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 Quiche Mayans who inhabit this area trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization. They normally speak a Mayan 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, my name is Eymi Aranza Patricia Riz Gutierrez, and I want to tell you about me. I was born on March 13, 2020, so I am now 4 years old. I am in good health, and I play with my dolls in my free time. I am not studying yet due to my age. I love pink, and my favorite animal is the rabbit. I really enjoy eating fried chicken. I have one brother and one sister, and we live with our parents.  My father did not legally recognize me because he was underage and did not have an ID when I was born; he will recognize me soon. His name is Rocael Eduardo Benito Portuguez, and he works as a mason helper to cover our needs. My mother’s name is Guillermina Yobana Riz Gutierrez, and she sells herbs in our town to help with the income.

My family and I attend Assembly of God Church, and I would like to ask you to keep us in your prayers since we are in need of groceries and clothes. We live in my paternal grandmother’s house, and two aunts also live there. The house has three rooms and one kitchen, and it is made of adobe with a tin sheet roof and dirt floor. We have electricity service, and we pay it every month. We get the water from a stream. We have hens and pigs at home. I walk for 10 minutes to arrive at the feeding program, and I am happy to be part of it. My mom helped me to give my information to the Evangelism team. I end my letter wishing you the best.

Sincerely yours

Eymi Aranza Patricia Riz Gutierrez

Translated by: Loyda de Osorio, AAC Secretary-Antigua Guatemala