My Story

Dueñas, where your child lives, is a small farming village located at the foot of one of Guatemala's active volcanoes, Fuego (Fire). The fertile ground around the village allows for the cultivation of roses and coffee, two of Guatemala's largest exports. Most of the families in this area live in one or two room wooden or adobe houses with tin roofs. Electricity is available to those who can afford it. Running water is available - however, most homes do not have indoor plumbing. Public education is available for those who can afford it and consider education of value. Life in Dueñas is quiet and sometimes difficult.

Hello! It is a great blessing for me to introduce myself. My name is Madelline Daniela Pedro Gonzalez, and I am 6 years old. I was born on August 13, 2018. I suffer from sinusitis, but I am doing well thanks to the treatment that I have to take. I am in pre-kinder and my favorite color is pink. My favorite pastime is playing hide-and-seek with my siblings and friends. My favorite animals are cats, I like pizza, and my favorite fruits are strawberries. Now, let me tell you a little about my family. I have two brothers and one sister. My mom is Ingris Carolina Gonzalez Yoc. She makes a living by selling second-hand clothes in our town. She tries to help at home with her income. My father is Jairo Otoniel Pedro Pedro. He works hard in  Chimaltenango City to support our needs and expenses. He makes a living as a daily collection manager.

My relatives, on my father's side, live close to my house. When my parents go to work, my grandmother takes care of my siblings and me. We live in a rented house which costs Q900=$116.32 monthly. There is nobody else living with us. Besides the rent payment, my parents cover the running water and electricity bills. The house’s walls and roofs are made of tin sheets while the floors are concrete. It has two rooms and a separate kitchen. As for pets, let me tell you that we have a lovely cat at home. Please pray for my family and our needs. Some of our greatest needs are food, clothes, and shoes. We are Christians and attend church frequently. To end this letter, I want you to know that I am so happy to be part of the feeding program. My siblings and I usually walk ten minutes from our house to get there. I will leave you now, but I thank you so much for taking the time to read my information. 

Kisses and hugs,

Madelline Daniela Pedro Gonzalez

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Antigua Guatemala