JOY TO THE WORLD!!!

Feliz Navidad from Mexico! I hope this post and email finds you well, celebrating, enjoying family and reflecting on our sweet Saviors birth.

Things are going well for us down here in Bachiniva. Actually, to be honest, they seem more than well. What a blessing the past 4.5 months have been since starting our 4th school year. No doubt it has been insanely busy and chaotic at times. But more so, its been a tremendous blessing and incredible opportunity to invest in, teach and love on 126 students. Yes, that’s how many we have enrolled this year from 1st to 11th grade. Incredible to watch and see the school continue to grow.

Not only does it continue to grow enrollment wise, but in all kinds of different ways. Growth in academics, special events, involvement in the community, spiritual deepening, english speaking and so much more. This year our school has had further opportunities to compete against schools throughout the city and region in sporting events. Our volleyball teams have won first place in a few different tournaments. Two of our sophomore boys took first place in regionals for track and field and qualified for the state meet in Chihuahua City. Edgar took 5th place in his race and Rodrigo won 1st place. What an incredible joy it was to be watch and cheer them on alongside their families.

Before Christmas break began on December 19th, we had 4 different Christmas Programs here at the school. What an absolute joy to listen to the Christmas story shared through songs & music, dance, poems, bible verses and stories. Each event saw over 125 family and friends pack our school to enjoy their children’s performance and sharing.

There are so many more stories to share with you all, that I thought it’d be best to do so via a video. One of our music teachers and admin assistants put together a video recap that we shared with the school on the last day of school.

As 2025 draws to a close next year and we began yet another New Year, we are so very thankful. To each and everyone one of you for your unconditional and faithful prayers, visits, support, financial contributions notes & cards. Truly a blessing. As you enjoy the pictures and videos, please know that you all have played a huge part in our school and ministry. Thank you for helping us and allowing us to have this school!

May you all have a most wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year. Until next time!

Is This Really Happening?

There are just 5 weeks left of the 3rd year of our school. May is probably the busiest month of our school year. It is filled with our science fair, spring concerts, teachers day, students day (for jr & sr high), mother’s day, volleyball & soccer tournaments and probably a bunch more things.  It always feels overwhelming and a bit chaotic, but fun at the same time and everyone is excited as we near the finish line.

Last week I returned from another trip up to the beautiful Northwest.  It is always a blessing getting to travel up to Seattle to share about our school, meet with friends and supporters and hangout with family.  This trip was extra special since I was able to bring our daughter Ayantu with me.  It’s been quite a while since she’s traveled on a work trip with her daddy.  I must admit, it’s a lot easier traveling with her now that she’s 15 vs when she was much younger.  We had an incredible time together.

One of the things that I enjoyed the most was our conversations on the drive up to the states.  Normally I travel by myself, so the 4.5 hour drive is filled with quietness, meditation, prayers, thoughts and planning for the future . This time however, it was full of wonderful conversations & listening to my sweet Ayantu Faith talking about her school, all that she is learning, doing, participating in, etc.  She talked about what she’s been learning in history class, how preparations are going for their class graduation trip next month, what they made in cooking club and when her next soccer and volleyball games are.  She then started to talk about going into High School (she will be a sophomore) and all the things she’s looking forward to about it.  She shared an idea to have a ‘back to school’ event or something in August to welcome all the incoming and NEW high school students so they can meet new friends and not be so nervous.  We talked about new ideas for next year, things like starting a student counsel, going on a school mission trip, more student led activities for underclassman, and the list goes on.

As I listened for hours during that car ride and then different times throughout our trip, it suddenly hit me, she’s talking about OUR school.  She’s talking about the school we helped start 3 years ago.  And then a thought came to me, ’is this really happening?’  I mean, how did all this happen?  How have we gone from 53 students to 90 students to currently 107 students (kinder-high school) and a staff of 19?  How in the world are all these different classes, activities, sports, clubs, programs, trips, etc happening?  Is this really, truly happening? Yes, it IS really happening and Ayantu helped remind me of that.  She helped remind me once again, of all the incredible things that God has done and continues to do through His faithfulness of blessing and growing the school.  Amazing!

Yes this trip was a “work trip” filled with meetings, speaking engagement & fundraising for the school.  But more so, it was a special trip with my daughter that I will never forget.  During those 5 days, I wasn’t the President or Executive Director of a Non-Profit.  I wasn’t the financial administrator of a school.  I wasn’t a school board member or music teacher.  I was just a dad, talking, laughing, listening and enjoying an incredible time with my daughter.

Until next time….

Jason

A Very Wonderful Happy New Year...

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. Our Christmas was very quiet and relaxing. Partly because we were all sick, partly because the final weeks leading up to our school winter break were absolutely crazy. Crazy in a good way, yet still crazy!

December was packed with final preparations for our all school Christmas Program. In the years past, we’ve had 2-3 programs on different evenings to accommodate all the students, their families and friends. This year, we decided to have one big all school Christmas celebration in the town hall. 1 night instead of 3 seemed less stressful. This was a little easier said than done with all the extra preparations that went into it, but thankfully we had an amazing group of volunteers to help decorate, and our staff did an outstanding job.

WOW … what a wonderful and special night it was. One that will always be remembered. Over 300 family members and friends filled the hall to see our 108 students (kinder-high school) share songs, stories, verses, re-enactments, laughter and joy.

After all the students presented, we closed out the evening with some special songs from our staff. We have such a gifted and talented team of men and women. Everyone grabbed an instrument, or bell, shaker, microphone, cajon, and we sang Joy To The World and Feliz Navidad. The crowd was singing, clapping, dancing, a joyous and beautiful celebration.

I am so thankful for the team that God has brought to our school who faithfully, joyfully and sacrificially love on, care for and teacher all of our students. They are a true joy to serve alongside and what a blessing it was to laugh, play games, exchange gifts, eat delicious food, drink coffee and hangout at our staff Christmas party.

As 2024 has now come to an end, my assistant (our beautiful daughter Ayantu) and I have continued working on the year end admin stuff, financials, budgets, donor statements, etc. I do love me some admin work and projects like this, but, at the same time it can be a little daunting and stressful at times. Maybe a bit worrisome. We decided to setup our office in our coffee shop to have more space and of course, be right next to our espresso machine.

This will be my view for the next week or so. I love this painting that my nephew did in our coffee shop. One of my all time favorites and a beautiful and incredible reminder. Some of our students think this is a scary painting because it looks intense or sad. Well, it is intense and sad. It resembles the incredible Love, Sacrifice, Grace, Mercy, Kindness and Forgiveness that was freely given to each and every one of us. It reminds me that God is Love, God is in Control, God will Provide, God will Direct, GOD WILL!

May you greatly remember how much God loves you as you enter into 2025. No matter what it looks like, what awaits, what kind of challenges, hardships or joyous occasions you will incur, GOD LOVES YOU!

Blessings to you all!

Jason