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! I am Leyver Edison Gutierrez Riz and I fondly greet you through this letter. I was born on December 7, 2016. I am a healthy boy and I attend fourth grade. I love playing soccer in my free time. My favorite color is red and I like tigers. What I love eating the most is chow mein. I am so happy for being part of the feeding program. I usually walk for 30 minutes from where I live to get there. About my family, I want you to know that my mother works hard as a domestic employee to contribute to the household chores. Her name is Gregoria Riz Uz and she is doing well. She established a relationship with a good man about six years.

My stepfather’s name is Rolando Garcia Hernandez and he is doing well. He makes a living as a farmer to support our family. Sadly, I know nothing about my biological father. His name is Felix Jonathan Gutierrez Ruiz and he abandoned us about seven years ago. My family and I live in a rented house, which costs Q600=$78.71 monthly. It is made of concrete block with a tile roof and concrete floor. It has one room, a separate kitchen, and electricity. We get water from a well, which is at the house. We are a needy family and most of our needs are groceries, clothes, and shoes. So please, pray for us. It is time to say goodbye, but I hope you enjoyed my information.

Huge hugs,

Leyver Edison Gutierrez Riz

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Guatemala