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 Quiché Indians who inhabit this area trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization. They normally speak an Indian dialect called Quiché - 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 Orlando Natanael Tzoy de la Cruz. I was born on March 17, 2019, in Zacualpa, Quiche, Guatemala. I am 6 years old and I am a healthy boy. I am not attending school yet. I like to play football and with my toy cars. My favorite color is blue and my favorite animal is the cat. I love to eat rice with chicken. I have seven brothers and 6 sisters. I am very happy to be registered in the feeding program; I attend alongside my older siblings, and we get there by walking in one hour and thirty minutes.

My father´s name is Mateo Tzoy Garcia. He works both as a farmer and day laborer in our village. My mother´s name is Margarita de la Cruz Perez de Tzoy. She usually does the housework and raises some hens. My family is in good health. However, I want you to pray for my mother because she is having headaches. We attend the Catholic Church. The house in which we live belongs to my paternal grandfather. There are four adobe rooms. The roof is made of tin sheets, and it has a cement floor. The kitchen is separate. We have electricity and my parents pay for it every month. We do not have running water, but one aunt shares water from a natural spring and we do not pay for it. Our greatest needs are groceries, clothes and footwear. Thank you for reading my information. Every blessing for you!

Lots of love,

Orlando Natanael Tzoy de la Cruz

Translated by: Violeta Hernandez / A-A-C Secretary-Antigua Guatemala