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! I am Juana Maricela Morente Benito. My birthdate is June 9, 2015, which makes me 8 years of age now. This year I am repeating 1^st grade at school. The color I like the most is pink, and my favorite animal is the hen. I love eating fried chicken. I enjoy playing with my stuffed toys. Thankfully, my family and I are healthy. I have two sisters and three brothers. My father’s name is Santos Morente Alvarado. He works as both a farmer and a day laborer to supply the family’s needs. My mother’s name is Santos Benito Luis. She keeps busy with the chores at home, and takes care of my siblings and me.

We attend the Church of Christ. Thankfully, my father owns the house in which we live; there are two rooms and a kitchen. Those are made of adobe walls with a roof made of tin sheets and a floor that is just dirt. There is no running water or electricity; we use candles to get light and bring water from a stream. For now, we need groceries and corn the most. I walk 15 minutes to get to the feeding program. My mother Santos Benito provided my personal information to the Living Water staff for my registration in the program. I leave you for now, but I hope to receive news from you soon. May God bless you greatly!

Hugs and much love,

Juana Maricela Morente Benito

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