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.

Many greetings from Pasojoc! I am Darli Gricelda De La Cruz Toj, and it is a pleasure to greet you through this letter. I am a healthy 5-year-old girl, and I want to share with you a little about my life. I was born on March 6, 2021. I am in pre-kinder and my favorite color is pink. I love eating chicken soup, my favorite animals are cats, and I enjoy playing with my dolls in my free time. I am so happy and grateful to LW for blessing me with delicious meals, which I can enjoy at a nearby school here in Pasojoc I. To get there, I usually walk for ten minutes.

I tell you that I live with my parents and sister. We are only two children in our family. My father’s name is Jorge De La Cruz Garcia. He makes a living as a farmer and day laborer. Currently, he is working on the sugar cane harvesting at the coast. My mother’s name is Luciana Toj Garcia. She is a housewife and works in her modest convenience store to contribute to the expenses. She also raises chickens at home for our consumption. Fortunately, everybody is doing well.

We are members of The Spring Christian Church. We are a humble family and most of our needs are groceries, especially corn. We live with my grandparents at their house. Some of my aunts and uncles live there, too. Everybody contributes to cover the household expenses. The house is made of adobe with metal tin sheet roof and dirt floor. It has two rooms and a separated kitchen. We have electricity and get water from a nearby river. This is all for now, but I appreciate you taking the time to read my information.

Kind regards,

Darli Gricelda De La Cruz Toj

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