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! My name is Ashlee Tomasa Huarcas Xorxe, and I hope my letter finds you well. I want to tell you about my life. I was born on February 22, 2020, so I am 4 years old. I am in good health, and I am not attending school yet due to my age. In my free time, I enjoy playing with my dolls. My favorite color is red, and I love hens. I really enjoy eating chicken broth. I live in a house that belongs to my dad, and it has one room and a separated kitchen. The house is made of adobe with a tin sheet roof and dirt floor. We have electricity, and my dad pays the service every month. We use a hose to bring water from a spring to our home.

I only have one brother, and he is registered at the feeding program too. We walk for 30 minutes to arrive at the program. I was not legally recognized by my biological father because he left to go to the United States before I was born. His name is Julio Luis Ajqui, and he washes dishes in a restaurant there. He communicates with us every day and sends money for our needs every month. My mother’s name is Candelaria Huarcas Xorxe, and she works hard at home. My parents are both in good health. At the moment, my family and I are not attending a church. We have hens at home. We are a humble family, and we are frequently in need of groceries. Please keep us in your prayers. In this occasion, my mom helped me to give my information to the Evangelism team. I say goodbye to you for now.

With much love

Ashlee Tomasa Huarcas Xorxe

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