My Story

Pasojoc 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. Pasojoc is a farming area where corn and black beans, the staple elements in their diet, are the major crops. The Quiché Mayans who inhabit this area trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization. They normally speak a Mayan 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.

Hello, my name is Juan Elias de la Cruz Mendez. I was born on October 12, 2016 in Zacualpa, Quiche, and I am 7 years old. I am a healthy boy. I am not enrolled at school yet because we traveled to the coast to work, and after that, we returned but the school had already closed registrations. I enjoy playing with toy cars at home. My favorite color is green, and I love cows. My favorite food is fried chicken. I have two brothers and two sisters. I walk to the program in one hour.  As a family, we do not attend any Church. I am under the care of my mother and stepfather because my father abandoned the family before I was born, and I have only my mother’s last names. He never has recognized me legally.  My stepfather’s name is Eulalio Garcia De La Cruz. He has lived with the family for 3 years, and he works as a contractor (people who hire people to work) in order to support us financially.  My mother’s name is Dominga de la Cruz Mendez, and she is a housewife and takes care of us. We live in our own house. It has three rooms and one separated kitchen. Our house is made of adobe, tin sheet roof and cemented floors. We have running water and electricity, and my stepfather and mother pay the services monthly. We have some hens at home, but we would like to have some chickens. As a humble family, our need is groceries. This is my personal information, and I hope you find it interesting to read. I want to let you know that my mother gave this information to LW evangelism team.  God bless you richly!

Kisses and hugs,

Juan Elias de la Cruz Mendez

Translated by:  Gladys Chavez / A-A-C Secretary-Antigua