TU2874

Tunajá is an area of the state of Quiché, Guatemala.  The inhabitants are Quiché Indians who trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization.  The prevalent language is the Indian dialect - Quiché.  The people are either farmers or shepherds and live off the fruits of their labors.  Very little money ever changes hands as they use a barter system.  Public education is available - however, most families cannot afford it.  Electricity and running water are not available in most of the area.

Hello, my name is Jonathan Alexander Riz Tzoy.  I was born on January 20, 2016.  I am a healthy child, and I walk about 15 minutes to get to the feeding program.  I live with my parents and my grandparents.  My mother’s name is Antonia and she is a housewife.  My father’s name is Jose and he works as a day laborer.  He does not travel to the coast to work.  Our house has two rooms and a kitchen.  It is made of adobe with a tin roof and a dirt floor.  We have electricity, and we get our water from a well with a pump.  My mother has a pig that she takes care of.  We grow corn for our own consumption.  I am not in school yet, so I spend my time playing with my toy cars and watching television.  My favorite color is blue and my favorite animal is the cat.  The foods that I like best are bananas and caldo de pollo (traditional chicken soup with vegetables). My family attends a Catholic church.

With much love and many blessings,

Jonathan Alexander Riz Tzoy

Translated by: Edwina Lyons/AAC Missionary