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! It is so wonderful to share a little bit about my life with you through this letter. My name is Santos Elias Garcia Hernandez and I hope you find my information engaging. I was born on February 16, 2021. Due to my young age, I still do not attend school. I am in good health and my favorite pastime is playing with toy cars. I like the color red. My favorite animals are cats, and I love eating eggs. I live with my parents, grandmother, and siblings. I have one brother and one sister and we all together attend the Pentecostal Church Prince of Peace. My father’s name is Agustin Garcia Hernandez. He makes a living as a day laborer and farmer. Furthermore, he travels to the coast and cuts sugar cane for six months. My mother’s name is Cristina Hernandez Simaj, and she is a busy housewife and weaves typical belts to sell.

Besides that, she raises and sells chickens to help my father with the expenses and needs. Most of them are groceries, clothes, and shoes. Please pray for my mother who is not able to see with her right eye. She told me that she hurt herself while she was working with her parents at the coast when she was a child. Due to that, she had a surgery, but she has not gone to the doctor since then. My family and I live in a two-room house with a separate kitchen, electricity, but no running water. Therefore, we use candles at night. The house is made of adobe with tin sheet roof and dirt floor. My grandmother is the owner of the house. We live near the feeding program. I only walk for ten minutes from where I live to get there. My mother usually accompanies me. It is time to say goodbye, but I hope to hear from you soon.

Cordially yours,

Santos Elias Garcia Hernandez

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Guatemala