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 Roni Armando de la Cruz Barrera. I was born on October 5, 2015, and I recently turned 8 years old. I attend 2^nd grade at school. My favorite color is blue, and the animal I like the most is the cat. Fried chicken is the meal I love the most. I love playing football. I live happily with my mother, one brother and two sisters; we all are fine. My mother´s name is Laura Barrera Mendez. She is a housewife, raises hens and cows, and in addition, she weaves typical blouses to sell to get money and supply our needs. Furthermore, she goes to work in a tortilla shop in Guatemala City and my siblings and I go with her too. My father´s name is Rodolfo de la Cruz Hernandez. He decided to leave us and left to go to the United States, and now he has another family there. However, he communicates with my siblings and me and sends some money for our expenses. We do not know what kind of work he does.

For now, we do not attend church because my mother does not have time to go. We live in a rented house; the monthly payment is Q300.00 = $40.00 and my mother pays for it. We have three block rooms with tin sheet roof and a granite floor. The kitchen is separated. There are running water and electricity services; my mother pays for them. For now, our top priorities are groceries. I live 30 minutes away from the feeding program. My mother Laura Barrera provided my personal information to the Living Water staff for my registration in the program. With much affection. Many blessings!

Warm regards,

Roni Armando de la Cruz Barrera

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