My Story

Chixocol, where your child lives, is a very small village nestled in a mountain valley in the state of Quiche, Guatemala. Life in this state is very difficult and somewhat isolated from the outside world. Most families live in one-room adobe houses with dirt floors and a small attached kitchen. The extremely poor live in houses made of corn stalks. In the past few years, electricity and water have become available to most people in the area – however, indoor plumbing is very rare. Most of the families are farmers or shepherds and live off the fruits of their labor. Public education is available for those who can afford it and consider it of value.  Life in Quiche is always a challenge.

Hello! I want to start this letter by praying that God’s grace and peace be with you. My full name is Ronny Heberson Ruiz Cuin, and I am five years old. I was born on November 21, 2019. I still do not attend school. My favorite pastime is playing with my toy cars. Fortunately, I am a healthy boy. My favorite color is yellow, I like rabbits, and I love having rice or spaghetti for my meals. Now, let me tell you about my family. I have two sisters, but no brothers. My mother’s name is Micaela Cuin Luis. She is a single parent who works hard as a domestic employee to support our family. Our priorities are clothes, groceries, and new beds. I want to open my heart and tell you that my biological father abandoned our family about five years ago. The only thing we know about him is that he traveled to the United States. His name is Oliverio Ruiz Garcia.

My family and I live with my maternal grandparents at their house. Some other relatives, like my aunts and their children, also live there. The house is made of adobe walls with a metal roof and dirt floors. It has three rooms, a separate kitchen, an artisanal well, and solar panels instead of conventional electricity. We have some chickens and pigs at home for our consumption. The feeding program is about ten minutes away from where I live. My mother and I usually walk to get there. To end this letter, let me tell you we are Christians and attend a Methodist Church called Rock of Salvation. See you later!

Huge hugs,

Ronny Heberson Ruiz Cuin

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Antigua Guatemala