My Story

Pasojoc III, where your child lives, is located in an extremely remote area of the mountains in Quiche, Guatemala.  Life in this area is very difficult and very isolated from the outside world. It is a 3-hour walk to the nearest market town. The people who inhabit the area are Quiche Mayans who can trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization. They normally speak a Mayan dialect called Quiche, however, Spanish is becoming more common. The climate is basically warm, but it can get very cold at night. Houses in this area are typically constructed of adobe with tin sheet or tile roofs and dirt floors. Pasojoc III is an area rich with natural resources.  It is a farming area where the inhabitants grow staples such as corn, beans and other types of vegetables.  Many families also raise domestic animals such as sheep, goats, cows and chickens.

My name is Cristofer Paholo Riz Chic, and I am four years old. I was born on March 16, 2018. I am not enrolled at school because I am still young. I enjoy playing toy cars. My favorite color is red, and I love cats. The food that I like the most is fried chicken. I live with my parents and siblings. I have two brothers and one sister. My father currently works as a farmer and as a day laborer. He also travels to the Coast from November to May to cut sugar cane. I feel grateful to God because He has kept us in good health. We are part of a Prince of Peace Church. My father is the owner of our house. There are two rooms and a separate kitchen made of adobe walls, tin sheet roof and dirt floor. We do not have running water. We get this service from a river through a hose. Thank God, we have electricity, and my father pays for it. We have chickens and one pig at home. Our basic need is groceries. I walk about 25 minutes to attend the Feeding Program.

Cristofer Paholo Riz Chic

Translated by: Lucia Gravez, AAC Secretary Antigua