My Story

Zacualpa is a small but busy village in a mountain valley. Both Quiche Mayans and Ladinos (those with mixed European ancestry) inhabit the village. The prevalent language is Spanish. Families in this village live in one or two room homes usually constructed of either wood or adobe. Although many of the people are farmers, the village contains several small and specialized stores, a body repair shop for buses, mechanics, plumbers, and many other small-town tradesmen. It also has a large open-air market which serves much of the area. Even with all of this, the poverty level is extremely high, and the children are very needy.

Hello! I am glad to share a little about my life with you. Before starting, let me tell you that my mom and I gave all this information to a teacher of the LW evangelism team. My full name is Brenda Ruiz Top, and I am 7 years old. I was born on April 29, 2017. I am in first grade, and after school, I enjoy playing with my dolls. My favorite color is purple. I love eating black beans with spaghetti, and my favorite animal is a rabbit. I have a lovely family. Fortunately, we are all in good health. My father is Felipe Ruiz Ruiz. He makes a living as a day laborer and farmer. My mother is Maria Hermelinda Top Ajvix. She keeps busy with the housework and raising hens to sell. She also washes clothes for other people to get an extra income and helps my father with the expenses. My parents do their best to provide my siblings and me with all the necessities to survive. Most of our family needs are groceries and clothes. So, I beg you to pray for us. 

Fortunately, we own the house where we live. It is made of brick, concrete roof, and ceramic floor It has two rooms, a separate kitchen, electricity, and an artisanal well to get water. We pay for the electricity bill monthly. As for our spiritual life, let me tell you that we are members of a Christian Church. The feeding program is a 30-minute walk from my home. My mom and I usually take a motorcycle to get there on time. I will leave you now, but I want you to know that I have one dog at home as a pet. See you later!

Affectionately,

Brenda Ruiz Top

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary