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 corps. 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! My full name is Yolanda Elizabeth Riz Sac, and I am glad to share a little about my life with you. I was born on November 16, 2020. I am a healthy 5-year-old girl. I still do not attend school, but I hope to do it soon. I stay home and play with my siblings. I have one brother and two sisters. I love playing with my dolls and painting. My favorite color is green, and I love cats. My family and I attend a Christian Church called Prince of Peace. My father’s name is Arnulfo Riz Calachij. He makes a living as a day laborer and farmer. My mother’s name is Catarina Sac Mendez. She is a housewife and raises chickens, pigs, and sheep. She mostly sells chickens and uses her income to contribute to the expenses.

Please pray for my mom because she suffers from gastritis. She went to the public clinic in our village, but she did not receive medicine. So, she takes natural medicine to mitigate the issues. My family and I live in a small house, which my father owns. It is made of wood, a tin sheet roof, and dirt floors. It has two rooms, a separate kitchen, solar panels, but no running water. We are grateful to one of our neighbors for providing us with water for free. We usually use a plastic vessel to carry water to our house. I am pleased to be part of the feeding center because I can enjoy delicious food. My house is about one hour and thirty minutes away from the feeding program. My mom and I usually walk to get there. It is time to say goodbye, but I want you to know that my mom helped me to share all this information with LW. Have a wonderful day!

In Jesus’ name,

Yolanda Elizabeth Riz Sac

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Antigua Guatemala