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.

I am so excited to share my information this time and I hope you find it interesting. My name is Wendy Esperanza Veronica Simaj Ruiz. I was born on May 27^th of 2020, in Zacualpa, Quiche, Guatemala. I am already 5 years old, and I am in good health. My father is Jose Maria Simaj Garcia. He does farm and day laborer work and he also goes to cut sugar cane on the coast for four months twice a year. Fortunately, he is responsible for our home needs. My mother is Petrona Ruiz Morente. She is a housewife and is taking care of my baby sibling who was born in April. She raises hens and pigs. I have two brothers and two sisters; by the grace of God, my family is doing well.

I am not attending school this year because of my young age. So, I stay at home and I enjoy playing with my stuffed toys and toy cars. My favorite colors are pink and white. I like turkeys. The meal I enjoy the most is eggs with noodles. My family and I attend Assembly of God Church. Fortunately, we live in our own property; there is one room made of adobe, with tin sheet roof and a dirt floor. We have a separated kitchen. We do not have running water nor electricity service. Fortunately, one of our neighbors shares the water with us, and we get it from a natural spring. We use candles for light. My parents make only one payment of Q500.00 = $66.00. per year to our neighbor. The essential needs for us are groceries and clothes for me. Let me tell you I feel so blessed to be registered in the feeding program; I attend alongside my brother Hector and we walk for one hour. Thank you for reading my information. I pray to God to bless you wherever you are!

Lots of love,

Wendy Esperanza Veronica Simaj Ruiz

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