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. 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! This is Wainer Mendez Simaj, and I am writing this to tell you a little about me. I was born on December 14, 2010, so I am now 12 years old. I am in good health, and I am in 2^nd grade this year. I have attended this grade for three years since I have not been able to pass it. I suffer from crossed eyes. I like playing soccer in my free time. I love the color orange, and my favorite animal is the turkey. I really enjoy eating beef stew. As a family, we attend an Evangelical Church. My father’s name is Rigoberto Mendez Simaj, and he works as a farmer and day laborer to support us. My mother’s name is Martha Simaj Benito, and she raises domestic animals to sell and help with the income. I have one brother and two sisters; two of them are part of the feeding program too.

We live in our own house, and it has two rooms and a separate kitchen. The house is made of adobe with a tin sheet roof and concrete floor. Thankfully, we have running water and electricity services. We have hens, pigs and turkeys as domestic animals. We are a humble family, and our greatest need is groceries. I walk for 20 minutes to arrive at the feeding program. I tell you that my mom helped me to give this information to an Evangelism teacher, and I am happy to be part of this Ministry.  I thank you for reading my information, and I hope you find it interesting.

With much love

Wainer Mendez Simaj

Translated by: Loyda de Osorio/A-A-C Secretary, Antigua Guatemala