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Think about it in this way. We dream of our story and it’s time for the big act, the big moment where the city is saved or the championship is won, what role are you playing? 

I remember as a kid playing basketball in the driveway of our home. I could see myself in the arena, dribbling the ball up a wooden floor surrounded by 20,000 fans on their feet. The final moments in big, red numbers on the clock are clicking down– 3… 2… 1… I could hear the announcer, I’d use my voice to mimic his. “Furlong has the ball. He’s bringing it down the court with a few seconds left on the clock, they’re down by one. Oh wait, he breaks free. He’s open, he takes the shot!”

In my driveway if I missed, “Oh wait!” I’d say in my announcer voice, “Furlong was fouled! He was fouled! He’s going to the free-throw line with a chance to win it!” If I missed the free throws there was a line violation, and on and on until I’d finally win the dang thing. 

Our spirits don’t age. Something I heard in an Oprah podcast years ago, and it’s true. Our bodies wear out like a wood fence, beaten by the sun and wind over time, the paint cracking and fading. My fifty-year-old self can’t deny the gradual thinning of my hair and whitening of my beard. The quickly depleting sand in the hourglass is getting louder and louder, the signs are all around me. But what hasn’t changed is the spirit inside. I’m still that kid in the driveway playing in the big game, the star player. And, the spirit in you hasn’t changed either. I still think we can hit that shot.

For as many generations as humans have been on this earth, each generation is designed to fight for its continued survival on this planet. We’re programmed to be the hero in the epic story, it’s central character. Now, travel somewhere away from here with me for a moment.

Every kid. Every person, all around the world feels the same about themselves and their story. Different language. Different melanin in the skin, more and less. Different food. Some that will burn your face off. Some so bland, it’s change in texture is what stands out over taste. Some of their houses are made of wood like most of ours, others of clay bricks and mortar. These kids are a part of families too, like us. Some of the families have only a mom and brothers and sisters. Others, a grandmother or an uncle to raise them. Still, they get up from sleeping in the corner of a tiny one room house, sleeping like a bundle of newborn puppies with no space of their own. They put on a school uniform. They walk to school and they dream. For the boys it a dream of a soccer field and an announcer… “3-2-1, GOAAAALLLLLL!” For the girls it may be the dream of a fashion career or a house, a family. No matter what the dream, they are also the hero of their story. 

What is Buena Onda? It’s the screwdriver that turns the screw. It’s the pipe that allows water to flow through it. Buena Onda is what makes the dream possible for so many. What’s the point? The point is the dream within the dreamer. Let’s go a little deeper. The point is the dreamer.

We can help a child achieve what’s possible and give them a chance that they’d never have otherwise. WE can change the outcome of a kid’s life who has a dream and is the hero of their story, just like you and I are the hero of ours. We’re the same all around this world. We’re men and women who are the walls and roof of a spirit that hasn’t aged, a spirit that wants to do something special in this big and beautiful world. Be the hero of someone else’s story. 

Join me and sponsor a child’s care at Buena Onda in Punta Colonet, Baja California, Mexico. Learn more at our website, buenaondaproject.org. Or, simply start giving and click this link below. BE THE HERO OF SOMEONE ELSE’S STORY.

Thank you for loving big and making a difference in someone’s life.

Sincerely,

Chad

Founder & CEO

This is Emily. Buena Onda Heros (monthly supporters) facilitate her critical ongoing eye care. THANK YOU.

I turn 50 next month. I know right? The old man conductor driving the time train, overalls and pipe bobbing from his lips, he slows for no one. When I was young I was rich in time, it was easy to take it for granted. But as the great Picasso said of aging, we don’t get older we get riper. 

Today, from this foothill, I see the landscapes around me far clearer than before. I’ve determined in my heart to live a value centered life, a compass I’ve crafted and tweaked some 50 years now. I have 9 values: to say “yes” to God, to love, thoughtfulness, value diversity, to forgive always, advocate for others, give it away, live adventurously, and to be fearless. 

What does it look like to love? Our world is blurred, teaching us to put ourselves and our countries first, above all else. I’m a Christian. Many who are in my life are not, that’s intentional because I’ve surrounded myself with all kinds of voices. Still, most of us admire beautiful people, I look at Jesus as the most beautiful person I’ve discovered. A statement he said was remembered and recorded by John, 60 years after his death. “The world will know you are my disciples by your love for one another.” Just before this he said, “A new command I give to you, that you love each other.” These were of his last words to his inner team, his tribe of brothers, before his death. It jumps to me, it grabs me, he had to command them to love each other.

