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 Yakelin Merida Garcia Morales. I am a healthy child who was born on December 12, 2016. Currently, I am 6 years old, and I am in pre-kinder. I stay at home playing with my dolls in my free time. I love the color pink, and I like rabbits. My favorite food is beef broth. I have two brothers and two sisters; three of them are registered at the feeding program too. My family and I are attending the Catholic Church. My father’s name is Alfredo Garcia Chan, and he works as a farmer to support us. My mother’s name is Manuela Morales Riquiac, and she works hard at home and takes care of us. When the school year ends, my whole family goes to pick coffee beans at the coast for two or three months.

We live in a rented house, and my parents pay Q600.00 quetzals (about $80) per month. The house has two rooms and a separate kitchen, and it is made of concrete block with a tin sheet roof and dirt floor. Thankfully, we have running water and electricity services. Our frequent needs are groceries and clothes. My house is located 15 minutes away from the feeding program, and I take a microbus to get there. My dad helped me to give this information to an Evangelism teacher. I thank you for reading my little letter, and I hope you find it interesting.

In Jesus name

Yakelin Merida Garcia Morales

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