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 Gladys Yolanda de la Cruz Garcia. I was born on May 27, 2014, and I am already 9 years old. I am in 3^rd grade at school this year. I love the color pink and my favorite animal is the cat. The meal I love is fried chicken. I enjoy playing in my spare time. I live with my mother and two sisters, and by the grace of God, we are healthy. My mother´s name is Catalina Garcia Chivalan de de la Cruz. She does the housework, raises domestic animals and weaves typical blouses to sell to supply our home expenses. My older sister has a husband. She is a housewife, and her husband works as a farmer and they contribute to the expenses of growing corn for the family. My father is Hector de la Cruz Gomez. Unfortunately, he abandoned us about 9 years ago, and we have no communication with him.

My family and I attend the Church of Christ. Fortunately, we live on our property; we have one room made of wood boards with a tin sheet roof and a floor that is just dirt. The kitchen is separated and made of corn cane, and tin sheet roof. We have running water but no electricity, so we use candles to get light. As a family, the top priority for us is groceries. I live 10 minutes away from the feeding program. My mother Catalina Garcia provided my personal information to the Living Water staff for my registration in the program. I hope to receive news from you very soon. May God bless you always!

Special hugs,

Gladys Yolanda de la Cruz Garcia

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