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 labors.  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 glad to greet you for the very first time. I am Brithany Suleydi Riz Toy, and I hope you are doing well where you are. I would like to share with you something about my family and me. I come from a humble small family. I live with my parents Jose Victor Riz de Leon and Antonia Tzoy de Leon and my brother Jonathan. Thankfully, we are all healthy. We are members of the Catholic Church. My father earns a living by farming the land or working as a day laborer. My mother is a housewife. Besides that, she earns some money by tending a second hand-clothes store in Zacualpa or by washing clothes for others. However, I would like to ask for your prayers because sometimes they do not have a job, and it affects our economic situation.

Talking about me, well I am 4 years old. I was born on June 11, 2020. I am too young to attend school, so I stay at home. My hobby is playing with my dolls. My favorite color is pink, and my favorite animal is the cat. I love eating fried chicken. Living Water has been a blessing for me, I like attending there. I usually walk for 30 minutes to be there. Fortunately, we own the house where we live. It has two rooms and use one as a kitchen. It is made of block and wood walls, tin sheet roof and cement floor. There is an artisanal well where we get our water. There is also electricity that my parents pay. We do not pay for the water just do the maintenance of the well. Thank you so much for your kindness to read this. I pray the Lord blesses you every other way.

I send you my best wishes,

Brithany Suleydi Riz Tzoy

Translated by: Mireya de Sandoval, AAC Secretary / Antigua