My Story

I greet you fondly, hoping you are doing well wherever you are. This is your sponsored child Santita, and I want to share my last news with you through this means. My family and I attend Ebenezer Methodist Church on Mondays and Fridays. Thankfully, none of us are sick. My father, Elmer de Jesus Sarat, is 38 years old. He works hard as a farmer and day laborer to support our needs. He also grows corn and beans for our consumption. My mother, Manuela Ruiz, is 33 years old. She is a housewife and sometimes sells napkins embroidered by herself. She tries to help my father with her income. We need clothes and groceries at home, especially corn. My family and I praise the Lord because the feeding program has been an enormous blessing. We can receive medicine and food there. We raise hens and turkeys for our consumption or sale.

I am eight years old and this year, I attend school as a second grader. I prefer to receive face-to-face classes because the teachers explain the lessons better. Everything is expensive now, so it has been hard for my parents to cover my school supplies. I would love to travel and work in the United States to help my family economically. I also would love to speak Spanish. My native language is the K’iche dialect. Christmas is my favorite holiday because of the tasty tamales. I love drinking atol de masa (a typical hot beverage made of corn dough, sugar, cinnamon, and water). I enjoy doing different things to celebrate my birthday. What I love the most is eating a delicious cake. There are many sports, but my favorite is the marathon. To end this letter, I want you to know that a teacher of LW spoke with my mother to collect all this news for you. I will leave you now, but I send you many kisses and hugs.

With many blessings,

Santita Idaira Sarat Ruiz

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Antigua Guatemala