March 30, 2025

Help Jesse Orozco Explore STEM and Achieve His Dreams!

Jesse Needs Help! Borrego Springs’ own, Jesse Orozco (Maribel’s son), is an outstanding student who's earned an invitation to the prestigious NYLF Explore STEM camp in San Diego.

He needs help payng for it.

Jesse works hard—cutting hair for the unhoused, selling candy and avocados—to reach his goal. He needs help.

Your donation helps Jesse take this life-changing opportunity and continue excelling in STEM.

Jesse's GoFundMe

Message From Jesse's GoFundMe Account

Hi everyone,

I’m reaching out to ask for your support in helping my son, Jesse Orozco, take part in an incredible opportunity. Jesse is a bright, curious, and determined 14 year old middle schooler who lights up at the chance to learn something new. He’s thrilled to have been invited to the National Youth Leadership Forum: Explore STEM—a prestigious week-long summer program designed for future leaders in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Why This Opportunity is Life-Changing

NYLF Explore STEM is more than just a program—it’s a chance for Jesse to take his passion for learning to the next level. Through 14 hour-a-day hands-on simulations, workshops, and challenges, he’ll gain practical skills and experiences that will inspire his future. In one activity their team will build a drone to learn how it operates.

One highlight of the program is the Outdoor Medicine Simulation, developed by Stanford University experts. Jesse will learn and practice life-saving techniques in a wilderness setting, building skills that could one day save lives and ignite a deeper passion for STEM.

This amazing program will take place at UC San Diego in La Jolla, but we need your help to make it happen.

Why Your Financial Support Means Everything

Jesse has worked so hard for this opportunity, and I want to give him the chance to thrive and grow through this experience. Unfortunately, the tuition, dorm housing and travel expenses are more than we can manage alone.

By contributing, you’re helping Jesse take a big step toward his dreams of one day making a difference as a future innovator, scientist, or engineer.

How You Can Help

Donate: Every dollar brings us closer to our goal and helps Jesse attend this incredible program.

Share: Please spread the word to family, friends, and anyone who believes in supporting bright young minds.

Thank you for being part of Jesse’s journey. Your generosity and support mean so much to our family and will make a lasting impact on his future.

Together, we can give Jesse the opportunity to shine!

Learn More About Borrego Springs

Ashes-to-go and Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2026

By by Michael Plekon • February 14, 2026

by Michael Plekon Every year, Christians move through the months with different seasons and festivals. The Christmas-Epiphany season is just finishing, and before that, in December, was Advent, is a time of preparation and anticipation of the Christmas feast of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. This year, on Ash Wednesday, February 18, Christians will start the season of Lent, a forty-day period of prayer and good works. It leads up to Holy Week, when Jesus’ last supper, his trial, crucifixion, death and burial are commemorated on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Jesus’ resurrection is celebrated on Easter Sunday, April 5. Borrego churches and the BMA gather behind the Methodist Church for a Sunrise Service. St. Barnabas has a simple Eucharist right afterwards and a festive service at the regular 9:30am time. Why ashes? The Hebrew Bible has many references to ashes as a sign of sorrow and repentance for the evil one has done. Job places ashes on his head to acknowledge his failing in faith (42:6) Tamar also. (2 Sam. 13: 19) The entire people use ashes to express their desire to turn away from sin and back to God. (Numb. 19:9) And there are quite a few other examples. In our time there are gestures of admitting guilt and asking forgiveness, something that happens in courthouses after a trial concludes. In our families and circles of friends, at times we need to humble ourselves and ask forgiveness of those we have wronged. And accept the forgiveness of others as well. The ashes are put on a person’s forehead with the words, “Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Gen. 3:19) Usually there are other things about which people ask for prayers—relatives who are ill, friends facing tough times with finances, work, relationships. Contrary to what some might think, ashes and Lent are anything but gloomy or self-imposed sorrow. The word “lent” comes from an Old English word for the spring slowly com ing, lencten. Yes, it connotes the lengthening of the days, more sunshine and warmth, which in years long ago meant release from cold, planting of crops, and the joy of spring and summer. Easter and its Jewish precedent, Passover/ Pesach, bears some of the same meanings—release from bondage, life triumphing over death. The encounters with folks on the Christmas Circle and in church are anything but morose, whether they drive up and stay in their vehicles or park and walk up, or line up for ashes after the BYOB music or at the afternoon service. There is joy, maybe even a lightness in their step. The clergy of Borrego will be there at The Circle in shifts starting at 8am, continuing till noon. And ashes will be available as mention, at church. In addition to taking daily prayer mor seriously, there are many things one can do in Lent. It used to be assumed that alcohol and desserts would be given up. This is fine if you so choose. Giving more for food insecurity, volunteering at food banks, even seeking out family and friends to make sure you are at peace with them—all of these are wonderful Lenten practices. Happy Lent.