My Story

Chuchuca, where your child lives, is an area located high on the side of a mountain in the state of Quiché, 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 Quiché Indians who inhabit this area trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization. They normally speak an Indian dialect called Quiché - however, Spanish is becoming more common. Very little money ever changes hands in this area as they live on a barter system

It is a beautiful day to say hello you and tell you a little bit about my life and my family. My name is Susana Yorleni Chingo de la Cruz. I was born on December 14, 2018. I am 6 years old. Since I am too young, I am not attending school yet. I like to play tag and I love feeding the sheep. My favorite color is corinth and I love sheep. The food I like is rice with beans. I live happily with my parents, one brother and one sister. My father´s name is Manuel Chingo Mendez. He works as a day laborer and a farmer. My mother´s name is Gloria de la Cruz Mendez. She raises some pigs and sheep to sell when they are grown. We are members of the Pentecostal Prince of Peace Church.  By the grace of God, we are in good health. We live with my paternal grandparents in their house. Two cousins live there too. We use only one room in which we also cook. It is made of adobe walls, tile roof, and dirt floor. 

We have running water but no electricity. We use flashlights to light the house. My father pays the running water each year. We have some domestic animals at home such as hens, sheep and a cow. My parents work hard, but in spite of that, we have many needs such as groceries. I ask for your prayers for us so that God continues with His provision in our home. I walk 30 minutes to get to the feeding program and I enjoy going there with my cousins. Thank you very much for reading a little about my life and my family. 

Many blessings,

Susana Yorleni Chingo De La Cruz

Translated by: Magnolia De Torres / A-A-C Secretary-Antigua Guatemala