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.

What a blessing to greet you by this means. I wish you many blessings in everything you do, and I am glad to tell you more about me. My name is Byron Francisco Garcia Luis. I was born on November 15, 2014. I am 10 years old, and I am a 4^th grader this year. Praise God, I am in good health, I like to play soccer in my spare time. Besides that, I want to tell you about my favorite things. I like red, the rabbit is the animal I like the most, and my favorite meal is fried chicken. It is a blessing for me to be part of the feeding program, I attend with my brother Marcos, and it takes us 40 minutes walking to arrive. 

I live with my parents and siblings; they are in good health, and my parents struggle to cover our needs. My father works as a day laborer, and he also makes typical handmade bags that we call “Morrales” to sell for improving our incomes. My mother works at home, and she raises hens and turkeys to sell; moreover, she also makes “Morrales” to sell to contribute with our expenses. We are members of the Catholic Church. Fortunately, we live in our own house; it has two rooms and a separate kitchen. The walls and roof are made of tin sheets with dirt floors; we have running water, and electricity which we pay for every month. We do not pay for the water service, only when something breaks down. One of our goals as a family is to have the opportunity to change our walls, so we pray to God, and we trust He will provide for us to make it happen.  Before saying goodbye, I want you to know that my mother provided this information. May God bless you, and I hope you like my letter.  

Kisses and Hugs,

Byron Francisco Garcia Luis

Translated by: Luisa Reyes de Solis, A-A-C Secretary/Antigua