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 Nery Osvaldo Barrera Chingo. My birthdate is November 17, 2013, which makes me 10 years of age now. I am attending 3^rd grade this year. I love cats, and my favorite color is blue. The meal I love is fried chicken. My hobby is playing football. I have one brother and one sister; thank God, my family and I are in good health. My father´s name is Carlos Barrera Morente. He does farm work; furthermore, he goes to cut sugar cane or coffee beans on the coast to support the family. My mother´s name is Juana Chingo Gomez. She works as a weaver and contributes to the income, and she raises hens.

My family and I attend a Christian Church. Since we do not have our own house, we live in my maternal grandparents’ house. There are three rooms made of adobe walls with a roof made of tin sheets and a floor that is just dirt. We use two rooms, and the kitchen is separate. There are running water and electricity services; my parents pay for them. At the moment, we are in need of groceries and beds. I live away from the feeding program and I must walk one hour to get there. My mother Juana Chingo provided my personal information to the Living Water staff for my registration in the program. Well, this is all for now. Many and abundant blessings!

Huge hugs,

Nery Osvaldo Barrera Chingo

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