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! My heart is overjoyed for having the opportunity to tell you about my life. This is Mayda Fabiola Ruiz Gutierrez, and I am six years old. I was born on August 1, 2019. I attend kindergarten. My favorite color is pink. I love having sausages for my meals. My favorite animals are pigs. Fortunately, I am a healthy girl and have a lovely family. Everybody is doing well. My father is Mario Ruiz Riz. He makes a living as a day laborer and woodcutter. On the other hand, my mother keeps busy doing the chores, raising chickens for our consumption, and taking care of my siblings and me. Her name is Maria Gutierrez Jimon de Ruiz. I have three brothers and five sisters.

We are Christians and attend a nearby church. The house where we live belongs to my parents. It is made of adobe walls with metal roofs and concrete floors. It has four rooms, a separate kitchen, electricity, and running water. The feeding program is near where I live. We usually walk for fifteen minutes to get there. This is all for now, but I hope you enjoyed reading my information. I hope to hear about you soon.

Kisses and hugs,

Mayda Fabiola Ruiz Gutierrez

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Antigua Guatemala