My Story

Tunajá is a very primitive area of the state of Quiché, Guatemala.  The inhabitants are Quiché Indians who trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization.  The prevalent language is the Indian dialect - Quiché.  The people are either farmers or shepherds and live off the fruits of their laborers. Very little money ever changes hands as they use a barter system.  Public education is available - however, most families cannot afford it.  Electricity and running water are not available in most of the area.  Life in Tunajá is extremely difficult.

Hello! I am Jaquelin Rosmeri Gonzalez Gutierrez. I am so happy to meet you through this letter. Please let me introduce myself to you. I am a healthy seven-year-old girl. I love spending my free time playing with dolls. My favorite food is pizza. I like red and cats. I am in the 2nd grade at school. I only have one brother. I like attending the feeding program. Sometimes, my grandmother takes me and sometimes I go with my cousins. We walk 10 minutes to get there.

Sadly, my biological father did not legally recognize me, and I do not know anything about him. My mother is Luciana Gonzalez Gutierrez. She does not live with me because she works in Guatemala City in a tortilla shop. She comes to visit me every 3 months and stays for one week. Meanwhile, I stay under the care of my maternal grandparents. Their names are Raymunda Gutierres, who is 65 years old, and Roberto Morente, who is 64 years old. My grandfather does not work because he suffers from uric acid. He has taken an injection, but he has not been treated by a doctor yet. On the other hand, my grandmother earns a living by selling peppers and other things.

My mother established a new relationship with Mr. Alfredo 3 years ago. He works by tending a grocery store, but he does not help me economically. I live with my grandparents. They own a one-room house made of adobe, tin sheet roof and dirt floor. There is running water and electricity that my grandmother pays annually and monthly. Chickens are our domestic animals. As a family, our greatest necessities are groceries, clothes and shoes.  Unfortunately, we do not attend any church at the moment. I hope we can attend one soon. Well, I appreciate that you took the time to read this. May God bless you richly!

Best wishes,

Jaquelin Rosmeri Gonzalez Gutierrez

Translated by: Mireya de Sandoval, AAC Secretary / Antigua