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.

Over the past three weeks, we have struggled to make sense of the events that have taken place. 

What happened in Israel to innocent men, women, and children is horrific.  How could people do such things?  It was demonic.  So evil, it is beyond this world.  

Then, on top of that, we have seen the world in an uproar against Israel’s defense and invasion of Gaza to take out Hamas.   This has ignited the world with outbreaks, riots, attacks on Jewish communities,  Hitler slurs, and university protests – antisemitism is on the rise.   There have been more murders and evil done against Jews in the last three weeks than there have been since the Holocaust.  

How is history repeating itself!?  Have we not learned from our past?  Why are we silent?

This evil is still upon us and how we deal with it will change the state of our world.  

This is how Hitler got started.  People tolerated evil. People were silent.  

Our Israel tour was canceled earlier this month due to events keeping us from going.  

Now we know that God didn’t want us there at this time.  With this reality, we are thankful yet heavy-hearted. 

It seems that people are very confused about what happened.  But we shouldn’t be. 

We want to encourage everyone or rather challenge you to read your Bibles. 

It doesn’t matter whether you believe in the Bible or not.  This is the time to find out.   We have come to know the God of Israel, the God that inspired the Bible.   It has proven itself true, as we read, challenge, question and put the teachings into practice.   The places, the people, and the God of Israel have held to His word.  The country of Israel itself is proof that the God of the Bible is the one TRUE God.  

The narrative in the Bible is one cohesive story. The first 5 books of the Bible set the foundation for the rest.  They will help you understand why the world is the way it is & why Israel has been such a controversy over the existence of mankind.  The Devil hates the people of the covenant (The Jews).   The Devil’s mission is to remove the Jews from the planet because then God’s word would be false.   But that hasn’t ever happened and will never happen.  Through every genocide done against them – the Spanish Inquisition, Holocaust, and many many more –  the Devil has tried hundreds of times to wipe the Jewish people off the map, never being successful. 

Currently, there are over 2,000 prophecies that have been fulfilled in the Bible.  With that accuracy, you can bet that the rest will be fulfilled.  The God of Israel is a promise-keeping God.  

There is a promise God gave to a man named Abraham.  In the Bible this promise is called a covenant, this covenant the nations rage over ( it is written in Genesis 12).  The Abrahamic Covenant is a promise where God blesses Abraham with land, descendants, and a blessing “Those who bless you I will bless, those who curse you, I will curse”.    God says that this is an everlasting covenant.  As long as the sun, moon, and stars are still in the sky, this promise still stands (Jeremiah 31:35-36).

The nation of Israel is at the center stage of most of the prophecies of the Bible.  God shows His glory through the nation of Israel.  He uses them as an example and a lighthouse to the nations.  To teach the rest of the world who God is.  What He had hoped for mankind and how He deals with evil or those who come against Him.  Israel is also a time clock to know the day and hour we are in with God.  He has used the people of Israel even in their rebellion against God.  People can break promises but God never breaks a promise.   

Our Discovery camps are all about the Bible.  We want to help you read the Bible on your own. It’s a truthful testimony about God in History that will change your life.   When you read the Bible as a whole, rather than in sound bits, you get the full picture of God’s plan.   

Jesus came at a specific time that was prophesied hundreds of years before His birth in the Book of Daniel and other places in the Bible.   His return will also be according to what has been written in the scriptures.  The story isn’t over!  The prophecies are still being fulfilled in our day 

God does not leave us in the dark.   The scriptures are our light, hope, joy, instructions, and guide. 

We take people to Israel to wake them up to the resounding Truth of God.  God gave us the Bible to speak to us, to teach us how we should live and love Him. The Bible teaches how to love one another, nature, and ourselves.  God’s ultimate goal is to dwell with us and He will come again to do just that.  One day He will return to Zion, Israel.   

We need to understand the body of scriptures-  all of it.  It will strengthen your faith, it will anchor you in these heavy times, and will guide you in your spirit and TRUTH.  

With so much information out there right now.  I would encourage you to use the Bible as your discerning compass.  You should be asking if what people are saying aligns with God’s word.  This means all of it.  You have to read it in context  & chronological order.  

Understand the literature you are reading.  If it is literal or figurative, poetic or apocalyptic.  

God uses many people to express His heart in the bible but all carry the same story and heart.

Below I have given resources that are amazing as you study your Bible on your own. There is so much out there, which is amazing but also requires much wisdom and discernment.   When someone prophecies – check it with the Word.  When someone takes a stand make sure it’s where Yahweh, the God of the Bible stands. 

This will offend people. Saying “I stand with the Word of God”. But who are we living for, God or man?  I believe God does not abandon His Word and will fulfill it all.  The Bible has proven itself trustworthy.   

May we all see Him when He returns and be ready for Him. 

Maranatha

RESOURCES

David Pawson – Unlocking the Bible

A British Apologist.  He has recently passed away but His life work was life-changing for me as I studied the word on my own.  He’s given you an overview of every single book in the Bible.  So that you can read it on your own with success.   He shares who it was written by, why it was written, when it was written, the type of literature. The whole scenario so that you can read it and understand what you reading – so that you can apply it to your life.   ‘Unlocking the Bible’ is the book that was made off of videos he recorded in the 80’s of all the books of the bible.  These are available on YouTube too.  

