Cuatro Caminos "four roads", where your child lives, is an area located high on the side of a mountain in the state of Quiche, 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 Quiche - however, Spanish is becoming more common. Very little money ever changes hands in this area as they live on a barter system.  

Hello! This is Santa Dayana Ruiz Chingo, and I want to tell you a little about me through this letter; my mom helped me to give all this information to LW Evangelism team. I am a healthy girl, and I will turn 4 in September; I was born on September 8, 2022. Due to my age, I do not attend school yet, so I stay at home playing with my dolls. My favorite dish is fried chicken, and I love the color pink. The cat is the animal that I like the most. My family and I attend Light and Life Assembly of God Church.  

Thankfully, my parents are in good health. My father’s name is Pablo Ruiz Gomez, and he works as a farmer and day laborer. My mother’s name is Juana Elizabeth Chingo de la Cruz, and she keeps busy doing the household chores. She also contributes with the home income by embroidering napkins. I have two sisters, and one of them is registered at the feeding program. We walk for 5 minutes to arrive at the program; one of my aunts accompanies us because she is also registered there. We are a humble family, and our frequent needs are corn and groceries.  

We live with my paternal grandparents since we do not have our own house. It is made of concrete block with a concrete roof and ceramic floor. It has five rooms and a kitchen. Fortunately, we have running water and electricity. We have hens as domestic animals. This is all for now, and I hope to have news from you soon. 

Sincerely yours  

Santa Dayana Ruiz Chingo  

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