My Story

Chulumal is a rural community on the outskirts of Chichicastenango. Mayan people are both beautiful and humble by nature. Chichicastenango is considered as one of the most important towns in Guatemala. It has a rich and long historic culture, and because of that it is considered as the home of the Quiché civilization (largest group of Mayan population). According to the 2012 census, 98.5% of the municipality's population is Mayan K'iche. 21% of the population speak only K'iche, 71% speak both K'iche and Spanish, and the remaining 8% speak only Spanish.

My name is Luis Fernando Morales Ixtuc, and it is a blessing to greet you through this letter. I want to share my story with you, but before doing it, let me tell you that my mom helped me to give all this information to a LW teacher. I was born on April 3, 2011. I enjoy playing with my teddies and toy cars. I like dogs, my favorite color is green, and I love eating spaghetti with vegetables. I do not attend school because I am a boy with special needs. I cannot walk or talk. When I was born, doctors realized that my brain did not grow enough. Therefore, my mom feeds me and takes care of me. I also suffer from convulsions, but I am under treatment. My parents buy my medicine every two months. At the moment, I am doing well.

My mom is Cristina Ixtuc Tiriquiz. She is a housewife and raises some domestic animals. Actually, we have hens, one pig, and one dog at home. My father is Cristobal Morales Morales. He supports our family by working as a farmer and day laborer. I have four siblings; three sisters and one brother. My family and I attend Prince of Peace Church. We live in my grandfather’s house. It has two rooms and a separated kitchen. The walls are made of adobe with tin sheet and brick roofs and concrete floors. Fortunately, we have electricity and running water. My father pays for those services. My family and I need groceries, especially corn and diapers for me. The feeding program is five minutes away from my house, so my mom takes me there by tuk-tuk. I say goodbye to you for now, but I send you many kisses and hugs.

With much love,

Luis Fernando Morales Ixtuc

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary/Antigua Guatemala