My Story

Cuatro Caminos "four roads", where your child lives, 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 Mayans who inhabit this area trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization. They normally speak a Mayan 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 Baldomero Samuel Chingo Hernandez. I was born on January 1^st, 2016, so I am 7 years old. Thankfully, I am in good health. I am in 1^st grade this year. My favorite animal is the sheep, I like the color red, and what I love eating the most is grilled meat. In my free time, I play ball at home with my siblings. I have two brothers and three sisters, and all of us are registered at the feeding program. We walk 25 minutes to get there and enjoy the delicious meals they give us. I want you to know that my father’s name is Samuel Chingo Gutierrez, but we do not know anything about him since he abandoned us seven years ago. We do not receive any support from him nor have communication with him. I love and I admire my mother since she struggles to cover our needs. Her name is Maria Hernandez de la Cruz. She works at home, and she is also a merchant. As a family, we attend Sovering King Church.

Fortunately, we live in our own house; it is made of adobe with tile roof and dirt floor. It has two rooms and a separate kitchen; we also have running water and electricity. My mother also pays these bills. Some of my uncles live there too, and we have domestic animals like sheep, a hen, pig and a cow. I need you to pray for us since some of our needs are groceries; we trust that God will hear our prayers and will give us everything we need. Before saying goodbye, I want you to know that my mother came to register me, and she gave this information to the Evangelism teachers. I wish you many blessings. I hope you find my letter interesting and will be waiting to hear from you soon.

In Jesus Name,

Baldomero Samuel Chingo Hernandez

Translated by: Luisa Reyes /A-A-C Secretary/ Guatemala