My Story

Tunajá is a very primitive area of the state of Quiché, Guatemala.  The inhabitants are Quiché Indians who trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization.  The prevalent language is the Indian dialect - Quiché.  The people are either farmers or shepherds and live off the fruits of their laborers. Very little money ever changes hands as they use a barter system.  Public education is available - however, most families cannot afford it.  Electricity and running water are not available in most of the area.  Life in Tunajá is extremely difficult.

Hello! I am Renata Mishel de la Cruz Gonzalez, and it is a privilege to write to you today. Let me introduce myself to you. I am a healthy girl. I was born on May 26, 2017. I will turn 8 years old. I am repeating 1^st grade at school. in my free time, I like playing with dolls. Sausages and eggs are my favorite food. I like pink and cats. I have three brothers and five sisters. My cousin and I walk for 30 minutes to attend the feeding program.

I live happily alongside my parents. They are Mato de la Cruz Garcia and Marta Gonzalez Morente. My father works as a day laborer or farmer while my mother improves the incomes by raising domestic animals to sell. Besides that, she does the hard work at home and takes care of us. My father is healthy, but my mother suffers from diabetes, so I would like to ask for your prayers for her. Thankfully, she is under treatment currently. We attend the Pentecost Church. Our greatest need is food.

About where we live, thank God, my mom owns a house. We share the house with my sister-in-law and sister. The house has three rooms, and my mom must cook in the corridor. It is made of adobe, tin sheet roof and cemented floor. We have running water but no electricity. For that reason, we use candles at night. My parents pay for the water service every year. Our domestic animals are chickens and pigs. Well, this is a little information about my life. I hope you find this interesting. Thank you for your kindness in reading this. I send my best wishes to your family and you.

Many blessings and greetings,

Renata Mishel de la Cruz Gonzalez

Translated by: Mireya de Sandoval, AAC Secretary / Antigua