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 Jenaro Garcia Ajqui. I was born on October 19, 2013, and I am already 10 years old. I am in second grade this year. I like the color blue, and the cow is my favorite animal. Fried chicken is the meal I like the most. I have one brother. By the grace of God, my family and I are in good health. My father´s name is Jose Domingo Garcia Jimon. He is a farmer and works in our village. However, he goes to work on the coast from October to December during the harvesting of coffee beans. My mother´s name is Eva Ajqui Mendez. She usually stays busy with the housework and raises a pig.

We attend the Catholic Church. Fortunately, we live on our property; there are two adobe rooms with a tin sheet roof and a floor that is just dirt. The kitchen is separated. We have and pay for running water, but there is no electricity, so we use candles to get light. At the moment, our greatest needs are food and beds. I walk 40 minutes to get to the feeding program. My mother Eva Ajqui provided my personal information to the Living Water staff for my registration in the program. Sending much love. May God bless you!

Kind regards,

Jenaro Garcia Ajqui

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