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.

Hello! I am pleased to share a little about my life with you. My name is Yoselin Briseida Toj Garcia, and I was born on April 3, 2020. I still do not attend school. My parents think that I am too young for it. I am 5 years old. Therefore, I stay home and play with my teddy bears. My favorite color is pink. I love eating fried chicken. My favorite animals are cats. Fortunately, my whole family and I are healthy. We attend a Christian Church called Assembly of God. My father is Mario Toj Chingo. He traveled to the United States one year ago. He is in touch with us, so we know he makes a living by caring for chickens on a farm. He usually sends us money monthly. Some of our greatest needs are clothes and food, especially corn. Please pray for him so the Lord always takes care of him.

My mother is Esperanza Garcia de la Cruz. She is a housewife and sells domestic animals raised at home. She does her best to contribute to the expenses. We live with my grandmother at her house. Her name is Santa de la Cruz, and she is my relative on my mother’s side. The house is made of adobe, a tile roof, and a concrete floor. It has three rooms, a separate kitchen, electricity, and running water. Although the feeding program is about one hour away from my house, we usually walk to get there. I will leave you now, but I hope to hear from you soon. Until next time!

Cordiality yours,

Yoselin Briseida Toj Garcia

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Antigua Guatemala