My Story

Cuatro Caminos "four roads", where your child lives, is an area located high on the side of a mountain in the state of Quiché, Guatemala.  Life in this area is very difficult and very isolated from the outside world.  It is a two hour walk to the nearest market town of Zacualpa.  Cuatro Caminos is a farming area where corn and black beans, the staple elements in their diet, are the major crops.  The Quiché Indians who inhabit this area trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization.  They normally speak an Indian dialect called Quiché - however, Spanish is becoming more common.  Very little money ever changes hands in this area as they live on a barter system.

Hello! I am Maximiliano Ruiz Jimon, and I feel excited to tell you a little bit about my life. I was born in Joyabaj Quiche on June 18, 2018. I only have one brother. I am 8 years old. I attend school and I am in the 2^nd grade this year. In my free time, I enjoy riding a bicycle. I like green and elephants. Thank God, my health is good. I love eating spaghetti. I like attending the program and I usually walk for 10 minutes along with my cousin and some friends from school.

As a family, we attend the Methodist Church. My father is Isaias Ruiz Garcia. He works as a tuc-tuc driver to support our family. My mother is Juana Jimon Gomez. She does the hard work at home and contributes with the family income by embroidering typical blouses and raising chickens to sell. Both of my parents are in good health and do not travel to work at the coast.

We own a humble house made of adobe, tin sheet roof and cemented floor. The house has one room and one kitchen with running water and electricity. Fortunately, there is a small water spring where we can get the water. About the electricity, my father pays for the service monthly. We only have chickens as domestic animals. Our main needs as a family are groceries and clothes. Thank you so much for your attention. I will always keep you in my prayers. Until next time!

Best regards,

Maximiliano Ruiz Jimon

Translated by: Mireya de Sandoval, AAC Secretary / Antigua