My Story

Chulumal is a rural community on the outskirts of Chichicastenango. The Mayan people are both beautiful and humble by nature. Chichicastenango is considered to be one of the most important towns in Guatemala. It has a rich and long historic culture and is considered as the home of the Quiche civilization (the largest group of the Mayan population). According to the 2012 census, 98.5% of the municipality’s population is indigenous Mayan K’iche. 21% of the population speak only K’iche, 71% speak both K'iche and Spanish, and the remaining 8% speak only Spanish.

Hello! This is Jonathan Alexander Macario Ventura and I am glad to share my information with you. I was born on October 7, 2015. I am doing well, but I occasionally experience issues in my right eye. Unfortunately, my mom does not have enough economic resources to take me to a sight specialist, so I do not have any diagnosis for my condition. Besides health, our priorities are food, clothes, and school resources for me. I am glad because I attend school as a third grader. I like playing ball and my favorite color is red. I love having chicken soup for my meals and my favorite animals are cats. I have no brothers and sisters. I only live with my mother who is a widow. Sadly, my father passed away six years ago due to an unknown illness which caused him vomiting and cramps. His name was Tomas Macario Tol. My mom is a brave, strong, and hardworking woman who makes a living by selling corn, chayote, or any other fruits and vegetables to provide the necessities at home. Her name is Manuela Amparo Ventura. She usually works four days a week at the market. Her income is about Q200=$25.88 weekly.

I like helping my mom to sell her products and doing household chores like sweeping or washing my shoes. Fortunately, we have enough space at home to grow corn and raise hens for our consumption. Our house is made of adobe with tin sheet roofs and concrete floors. It has one room, a kitchen, electricity and running water. My mom pays monthly for the electricity and yearly for running water. We are glad because we can attend Liberty Church here in Chulumal. That is a great blessing for us. Our church is a fifteen-minute walk from our house. I say goodbye to you now, but I hope to write you a letter soon again.

With many blessings,

Jonathan Alexander Macario Ventura

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary/Antigua Guatemala