My Story

Chuchuca, where your child lives, is an area located high on the side of a mountain in the state of Quiche, 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 Quiche Mayans who inhabit this area trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization. They normally speak a Mayan dialect called Quiche - 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 so happy to greet you through this letter. In this opportunity, I will tell you a little about my life. My full name is Maynor Alfredo Grave Chingo and I was born on March 21, 2019. I am in first grade and I enjoy playing soccer. My favorite color is red. I love having rice, and my favorite animals are cows. I live with my parents and siblings. I have one brother and one sister. We all together attend the Prince of Peace Church. My father’s name is Celestino Gregorio Grave Chingo and he is a day laborer. My mother’s name is Irma Chingo Chingo and she makes typical belts to sell and contribute to the expenses.

I tell you that my father has health problems. After receiving medicine, he has not felt better. Therefore, I kindly ask you to pray for him. The rest of my family and I are in good health. We live in a two-room house with a separate kitchen, electricity, and running water. It is made of adobe with a tile roof and a dirt floor. My grandmother is the owner of the house and my parents help to cover the household expenses. We live about a fifteen-minute walk from the feeding program. I usually get there alongside my brother, who is already enrolled there. I will leave you now, but I hope you enjoyed reading my information.

With much love,

Maynor Alfredo Grave Chingo

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Guatemala