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.

I fondly greet you in the name of Jesus, hoping you are doing well. My full name is Keymar Wilin Alexander Calachij Benito, and it is a pleasure to tell you a little about my life through this letter. I was born on July 8, 2014, i am 11 years old, and I attend the fifth grade at school. My favorite hobby is playing soccer. I love having beans and eggs for my meals. My favorite color is black and I like dogs. I want you to know that I am deeply grateful to the Lord for blessing me through LW with delicious food that they serve at a nearby school here in Pasojoc I. I live about a ten-minute walk from school. Now, it is time to tell you about my family. I have two brothers and one sister. My parents’ names are Domingo Calachij and Catarina Benito Gutierrez de Calachij.

I have not had my father with me for many years because he traveled to the United States to supply our needs. Most of them are groceries. He makes a living as a gardener, although he also does other duties to get an income to survive. On the other hand, my mother is a housewife and contributes to the expenses with the income that she gets from her modest convenience store. Fortunately, we are all healthy. My family and I attend a local church called Christian Life. We live in our own three-room house with a separated kitchen. It is made of adobe with metal tin sheet roof and concrete floor. We have electricity and get water from a nearby river. By God’s grace, we can raise some chickens, a pig, and a cow at home for our consumption. This is all for now, but I appreciate you taking the time to read my information. Have a nice day!

Special regards,

Keymar Wilin Alexander Calachij Benito

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