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 and many blessings to you and your loved ones. I am so excited to be able to write this biography. It makes me so happy to be able to share some information about me. My name is Leonel Gomez Garcia. I am 10 years old now and I go to school in 2^nd. grade. My birthday is July 20, 2015. I love playing soccer with my brothers and doing homework. My favorite color is blue. I love cats and my favorite food is fried chicken. I live with my parents Camilo Gomez Cux and Tomasa, Garcia Saquic. I have three brothers and three sisters, and two of my brothers are enrolled in the feeding program too. My father works as a day laborer and a farmer, and he works every day. My mother is a housewife, and she dedicates her time to taking care of us. We are members of the Prince of Peace Church. We live in my father´s house.

It has one room and a kitchen. The house is made of wooden walls, tin sheet roof and dirt floor. We do not have running water; we go to bring it in jars from the spring. We do not have electricity; we use candles or lanterns to brighten the house. At home, we have domestic animals like sheep, hens, dogs, cats and pigs.  The feeding program is an hour away from our house. We get there on foot.  My family and I are a humble family with many needs and some of them are groceries, corn, clothes and shoes.  Thanks God, we are a healthy family. I am sending much love, blessings and I hope you are well.

Many big hugs,

Leonel Gomez Garcia

Translated by: Magnolia Gómez / AAC Secretary-Guatemala