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! I am Jessica Karina Grave Garcia. My birthdate is April 26, 2015, which makes me 8 years of age now. I am attending first grade and I like to attend school. I like to talk and help my mother with the housework, and I play with my stuffed toys in my free time. I love the color purple, and cats are my favorite animals. Strained beans are my favorite meal. I am so happy living with my parents, and two sisters. By the grace of God, we are fairly well. As for me, I have warts on my arms, and my parents do not have resources to take me to the doctor; fortunately, I will have the opportunity to attend the LW clinics. My father is Eliseo Grave Luis. He is a farmer and works on his own; he grows corn, and husk tomatoes to sell and support our family. My mother is Juana Garcia de la Cruz. She tries to contribute to the income by weaving typical belts to sell and helps my father with the crops. She also raises hens. Our pet is a cat.

We attend the Catholic Church in our village. Since we do not have our own house, my paternal grandparents are sharing their house with us. It is an adobe house, only one room with a tile roof and a dirt floor. The kitchen is separated. We have running water, and my grandparents pay for it once per year. We have no electricity, so we use candles and lamps to get light. For now, our greatest needs are groceries and corn. I walk about 30 minutes to arrive to the feeding program; I love to attend the program. My mother Juana Garcia provided my personal information to the Living Water staff for my registration. Sending much love. Every kind of blessing!

Lots of love,

Jessica Karina Grave Garcia

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