My Story

Zacualpa is a small but busy village in a mountain valley. The village is inhabited by both Quiche Mayans and Ladinos (those with mixed European ancestry). The prevalent language is Spanish. Families in this village live in one or two room homes generally constructed of either wood or adobe. Although many of the people are farmers, the village contains several small specialized stores, a body repair shop for buses, mechanics, plumbers and many other small town tradesmen. It also has a large open air market which serves much of the area. Even with all of this, the poverty level is very high and the children are very needy.

Hello! My full name is Yohana Elizabeth Cux Morente and I am excited to tell you a little about my life. I was born on August 29, 2013. I am 11 years old and fortunately, I am a healthy girl. I am in fifth grade and I love reading. My favorite color is pink. Dogs are adorable, so they are my favorite animals. My favorite food is chow-mein. Now, let me tell you about my family. Francisco Cux Ajanel is my father’s name. He makes a living by repairing household appliances. On the other hand, my mother is dedicated to taking care of our family. Her name is Juana Esperanza Morente Gutierrez. I have two sisters, but no brothers. Fortunately, everybody is healthy. We do not attend any church at the moment, so please pray for us.

My family and I live in our own house. My grandparents, Santos Cux and Sebastiana Ajanel, also live with us. The house is made of concrete blocks with a concrete roof and a ceramic floor. It has three rooms, a separate kitchen, electricity, and running water. We raise some chickens and have a dog and a cat as pets at home. The feeding program is about 25 minutes from where I live. So, I get there on foot alongside one of my uncles. Thank you so much for reading my information. Take care of yourself!

Special regards,

Yohana Elizabeth Cux Morente

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Antigua Guatemala