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 name is Leidy Marcela Ruiz Luis, and I am so happy to share with you a little about my life. I was born on February 16, 2017. I am in second grade and I love turtles. My favorite color is purple and I enjoy playing with my toy dishes. My favorite food is burritos. About health, let me tell you that I frequently suffer from pain in my feet, especially when I walk long distances. My mother took me to the medical campaign in the feeding program last year, and my condition improved for a while.

I want you to know that I live with my mother and sisters. I have six sisters, but no brothers. I do not have my father with me because he traveled to the United States about four years ago. My father’s name is Manuel Ruiz Gutierrez. He makes a living by painting houses. He usually calls us every three days. My mother’s name is Francisca Luis Calachij de Ruiz. She is a very busy housewife. We are a humble family, and most of our needs are groceries.

We live in our own-four room and a kitchen house. It is made of concrete block with metal tin sheet roof and concrete floor. We have electricity and get water with a hose from a nearby natural spring. Fortunately, we have enough space at home to raise some pigs for our consumption. I am excited for being part of the feeding program. The main feeding program in Pasojoc is about one hour and a half from where I live. Thankfully, my sisters and I can also receive delicious food from LW at a nearby school, which is about a 20-minute walk from our house. That is a such great blessing!

With love,

Leidy Marcela Ruiz Luis

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