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 Quiche 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! How are you? I am writing this letter to tell you about me. I am Maria Elena Toj Riz, and I am 8 years old. I was born on January 13, 2016. I am in good health, and I am in 2^nd grade this year. My personal tastes are fried chicken, the color green, and ducks. I love playing dolls, toy dishes and soccer in my free time. My family and I are not attending a church at the moment. I have one brother and four sisters, and two of them are registered at the feeding program too. My parents’ names are Albertoj Benito and Martha Riz Calachij de Toj; they are in good health. My father left to go to the United States three years ago, and he works cleaning flower plantations there; he sends money for our needs. My mother is a housewife and takes care of us.  

We live with my paternal grandparents, Antolin and Gregoria. The house has three rooms and one kitchen, and it is made of adobe with a tin sheet roof and dirt floor. We have electricity service but no running water, so we use a hose to bring it from a river. We have domestic animals like hens, sheep, cows and pigs at home. I have to walk for 30 minutes to arrive at the feeding program, and my oldest siblings accompany me on my way there. I would like to ask for your prayers for us since we are always in need of groceries and clothes. In this occasion, my mom helped me to give my personal information to an Evangelism teacher. I thank you for taking the time to read my letter. May God bless you!

Cordially yours

Maria Elena Toj Riz

Translated by: Loyda de Osorio, AAC Secretary-Antigua Guatemala