My Story

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

Hello, it is a wonderful day to greet you, and I hope you are doing fine in your country. My name is Balvin Brandon Gutierrez Garcia. I would like to introduce myself to you, so you can get to know me better. I was born on April 15, 2019. I am 6 years old. My favorite food is folded tortillas with cheese. Black is my favorite color. I like chickens. I am a healthy boy. I am in kindergarten at school this year. In my free time, I enjoy playing soccer. I have two brothers and three sisters. I usually attend the feeding program along with my oldest sister. I always do a 10-minute trip by bus to get there.

Fortunately, we live in our own house. It has two rooms, and a kitchen. The house is made of adobe, tin sheet roof and dirt floor. We have domestic animals such as chickens at home. There is an artisanal well where we get water. We have electricity that my parents pay for every month. Our greatest needs are food and clothes.

My parents are Hector Gutierrez de la Cruz and Santos Garcia Chic de Gutierrez. My father supports us by making bricks. My mother is a housewife but also weaves typical napkins to sell. Currently, both are healthy. Nevertheless, I would like to ask for your prayers for my father because he has alcoholic problems, and sometimes, he does not contribute to the income. Sadly, we do not attend any church as a family. Thank you so much for your attention. I appreciate that LW gave me this opportunity to share this with you. May God bless you abundantly!

Greetings and hugs,

Balvin Brandon Gutierrez Garcia

Translated by: Mireya de Sandoval, AAC Secretary / Antigua