My Story

Hello! Let me begin by thanking you for taking the time to read my update. I want to tell you that I walk for five minutes to arrive to the feeding program. I am Hector Joel but everybody affectionately calls me Joel. I am 9 years old and I had my birthday in May. I take classes in my village and I am a first-grade student. My school is about ten minutes away from my home. I love “aprestamiento” (it is a subject where the child learns to develop the skills and abilities) but Expression Arts is a little difficult for me. I help my mother watch after my siblings and we play together.

The people who live in the house are my parents, grandmother, siblings and me. My father´s job consists of farming the land and picking coffee beans on the coast. My mother´s duties are taking care of us and doing the housework. Also, she travels to the coast with my father. My family and I are members of Assembly of God Church. I want to ask for your prayers for my grandmother´s health because she suffers from leg cramps. Fortunately she has visited the doctor and is under medical treatment. Besides that the rest of my family is in good health. In spite of the hard health situation that we are currently facing in our country, our Lord has been taking care of us. We trust in our Lord's mercy and that He will put His healing hands over all people who are suffering during this pandemic. I would like to receive a letter from you and have the opportunity to share our life experiences with each other.

God bless you!

Hector Joel Simaj Ruiz

A-A-C NOTE: After the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in our country (March 13, 2020), our President ordered the closure of all the schools in order to prevent children becoming affected by this virus. We do not know when the schools will open again. However, most of the schools are assigning homework to their students to cover the content for the current school year. As a team, we are praying that God takes control of this situation soon so that we may continue on with our lives.

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