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.

My name is Jhostin Gustavo Garcia Grave and I greet you in the name of Jesus. I am 12 years old and fortunately, I am in good health. I was born on October 6, 2012. I am in sixth grade and my favorite pastime is playing soccer with my friends. I like the color blue and my favorite animal is the lion. About food, let me tell you that I love pizza. Now, I want you to know a little about my family. My father’s name is Oscar Salvador Garcia Tzoy. He makes a living by buying and reselling a few head of cattle during the dry season. During the rainy season, he is dedicated to growing and selling corn and other legumes. My mother’s name is Maria Grave Barrera de Garcia. She works hard by doing the household chores and taking care of my siblings and me. I have one brother and one sister. 

Thankfully, everybody is doing well. We attend the Catholic Church in our village. The house where we live belongs to my grandparents on my father’s side. It is made of concrete blocks with a concrete roof and a granite floor. It has five rooms and a separate kitchen. My grandparents allow us to live in one room. Fortunately, there is electricity and a well to get water. My father helps with the household expenses such as the electricity bill. We raise pigs and chickens for our consumption. We also have a dog and a cat as pets at home. The feeding program is a 30-minute walk from where I live. So, we usually take a tuk-tuk and get there in 10 minutes. Thank you very much for reading my information. Until next time!

Huge hugs,

Jhostin Gustavo Garcia Grave

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary/Antigua Guatemala