My Story

Chuchuca, where your child lives, is an area located high on the side of a mountain in the state of Quiché, Guatemala. Life in this area is very difficult and very isolated from the outside world. It is more than a two hour walk to the nearest market town of Zacualpa.  Chuchuca is a farming area where corn and black beans, the staple elements in their diet, are the major corps. The Quiché Indians who inhabit this area trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization. They normally speak an Indian dialect called Quiché - however, Spanish is becoming more common. Very little money ever changes hands in this area as they live on a barter system.

I am so glad to introduce myself through this! My full name is Marvin Rafael Alexander de la Cruz Ajqui. I was born on July 13^th of 2014, in Chuchuca village, Zacualpa, Quiche, Guatemala. I am an 11-year-old boy. My father is Pedro de la Cruz Gutierrez. He makes a living as a farmer. He also travels to cut sugar cane for six months to get more income. My mother is Maria Ajqui Chic; she tries to help my father with the expenses. She weaves typical blouses and raises hens and pigs to sell. I have only one brother and no sisters. By the grace of God, we are in good health.

I am so happy because I am in 5^th grade at school. My hobbies are playing football and riding a bicycle. I love the color orange. The animal I like the most is the cat. I love eating eggs. My family and I attend Assembly of God Church. We are living in my paternal grandma´s house, and we share the house with my grandparents and uncles. There are three adobe rooms with tin sheet roof and a cement floor. The kitchen is separated. We have running water and electricity services. The electricity payment is monthly, and the water is yearly. As a family, our greatest needs are groceries and money for school supplies. It is a great blessing for me to be registered in the feeding program; I walk 8 minutes to get there. This is all for now and I hope to hear news from you very soon. Many blessings!

Bunch of hugs,

Marvin Rafael Alexander de la Cruz Ajqui

Translated by: Violeta Hernandez / A-A-C Secretary-Antigua Guatemala