My Story

Tunaja is a very primitive area of the state of Quiche, Guatemala. The inhabitants are Quiche Mayans who trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization. The prevalent language is the Mayan dialect - Quiche. 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 Tunaja is extremely difficult.

Hello! It is a tremendous blessing to share a little about my life with you. I hope you find it engaging. My name is Genesis Petrona Guarcas Ruiz, and I was born on July 25, 2021. I have a little trouble speaking because I was born with a cleft lip and palate. My parents took me to charity places, where I had successful surgeries. When I was 8 months old, I had my first surgery for a cleft lip. When I turned 2 years old, I had another surgery for my palate. I still need another surgery, but my parents and I are waiting for the next appointment. Today, I am 4 years old, and I do not attend school because of my age. My favorite pastime is playing with my dolls. My favorite animals are cats, and I love the color purple. I love having ground beef for my meals.

Now, let me tell you a little about my family. We attend the Catholic Church. My father’s name is Jenry Antonio Guarcas Riz. He makes a living as a farmer. He occasionally works as a day laborer for our neighbors. My mother’s name is Santos Ruiz Hernandez. She is dedicated to taking care of my siblings and me. I have one brother and two sisters. We live with my grandparents at their house. We share the household expenses. They are my relatives on my mother’s side. The house is made of adobe, a tile roof, and a concrete floor. It has three rooms, a separate kitchen, electricity, and running water. The feeding program is about 15 minutes away from where we live. Therefore, we walk to get there. Please pray for my family and our needs, especially for food. It is time to say goodbye, but I want you to know that my mother helped me share all this information with a staff member of LW. Until next time!

Kisses and hugs,

Genesis Petrona Guarcas Ruiz

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Antigua Guatemala