My Story

Hello! It is a privilege for me to greet you fondly through this letter. My name is Carlos Ruiz Calachij, and I hope you are doing well. Let me tell you that I am 14 years old, and I am a fifth-grade student. Currently, I receive face-to-face classes and hand in homework twice a week. Fortunately, the pandemic has not affected my learning because I have done a great job. In my free time, I work as a farmer to help my family economically. I want to tell you that my parents strive to give all the necessities to our family. My father makes a living as a barber, day laborer, or farmer. Besides that, he raises green tomatoes, herbs, and green beans for selling. On the other hand, my mother works hard doing the chores, preparing our meals, and taking care of my younger siblings and me. All of us live in our own house, which is made of adobe, with a tin sheet roof, and a dirt floor. Our home has two rooms, a separate kitchen, running water, and electricity. My family and I keep busy most of the time, but on some afternoons, we gather to enjoy the tasty snacks that my father buys in the store. Let me tell you that I praise the Lord for His sweetest mercy because all of us are healthy.

At the beginning of Covid-19, our economy was not affected so much because we used the savings that we had to subsist. Unfortunately, we have not had enough money to celebrate Christmas as we used to do. However, we have thanked the Lord for being together during that festivity. My family and I are members of Assembly of God Church; my father belongs to the musician group. The church is a twenty-minute walk. I want to tell you that our church did not close as many others did due to the virus because our pastor organized services behind closed doors. As you know, the feeding program closed for a long time to keep everyone safe. I missed attending it because of the delicious fried chicken. Fortunately, the Living Water staff continued working, and they provided us with food parcels which were a great blessing. Nowadays, the feeding program is opening again; this is a fifteen-minute walk. Finally, let me tell you that my father gave this information to an evangelism team member to share my last news with you. I leave you for now, but do not forget that I pray that God blesses you richly for being a good-hearted person!

Sending you the warmest hugs,

Carlos Ruiz Calachij

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary/Antigua