My Story

PENDING PHOTO 2020

Hello! Let me begin by thanking you for taking the time to read my update. I want to tell you that I walk for one and a half hour to arrive to the feeding program. I am Jennifer Marcela but everybody affectionately calls me Jenny. I am 8 years old and I had my birthday in March. I take classes in my village and I am a second-grade student. My school is about one hour away from my home. I love Social Studies but Mathematics is a little difficult for me. Currently my teacher is coming to my home to check my work and leave me more homework every week. I like to read. I like to help herd our sheep.

The people who live in the house are my grandparents, uncles and me. My grandparents are Juana and Alejandro Ruiz. My grandmother does the housework and my grandfather´s job consists of farming the land. They have been taking care of me since my mother left to go to the United States. At the beginning she was not honest with my grandparents because she told them that she was working in a tortilla shop in Guatemala City. Later, my grandparents found out that she is in USA. My mother left to go to USA with my stepfather and currently she no longer calls or sends us economic support. Sadly my father abandoned my mother when she was pregnant of me. My family and I are members of Catholic Church. I am grateful to God because we all are in good health. In spite of the hard health situation that we are currently facing in our country, our Lord has been taking care of us. We trust in our Lord's mercy and that He will put His healing hands over all people who are suffering during this pandemic. I would like to receive a letter from you and have the opportunity to share our life experiences with each other.

God bless you!

Jennifer Marcela Ruiz Calachij

A-A-C NOTE: After the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in our country (March 13, 2020), our President ordered the closure of all the schools in order to prevent children becoming affected by this virus. We do not know when the schools will open again. However, most of the schools are assigning homework to their students to cover the content for the current school year. As a team, we are praying that God takes control of this situation soon so that we may continue on with our lives.

Translated by: Violeta Hernandez / A-A-C Secretary /Antigua