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! It is a pleasure for me to greet you by this means, and I hope everything goes well with you and your loved ones. I am excited to write you this letter so you can get to know me better. My name is Marvin Genaro Portuguez de la Cruz, and I am in good health. I was born on April 22^nd, 2018, and I am 6 years old. I am attending 1^st grade this year. What I like to do in my free time is to make drawings and play at home. My favorite color is red, I like cats, and what I love eating is black beans with egg. I have three brothers and six sisters; three of my siblings are also registered at the feeding program, and we enjoy attending there. One of our big sisters takes us there since it takes 30 minutes walking to arrive. 

Thankfully, my parents are in good health; my father earns a living by working as a day laborer to cover our basic needs. He also travels to the coast to pick coffee beans once a year for two months to improve our income. My mother works at home, does chores, and takes care of us. We live in our own one-room house that is made of adobe, tile roof, and dirt floor; we have a kitchen. We do not have running water, so we get it from a spring through a hose. We have electricity and my father pays for it every month; at home, we have domestic animals like hens, a cow, and a dog. Our needs are groceries and clothes, but we put everything in God’s hands, and we have the certainty that He will provide what we need; we are members of Spring of Life Church. All this information was provided by my mother for my enrollment. Thank you for taking the time to read my letter. I say goodbye to you with much affection, and I wish you many blessings. 

In Jesus Name,

Marvin Genaro Portuguez de la Cruz

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