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.

It is a blessing for me to write you this letter and I hope you are keeping well when you receive it. My name is Ana Dominga Poncio Franco, and I want you to know more about my family and me so you can get to know me better. I was born on November 10, 2012, so I am 12 years old. I am in good health condition, I am a 6^th grader, and I love playing soccer for fun. My favorite color is red, I like dogs a lot, and what I like to eat the most are beef tacos. I enjoy attending the feeding program. I go with my cousins, and we walk one hour and a half to arrive. 

Thankfully, my parents are in good health, and they struggle to cover our needs. My father earns a living by working both as a farmer and day laborer; my mother works at home, doing the chores and taking care of us, and she also sells her hens to contribute with our expenses. At home, we also have sheep. We are members of the Catholic Church; some of our needs are groceries, but we put our trust in God, and we have the certainty that He will always provide what we need. We live in our own one-room house with a separate kitchen; it is made of adobe walls with tin sheet roof, and dirt floor. We do not have running water nor electricity, so we get the water from a water spring, and we buy candles for lighting. I have two sisters, but they are older than me, and my sister Gricelda was the person who gave all this information for my enrollment. I hope you like my letter, I will be waiting to hear from you soon. May God bless you!

In Jesus Name,

Ana Dominga Poncio Franc

Translated by: Luisa Reyes de Solis, A-A-C Secretary/Antigua