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 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, this is Evelin Luciana Tzoy Ruiz and I was born on June 3, 2019 in Zacualpa, Quiche. I am 6 years old and I like to play with dolls. I am in pre-kindergarten.  I love blue cand cows. I like to eat fried chicken. My family and I are in good health and we are members of Prince of Peace Christian Church. We are a needy people and our current needs are groceries. I have two brothers and one sister, and two of them are part of this project. We walk twenty minutes to arrive at the Feeding Center.

I only live under my mother`s care because my father is living and working in the United States. He earns a living by looking after cattle and sends us money to cover our needs every month, and he communicates with us every day. His name is Miguel Tzoy Toj and my mother`s name is Odilia Ruiz Gutierrez de Tzoy. She is a housewife and she raises hens to sell. We are living in my maternal grandparent`s house and we share it with them and my uncle. We have four rooms and we only use three of them. We also have a separated kitchen. The walls are made of adobe, tile roof and cemented floors. We have running water and electricity. My relatives and parents share the payments for the services. We have some sheep and hens at home, but we would like to have some chicks because we have enough space. This is my personal information and thank you for reading it. I love you so much!

In Jesu`s love,

Evelin Luciana Tzoy Ruiz

Translated by: Gladys Chavez, AAC Secretary-Antigua