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 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, my full name is Efrain Rolando Poncio Rodriguez and I want to tell you my little story. I was born in Zacualpa, Quiche on October 9, 2015. I am 9 years old and I am in 3^rd grade at school. I like to play soccer and to gather firewood. I love green and cats. My favorite food is fried chicken. My family and I are in good health. I live under my father and grandmother`s care because my mother abandoned me and established a new family. She is not in communication with us and her name is Encarnacion Rodriguez Benito. My father`s name is Eulogio Poncio Mucia and he works as a farmer and day laborer for others. My grandmother`s name is Victoria Benito. She does the chores at home and she also raises and sells domestic animals to get some income. By the grace of God, my family and I are in good health. I have two sisters and one brother, and he is part of the Feeding Center. We walk one hour to arrive there.  We live in my uncle`s house. He lives in the United States and we do not pay a rent. We share the house with some relatives. We have three rooms but we only use two. We have a separated kitchen. The walls are made of adobe, tin sheet roof and dirt floors. We do not have running water, so we get it from a nearby river by connecting a hose. We have electricity and my father pays for the service monthly. We are a needy family and our current needs are groceries and clothing. We have hens, turkeys, a cow, sheep and 4 pigs at home, but we would like to have some chicks and we have enough space for them. Well, it was a pleasure to tell you about me and I hope you like to read my news. May God bless you greatly!

Sincerely yours,

Efrain Rolando Poncio Rodriguez

Translated by: Gladys Chavez, AAC Secretary-Antigua