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 labor. 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 Esdras Naim Jared Quej Naz, and I am so happy to say hello through this letter. I am six years old. I was born on October 19, 2018. Today, I am a healthy boy and love playing soccer. I am in kindergarten. My favorite color is blue. I enjoy having French fries for my meals. My favorite animals are elephants. I live with my parents, siblings, grandmother and one aunt on my mother’s side. My aunt, Mayra Isabel Naz, is the owner of the house where I live. Her house is made of adobe walls with a metal roof and a concrete floor. It has three rooms, a separate kitchen, electricity, and running water. My family and I only use one room, so my father contributes to the household expenses and cover our needs. 

My father’s name is Hugo Gonzalo Quej Ma. He makes a living as a security guard in the city for fifteen days. Afterward, he returns and stays home for two days. While he works, my mother keeps busy doing the chores, taking care of my siblings and me, and embroidering typical blouses. Her name is Herminia Noemi Naz Ordonez. I have one brother and three sisters. My heart overflows with happiness because we are already part of the feeding program. We usually walk for 25 minutes from where we live to get there. I will leave you for now, but I am so happy because you were interested in reading my information. I hope to hear about you soon. Have a wonderful day!

Kind regards,

Esdras Naim Jared Quej Naz

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Antigua Guatemala