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! This is Manuel Andy Enrique Gutierrez Larios and this is a blessing for me to share my personal information with you. I was born in December 2, 2021 in Joyabaj, Quiche. I am 5 years old, and fortunately, I am in good health. I am not attending school yet due to my young age. My favorite pastime is playing with toy cars. My favorite animal is sheep. I love to eat fried chicken, and I like the color red. We live in my maternal great-grandfather`s house and my grandparents, uncles and cousins also live there. We have four rooms made of adobe, tin sheet roof and dirt floors. We have running water and we have electricity. My relatives pay for the services. We have hens and sheep at home because my mother raises them to sell when she has an economic need. She would like to have some chicks and thankfully we have space for them. We are a needy family and our current needs are corn and groceries.

Thankfully, my parents and my whole family are doing well. I live under my mother`s care because my father is working in Guatemala City in a grocery store to sustain the family. Fortunately, he is always aware of us. His name is Wilmer Mardoqueo Gutierrez Simaj and my mother`s name is Magdalena Larios Gomez. She is a stay-at-home-mom and she takes care of the family. I have only one brother. We attend the Christian Life Church. My mother accompanies me to the Feeding Program and we walk fifteen minutes to come. Well, this is all for now, but I hope you enjoy reading my information. I love you so much!

Sincerely yours,

Manuel Andy Enrique Gutierrez Larios

Translated By: Gladys de Catavi, AAC Secretary-Antigua