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 Juana Lilian Toj Musia, and I am 7 years old. I was born on July 25, 2017. I am in good health, and I am not attending school yet. My personal tastes are strained beans, the color purple, and elephants. I love playing with my dolls in my free time. I have two brothers. My family and I are attending Prince of Peace Church. My parents are both in good health, and they left to go to the United States a few years ago. My father’s name is Sabino Toj Garcia, and he works with cattle. My mother’s name is Encarnacion Musia Jimon de Toj, and she works in a milk company. My brothers and I are under the care of our paternal grandmother Juana Garcia Garcia who is 62 years old; she weaves typical belts and is in good health.

We live in a house that belongs to my grandmother, and we share it with her children. The house has two rooms and one kitchen, and it is made of adobe with a tin sheet roof and dirt floor. We have electricity and running water services. We have domestic animals like hens and pigs at home. I have to walk for 30 minutes to arrive at the feeding program, and my aunt accompanies 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 paternal aunt, Elizabeth, 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!

With much love

Juana Lilian Toj Musia

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