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! My name is Matilda Fabiola Ashly Benito Luis. I am so happy to greet you by this means. I hope everything goes well with you and your loved ones, and today I want to share with you some information about my family and me. Thankfully, I am in good health condition, and I was born on December 16^th, 2016. I am 8 years old, and I am repeating 1^st grade at school. What I like to do in my free time is to play with my dolls; my favorite color is pink, I like cats, and eggs are what I like to eat the most. I have one brother that is also registered at the feeding program; my aunt takes us there and we walk one hour to arrive. 

Fortunately, my father is in good health, and he works very hard to cover our needs; he is a farmer, but he also improves our income by picking coffee beans at the coast at the end of the year. My mother works at home, and she contributes economically by selling her hens. We also have turkeys. I want you to know that my mother suffers from high blood pressure. She has already been assessed by the doctor and is taking natural medicine to feel well.  I would appreciate it if you can keep her in your prayers, please. Thank you! At home, we need groceries, but we always pray to God for provision, and we have the certainty that He will give us what we need; as a family we attend Prince of Peace Church. We live in our one-room house that is made of adobe walls, tin sheet roof, and dirt floor. We have a kitchen. We carry our water from a spring, and we have a solar panel to have electricity. My mother enrolled me, and she provided this information to the Evangelism team. I hope you like my letter, I wish you many blessings, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.  

Lots of Love,

Matilda Fabiola Ashly Benito Luis

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