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 Quiche Mayans who inhabit this area trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization. They normally speak a Mayan 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. 

I greet you in Jesus’ name hoping you are doing well. My name is Maria Elena Simaj Tzoy, and I want to share a little about me. I live in a small village with my parents and siblings. My parents are Alvaro Simaj Garcia and Bertina Tzoy de la Cruz de Simaj; he works as a day laborer while she works hard at home.  My mom is in good health, but my dad was diagnosed with gastritis about 7 years ago; he is no longer under medical treatment since he does not have money to buy the medicine but he is better now.  I have five brothers and two sisters, and two of them are part of the feeding program too; we walk for 40 minutes to arrive there.  As a family we attend the Catholic Church.  

I was born on August 12, 2015, so I am now 9 years old. I am attending 3rd grade this year, and in my free time, I do my homework and help my mom with the household chores. I love eating chicken with sauce, and my favorite color is red. I like the peacock; it is a beautiful animal. I live with my family in a house that is ours. It has two rooms and a kitchen, and it is made of adobe with a tin sheet roof and dirt floor. We have electricity service and get water from a river; we use a hose to bring it home. We have hens, a dog, a cat and a sheep at home. I come from a humble family and our frequent needs are groceries and clothes. Well, this is a little letter, and I hope you find it interesting.  

Many blessings,  

Maria Elena Simaj Tzoy 

Translated by: Loyda de Osorio, AAC Secretary-Antigua