My Story

Chuchuca, where your child lives, is an area located high on the side of a mountain in the state of Quiché, Guatemala. Life in this area is very difficult and very isolated from the outside world. It is more than a two hour walk to the nearest market town of Zacualpa.  Chuchuca is a farming area where corn and black beans, the staple elements in their diet, are the major corps. The Quiché Indians who inhabit this area trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization. They normally speak an Indian dialect called Quiché - however, Spanish is becoming more common. Very little money ever changes hands in this area as they live on a barter system.

It is my pleasure to introduce myself and I hope you are doing well! My full name is Moises Ruiz Mendez. I was born on June 14, 2015, and I am now 10 years old. I am attending 3^rd grade this year. My hobby is to play football. I love cats, and my favorite color is blue. The meal I love the most is fried chicken. I live happily with my parents, four brothers and four sisters. We are fine, but I want you to pray for my mother´s health because she is diabetic. She hardly ever takes medicines because she does not have resources to buy the medicines. My father works both as a farmer and day laborer. Moreover, he goes to cut sugar cane on the coast from November to May. His name is Carlos Ruiz de la Cruz. My mother usually stays busy with the household work, and she also weaves typical belts to sell and get an income. Her name is Casimira Mendez Ruiz. We raise hens and sheep.

We are members of the Church of Christ. Thankfully, my parents own the house in which we live. My sisters-in-law and cousins live there also. There are three rooms with a separate kitchen. It is a humble adobe house with a tin sheet roof and a cement floor. There is running water and electricity; my parents and relatives contribute to pay for them. For now, our greatest needs are groceries, corn and medicines for my mom. It is a great blessing for me to be enrolled in the feeding program and receive my meals and medical care. I walk for one hour to arrive there. I appreciate you stopping to read my information, and hopefully you find it interesting. I pray to our Lord to bless you wherever you are!

With all my love,

Moises Ruiz Mendez

Translated by: Violeta Hernandez / A-A-C Secretary-Antigua Guatemala