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 am Mayra Julissa Perez Perez, and I fondly greet you from the land of eternal spring. I was born on January 17, 2021. Today, I am a healthy girl. I am too young to attend school. I am four years old. So, I stay home and play with my dolls. My favorite pastime is pretending to cook with my toys. I love eating fried chicken. My favorite color is pink, and I like dogs. I live with my parents and siblings in a modest house, which belongs to my father. The house is made of adobe and concrete block walls with metal roofs and concrete floors. It has two rooms, a separate kitchen, electricity, and running water. My father is the one who covers the expenses. His name is Casildo Perez Jimon. He works as a day laborer and farmer in our village.

On the other hand, my mother is dedicated to taking care of our family. Her name is Gregoria Perez Rodriguez. She also raises and sells chickens and turkeys to contribute to the expenses. Our house is about 30 minutes away from the feeding program. We usually walk to get there, although we occasionally take a bus to get there faster. The bus ride takes us ten minutes. About my spiritual life, my family and I attend the Catholic Church. I will leave you now, but I appreciate you taking the time to read my letter. May God bless you!

With much love,

Mayra Julissa Perez Perez

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Antigua Guatemala