cruz Jimon, and he earns a living working as a plumber. My mother is Maria Pacheco Panjoj but she does not live with us. She remarried with her new partner. She works as a domestic employee but she does not help or visit me. My stepmother is Maria Mulul Velasquez. she has lived with us for about three years. She has her own tortillas business and she helps my father with our expenses. I have two siblings but they live with my mother. I have a half-sister who lives with me. We are members of a Cristian Church called “The Complete Gospel”.  Thanks to God, we are in good health.

We live in our own house and we share it with my paternal grandmother and my uncles. There are two rooms and a separate kitchen made of adobe, tile roof and concrete floor.  We do not have running water or electricity. My uncle shares these services with us, and my father helps him to pay for them. We raise hens and pigs to sell. Our greatest needs right now are groceries and clothing for Joselin. We walk about 20 minutes to arrive at the feeding program. I say goodbye to you for now! I hope to receive news from you soon. God bless you!

Kisses and hugs,

Joselin de la Cruz

Translated by: Lucia Gravez/AAC Secretary