MILESTONES

This November marked the passing of three years since Jess and I moved to Baja. The time has flown by. Though most days it still feels like we are just getting started, sometimes we catch a glimpse of how far God has already brought us since the first year. I’m learning more and more how our personal journey is just one part of the larger Aleph Baja story. There is a crew of unsung heroes who have invested their time, skills and finances into making this vision a reality. Every shared surf, climb, tutoring session, burrito, game night, conversation, and prayer is an extension of the love and support that has been poured into us and the Aleph ministry through friends, family, churches and community partners. As we share a few highlights from the fall season and past year, we want celebrate the collective work of all who have made these moments possible.

One of our favorite fall initiatives this year was “Club Escalar,” an after school climbing class aimed at introducing local youth ages 12 – 17 to rock climbing. Over the course of six weeks, nine youth learned the fundamentals of climbing, rappelling and belaying. Along the way we explored themes of trust, overcoming fears, perseverance and supporting one another – reflecting on how the lessons learned through climbing can be applied in life.

2023 Milestones	2024 Hopes & Dreams
Renewed Dustin’s SPI certification  We both now have our Mexican residency  Upgraded personal vehicle for better mileage  Found a local Spanish tutor for Jess  Strengthened partnerships  Joined Mission Increase to receive training  Formalized agreement with Strong Tower Ministries to borrow van for programs	→ Buy property → Begin building a home & ministry space → Start adoption process → Invest more in education & tutoring support → Host more US volunteers → Grow our monthly support base → Increase engagement with Aleph supporters and champions

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A personal highlight from this program was creating an apprenticeship position for one of the older boys, Eric. His role involved helping set up routes, supporting as a belayer, and gear management. Eric has dreams of pushing his climbing to higher levels as well as gaining the skills needed to work as a climbing guide. As an assistant instructor, we were able to offer him a small stipend as well as training and mentorship toward his goals.

Another highlight (that we HAVE to share) was the recent annual “Cold Water Campout” hosted by Christian Surfers at Punta Cabras. It was a four day adventure packed with surfing, camping, fishing and great conversations. We learned that one of the boys who went this year had never camped or even traveled more than a few hours away from the town he’s grown up in. We always look forward to this trip and the opportunity to deepen relationships and share some good memories.

As 2023 comes to an end, we are filled with gratitude for another year of ministry as well as excitement for some big steps in the new year. Below is a snapshot of some milestones from this year and hopes for 2024.