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 Indians who inhabit this area trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization. They normally speak an Indian 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 Juan Daniel de la Cruz de la Cruz. My birthdate is June 8, 2012, which makes me 12 years of age now. This year I am repeating 3^rd grade at school. I love playing football and my favorite color is blue. The food I enjoy the most is fried chicken. I like pigs. I live happily with my parents and one sister; we all are in good health. My father´s name is Nazario de la Cruz Chingo. He works both as a day laborer and farmer to sustain our family. My mother´s name is Hermelinda de la Cruz Mendez. She is a housewife and also makes cross-stitch embroidery. We raise hens, pigs and sheep.

We attend the Assembly of God Church. We are living in my paternal grandparents’ house and fortunately, we do not pay anything to live there. There are three rooms, but we use only one and the kitchen is separate. The house is made of adobe with tile roof and a cement floor. We have running water and electricity, and my grandma pays for them. We are a very humble family and our greatest needs are groceries. I must walk 30 minutes to get to the feeding program; it is a great blessing for me to be registered in the feeding program. This is all for now, but feel free to ask me if you want to know more about me. Many and rich blessings over you!

Warm regards,

Juan Daniel de la Cruz de la Cruz

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