My Story

Tunaja is a very primitive area of the state of Quiche, Guatemala. The inhabitants are Quiche Mayans who trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization. The prevalent language is the Mayan dialect - Quiche. The people are either farmers or shepherds and live off the fruits of their labors. Very little money ever changes hands as they use a barter system. Public education is available - however, most families cannot afford it. Electricity and running water are not available in most of the area. Life in Tunaja is extremely difficult.

Hello! My name is Angel Camilo Ruiz Jimon and I was born in Joyabaj, Quiche on June 1, 2021. I am a 4-year-old baby boy and I am not studying due to my young age. I like to play with teddy bears. White is my favorite color and I love rabbits. Rice and sausages are the meals that I prefer to eat. I live only under my mother`s care because my father has another family. He only legally recognized me, but he never has lived with us. Fortunately, he visits me and works as a farmer to sustain me financially. His name is Diego Ruiz Gutierrez. My mother`s name is Ana Maria Jimon Garcia, and sometimes she works cooking and making tortillas one or two days per week in order to earn some money. It is not a stable job. Sometimes, the money it is not enough to cover every need, so we are a humble and needy family. Our current needs are groceries, clothing and corn. My mother takes me to her job.  She takes care of me and she also does the chores at home. I walk only ten minutes to the Feeding Center and my mother accompanies me. We are members of Liberty Church from LW and by the grace of God we are doing fine and in good health.

We live in my maternal grandmother`s house and we share it with my grandparents and maternal uncles. We have three rooms and one separated kitchen, but we only use one room. The walls are made of adobe with tile roof and cemented and dirt floors. We have running water and electricity. My mother shares the payments of the services with my grandmother and we have pigs at home. Well, this was my personal information and I hope you like to read my news. I love you so much!

Yours truly,

 Angel Camilo Ruiz Jimon

Translated by: Gladys Chavez, AAC Secretary-Antigua