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 Marlon Osbi Benito De La Cruz, and I am so excited to share with you a little about my life. I was born on June 14, 2016. By the grace of the Lord, I am a healthy boy. I am 9 years old and attend the second grade at school. My favorite pastime is playing soccer. I like the color yellow and my favorite animals are rabbits. What I love eating the most is fried chicken. I am so happy because I can enjoy delicious food at the feeding program. It is about one hour away from where I live; I usually walk to get there. About my family, let me tell you that everybody is doing well. I have three brothers and one sister. We are members of an Evangelical Church called Prince of Peace.

My father’s name is Camilo Benito Simaj. He makes a living as a farmer. My mother’s name is Carmelina De La Cruz Chingo. She is a busy housewife and raises domestic animals to sell them later. We have a few chickens, pigs, and a cow. We are a humble family and most of our current needs are clothes, shoes, and food. The house where we live belongs to my grandparents, Santos and Rosario. They are elderly people, so they do not work anymore. The house is made of adobe walls with a metal tin sheet roof and dirt floor. It has three rooms and a separated kitchen. We get water from a nearby spring and get electricity from a solar panel. It is time to say goodbye, but I hope you enjoyed reading my information.

Affectionately

Marlon Osbi Benito De La Cruz

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