My Story

Chixocol, where your child lives, is a very small village nestled in a mountain valley in the state of Quiché, Guatemala. Life in this state is very difficult. 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 Quiché is always a challenge.

Hello! My name is Emily Johanna Xon Gonzalez, and I want to share with you a little about my life. I was born on February 27, 2013, so I am 10 years old now. I am in good health, and I am in 3^rd grade this year. In my free time, I enjoy playing tag and dolls. My favorite color is pink, and I love cats. What I like to eat the most is black beans with rice and sausage. I have seven sisters, and two of them are part of the feeding program too. My father, Israel Xon Aguilar, works as a day laborer in our town to support us. My mother, Jacinta Gonzalez Guarcas, works hard at home and raises some domestic animals to sell. My family and I are attending Jesus Saves Assembly of God Church.

We live in our own house, and it has two rooms and a separate kitchen. The house is made of adobe with a tin sheet roof and concrete floor. Thankfully, we have running water and electricity services; my dad pays these bills. We have hens, pigs, ducks, dogs and cats as domestic animals. We are a humble family, and our frequent needs are groceries like corn. I walk for 40 minutes to arrive at the feeding program and enjoy a delicious lunch. I tell you that my dad helped me to give this information to a LW Evangelism teacher, and I am happy to be part of Living Water. I end this small letter hoping you find it interesting.

Many blessings

Emily Johanna Xon Gonzalez

Translated by: Loyda de Osorio/A-A-C Secretary, Antigua Guatemala