News
1st October 2024

SUMMER GROOVE

BAJA, MEXICO

SUMMER GROOVE

Hey amigos! Sorry it’s been so long between updates. May – September is our busiest season peaking with summer swim lessons and surf programs almost every other day! This year we definitely expanded programmatically but so has our personal capacity, which is exciting to reflect on. November will mark 4 years since making the move from San Diego to La Misión. In our first year, if we had more than 5 kids on a program, I (Jess) would almost go into a panic attack. But we pushed through, and this past summer felt like we really found our groove. We don’t think numbers are the best measure of impact, but it’s encouraging to see the ways God has opened doors and grown our ability to serve the community.

May – September Programs

2021

Trips total: 18
Participations: 138

2022

Trips total: 27
Participations: 195

2023

Trips Total: 28
Participations: 230

2024

Trips Total: 55
Participations: 333

 

Highlights

 

Relationships About a third of the kids that joined us this summer were brand new to Aleph programs. We celebrate that, and at the same time we love that the majority of the participants are returners. Every activity is a touch point where we can go a bit deeper and build stronger bonds with these kids. Seeing them advance in their skills has been SO cool but truly the best part is the connection that develops through time spent together.

 

I had an incredible moment with Nahomi, a girl we’ve known since our 1st year here, who absolutely loves the water. We had a few random weeks when the water was crystal clear at our local beach, so I took the opportunity to introduce her to the world of snorkeling. It took a bit to get used to but as soon as we passed a group of small fish below, I could hear shrills of excitement muffled through her snorkel… and she was hooked. (pun intended)

Leadership One of the main reasons we were able to serve more youth this summer, was due to the dedicated help of our leadership crew of young men age 18-23, most of whom had previously learned how to surf through Aleph. These guys worked hard with gear clean up, water safety, and helping push kids into waves. Dustin was able to take the point system (mentioned in our last post) to the next level and we now have a customized ALEPH mobile app the leaders can use see how many points they have earned, the trip calendar, and the catalog of all the gear they can ‘buy’ with their points! Check out this video to see it.

Volunteers This summer we had folks from all over come help. Half being local baja folks and half from the U.S. It was such a beautiful picture of God’s kingdom. People working together, past language and cultural differences to love on this next generation.

In May Brennen with Witness Studios visited to help record our story and was also able to capture some great drone footage. We had Wendy from Ensenada and Annie from San Diego come and take some really nice professional photos for a few surf sessions. (The kids who were able to join those programs were stoked!)

 

Dreams, Goals and Ways to Get Involved

We received a $15,000 donation towards a van! Donate towards our goal of $20,000
If you see a decent 12 passenger van email us!
Our property design with EMI is wrapping up! If your gifted in construction in anyway and want to help, fill out our Volunteer Inquiry
Planning for 2025 Check out our Programs Calendar
Consider becoming a Monthly Donor
Pray for our dreams of a rock climbing gym, adoption, and paid positions for our leadership crew.

Fill out ourCommunication Form

 

We are grateful to all who have been able to come along side us through this journey.

Love Jess & Dustin

Dustin@alephsurf.org
Jess@alephsurf.org

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News
17th April 2024

CREATING SPACE

Baja, Mexico

Creating Space

The above quote comes from Nouwen’s reflections on hospitality, however as I think about the past three years with Aleph Baja, these words speak profoundly to our experience. Plans, projects, and ideas are important; they give shape and structure to the work. But our efforts are meaningful in touching lives only insofar as we are able to offer a safe space for others.

In one sense this includes the literal places into which we invite youth to play, discover, and challenge themselves: at the crag, on the trail, or in the surf. But even more important are the values, intentions and practices we bring into those spaces. At an even deeper level, it’s about creating space within ourselves to receive and love others as they are, trusting that God is the one who heals and restores. We fall short of this all the time. It’s easy to get caught up in details and logistics. I often need a reminder to simply be present and listen.

The winter months offered a chance to slow down a bit and reconnect with the “why” behind the work. Cold water and bigger waves make this season less ideal for beginners, but has allowed more opportunities for mentoring surf sessions with the older boys. The transition into young adulthood is a lot like riding a wave. It’s exciting, sometimes scary, and involves plenty of trial and error.

