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 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.

Hello! How are you? I am Manuel Morente Ajqui, and I am writing this letter just for you. I am 6 years old, and I was born on November 1, 2018. I am in good health, and I am not attending school yet due to my age. I like playing soccer in my free time. I love green, and my favorite animal is the cow. I enjoy eating fried chicken. My parents’ names are Gregoria Ajqui Tzoy and Jacinto Morente Garcia. My dad works hard as a farmer, and my mom works hard at home and takes care of us. She helped me to give all this information to the Evangelism team.

I have three brothers and two sisters, and three of them are registered at the feeding program too. My family and I attend a charismatic group that belongs to the Catholic Church. We live in a house that belongs to my mom. It has two rooms, and they are made of adobe with a tin sheet roof and dirt floor. Our kitchen only has a tin sheet roof. We have electricity and running water services. We have domestic animals like hens at home. I would like to ask for your prayers for us since my father does not earn much money and we are always in need of groceries and corn; we are also asking God to provide us the resources to fix our roof. I walk for 25 minutes to arrive to the feeding program. Well, I say goodbye to you for now hoping you find my letter interesting.

Cordially yours

Manuel Morente Ajqui

Translated by: Loyda de Osorio, AAC Secretary/Antigua