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! it is my pleasure to tell you a little bit about me, my name is Leidy Marisol Calachij Coj. I was born on March 20, 2021, so I am 5 years old. I am a healthy girl and I love to eat fried chicken. My favorite color is blue and I love ducks. I enjoy playing with toy dishes and balls in my spare time. I am studying in pre-kinder at school. I have three brothers and five sisters and we attend the feeding center located in the local school from Pasojoc I. We have the privilege to receive delicious meals there although we walk two hours and a half to come. We live in our own house which consists of one adobe room with tin sheet roof and dirt floors. We also have one separated kitchen. We have electricity and my father pays monthly for the service. We get water from a nearby river. We feel so blessed because we do not need to pay rent. Thankfully, my family and I are doing fine and we believe in Jesus. We attend the Charismatic Church.

My father works as a farmer and my mother is a stay-at-home mom. She also raises hens, so she can sell them when we need money. Her name is Tomasa Coj Garcia and my father`s name is Basilio Calachij Gutierrez.  Thankfully, my father and my whole family travel to the coast to pick coffee beans during the harvest season to earn some extra money, but it is not enough to cover all of our priority needs such as groceries, shoes and clothes. However, we believe that God will provide for us. Well, thank you for taking the time to read my personal information. I send you many blessings!

A bunch of kisses,

Leidy Marisol Calachij Coj

Translated by: Gladys Chavez, AAC Secretary-Antigua