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 labors. Public education is available for those who can afford it and consider it of value.  Life in Quiche is always a challenge. 

Hello! My name is Gerson Estuardo Tebalan Toj. It is a pleasure to greet you hoping you are well and feel happy to learn more about me through this letter. I am 4 years old now. I was born on July 10, 2022. I was not enrolled at school due to my young age. I enjoy playing soccer. My favorite color is blue and I love dogs. The meal that I like the most is fried chicken. A little about my family: my father is Francisco Tebalan Toj. He has a special job digging hand-dug wells. My mother is Maria Elisa Toj de la Cruz. She stays at home doing the chores. She earns money raising and selling hens. I have one sister and she attends the feeding program. We are all doing really well, thank God. My family attends a Pentecostal Church.

We live in a borrowed house that belongs to my maternal uncle. Fortunately, he does not charge us anything to use it. There are two rooms and a separate kitchen. These are made of wooden walls, tin sheet roof and concrete floor. We have running water and one of our neighbors shares the electricity with us. My father pays for this service. Our main needs are groceries. It takes me about 20 minutes from home to get to the feeding program. This is all for now! I send you my sincere regards and thanks.

Kisses and hugs,

Gerson Estuardo Tebalan Toj

Translated by: Antigua Secretary-Lucia Gravez