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 Brayden Cirilo Tzoy Toj, and this is my information. I was born on October 17, 2015, and I am 9 years old now. I am healthy, and I am attending 3^rd grade this year. In my free time, I play soccer. I like the color green, and I love rabbits. My favorite food is hamburger. I only have one brother. I walk for 30 minutes to arrive at the feeding program, and one of my uncles accompanies me; we sometimes pay a moto-taxi to get there. My family and I attend the Catholic Church. Please pray for us and our needs which are groceries.

My father’s name is Faustino Tzoy Velasquez, and he works as a farmer and day laborer to cover our needs. My mother’s name is Zoila Lucrecia Toj Aguilar, and she embroiders typical clothes to help with the income. My parents are in good health. We live in our own house, and it has four rooms and a kitchen. It is made of adobe and concrete blocks with a tin sheet roof and concrete floor.  We have electricity service, and we get the water from a well. We have hens at home. I write this letter with my mother’s help.

Kisses and hugs

Brayden Cirilo Tzoy Toj

Translated by: Loyda de Osorio, AAC Secretary-Antigua