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! My full name is Brijido Oliver Andy Portuguez Ajqui, and it is a great blessing to greet you through this letter. I am 7 years old and I want to use this opportunity to share my information with you. I was born on August 16, 2018. Some of my interests are biking and soccer. My favorite color is red and I like cats. I like eating chicken, especially if it is fried. I tell you that I have only one brother, but no sisters. We attend the Prince of Peace Church alongside our mother and grandmother, Juana. My mother’s name is Isabel Ajqui Chivalan. She is a busy housewife, who raises and sells chickens at home to contribute to the expenses. My father’s name is Abraham Portuguez Morente. He works in a convenience store in the city to support our family.

Because of work and long distance, my father usually visits us every five or six months. Thankfully, we are all healthy. We live in our own-two room house with a kitchen. It is made of adobe walls with metal tin sheet roof and dirt floor. We have electricity and running water. I want you to know that I am so happy to be part of the feeding program here in Pasojoc one. I can enjoy my meals at school, which is a blessing because I only walk for six minutes to get there. To end this letter, I kindly ask you to pray for my family and our needs. Most of them are groceries. May the peace from the Lord be with you and your loved ones!

In the name of Jesus

Brijido Oliver Andy Portuguez Ajqui

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