My Story

Cuatro Caminos "four roads", where your child lives, is an area located high on the side of a mountain in the state of Quiche, Guatemala. Life in this area is very difficult and very isolated from the outside world. It is a two hour walk to the nearest market town of Zacualpa. Cuatro Caminos is a farming area where corn and black beans, the staple elements in their diet, are the major crops. The Quiche Mayans who inhabit this area trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization. They normally speak a Mayan dialect called Quiche - however, Spanish is becoming more common. Very little money ever changes hands in this area as they live on a barter system. 

I greet you with much love. My name is Manuela Yoselin Mendez Pastor, and I am writing this letter to tell you about me. I was born on August 20, 2020, so I am 5 years old. I am in good health, and I do not attend school yet due to my age. I stay at home playing with my little sister. My favorite color is pink, and I love cats. I really enjoy eating Chow Mein. My family and I are attending Prince of Peace Church. My father is Mariano Mendez Morente, and he works as a day laborer with our neighbors. My mother is Margarita Pastor Portuguez de Mendez, and she is a housewife; she raises hens and pigs for selling. Thank God, my parents are both in good health.

We do not have our own house, so we live with our paternal grandparents. The house has two rooms and a kitchen. It is made of adobe with a tile roof and dirt floor; fortunately, we have running water and electricity services. We have hens and pigs at home. We are a humble family, and our frequent needs are groceries and corn. I have one brother and one sister, and my brother is registered at the feeding program too. We attend the program together, and we have to walk for 30 minutes to arrive there. I tell you that my mom helped me to give my information to LW Evangelism team. I hope you find it interesting.

Kisses and hugs

Manuela Yoselin Mendez Pastor

Translated by: Loyda de Osorio, AAC Secretary/Antigua Guatemala