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.

Special regards! I am Lidia Marilina Chingo Mendez, and my heart is overjoyed for having the opportunity to share my information with you. I was born on May 30, 2021. Luckily, I am a healthy girl and my favorite color is white. I still do not attend school, but I will do it next year. My favorite animals are chicks and I have a lot of fun playing with dolls and pretending to cook with plastic food. About my family, I want to open my heart and tell you that my father abandoned us some years ago. I only have my mother’s last name because he did not recognize me legally. Rufina Chingo Mendez is my mother's name. She is a single parent and works hard by raising and selling chickens to support my siblings and me. I have one brother and three sisters. 

Please pray for us since it has been difficult for my mother to cover our needs and everything has gone up in price even more. Some of our needs are groceries and corn. We do not have electricity or running water at home. Therefore, we use candles and collect water from a spring by using buckets. We usually walk 25 minutes from where we live to get there. We live in our own house, which is made of wood, tin sheet roof and dirt floor. It has only one room, so we built a small space at home to prepare our meals. It is almost time to say goodbye, but I want you to know that I am so happy to be part of the feeding program. I usually walk for 30 minutes from where I live to get there. My mother usually accompanies me. Until next time!

With much love,

Lidia Marilina Chingo Mendez

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Guatemala