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. 

I am Elian Miguel Adonay Ixcotoyac Barrera, and I am writing this letter with my grandmother’s help. I am 7 years old, and I was born on November 27, 2017. I am in good health, and I am in first grade this year. I enjoy playing soccer in my free time. My favorite color is blue, and I like rabbits. I enjoy eating fried chicken. I only have one brother.  I usually walk for 30 minutes to arrive at the feeding program. We are a humble family, and our frequent needs are groceries and corn.

My father’s name is Pedro Vicente Ixcotoyac De Leon, and my mother’s name is Maria Elena Barrera Ajqui. Since last February, they are working in Guatemala City. They sell fried chicken on a cart on the streets, but they are only workers. They keep in touch with me, and come to visit me every six months. Due to this situation, I am living under the care of my maternal grandparents Ruben Barrera and Gregoria Ajqui; they cover my needs with the money that my parents send. Thank God, my parents and grandparents are in good health. We are attending the Catholic Church. We have hens and pigs at home.

The house where we live is not ours, and we do not pay any type of rent for living there. But we do not know when the owner will evict us, so please pray for us. The house has two rooms but we only use one of them; they are made of adobe with a tin sheet roof and dirt floor. Our kitchen is only made with a tin sheet roof. We have electricity service, and we get the water from a spring water; we use a hose to bring it home.

With much love

Elian Miguel Adonay Ixcotoyac Barrera

Translated by: Loyda de Osorio, AAC Secretary-Antigua