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! Receive a cordial and affectionate greeting. It is a pleasure for me to greet you by this means and to let you know more about me. My name is Maria Roselia Toj Simaj. I am healthy, and I am 4 years old because I was born on January 17, 2021. I spend my time at home playing with my dolls since I am too young to attend school. The food I like the most is fried chicken; I like birds, and my favorite color is purple. Thankfully, my two brothers are also registered at the feeding program, it is a blessing for us to be part of it for all the blessings we receive here, and we live 20 minutes away from the program. We walk to arrive and sometimes one of my cousins comes with us. 

Thankfully, my parents are in good health; my father works and lives in the United States now, and he earns a living by working as a blacksmith. He keeps in touch with us and sends us a monthly support to cover our needs. My mother works at home, does the cleaning, takes care of us, and she also raises domestic animals like sheep and cows to contribute to our expenses. We are a Catholic family; our needs are corn and groceries, but we always pray to God for provision. We live with our paternal grandparents; the house is made of adobe walls, tin sheet roof, and dirt floor. It has two rooms and a kitchen. We obtain our water from a water spring; we do not have electricity, so we use oil lamps at night. I say goodbye to you with much affection, and I also want you to know that my mother provided this information for my enrollment to the Evangelism team. May God bless you, and I hope you like my letter.

Sincerely Yours,

Maria Roselia Toj Simaj

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