“There’s nothing like one’s homeland.”
Jesus Marroquin got back to his roots to give his land a sustainable future.
At 60 years old, Jesús Marroquín is once again living in his hometown. He has gained a new sense of appreciation for El Rincón, a small municipality in the city of Chiquimula, in the heart of Guatemala’s Dry Corridor.
Many years ago, working the land was all he needed to make a good living. Now, Jesús would be the first to admit he is grateful for finding a job that allows him to make ends meet as a ranger in the reforestation project in Cerro Huexque.
Many years ago, working the land was all he needed to make a good living. Now, Jesús would be the first to admit he is grateful for finding a job that allows him to make ends meet as a ranger in the reforestation project in Cerro Huexque.
He has seen how the climate and the soil have changed gradually over the last few decades in the region. He knows it takes time for severe drought to leave its mark on the land.
When I was a child, about seven years old, this was a great place. You could enjoy it fully. It was beautiful with lots and lots of trees. Now, things look so much different.
Jesús, like his parents, worked on a farm planting corn and beans. When the time came to get married and have children of his own, selling his harvest was all he needed to support the family. But little by little, the soil lost its moisture and nutrients, turned dry and crumbling, and soon after, became barren and practically useless for agriculture.
Because of this, Jesús and his family decided to emigrate to the United States looking for work and a better life.
The truth is, left my country out of necessity. That’s why I left. I needed to make sure my children would go to school. Thank God, the three graduated from high school.
They lived in several states on the East Coast, working in construction and landscaping for years. Little by little, he was able to find happiness and success for his family, but there was always the longing for Guatemala. When his children set out to live independently, and after a divorce, Jesús decided to go back.
“There’s nothing like one's homeland. Dollar bills are nice, money is nice, but there’s nothing like being home even if you're poor. I felt like my children were on their way to live on their own. I had done my job as a father, so I decided to return home.”
These days, you’ll find Jesús working in the fields, planting corn and beans again. But the farm alone is not enough to survive, so he got a job as a forest ranger in Cerro Huexque. It means a steady paycheck, but also the chance to preserve the natural legacy of his land for future generations. He takes care of the trees, making sure they grow protected from plagues and wildfires.
