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 Quiché Indians who inhabit this area trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization.  They normally speak an Indian 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.

What a blessing to write to you for the first time. Let me introduce myself. I am Luisa Rosmery Lastor Jimon. I would like to share something about me with you. I was born in Joyabaj on December 17, 2019. I am a healthy 6-year-old girl. I like playing with dolls. I attend the 1^st grade at school this year. My favorite animal is the giraffe. I like purple and love eating fried chicken. I have one brother. My family attends the Methodist church.

My biological father is Jose Lastor Quino. Sadly, he abandoned us 6 years ago and is currently living with another partner. He does not have communication or help us economically. My mother´s name is Leticia Jimon Gomez. She is not living with me either because she traveled to The United States 4 years ago. She is working there with cattle and sends money for my support every month. She has another partner there, and his name is Francisco Quinilla Mus. He works in the same way as my mother. He contributes monthly to my support too. They are both healthy thanks to God. I am currently under the care of my maternal aunt. Her name is Juana Jimon. She earns a living by embroidering napkins while her husband is a tuc-tuc driver in our community.

The house where I live belongs to my aunt. I live there with her family. The house has one room and a kitchen made of adobe, tin sheet roof and cemented floor. There is running water and electricity. They have a water spring to get water. They pay monthly for the electricity. Besides that, they have chickens at home. Some of our needs are mainly food and clothes. It is a big blessing for me to be part of the feeding program. I usually walk for 10 minutes to get there, and I do it along with my cousin and some friends. Well, it is time to say goodbye to you. I appreciate your interest in knowing more about me. May God bless you and keep you wherever you are!

Best wishes,

Luisa Rosmery Lastor Jimon

Translated by: Mireya de Sandoval, AAC Secretary / Antigua