My Story

Pasojoc is an area located high on the side of a mountain in the state of Quiché, 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 crops. 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! How are you? I am Jose Mario Jimon de la Cruz, and I am writing this letter just for you. I am 7 years old, and I was born on February 11, 2017. I am in good health, and I am attending 1^st grade this year. I like playing toy cars in my free time. I love the color white, and my favorite animal is the dog. I enjoy eating fried chicken. My parents’ names are Jose Maria Jimon Calachij and Ana de la Cruz Mendez; they are in good health, but my dad frequently gets sick from cough. My dad works as a farmer or day laborer, and he also goes to pick coffee beans at the coast from November to February. My mom works hard at home and takes care of us. She helped me to give all this information to the Evangelism team.

I have two brothers and three sisters, and four of them are registered at the feeding program too. My family and I attend King of the Centuries Church. We live in a house that belongs to my dad. Our house has only one room, so we sleep and cook in the same space. The room is made of adobe with a tin sheet roof and dirt floor. A neighbor provides us with the electricity service, and we get water from a nearby spring; we carry the water in large plastic jars. We have domestic animals like hens at home. I would like to ask for your prayers for us since we are always in need of groceries, clothes and corn. I walk for 30 minutes to arrive at the feeding program. Well, I say goodbye to you for now hoping you find my letter interesting.

Sincerely yours

Jose Mario Jimon de la Cruz

Translated by: Loyda de Osorio, AAC Secretary/Antigua