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! My full name is Felipe Emerson Estuardo Simaj Tzoy and it is a blessing for me to share my information with you. I was born on August 20, 2020. I am a healthy six-year-old boy. I am in kindergarten this year and my favorite pastime is to play soccer. My favorite animal is the cat. I love to eat fried chicken and I like the color red. I have two brothers and one sister. Maynor Simaj Simaj is my father`s name. He lives in Escuintla town because he works there in a grocery store for three months, and then he returns to our house and takes advantage of this to work as a day laborer. My mother is a stay-at-home-mom, but she also raises and sells her hens to contribute to the home expenses. She also would like to have some chicks at home because we have enough space for them. My mother`s name is Aura Tzoy Toj. My two brothers also are registered in the Feeding Program. My mother accompanies us to the local school from Pasojoc I because we take our lunch in that place. We walk for one hour and a half to come.

We live in my paternal grandparent`s house, and my grandparents, my uncles and cousins also live there. We have two rooms made of adobe, tin sheet roof and dirt floor with one separated kitchen. We also have running water and electricity.  My grandparents pay for the services. They pay the electricity service once a month and the water service yearly. I beg for your prayers because we are a needy family, and our current needs are groceries. By the grace of God, we are doing well. I send you all my love from the bottom of my heart!

I love you so much,

Felipe Emerson Estuardo Simaj Tzoy

Translated By: Gladys de Catavi, AAC Secretary-Antigua