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! I am pleased to be able to greet you, and I am very happy to introduce myself. My name is Pablo Alejandro Recinos McKeown. I was born on March 29, 2016, in Joyabaj, Quiche. I am a 10-year-old boy. I am living with my parents and little sister. My father´s name is Robinson Estiben Recinos de la Roca. He works as an agronomist at MAGA. My mother´s name is Peggy Diane McKeown Noruega. She works as a nurse in LW´s clinic. We are members of the Christian Life Church. By the grace of God, we all are in good health.

I am a fourth-grade student. My hobby is drawing. I love puppies. Something I love to eat is bread with butter. My favorite color is yellow. We are living in my grandparents’ house, and they have loaned us their house to stay there. There are two block rooms with a concrete roof and a ceramic floor. The kitchen is separate. We have running water and electricity services; my parents pay for those services. My mom raises hens. I am so blessed to be enrolled in the feeding program; I usually attend alongside my classmates after school. I walk for 10 minutes to arrive. Thank you so much for your beautiful heart for the people in Guatemala like me. May God bless you wherever you are!

Lots of love,

Pablo Alejandro Recinos McKeown

Translated by: Violeta Hernandez, A-A-C Secretary-Antigua