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. Let me introduce myself. My name is Sonia Mariliza Luis de la Cruz, and I am now 4 years old. I was born on March 30, 2020. I do not attend school yet, so I enjoy playing toy cars. My favorite color is purple and the cat is the animal that I like the most. I like to eat eggs with beans.  I love my family. My father is Rolando Luis Panjoj, and he earns a living as a motorcycle driver (tuc-tuc). My mother is Marleny de la Cruz Yat. She is a housewife and she stays at home taking care of us. She also raises hens to earn a little money. We are part of a Methodist church called Salvation Rock. Thank God we are in good health. I have one brother but he does not attend the program. I suffered from hepatitis some time ago but by grace of God, I am already well because I was under medical treatment.

I live with my family in our own house. At home, we have two rooms and a separate kitchen. The house is made of adobe walls, tin sheet roof and dirt floor. We have electricity but not running water. My grandmother shares this service through a hose. My father pays these services. I am praying for God to help my parents to be able to put cement in our house. I walk about 10 minutes to come to the feeding program. My mother helped me to give my information. I say good bye for now. Please take care of yourself.

Many blessings

Sonia Mariliza Luis de la Cruz

Translated by: Lucia Gravez/AAC Secretary