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 Quiche, 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 Quiche - however, Spanish is becoming more common. Very little money ever changes hands in this area as they live on a barter system. 

Hello! My name is Wendy Paola Morente Quino, and I am writing this letter to tell you a little about my life. I am in good health, and I am 3 years old; I was born on December 10, 2021. Agustin Morente Ajqui is my father’s name, and he works as a farmer; he goes to work at the coast for one month at the end of every year. Maria Quino Quino is my mother’s name, and she is a housewife. She raises some hens, but they are for our consumption. Thank God, my parents are both in good health. I have 6 brothers and 3 sisters, and four of them are registered at the feeding program too; they accompany me to the program. 

I am not attending school yet, so I stay at home playing with my dolls. My favorite color is pink, and I like chicks. I really enjoy eating noodles and rice with black beans. As a family, we attend a Pentecostal Church called Prince of Peace. We live in our own house, and it has two rooms and a kitchen. It is made of adobe with a tin sheet roof and dirt floor. We get water from a river which is 5 minutes away from us.  We use flashlights and candles at night. My parents have not paid to have electricity at home because it is a very expensive; they have to buy a lot of things and would have to pay a big amount to get the service. We have some hens at home. We are a humble family, and our frequent needs are groceries, clothes and shoes. I am happy to be part of the feeding program, and I walk for 10 minutes to arrive there. I say goodbye to you for now hoping to hear from you soon.

With much love

Wendy Paola Morente Quino

Translated by: Loyda de Osorio, AAC Secretary-Antigua