My Story

Chixocol, where your child lives, is a very small village nestled in a mountain valley in the state of Quiché, Guatemala. Life in this state is very difficult. Most families live in one-room adobe houses with dirt floors and a small, attached kitchen. The extremely poor live in houses made of corn stalks. In the past few years, electricity and water have become available to most people in the area - however, indoor plumbing is very rare. Most of the families are farmers or shepherds and live off the fruits of their labors. Public education is available for those who can afford it and consider it of value.  Life in Quiché is always a challenge.

It gives me great joy to be able to share a little about myself through this letter. My name is Juan David Ruiz Morales. I will turn 7 years old in December 1^st. I enjoy playing with toys. I am in kindergarten at school. My favorite color is black and I love penguins.  I like to eat fried chicken. I feel blessed with my family. My father is David Ruiz Gutierrez, and he works as a mason helper. My mother is Aura Morales Tiniguar, and she is a housewife. I have four siblings and three of them are part of the feeding program. We attend the Catholic church.

My family lives in our own house which has one room made of adobe walls, tin sheet roof, dirt floor and a separate kitchen. We do not have running water; our neighbor has a natural water source at her house, and she shares it with us. We also do not have electricity. My grandmother shares this service with us, and my father pays for it.   All my family is well. At home we have hens. Our main needs are groceries and cloths. I bless the Ministry for the support.

With much love,

Juan David Ruiz Morales

Translated by: Lucia Gravez/AAC Secretary