My Story

Chuchuca, where your child lives, is an area located high on the side of a mountain in the state of Quiche, 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 Quiche Mayans who inhabit this area trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization. They normally speak a Mayan dialect called Quiche - 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 so excited and happy to be able to write this biography about me and my family. My name is Eva Carolina Garcia Mendoza. I was born on December 23, 2018. I am 7 years old. I live with my parents and siblings.  My father´s name is Arnoldo Garcia Garcia, and he works as a day laborer. At the end of the year, he travels to the coast to pick coffee. My mother´s name is Lucia Mendoza Morente; she is a housewife and takes care of us. Also, she raises some sheep, pigs and hens. I have one brother and two sisters. Thanks to God, we are family in good health. We are members of the Prince of Peace Church. We are thankful with God because we have the blessing to live in our own house. My maternal grandparents live with us. The house has two rooms and a separate kitchen. It is made of adobe walls, tin sheet roof and concrete floor. Our house is very humble, but it is our home. We do not have running water; we obtain it from the spring with a hose, and we use a solar panel to brighten the house. At school, I am in first grade. One thing that I love to do is playing tag with my siblings. My favorite animals are cats and I love pink. 

I like many foods, but my favorite is fried chicken. I am very excited when I can eat it. We are a family with many needs and some of them are corn and groceries. I pray to God for his provision in my family.  My siblings and I walk around 25 minutes to get to the feeding program, and we are very happy to be part of this beautiful place. I have to say bye for now, but I hope you liked my letter. I ask God to give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. 

Special regards,

Eva Carolina Garcia Mendoza

Translated by: Magnolia Gómez, AAC Secretary/Guatemala