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.

Hello! It is a pleasure for me to write you this letter so you can get to know me better. Here I am going to share with you something about me. My name is Elio Ajqui Garcia, I was born on March 25, 2016, so I am 9 years old. I am studying this year, I am in 3^rd grade, and I like to play soccer in my free time. Thankfully, I am in good health, my favorite color is red. I like cows, and the food I like the most is fried chicken. I enjoy attending the feeding program with one of my sisters that is also registered. Some of our uncles come with us because we live one hour away, and we must walk to be there. 

Now, I want to open my heart with you about my family situation; my father has two wives at the same time. He works by looking after his cows which he sells to cover both of his families’ needs. I have four brothers and two sisters, but I also have my other siblings who are also my cousins because his two wives are blood sisters; my mother and my aunt are aware of and agree with this situation. My father spends time with his two families because we live close to each other but in different houses.  My mother is a housewife, and she also raises domestic animals like hens, sheep, pigs and cows for selling to contribute economically to our family. Moreover, she embroiders napkins to sell and earn extra money. Fortunately, my big brothers work as day laborers and they help us financially. Our house has two rooms and a kitchen; it is made of concrete blocks, with tin sheet roof, and cement floor. We have electricity, which is paid for every month, and we get water from our own water spring that is about 20 minutes away. We use a hose to bring it home. Some of our needs are groceries, but we have the certainty that God will provide what we need. We attend Prince of Peace Church. Let me tell you that all this information was given by my mother to the Evangelism team for my enrollment. May God bless you and thank you for reading my letter. I will be waiting to hear from you soon.  

In Jesus Name,

Elio Ajqui Garcia

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