I was born in Ancoraimes, Omasuyos, on the Altiplano of Bolivia near Lake Titicaca. As a child I practiced the Aymara religion I learned from my grandfather, a wiseman (yatiri), and from my parents I was a Methodist. In 1975 I went to Laja, at the invitation of Bishop Adhemar Esquivel and on to the Seminary to become a priest until 1982. I decided not to go ahead to ordination and married in 1982 to Encarnación Huanca, a leader among the Young women of Achicachi Catholic Parish.
Between 1983 and 1987 I administered two parishes. I also participated in an Ecumenical Theological Center and prepared for a better understanding of my own faith and other faiths. I was ordained a Deacon of the Catholic Church in December 2002. At the same time I have prepared myself as a yatiri (An Aymara wise person) and am an expert in inter-religious dialogo.
I am the eldest child of seven siblings, 4 of them died before the age of 10. My father, who was a slave, died as a Methodist. My grandfather had rebelled against the oppression of the Aymara people. I have no land and live like Abram, I am a wanderer.
Encarnación Huanca, my wife of 25 years, and I have two daughters and four sons. All are studying at great sacrifices because I don’t have a fixed contract with the Church. My eldest child, Antonio, was adopted when his mother died and his father abandoned him. He will be a teacher in 2008. My daughter, María Teresa, is a physiotherapist technician and is studying anthropology. José Carlos, the3rd, is studying to be a civil engineer. Pablo Waman, the 4th child. will finish high school in 2007 and wants to be either a religious or a politician. María Isabel, the 5th, is in 2nd year high school. Calixto Esteban is the youngest.
I am a theologian without a title, but have much experience in in-culturation, ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue. I have spoken in universities, ecumenical institutions, social organizations and Christian churches in rural areas and in the cities.
I am president of the Commission of Ecumenical and Inter-religious Dialogue in the Diocesis of El Alto. I am part of various Ecumenical Centers. In Qulima I am trying to create an Inter-cultural Center for tourists and Aymaras. This, I hope to do to stop the tourist businesses that destroy original cultures. We are beginning to write a magazine PACHA, to offer to the world at war and so much violence, as well as global warming some Aymara Wisdom.
I go forth shouting, singing, offering peace rituals to all, from my poverty. We want to give the little we have to the governments, universities, cultures, cities, with Christ and Aymara wisdom. I want to preach the theology of the Andes that is still unwritten. I bring energies from the Andes Mountains, to let people consumed by capitalism received “Jallalla, Jallalla Aski Pacha.” God’s goodness in Time and Space (PACHA).

Your brother,
Calixto Aymara.