My Story

Chixocol, where your child lives, is a very small village nestled in a mountain valley in the state of Quiche, Guatemala. Life in this state is very difficult and somewhat isolated from the outside world. 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 labor. Public education is available for those who can afford it and consider it of value. Life in Quiche is always a challenge.

Hello! I hope that everything is running well in your life. My full name is Miguel Angel Morente Panjoj, and it is a pleasure to share my information with you. I was born on January 28, 2016. Today, I am a healthy boy. I am nine years old and attend school as a third grader. My favorite pastime is playing soccer and I like the color white. My favorite animal is the dog. I love eating fried chicken. Now, let me tell you about my family. I live with my mother and siblings. I have one brother and two sisters. My mother’s name is Juana Isabel Panjoj Gutierrez. She dedicates her full time to taking care of my siblings and me. She also raises chickens and pigs at home for our consumption.

Unfortunately, my father abandoned us since he traveled to the United States about three years ago. His name is Francisco Morente Yat. By the grace of the Lord, my mother found a good man and established a new relationship. He has lived with us for about one year and a half. His name is Pedro De La Cruz Coj. He works in hardware store and supports our family. Some of our greatest needs are groceries, especially corn. 

As for our spiritual life, we attend the Catholic Church. We live in a small house made of adobe with a metal roof and concrete floors. Fortunately, we are the owners. It has one room, a separate kitchen, but no electricity or running water. Fortunately, we can get water from a nearby well, which belongs to my maternal grandparents. They also share the electricity with us. My stepfather contributes to pay for the bill. The feeding program is near my house. My siblings and I usually walk for five minutes to get there. I will leave you now, but I hope you found my letter engaging.

Kind regards,

Miguel Angel Morente Panjoj

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Antigua Guatemala