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 crops. 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 Elma Eliza Florecita de la Cruz Rodriguez. I was born on July 15, 2016, and I am already 7 years old. I am in kindergarten this year.  I love the color pink, and my favorite animal is the goat. The meals I love are rice with black beans, and black beans with sausages. I enjoy playing with my dolls in my spare time. I am in good health and so is my family. I have no siblings. My father is Jose Armando de la Cruz Riz. He works as both a farmer and a day laborer to supply the family’s needs. In addition, he goes to pick coffee beans on the coast for two months. My mother is Juana Rodriguez Mechen. She does the chores at home, raises hens and weaves typical belts for selling.

We do not attend church for now. Thank God, my father owns the house in which we live; there is one adobe room with a tin sheet roof and a cement floor. There are running water and electricity services; my father pays for them. For now, the priorities for us are corn and groceries. I live far away from the feeding program, and I walk one hour to arrive. My mother Juana Rodriguez provided my personal information to the Living Water staff for my registration in the program. Take care of yourself. Many and abundant blessings to you

Special hugs,

Elma Eliza Florecita de la Cruz Rodriguez

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