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.

Hello! I am blessed to greet you in the name of Jesus and I hope you are well. I want to tell you a little about my family and me through this little letter. I am Ermelinda Floridalma Cux de la Cruz. I was born on June 15, 2017. I am 7 years old. I am a healthy girl. I am in 1st. grade at school this year. In my free time, I like playing dolls and swinging. My favorite color is red and I like cats. I want to tell you that my favorite food is fried chicken. I live with my mother, my sisters and my step-father. Sadly, my biological father abandoned us many years ago. His name is Venancio Cux Gomez. Now, my mother has a new partner. His name is Hector Gutierrez Garcia. He has lived with us for three years. He works as a day laborer and farmer. My mother´s name is Juana de la Cruz Garcia. She is a housewife and she takes care of and my sisters and me. We attend Catholic Church. We don´t have our own house.

We live in my maternal grandmother’s house. My grandmother´s name is Juana Garcia. In the house live my aunt too. The house has three rooms and a kitchen. It is made of block and wooden board walls, tin sheet roof and concrete floor. We have running water but no electricity. We use candles at night. My family shares the payment for the running water, and they pay it each year. We have some hens and pigs. My family has many needs such as groceries and clothes. I walk 40 minutes to get to the feeding program. I am very thankful to be part of this blessed ministry.

In Jesus love,

Ermelinda Floridalma Cux de la Cruz

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