We’re exploring ways to continue engaging young adults who have aged out as participants through offering outdoor skill trainings and opportunities to take on leadership roles. We’ve started a simple point system aimed at incentivizing and equipping (quite literally) these older youth. Points earned through assisting on programs can be spent toward buying wetsuits, surfboards, climbing gear, etc.

The rainy days inspired some other new initiatives this year. In response to multiple requests from kids interested in learning English, Jess started up a weekly ESL class. While Jess  teaches English, I (Dustin) offer math tutoring – not quite as popular – and have also started up a small chess club on Tuesdays. 

Speaking of space, we are very excited to share that as of last week, we have finalized the purchase of property here in La Misión. It’s a significant milestone along a 16-month journey of praying, searching, learning and stepping out in faith. We have big hopes and dreams for this little piece of land: a home where we can put down roots, gear storage for programs, a small climbing gym where youth can train, and a little guest flat for hosting volunteers. It’s a long term vision, and for now we are just entering the design phase. We look forward to sharing more soon.

Thank you to everyone who has prayed and supported us up to this point! Check out this link for a short video from the property.

Saludos,
Dustin & Jess

In the midst of it all we’ve also been able to log in some pizza/game nights, hiking, craft time, a few pool days, some climbing sessions and even a beautiful kayak day after weeks of rain!

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News
13th March 2023

LEARNING TO SEW FOR A DEEPER PURPOSE

SKILLS TRAINING

LEARNING TO SEW FOR A DEEPER PURPOSE

I will be heading to Jordan next month on April 3rd, 2023.

My attention recently was captured by a documentary I saw on BBC about Domestic Abuse in Jordan.    It is an issue we see around the world but especially in the Arab world.  Domestic violence has increased dramatically with Covid when families were isolated at home. Jordan was the first Arab country to enforce a law against violence towards women in 2008.  Even with this law in place it is still very dangerous for women to speak out about what goes on at home in a society where men, fathers and brothers have legal rights over women. 

Only 18% of women have jobs in Jordan. 

There was one cases scenario in this BBC documentary that shared a story about a girl raped by her father and then when she told her family they beat her, breaking her arms and legs.  She left home when she could and is now trying to make it on her own.  But again, in a society that is not pro-women working – it has been extremely difficult for her to survive.  

The women I have worked with in Jordan are not (as far as I know) domestically abused but there is still a great need to educate the women on their rights as human beings and women created in God’s His image and designed to do works He has set out for them to do. 

Even in a home or a country that does not allow the same freedoms as most of the west – my hope is that through the work I do, these women can find purpose in providing for themselves and their families. Giving them these tools to become independent, is a vital resource for them and their families.  This I hope would give them the courage to seek help and if necessary leave home should abuse occur to take their children to a safer living situation.  

My hope is that the women that I get to have time with on this next trip will in turn teach more women tailoring skills and also build their own businesses.  The country of Jordan has an emphasis on workmanship and artisans.  Jordan is still not as industrialized as the West because people still hold onto traditions and customs which are beautiful.  

Would you pray with me.

  • For outlets to distribute the products locally.
  • For bridges to build between the Syrian women and the Jordanian women.
  • For opportunities to share about Yahweh, the God who created them, loves them, and can and will restore all things.
  • For safety for the women I will be working with, safety for Elbie & her team, and my safety.  
  • For the land of Jordan to come to know the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob as the one true God.  

Thank you for sending me out!  I am looking forward to whatever the Father has in store. 

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News
23rd January 2023

SESSIONS | SURF THERAPY

EDUCATION

SESSIONS | SURF THERAPY

We are so excited for this year.  There was no better way to kick it off than with these beautiful children. 

Surf therapy combines surfing with structured individual or group activities as a means of therapy to promote psychological, physical, and social well-being.

benefits of surf therapy include improvement in:

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It’s all in the name

Aleph is the first letter of the Hebrew Alphabet which has incredible depth and meaning. It symbolizes the beginning and foundation on which all else is built. It also symbolizes oneness and unity. Our desire is to lay a solid foundation in the lives of people so they may be able to weather the storms of life and come through the other side stronger.

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