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 Edvin Aparicio Chanchavac Luis.  I was born on February 5, 2016.  I am a healthy child, and I travel by bus for 30 minutes to get to the program. If we walk, it takes us two hours to get to the program.  I have one brother and one sister.  We live in my grandparents’ house.  My father and mother have been separated for about two years, and we do not know anything about my father now.  My mother’s name is Eva and she takes care of the house.  My grandfather is the one who supports my family.  He works as a security guard at the Living Water Christian Center in Chixocol.  The house where we live is made of cement block with a tin roof and a cement floor. It has three rooms.  My family occupies only one room.  We all share the kitchen.  We have water and electricity.  We have cows, pigs and hens that we sell when they are grown to help with the expenses.  I am not in school yet, so I spend my time playing with my toy cars and balls or watching television. My favorite color is red and my favorite animals are cows, pigs and chickens.  The food that I like best is fried chicken.  My family attends a Charismatic church.

With much love and many blessings,

Edvin Aparicio Chanchavac Luis

Translated by: Edwina Lyons/ AAC Missionary