My Story

Chixocol, where your child lives, is a very small village nestled in a mountain valley in the state of Quiche, Guatemala. Life in this state is very difficult and somewhat isolated from the outside world. 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 Quiche is always a challenge.

I fondly greet you, hoping you are doing well. My name is Fabricio Martin Emerson Gonzalez Grave and I want to share my information with you. I was born on November 13, 2018. I am 6 years old and attend school as a kindergartener. Although I am doing well now, I get sick and suffer from a sore throat frequently. My favorite pastimes are playing soccer and freeze tag with my brother and friends. I only have one brother. I like the color yellow and I love having fried chicken and French fries for my meals. My favorite animals are cats. Now, let me tell you about my family. My parents traveled to the United States about one year and a half ago. Their names are Rodolfo Escobar Gonzalez Cac and Miriam Griselda Grave Gonzalez. Fortunately, they are doing well and keep in touch with us. They work for a seafood company by washing some machines they use to butcher lobsters.

My brother and I are under the care of my aunt, Dominga Panjoj Gonzalez. She is a single mother and dedicates part of her time to raising and selling hens at home. I ask you to pray for her because she has suffered from uric acid for many years. When she has enough resources, she buys her treatment. Otherwise, she asks for medicine at the public health center. She has one child who is already an adult. His name is Erick and he also lives with us. He helps my aunt a little economically. All of us live at my grandmother’s house. Part of the construction is made of concrete blocks and the other part is made of adobe. It has a tin sheet roof and a concrete floor. Her house has two rooms, a separate kitchen, running water, and electricity. Besides hens, we raise a few chickens, cows, and pigs at home for our consumption and occasional sales. We are a needy family and most of our needs are groceries and clothes. So, please, pray for us. The feeding program is about 20 minutes from where we live. My brother and I get there in a tuk-tuk. This is all for now, but I thank you very much for reading my letter. See you later!

Huge hugs,

Fabricio Martin Emerson Gonzalez Grave

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary/Antigua Guatemala