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! it is my pleasure to tell you my little story and I hope you enjoy reading it. This is Arnulfo Amisael Grave Calachij and I am a healthy five-year-old boy. I was born in Zacualpa, Quiche on October 04, 2020. I am not studying yet due to my age, but I enjoy playing with balls and toy cars at home. I like the color black and sheep. My favorite meal is chicken broth. I have three brothers and two sisters and four of them are registered in this project. We attend together and we walk for twenty minutes to arrive there. My parents and whole family are in good health and we are members of the Prince of Peace Christian Church. I live under my mother`s care because my father is working and living in the United States. Currently, he works by cleaning the area where they butcher cows. He sends us money every fifteen days to cover our financial needs. His name is Ciriaco Grave Riz and my mother`s name is Magdalena Calachij Tzoy. She is a housewife and she also sells food once a week in the local market in order to earn some money to support us. However, sometimes the money it is not enough to cover every need, so we are in need of groceries and clothing. Thankfully, my parents and whole family is in good health. We believe in God and we are persevering in Prince of Peace Christian Church.

The house where we live belongs to my maternal grandfather. We have two rooms and one separated kitchen. The walls are made of adobe with a tin sheet roof and rustic cemented floors. We have electricity and my mother pays monthly for the service while we get water from an artisanal well. We also have hens and pigs at home. Thank you for your attention and I send you every kind of blessing from our Lord Jesus!

Sincerely yours,

Arnulfo Amisael Grave Calachij

Translated by: Gladys Chavez, AAC Secretary-Antigua