My Story

Chixocol, where your child lives, is a very small village nestled in a mountain valley in the state of Quiché, 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 Quiché is always a challenge.

I am pleased to be able to greet you and tell you about myself today. I am Mercy Andrea Pixcar Tiniguar. I was born on October 21, 2021, and I have a twin sister. Her name is Senayda Andrea Pixcar Tiniguar. We are 4 years old and thanks to God, we are in good health. I am attending pre-school. I enjoy playing with my dolls. My favorite color is purple, and my favorite animal is the dog. I love to eat fried chicken. I have two brothers and five sisters. Juana Tiniguar Aguilar de Pixcar is my mother. She goes to wash clothes for other people to get some income, and she takes us with her. She usually goes one or two times a week. Besides that, she does the household work and raises hens. Lucas Pixcar Tiu is my father. He works both as a farmer and day laborer. Moreover, he goes to pick coffee beans on the coast from November to April, and the whole family goes with him. My family is in good health.

We are attending the Assembly of God Church. Fortunately, my mom owns the house in which we live. It is a humble house made of adobe with a tin sheet roof and a dirt floor. It is only one room and a small kitchen. We do not have running water nor electricity. Thankfully, my maternal grandparents share the services with us, and my parents contribute to paying for them every month. We get the water from a well and my parents pay for it Q50.00, $7.00, monthly. Our biggest needs as a family would be groceries, corn, clothes and footwear. I am very happy to be enrolled in the Chixocol feeding program; I get there by walking in one hour or 15 minutes by bus. I usually attend alongside my siblings who are enrolled in the program too. I send you much love, and I pray God will bless you and touch your heart to support the people of Guatemala. Many blessings!

Warm hugs,

Mercy Andrea Pixcar Tiniguar

Translated by: Violeta Hernandez, A-A-C Secretary-Antigua