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 Indians who inhabit this area trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization. They normally speak an Indian 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.

It is a pleasure for me to greet you in the name of Jesus hoping you are doing fine. It is a good opportunity to tell you a little about my family and me through this letter. I am Micaela Rodriguez Ordonez and I am 8 years old. I was born on January 26, 2017. I am a healthy girl. I am in second grade at school this year. I spend my time playing dolls. My favorite color is purple and I love sheep. I like to eat fried chicken. About my parents, sadly, my father abandoned us and went to live with another woman. His name is Genaro Rodriguez Garcia. He does not help us economically. My mother´s name is Martha Ordonez Coj. She works as a maid and she washes clothes for other people too. She suffers from pain in her head, but she had not visited any doctor for lack of economic resources. I have four siblings, two brothers and two sisters. Thanks to God, they are in good health. We attend Catholic Church.

We live in a borrowed house. It is my uncle´s house. It has two rooms and a separate kitchen. The house is made of adobe walls with tile roof and dirt floor. By the grace of God, we have running water and electricity. My mother pays the electricity each month and the running water once a year. My mother raises some hens. My family and I have many needs because our incomes are low. Some of them are groceries and clothes. We trust in God and we know that He can provide everything that we need. I ask for your prayers for us to continue moving forward. We are very blessed to be part of the feeding program because we can receive one delicious meal each week and we receive God`s Word. I am sending many blessings and thank you very much for reading my history.

Blessings and love,

Micaela Rodriguez Ordonez

Translated by: Magnolia De Torres / A-A-C Secretary-Antigua Guatemala