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! This is Junior Cristian Benito Hernandez, and for me, it is a privilege to belong to the Feeding Program. I was born on April 13, 2022 and I am 4 years old. My father`s name is Santiago Benito Chivalan and my mother`s name is Pabla Hernandez Grave. I live with them and my father sustains the family by working as a farmer and a typical day laborer. Moreover, he also travels to the coast from November to January, and we travel with him. While my parents work, we are their helpers. My mother is a stay-at-home-mom, and by the grace of God, my parents and whole family are in good health. I have five brothers and two sisters. Three of them are registered in the Feeding Program. We walk and my mother accompanies us. We walk ten minutes to arrive there. We eat our lunch at the local school from Pasojoc I. I love to eat fried chicken. My favorite animal is the mouse. I like green, and I enjoy playing with toy cars. I stay at home because I am not attending school yet due to my young age. We are believers and we persevere in Christian Life Church.

We live in my father`s house, and my paternal grandmother also lives with us. We have two adobe rooms with tin sheet roof and dirt floors. We have a separated kitchen. We have electricity and my father pays for the service monthly, but we get water from a neighbor`s house by connecting a hose. My father pays it once a year. As a humble family, we need groceries, corn and clothing. We have hens, but we would like to have some chicks because we have enough space in the house for them. I hope you enjoy reading my news. I send you all my love!

Warm wishes,

Junior Cristian Benito Hernandez

Translated By: Gladys de Catavi, AAC Secretary-Antigua