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.

I greet you fondly in the name of Jesus, hoping you are doing well. My full name is Marvin Baldomero Ruiz Hernandez, and I am grateful to LW for allowing me to share with you a little about my life. I was born on February 17, 2015. I attend the second grade at school. My favorite pastime is playing ball. I love having roast meat for my meals. My favorite animals are rabbits. I like the color red. God has been good with me because my whole family and I are doing well. My mother’s name is Maribel Hernandez Garcia. She works hard in a poultry butchery in the United States. She traveled to that country about one year and a half ago to find better job opportunities and support our family.

I have two sisters, but no brothers. One of my sisters traveled with my mother. My father’s name is Vinicio Ruiz Calachij. Unfortunately, he abandoned us about eight years ago. We have no information about him. My young sister and I live under the care of my grandmother, Maria Garcia De La Cruz. She is a housewife and raises chickens and pigs for our consumption. We live in a two-room house with a kitchen, which belongs to my grandmother. It is made of adobe with tile roof and dirt floor. We have electricity, but no running water at home. Fortunately, we can get water from a spring, which costs us Q300=$39.09 annually.

We are a humble family and most of our needs are groceries, especially corn. About our spiritual life, I tell you that we attend Spring Pentecostal Church. I am so happy to be part of the feeding program. To get there, I usually walk one hour from where I live. Fortunately, this also works at a nearby school in Pasojoc I, which is a blessing. I only walk for fifteen minutes from my house to get there. This is all for now, but I hope you enjoyed reading my information. Have a wonderful day!

Sincerely yours,

Marvin Baldomero Ruiz Hernandez

Translated by: Hillary Popol, A-A-C Secretary / Guatemala