My Story

Chuchuca, 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 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 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 Cesar Efrain Vicente Ruiz de la Cruz. I was born in Zacualpa Quiche on September 3^rd of 2019, and I am already 5 years old. I have a twin brother, and his name is Miguel Angel Ciriaco Ruiz de la Cruz. This year I am not attending school yet. I love cats and my favorite color is blue. Fried chicken is my favorite food. I enjoy playing ball and toy cars in my free time. I live happily with my father and mother; I have one brother and one sister. My family and I are in good health, by the grace of God. My father´s name is Domingo Ruiz Simaj. He does farm work in our village to provide for our family. My mother´s name is Julia Carolina Elizabeth de la Cruz Morente. She stays busy with the housework, and she also makes cross embroidery. We raise cows, pigs and hens.

We attend the Church of Christ. The house in which we live belongs to my grandparents; they gave us use of their house. There are three rooms made of concrete blocks, a terrace and a ceramic floor. The kitchen is separate. There is running water and electricity; my parents pay for those services. My family and I need groceries and corn at home. We pray to our Lord to bless us with our own house in the future. I walk only 3 minutes to get to the feeding program; it is a great blessing for me to be part of the program and receive tasty food. This is all for now, and I hope to hear news from you very soon. Many and abundant blessings!

Lots of love,

Cesar Efrain Vicente Ruiz de la Cruz

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