My Story

Chuchuca, where your child lives, is an area located high on the side of a mountain in the state of Quiché, Guatemala. Life in this area is very difficult and very isolated from the outside world. It is more than a two-hour walk to the nearest market town of Zacualpa. Chuchuca is a farming area where corn and black beans, the staple elements in their diet, are the major crops. The Quiché Mayans who inhabit this area trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization. They normally speak a Mayan dialect called Quiché - however, Spanish is becoming more common. Very little money ever changes hands in this area as they live on a barter system.

Hello! My name is Adan Jorge de la Cruz de Leon. I was born on September 13, 2016, and I am 7 years old. I attend kindergarten this year. I like the color sky blue, and my favorite animal is the cat. The meal I love is fried chicken. My hobby is playing football. I am in good health and so is my family. I have one brother and two sisters. My father´s name is Victor de la Cruz Gomez. He was working in the United States a time ago and came for some months to stay with us. Nevertheless, he recently began the journey back to the USA. Willing God, he will arrive well, and we hope he finds a job so that he can send us financial support. For now, my mother is supplying the home needs. My mother is Cecilia de Leon Garcia. She stays busy with the chores and growing tomatoes and onions to sell and get income. She also raises hens and turkeys.

We are members of the Prince of Peace Church. Thankfully, we own the house in which we live and it has one room. It is made of adobe walls with a roof made of tin sheets and a floor that is just dirt. The kitchen is separated. There is no running water or electricity; we use fatwood to get light and bring water from a stream with the help of a hose. For now, our needs are groceries, corn, and clothes. I walk 30 minutes to arrive at the feeding program. My mother Cecilia de Leon provided my personal information to the Living Water staff for my registration in the program. I leave you for now. May God bless you!

Huge hugs,

Adan Jorge de la Cruz de Leon

Translated by: Violeta Hernandez / A-A-C Secretary-Antigua Guatemala