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 Mayans who inhabit this area trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization. They normally speak a Mayan 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.

Hello! My name is Erlinda Elvira Ordonez Mechen. My birthdate is June 28^th, 2014, which makes me 9 years of age now. This year I am in 3^rd grade at school. While I am at home I enjoy playing with my dolls. The dog is my favorite animal and I love the color blue. The meal I love is fried chicken. I live with my parents, one brother and one sister; we thank God because we are in good health. My father´s name is Genaro Ordonez Morente. He works on the coast by cleaning the grown weeds from the coffee plantations and picking coffee beans during the harvest. He usually goes to work on the coast at any season of the year, and he supplies the family´s needs. My mother´s name is Cecilia Mechen Riz. She makes a living by weaving typical table mats, and fortunately, she weaves a dozen each month.

My family and I are members of the Assembly of God Church. Since we do not have our own house, we live with my maternal grandparents. There are two adobe rooms with tile roof and a dirt floor. There is running water and electricity services; my parents and grandparents pay for those services. At the moment, our main needs are groceries and a place to live quietly. The feeding program is far away, and I have to walk one hour to get there. My mother Cecilia Mechen provided my personal information to the Living Water staff for my registration in the program. I send much love. Every blessing to you!

Bunch of hugs,

Erlinda Elvira Ordonez Mechen

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