My Story

Zacualpa is a small but busy village in a mountain valley. The village is inhabited by both Quiche Mayans and Ladinos (those with mixed European ancestry). The prevalent language is Spanish. Families in this village live in one or two room homes generally constructed of either wood or adobe. Although many of the people are farmers, the village contains several small specialized stores, a body repair shop for buses, mechanics, plumbers and many other small-town tradesmen. It also has a large open-air market which serves much of the area. Even with all of this, the poverty level is very high and the children are very needy.

Hello! My full name is Wendy Leticia Garcia Luis, and I am grateful to LW for allowing me to share with you a little about my life. I was born on January 27, 2022. I do not attend school because of my age. I am 4 years old and I stay home with my mother. In my free time, I have a lot of fun playing with my dolls. My favorite color is pink and I like sheep. I love having fried chicken with my meals. Fortunately, my whole family and I are healthy. I live with my parents and siblings. I have five brothers and two sisters. The one who provides what we need is my father. His name is Ramiro Garcia Simaj. He makes a living as a day laborer. His current work consists of digging sand and pebbles from the river. My mother also works hard at home taking care of us. Her name is Marta Ofelia Luis Gutierrez.

We are a Christian family and attend a local church called Ebenezer. We do not own a house, but it is a blessing to count on my brother-in-law and older sister because they have sheltered us at their house. My father contributes to cover the electricity service monthly. The house is made of adobe walls with metal tin sheet roof and dirt floor. It has three rooms and a separate kitchen. There is no running water at home, but we get water from a nearby spring. We raise some chickens and pigs at home for our consumption. The feeding program is about 10 minutes away from where we live. To get there fast, my mother and I usually take a tuk-tuk. Before ending this letter, I would like to count on your prayers for my family and our needs. Most of them are groceries. May God bless you today and always!

Sincerely yours,

Wendy Leticia Garcia Luis

Translated by: Hillary Popol, A-A-C Secretary / Guatemala