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 Eva de la Cruz de la Cruz, and I am so grateful to LW for allowing me to share with you a little about my life. I was born on April 28, 2014. I am 12 years old and I love listening to music. I am in fourth grade at school. My favorite food is fried chicken. I like the color pink and my favorite animals are cats. About my health, I tell you that I have suffered from stomachaches, pain in my feet, and bloody noses. Fortunately, I am already part of the feeding program and my parents will take me to the LW clinics soon. To get there, we usually walk for one hour from our house. I am so happy because I can also enjoy the meals from LW at school.

I live with my parents and siblings. I have one brother and one sister. We do not attend a church at the moment. My father’s name is Tomas de la Cruz Garcia. He makes a living by working in corn crops to supply our needs. Apparently, he is doing well. However, he sometimes suffers from pain in his arms. He has not gone to the doctor because of a lack of financial resources. My mother’s name is Rosa de la Cruz de la Cruz. She is a healthy housewife and raises domestic animals for our consumption. We have a few chickens and cows. We also have a cat as a pet.

The house where we live belongs to one of my aunts on my mother’s side. My grandmother also lives with us. She receives a little financial support from one of my uncles, who lives in the United States. The house is made of adobe with a metal tin sheet roof and dirt floor. It has three rooms and a separated kitchen. We have electricity and running water. We are a humble family and most of our needs are groceries, especially corn. Please pray for us, so we can repair the roof the house since it is in bad condition. I say goodbye for now, but I appreciate you taking the time to read my information.

Sincerely yours,

Eva de la Cruz de la Cruz

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