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! I fondly greet you in the name of Jesus, hoping this letter finds you doing well. My full name is Rutilia Ashly Garcia Ruiz and in this opportunity, I will be telling you a little about my life. I was born on July 5, 2017. I am 8 years old and attend the second grade at school. I am so happy because I am already part of the feeding program. I usually walk for one hour from my house to get there. Luckily, I can also enjoy my meals at the school that I attend here in my village, Pasojoc one. That is a great blessing because I only walk about ten minutes from where I live to get there. I am happy because my whole family is doing well. I live with my parents and sisters. I have four sisters, but no brothers. My father is the one who supports our family. His name is Pedro Garcia Garcia. He makes a living as a farmer and day laborer.

On the other hand, my mother keeps busy at home by doing the chores and taking care of my sisters and me. Her name is Erica Yolanda Ruiz Garcia de Garcia. We are a Christian family and attend Jesus Christ Church-The Good Pastor. The house where we live belongs to my grandparents. It is made of adobe walls with tin sheet roof and dirt floor. It has five rooms and a kitchen; we only use one room of the house because some of my uncles and their families live there, too. We have electricity thanks to our neighbor, who shares the service with us. We contribute to cover the expenses monthly. There is no running water at home, but there is a nearby spring where we can get water by using a hose. We are a humble family and pray to move forward with the Lord’s help. Most of our needs are clothes and food, especially corn. It is time to say goodbye, but I hope you found this information engaging.

With much love

Rutilia Ashly Garcia Ruiz

Translated by: Hillary Popol, A-A-C Secretary/Antigua