My Story

Tunaja is a very primitive area of the state of Quiche, Guatemala. The inhabitants are Quiche Mayans who trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization. The prevalent language is the Mayan dialect - Quiche. The people are either farmers or shepherds and live off the fruits of their labors. 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 Tunaja is extremely difficult.

Hello! It is a big privilege to tell you a little about my life. My name is Cindy Elizabeth Grave Chich, and I hope you find my information engaging. I was born on January 2, 2021. I am a healthy 4-year-old girl. I am too young to attend school, so I stay home with my mother. My favorite pastime is playing with my dolls. I love eating fried chicken and rice. My favorite color is purple. My favorite animals are cats. Now, let me tell you about my family. My father makes a living as a motorcycle taxi driver. His name is Juan Grave De La Cruz. Please pray for his health. He had an accident about three years ago. His right foot was the most affected, so he has trouble walking. He has not visited the doctor yet because of a lack of financial resources. My mother is a housewife and strives to contribute to the expenses. She weaves typical blouses and belts. Her name is Manuela Chich Son.

The house where we live belongs to my father. It is made of concrete blocks and adobe walls with a tin sheet roof and a concrete floor. It has three rooms, a separate kitchen, running water, and electricity, thanks to my grandparents. They share this service with us, so my parents help them to cover half of the bill. We have some chickens at home for our consumption. Our economic resources are limited, so I kindly ask you to pray for our needs. Some of them are clothes and food, especially corn. Let me tell you that the feeding program is about 30 minutes away from where we live. We usually walk to get there. Thank you so much for reading my letter! I want you to know that my mother helped me share all my news with a staff member of LW. 

With much love,

Cindy Elizabeth Grave Chich

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Antigua Guatemala