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! I cordially greet you in Jesus’ name. My name is Sergio Mardoqueo Cux Morales, and I was born on October 29, 2012. I am 12 years old. I am a healthy boy and attend the sixth grade. My favorite pastime is playing soccer. I like the color red. My favorite animals are bears. I love eating fried chicken. Now, let me tell you about my family. I have two brothers, but no sisters. We attend a Christian Church alongside our parents. My father’s name is Samuel Cux. He works as a farmer and day laborer. He also travels to the coast to cut coffee beans from November to January to earn extra income. My mother’s name is Margarita Morales Morales. She also works as a day laborer to contribute to the household expenses.

We live in our own house. It is made of adobe with a tin sheet and a dirt floor. It has one room, a separate kitchen, electricity, but no running water. Thankfully, my grandmother has a well at her house. She allows us to get water from it for free. We have chickens and pigs at home for our consumption. We are a low-income family, so I ask you to pray for us. Some of our needs are clothes, shoes, and food. The feeding program is one hour from our house, so we usually walk to get there. It is time to say goodbye, but I appreciate you taking the time to read my letter. My mother helped me share all this information with a staff member of LW.

Kind regards,

Sergio Mardoqueo Cux Morales

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Antigua Guatemala