CC1493

Cuatro Caminos "four roads", is an area located high on the side of a mountain in the state of Quiché, 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 Quiché Indians who inhabit this area trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization.  They normally speak an Indian dialect called Quiché - however, Spanish is becoming more common.  Very little money ever changes hands in this area as they live on a barter system.

Hello, my name is Sandra Alicia Chiquiaj Gomez. I was born on June 9, 2004 and I am fifteen years old.  I am a healthy girl.  I have three sisters and three brothers.  Three of my siblings also attend the feeding program and we have to walk about 30 minutes to get there.  My father’s name is Felipe and he is a farmer.  He grows corn and beans.  He also goes to the coast to work at different types of jobs.  My mother’s name is Dominga and she is a housewife.  She also has domestic animals that she sells when we have a need.  We own the house in which we live.  It has two rooms and a separate kitchen.  The house is made of sticks and nylon tarp so that we will not feel the cold air.  The roof is tin and the floor is dirt.  We do not have water or electricity.  We get our water from a small natural spring close to our house.  I am in the 3^rd grade.  My favorite color is purple and my favorite animal is the cat.  The foods that I like the best are apples and pollo guisado (typical Guatemalan dish).  In my free time, I like to listen to music and play basketball.  My family attends Prince of Peace Church.

With much love and many blessings

Sandra Alicia Chiquiaj Gomez

Translated by: Edwina Lyons/ AAC Missionary