Chixocol is a very small village nestled in a mountain valley in the state of Quiché, 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 has 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, my name is Santos Dawson de la Cruz Castro.  I was born on September 8, 2009.  I am a healthy child, and I walk about 30 minutes to get to the feeding program.  I have four brothers and some of them also attend the program.  Sadly, my father passed away about seven years ago.  My mother’s name is Maria and she is the one who supports our family.  She washes clothes for other people, picks green tomatoes and does any type of work that she can find.  We live in the house with one of my uncles.  The house has four rooms and a separate kitchen.  It is made of bricks with a tile roof and a granite floor.  We have water and electricity.  We have our own home that is made of adobe, but we do not live in it.  It has two rooms and a kitchen.  When we are older, the house will pass down to us.  We have some hens and pigs that we sometimes sell for extra money.  We also have a dog.  I am in 3^rd grade, and when I am not in school, I enjoy playing ball.  My favorite color is red and my favorite animal is the cow.  The foods that I like best are grapes and fried chicken.  My family attends The Good Samaritan Church.

With much love and many blessings,

Santos Dawson de la Cruz Castro

Translated by: Edwina Lyons/ AAC Missionary