My Story

Pasojoc 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 more than a two hour walk to the nearest market town of Zacualpa. Pasojoc is a farming area where corn and black beans, the staple elements in their diet, are the major corps. 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.

My name is Elvira Jimon de la Cruz, and I am 7 years old. I was born on June 4^th in Zacualpa Quiche. I am in 1^st grade at school, and I like playing dolls in my free time. My favorite color is red, and I like cats. I enjoy eating fried chicken. I have three brothers and two sisters. My father earns a living by working as a day laborer. On the other side, my mother does the household chores and takes care of us. She also raises chickens at home. We are all in good health thanks to God. We are members of the Prince of Peace Church. We like in our own house that is made of adobe with a tin sheet roof and dirt floor. There is only one room, so my mother has to cook inside. We do not have electricity and running water. For that reason, we get the water from a nearby spring and use candles for light at nights. As many other families, we have necessities to be covered, and some of them are shoes, clothes and school supplies. My siblings and I usually walk for 30 minutes to attend the feeding program. Sometimes my mother walks with us, and sometimes we go alone. I am grateful because God is blessing me through Living Water and you, so thank you so much.

Thinking of you,

Elvira Jimon de la Cruz

Translated by: Mireya de Sandoval, AAC Secretary / Antigua