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, it is a pleasure to greet you. I was recently enrolled in the feeding program from Chixocol and I am very happy about this. Please let me to tell you about my life and family. My name is Maria Gricelda Celestina Panjoj Nix, and I am now 7 years old. I am attending kindergarten at school this year. My favorite color is pink and the animal that I like the most is the sheep. I like to eat black beans with egg. I enjoy playing dolls. I am grateful that my family and I are in good health. My father struggles to support our family by driving a tuc-tuc (motocycle taxi). His name is Jose Panjoj Aguilar. My mother is Juana Nix Ordoñez, and she stays at home taking care of us. She also raises hens and one pig. We attend a Cristian church. I have four siblings and two of them are part of the feeding program.

We live in our own house. There is one room and a separate kitchen. The house is made of adobe and wood walls, tile roof and dirt floor. Thank God, we have electricity but not running water. My uncles share the running water with us and my father pays for it. I want to ask for your prayers for God to help us to get our own running water in the future. Our main needs at the moment are groceries and corn. It takes me about 30 minutes to get to the feeding program. My mother helped me to give my information. I say you good bye for now hoping to hear from you soon!

God bless you

Maria Gricelda Celestina Panjoj Nix

Translated by: Lucia Gravez/AAC Secretary