My Story

Tunajá is a very primitive area of the state of Quiché, Guatemala.  The inhabitants are Quiché Indians who trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization.  The prevalent language is the Indian dialect - Quiché.  The people are either farmers or shepherds and live off the fruits of their laborers. Very little money ever changes hands as they use a barter system.  Public education is available - however, most families cannot afford it.  Electricity and running water are not available in most of the area.  Life in Tunajá is extremely difficult.

Hello, I am Monica Jazmin Gonzalez Hernandez, and I am very happy to share a little about me for the very first time. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I was born on October 13, 2018. I am 6 years old, and I am in kindergarten at school. I enjoy good health. My hobbies are playing soccer and playing with dolls. I like pink. My favorite animal is the cat. I love eating spaghetti. I am an only child. My mother takes me to the feeding program on foot, and it takes us 10 minutes. My parents´ names are Carlos Gonzalez Garcia and Maria Magdalena Hernandez Ruiz. My father does not live with us because he is in The United States. He has been there for one year and six months more or less. He works in a butcher store. He sends money to us and keeps communicating with us every 15 days. On the other hand, my mother lives with us. She takes care of us and the house. She helps with the income by raising pigs. Currently, we are not attending any church. Thank God, my family is healthy.

We do not own a house, so we live with my paternal grandparents. The house belongs to my grandfather. It has three rooms, and we use one. There is a separate kitchen. The house is made of block, cemented floor and ceramic floor. There is electricity and running water. My father and grandparents share the expenses and payment of the services. As a family, our greatest needs are corn and groceries. Alright, this is my short information. I hope you like it. I send many greetings to you from Guatemala. May God bless you always!

Kisses and hugs,

Monica Jazmin Gonzalez Hernandez

Translated by: Mireya de Sandoval, AAC Secretary / Antigua