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.

I fondly greet you, hoping this letter finds you doing well. My full name is Erika Gomez Cux and I am so happy to share my information with you. I was born on June 30, 2019. Fortunately, I am in good health and I am in kindergarten. My favorite color is red. I love having sausages with beans, and my favorite animals are sheep. I have a lot of fun shepherding sheep alongside my grandmother, Santos Cux. I am an only child and I live her, my mother, and one of my uncles. Unfortunately, I have no information about my biological father. Therefore, I have my mother’s last name. Juana Gomez Cux is my mother and she makes a living by selling chickens that she raises herself. Furthermore, she travels to the coast and works in a tortilleria business during the last three or four months of the year to earn an extra income to support our family.

While she is there, my grandmother takes care of me. She is a housewife and midwife. She also raises chickens and sheep to sell to contribute to the expenses. The house where we live belongs to her. It is made of adobe with tin sheet roof and dirt floor. It has three rooms and a separate kitchen. There is a nearby spring from where we get water by using a hose. We use candles at night since we do not have electricity at home. I am so happy to attend the feeding program because I can enjoy delicious meals alongside one of my cousins. We usually walk for 30 minutes from where we live to get there. This is all for now, but I hope to hear from you soon. Have a wonderful day!

Kisses and hugs,

Erika Gomez Cux

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Guatemala