My Story

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

Special regards! I am so happy to share with you a little about my life through this letter. I am Walter Alexander Ruiz Coj and I hope you find this information engaging. I was born on October 25, 2019. I am in kindergarten and some of my interests are playing freeze tag and soccer. I am in good health and I like the color green. My favorite animals are ducks and I love eating chicken broth. I attend the Catholic Church alongside my family. I only have one sister and she is in good health just like my parents. My father is Basilio Ruiz Gutierrez and he makes a living as a day laborer and farmer. Moreover, he travels to the coast and cuts sugar cane from December to May.

My mother is Zoila Andrea Coj Ajqui and she is a housewife. She also works hard as a weaver and sells chickens that she raises herself to contribute to the household expenses. We live in a two-room house with a separate kitchen, electricity, and running water. It is made of adobe walls with tile roof and dirt floor. My paternal grandparents are the owners of the house. We live with them and other relatives. The feeding program is about a ten-minute walk from where I live. I am so happy because I can enjoy my meals there alongside my cousins. It is time to say goodbye, but I kindly ask you to pray for my family and our needs. Some of them are groceries. Until next time!

Huge hugs,

Walter Alexander Ruiz Coj

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Guatemala