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.

May God bless you greatly! My name is Guadalupe Ariana Chivalan Luis and I was born in August 8, 2022 in Zacualpa, Quiche. I live with my parents at home, and the house belongs to my maternal aunt. We have one room made of adobe, tin sheet and dirt floors with a little galley that we use as a kitchen. We get water from a neighbor`s house by connecting a hose. Another neighbor shares the electricity with us, and my parents shares the payments with them. We have hens, but we would like to have some chicks because we have space for them. Our current needs are groceries. I would like to ask for your prayers for our economic situation because my father has a big debt. He tried to travel to the United States some months ago, but he was in jail for 7 months. Finally, he was deported and now he needs to pay the debt. Currently, he is working as a farmer and my mother is dedicating her time to the household duties. She also raises and sells hens to earn some money and support him with the home expenses. My father`s name is Romeo Chivalan de la Cruz and my mother`s name is Hilda Luis de la Cruz.

We walk for ten minutes to come to the Pasojoc I local school to take our meals. I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters and two of them belong to the Project. We are believers and we persevere in Spring Jesus Christ Christian Church. I like to play with teddy bears. I stay at home because I am not studying yet due to my age. I love the color green and I like to eat rice and beans. My favorite animals are chicks. By the grace of God, my parents and I are in good health. Thank you for reading my news. I send you every kind of blessing!

A bunch of hugs,

Guadalupe Ariana Chivalan Luis

Translated By: Gladys de Catavi, AAC Secretary-Antigua