Dueñas, where your child lives, is a small farming village located at the foot of one of Guatemala's active volcanoes, Fuego (Fire). The fertile ground around the village allows for the cultivation of roses and coffee, two of Guatemala's largest exports. Most of the families in this area live in one or two room wooden or adobe houses with tin roofs. Electricity is available to those who can afford it. Running water is available - however, most homes do not have indoor plumbing. Public education is available for those who can afford it and consider education of value. Life in Duenas is quiet and sometimes difficult. 

Hello, my name is Emely Aidaly Charuc Díaz. I hope you are well as you read this letter, and I hope you enjoy learning a little bit about me. I am almost ten years old now! I turn ten on November 15 of this year, 2025. I am in third grade, and it is going pretty well, praise God. After school, I love playing with my dolls. My family is doing well, and we are all in good health, thank God. My mom’s name is Maria Elisa Díaz Hernández. She is a. stay-at-home mom. She works very hard to take care of the chores at home and make sure we have everything we need. My dad is the one who provides for us financially. He works as a construction worker. He supports us with everything he earns. His name is Nelson Nehemías Charuc García. I also have one brother. We live in a very humble home. The walls are made of sheet metal with a tin roof. We have no floor, just the ground. We have one room where we all live together and cook. We thank God that we do have running water and lights. We live on a large piece of land along with my uncles and aunts who all own their own piece of the land. They all help along with my parents to cover the expenses of water and lights. We have two pet cats at home. I love playing and cuddling with them. Our greatest need would be groceries, because it can get hard to buy groceries after all the other expenses we have, but we thank God because He always provides in His wonderful ways. We live about fifteen minutes away from the feeding program. We always walk to get there. I have loved going to the program each week and eating the delicious food they serve us. It is a wonderful opportunity and I am so grateful to be able to be a child of the program. My favorite food to eat is noodles with mayonnaise. It’s so easy to make and so good. Also, my favorite animal is a pony. I love ponies because they’re so pretty. They are used a lot here where I live for farm work and transporting cargo. As a family, we go to a Catholic church in our town. I have to say goodbye now, but I hope you have enjoyed learning a little bit about me. It has been so fun sharing this information. I pray it will touch your heart. I send you big hugs and much love. God bless you! 

With much love,  

Emely Aidaly Charuc Díaz 

 Translated by: Olivia Gallardo, Missionary Intern / Antigua