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! My name is Sheyli Candelaria Castro Aguilar, and I was born on May 24, 2018. I am now 5 years old, and I am not attending school yet due to my age. I am in good health, and I enjoy playing with my dolls in my free time. My favorite food is fried chicken. I love the color pink, and I like turkeys. I attend a Methodist Church with my family. I have one brother and one sister, and one of them is registered at the feeding program too. My father’s name is Ismael Castro Xon, and my mother’s name is Ana Maria Aguilar Panjoj. My dad works as a farmer and day laborer to support us, and my mom weaves typical blouses to sell and help with the income.

We live in our own house, and we share it with our paternal grandparents.  The house 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 pigs as domestic animals. Our frequent needs are groceries. The feeding program is located 20 minutes aways from our house, and I take a moto-taxi to get there. I tell you that my mom helped me to give this information to an Evangelism teacher. I hope you can read my letter and find it interesting.

With much love

Sheyli Candelaria Castro Aguilar

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