Over the next couple of months, we would like to introduce you to the students who have received the Aleph Scholarship this year! 

We have 8 amazing young minds who have incredible stories and have proven themselves worthy of this scholarship.    They will inspire you and encourage you wherever you are to dream BIG!

First up….Meet Eduardo

Watch His Story

A big highlight this spring was getting to run our first overnight camping & rock climbing trip with youth in the Sierra Juarez high desert (about 3 hours drive from La Misión). Unfortunately, a few of the youth dropped out last minute, but we still had an epic time with the boys that went, along with a couple of new friends from YWAM Rosarito, who not only gave of their time but also hooked it up with some rad photography and videography. We also got to meet up with local legend, John Smallwood, and our friend Sergio–a seasoned San Diego climber and representative for Acopa, a climbing shoe company based out of Mexico City. In addition to sharing his knowledge of the climbing area, Sergio blessed us with some brand new Acopa shoes for our programs!

It’s impossible to capture in just a few sentences all the parts that make a trip like this so impactful. There are of course the “Firsts”: the boys’ first time visiting the Sierra Juarez or climbing on granite, Nahum’s first time slacklining, Valdo’s first time sleeping in a tent … but as noteworthy as they are, these are just landmarks outlining the surface of the experience. The best moments lie in the hours logged together road tripping and getting lost on obscure dirt roads, appreciating the beauty of wildflowers lighting up a rugged landscape, laughing, sweating, and pushing through discomfort, chowing pasta around the fire after a long day climbing, and hanging out at camp with Cuervo (the nosy ranch burro.)

Beyond the many fun memories, we’ve seen how trips like this can be a powerful catalyst for youth to discover new possibilities in their lives. Stepping away from the noise of the city and spending a few days surrounded by nature has a way of awakening our hearts to the loving voice of the Creator.

Summertime is here! The days are long and the water is warm … (or at least not quite as cold). It’s a busy season, and one of our favorites. This is our third year working alongside the Christian Surfers Rosarito crew to offer surf programs for the youth of Casa Hogar Ciudad de Refugio in addition to our regular outings for local youth. It’s been so fun to see the older, more seasoned participants now surfing with confidence and coming alongside to help out newer kids in the water.

Most of the youth (and adults for that matter) in the community have never had a chance to learn how to swim. Sadly every year there are drownings at the local beach. In response to this, we’ve made swimming and water safety classes a primary activity focus this summer. A nearby pool has given us a discounted rate, allowing us to offer classes two days a week throughout the summer break. The feedback from youth and parents has been overwhelmingly positive! The August class is full, and we have a waiting list of kids hoping to join the next one.

Somehow we were also able to squeeze in a few youth climbing trips and Dustin logged in some personal time doing trail maintenance at our local crag. The past two months have been the most program heavy we’ve experienced so far but also some of the most rewarding. In the midst of all the activities, we’ve continued to seek out healthy rhythms, discovering new sides of ourselves we didn’t know existed. Jess’s Spanish has come a long way, and our ability to navigate the complex personal and professional dynamics in our marriage has grown as well. God is gracious and patient as He teaches us to trust His process–one of the richest and hardest lessons we’ve learned so far.

P.S. We have some big goals ahead! If it’s on your heart to join us on this adventure, check out the support page to see the options.

We appreciate you all!
Sending lots of hugs from Mexico,
Dustin & Jess

ALEPH BAJA

Of all the places that deserve to have the title “the warm heart of Africa”.  Zambia is definitely a worthy contender.

God wants us to know Him and be known by Him. One of the greatest ways to discover who we are, why we are here and where all this is going – is by understanding the narrative of the bible. 

The story is a never ending life discovery of God and His love for the world.

He longs to dwell with us.

What a privilege to be a part of sharing the riches of His Word in Livingston. We spent 10 days in this beautiful country with a community of people that long to learn.   Pastor Elis we met 8 years ago when we drove through Livingston on one of our African excursions.   We had been planning to return for years but the time never presented itself until now.  

Future Hope International has an amazing youth program that raises up African leaders to serve and love on their local neighbors.  Aleph was invited to host a five day seminar in which we shared an overview of the bible – Genesis to Revelations.   When we speck about our Discovery Camps, this is what we cover.  It is a biblical perspective of the world from beginning to end.    

Many people have read parts of the bible but most have never read it in its fullness.   Our goal is to make it less intimidating, applicable, and understandable.   In these sessions we help attendees understand the full narrative of God’s word by reading each book in the context it was written in.   The authors in the bible share a consistent story that covers 4,000 years of history of how God has interacted with man.  

We hope that at the end of the camps that every student would come to a greater understanding of why God created the world, why he created us, where it all went wrong, what covenant is, why the tabernacle, why the whole sacrificial system, why Jesus, and what is our hope now, what do with all this information and what do we have to look forward to!?  

It is very exciting stuff that we froth over sharing.   The truth is contagious.  Knowing our purpose and future hope is a message worth sharing! 

We live in very exciting days where knowledge is accessible to everybody.  But we must be wary of where we get our information.  The God of the Bible and His instruction is our plumbline.  It has proven itself to be true through all the ages.  The words is clear, it is not murky, we just need to take the time to read it.