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 full name is Maycol Grave Grave and I want to share with you a little about my life. I will turn 4 years old in April. My birthdate is April 29, 2021. By the grace of the Lord, I am healthy. I do not attend school because I am younger, so I stay home with my mom. My favorite pastime is playing with my toy cars. My favorite animals are rabbits and I like the color blue. I love having fried chicken for my meals. I am glad because my whole family is doing well. We attend the Catholic Church in our village. My mother’s name is Brenda Grave Pilo. She is dedicated to taking care of my brother and me. My father’s name is Raul Grave Toj. He works as a day laborer and farmer.

I beg you to pray for my family and our needs. Our priorities are clothes, shoes, and groceries. We live in our own house. One of my aunts and her son live with us. The house is made of adobe with a tin sheet roof and a concrete floor. It has two rooms, a separate kitchen, electricity, and running water. We raise a few pigs and hens at home for our consumption. The feeding program is about 25 minutes from my house. My mom usually takes me there on foot. I send you many kisses and hugs. I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely yours,

Maycol Grave Grave

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary/Antigua Guatemala