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.

My full name is Danilo Leonardo Ruiz Gonzalez, and it is a pleasure to greet you through this letter. In this opportunity, I will be telling you a little about my life. I hope you find it engaging. I was born on January 31, 2022. I still do not attend school because of my young age. I am 4 years old. My favorite pastime is playing with toy cars. I like the color yellow, my favorite animals are pigs, and I love eating fried chicken. I live with my parents and siblings. I have two brothers and four sisters. Fortunately, we are all doing well. Some of my brothers are already adults and have their own families. They contribute to the household expenses. My father’s name is Emilio Ruiz Garcia. He is a farmer and day laborer. He also travels to the coast and works on a coffee farm for three or four months to earn extra income.

My mother’s name is Roselia Gonzales De La Cruz. She is a hardworking housewife, embroiders typical napkins, and sells domestic animals. She raises chickens, pigs, and ducks. My family and I attend an Evangelical Church called King of the Centuries. We live in our own three-room house with a separated kitchen. It is made of adobe with a metal tin sheet roof and dirt floor. We have electricity and get water from a stream. I want you to know that I live about a 20-minute walk from the feeding program in Pasojoc I. It is almost time to say goodbye, but I kindly ask you to pray for my family and our needs. Most of them are groceries. Have a nice day!

Best wishes,

Danilo Leonardo Ruiz Gonzalez

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