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.

Hello! My name is Linda Esmeralda Torquis Pastor, and I am a healthy girl. I was born on February 27, 2015, so I am 10 years old now. I am in 3^rd grade this year, and I play soccer in my free time. I like the color purple, and I love cats. My favorite food is fried chicken. I have one brother and four sisters, and one of them is also registered at the feeding program. We live 1 hour away from the feeding program, and my mom accompanies us there. Thank God, my whole family is in good health, and we attend Christian Life Church. Our needs are groceries, so please pray for it.

My father is Rafael Torquis Joj, and he is in the United States. At the moment, he is unemployed, so he is not supporting us financially. Fortunately, my oldest sister, Juana Torquiz Pastor is sending us money for our needs. She is working in a cow farm in the United States; she has been there for five years. My mother is Maribel Pastor, and she is a housewife. We live in our own house, and we share it with my maternal grandmother. It has one room and a kitchen, and it is made of adobe with a tin sheet roof and concrete floor. We have running water and electricity services. We have hens and turkeys at home. I hope you find my letter interesting.

Kisses and hugs

Linda Esmeralda Torquis Pastor

Translated by: Loyda de Osorio, AAC Secretary-Antigua