My Story

Chuchuca, where your child lives, is an area located high on the side of a mountain in the state of Quiche, 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 Quiche Mayans who inhabit this area trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization. They normally speak a Mayan dialect called Quiche - however, Spanish is becoming more common. Very little money ever changes hands in this area as they live on a barter system.

It is a blessing to greet you and share a little about my life with you through this letter. Before starting, I want you to know that my mom helped me provide all this information to a staff member of LW. My full name is Marlon Elias Garcia de Leon. I was born on October 24, 2021. I am 4 years old, and fortunately, I am in good health. I am still too young to attend school. Therefore, I stay home and play with my toy cars. I like the color green. My favorite animal is the sheep, and I love eating noodles. I want you to know that I have two brothers and one sister. We attend the feeding program together. We usually walk for ten minutes from our house to get there. My parents strive to support our family and cover the essential needs, especially food. My mother’s name is Lucia de Leon Garcia. She is a housewife and raises chickens and pigs for occasional sales.

I kindly ask you to pray for my mother. She has two hernias in each leg near her intimate part. The doctor told her that she has to undergo surgery, but she wants to wait for a while because she is worried that nobody else can take care of my siblings and me while she is at the hospital. My father’s name is Arturo Garcia Calachij. He makes a living as a farmer and day laborer. Fortunately, he is doing well. We do not own a house, but thanks to my grandmother, we have a shelter at her house. Some of my uncles also live with us. Everybody contributes to cover the household expenses. The house is made of adobe, a tile roof, and a dirt floor. It has two rooms, a separate kitchen, electricity, and running water. I will leave you now, but I hope to hear from you soon. Have a wonderful day!

With love,

Marlon Elias Garcia de Leon

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Antigua Guatemala