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 Mateo Franklin Morente Riz, and I cordially greet you. I am excited to share with you my story. First, I want you to know that my oldest sister and a staff member of LW helped me write this letter. I was born on September 19, 2020. I am a healthy 4-year-old boy. I am so happy because this is my first year at school as a preschooler. My favorite pastime is playing with my toy cars. I like the color blue. My favorite animals are rabbits. I love eating fried chicken. Now, let me tell you about my family. My mother’s name is Lesly Floriselda Ruiz Gonzalez. She sells homemade snacks at school every day to contribute to the household expenses. My father’s name is Victoriano Morente. He is a farmer and a day laborer. As for siblings, let me tell you that I only have two sisters. My grandmother, on my father’s side, lives with us too. We attend a Pentecostal Church.

Please pray for my family and our well-being. One of our greatest needs is food. The house where we live belongs to my mother. It is made of concrete blocks with a tin sheet roof and a concrete floor. It has four rooms, a separate kitchen, electricity, and running water. Fortunately, we have enough space at home to raise our chickens and pigs. The feeding program is about 15 minutes away from my house. My father usually takes me there on a motorcycle. It is time to say goodbye, but I hope you found all my news engaging. See you later!

With love,

Mateo Franklin Morente Riz

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Antigua Guatemala