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 Isabela Kimberlyn Erlinda Gutierrez Calachij. My birthdate is February 12, 2017, which makes me 6 years of age now. This year I am in kindergarten. I enjoy playing with my dolls in my free time. I like doves, and my favorite color is sky-blue. Fried chicken is the meal I love. Fortunately, my family and I are in good health. I have two sisters and one brother. My father is Vitalino Gutierrez Mechen. He traveled to the United States at the beginning of this year, and thankfully, he is working. He is paying the debt he has for the travel, nevertheless, he sends us financial support every two weeks. My mother is Ana Calachij Garcia. Most of the time, she is busy with the housework and raises hens and pigs. We have dogs as a pet. We attend Catholic Church.

Thankfully, we own the house in which we live; we have only one room where we sleep and cook. It is made of wooden boards, a tin sheet roof and a floor that is just dirt. There is no running water or electricity; we use candles to get light. My aunt Rosario Tipaz gives us water to drink and cook with; we go to the river to wash our clothes. As I said, we do not have running water and electricity, and having these services is our greatest need. I walk 15 minutes to get to the feeding program. My aunt Rosario Tipaz provided my personal information to the Living Water staff for my registration in the program. With much love. May God bless you greatly!

Lots of love,

Isabela Kimberlyn Erlinda Gutierrez Calachij

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