My Story

Chixocol, where your child lives, is a very small village nestled in a mountain valley in the state of Quiché, Guatemala. Life in this state is very difficult. 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 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 Marcela Patricia Riz Quino, and I am writing this small letter to tell you about me. I was born on September 6, 2017, so I am 6 years old now. I am in good health, and I am in kindergarten this year. I enjoy playing with my dolls and sister in my free time. I like the color blue, and my favorite animal is the crocodile. I love eating grilled meat. I only have one sister, and she is part of the feeding program too; she is from another father who did not legally recognize her. My father, Juan Maynor Riz Toj, works as a day laborer in the town to cover our needs. My mother, Gilda Quino de la Cruz, works hard at home and takes care of us. My family and I are attending the Catholic Church.

We live in a house that belongs to my paternal uncle, Mario, and we share it with my paternal grandparents too. The house has two rooms, and they are made of adobe with a tin sheet roof and concrete floor. We do not have a kitchen, so we cook in one of the rooms. Thankfully, we have running water and electricity; my dad pays these bills. We have hens as domestic animals. We are a humble family, and our frequent needs are groceries. I walk for 30 minutes to arrive at the feeding program and enjoy a delicious lunch. I tell you that my mom helped me to give this information to LW Evangelism team, and I am happy to be part of this Ministry. I hope you find my information interesting.

Huge hugs

Marcela Patricia Riz Quino

Translated by: Loyda de Osorio/A-A-C Secretary, Antigua Guatemala