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! My name is Ernesto Gonzalez Barrera, and it is a pleasure to share my information with you. I want you to know that my mother and a staff member of LW helped me write this letter. I was born on February 19, 2019. I am a healthy 6-year-old boy. I am in kindergarten. My favorite food is fried chicken. I have a lot of fun playing with toy cars. I love the color blue, and my favorite animals are turkeys. Now, let me tell you about my family. My father’s name is Ernesto Gonzalez Gutierrez. He works as a farmer and day laborer. My mother’s name is Micaela Barrera Calachij. As a housewife, she keeps busy at home. As for my siblings, I want you to know that I have one brother and one sister. We attend a Christian church called Prince of Peace.

My family and I live in a borrowed house that belongs to my grandfather, on my mother’s side. Some of my relatives on my father’s side also live with us. They are my grandparents, uncles, and aunts. The house is made of adobe with a tile roof and a granite floor. It has two rooms, a separate kitchen, electricity, and running water. We all share the household expenses. We have chickens and pigs at home for our consumption. To end this letter, the feeding program is about 15 minutes away from where we live, so we usually walk to get there. Have a wonderful day!

Kisses and hugs,

Ernesto Gonzalez Barrera

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Antigua Guatemala