How we speak to someone, how we speak of someone, how we treat others and advocate for others all speak of how we love. What we do with our time, our energy and our money speaks of our values. It is a map back to our hearts.

I was listening to Jake Zasky do a talk this week. I was moved by this line:

“The greatest book anyone will read of you is your life.”

May our lives, no matter what we believe of God and this world, reflect love. Like a fragrant scent extracted from a flower, like alcohol from a copper still, the purest form we can manage is what is needed in our world today. Because we are sisters and brothers.

*Thank you Buena Onda Heros for your monthly giving which enables us to love the people of Punta Colonet, Baja Ca, Mexico.

“The greatest book anyone will read of you is your life.” – Jake Zasky

With love, Chad.

We just did our first back to school event in Punta Colonet where we collaborated with a local school. Here’s what happened…

*300 backpacks

*28 volunteers

*600 attendees

*Medical team from UC San Diego

*Food & Games

*Giveaways

AND, the best part is just yesterday we had 78 kids at our after school program.

Yes, WE’RE doin it! The impact Buena Onda is having in wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for your support. There’s three ways to get involved. Give, volunteer and follow us on social media. Together we will see every child in Punta Colonet educated, healthy, thriving in spirit with a hope for their future!

Thank you, Chad.

We’re still buzzing from last Saturday night! Whether you joined us at OB Beans or supported from afar, thank you for being part of such a special evening.

Together, we raised an amazing $15,000 for our work in Punta Colonet, and we couldn’t have done it without you. We have raised enough to put permanent electricity in our building!! Every dollar helps us keep our programs running strong—from after-school support to youth groups and community-building efforts.

But the work doesn’t stop here. We have big plans on the horizon—like making essential upgrades to our kitchen and classroom, and most importantly, expanding our programs so we can care for more kids, more often.

To make this vision possible, we need a strong foundation of monthly donors. Monthly giving helps us plan ahead, provide consistent meals, hire and retain staff, and welcome more children into our programs.

Join us as a monthly supporter today and help us build a brighter future—one month at a time:
 👉 Become a Monthly Donor Today!

And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram to stay up to date with everything happening in Punta Colonet—stories, milestones, and the beautiful faces of the kids you’re helping support.
📷 @BeBuenaOnda

With so much gratitude,
—The Buena Onda Team

Hi everyone!

Kendrick Lamar’s hit “They Not Like Us” is still trending from the Super Bowl, I love that song! BUT, our Buena Onda hit must be “You Just Like Us” because here we are, loving the world as big as we can, together and our mission is to see the children of Punta Colonet empowered through every child educated, healthy, thriving in spirit with a hope for their future. It’s a mandate, a calling if you will, all through the life of my amazing youngest daughter, Nataly. 

You’ve always been in sync with us, supporting through 1) Giving 2) Volunteering 3) Following and promoting our work on social media. THANK YOU! This email is letting you know that we have one more big request for 2025. We are working to raise 25k on May 3^rd to pay for electricity to and throughout our project. Help us by spreading the word and purchasing a ticket to our event at OB Beans. Enjoy live music, more tacos than you can eat, an open bar and silent auction, all to benefit bringing electricity to our project where kids and families are being helped every day. 

Get your ticket by clicking the flyer below. Join in on the good vibes. Do Good/Feel Good. 

We love you, let’s continue to do big things through big love! Thank you, appreciate your help. 

With gratitude,

Chad Furlong
Founder, Buena Onda

HI FRIENDS!

Yesterday was Valentine’s Day here in Uganda, I made Penne pasta with a garlic sauce topped with chicken breast, bread and red wine of course. Erica and I ate by candlelight serenaded by Motown and the Kampala skyline from the balcony of our apartment. I love her so deeply, and I love Uganda. We head back home in two weeks, ready and not ready to leave at the same time.

We’re so proud of what we are doing in Mexico. Our board, our team at Buena Onda led by Brian and Sandy, and our supporters who make it all happen on a financial level. It’s a gorgeous effort led by people with beautiful hearts.

Recently we finally fine-tuned our mission statement, it’s: “Every child in Punta Colonet educated, healthy and thriving in spirit, with a hope for a future.” Our goal has always been to bring help to people in our pueblo with an approach that is balanced and addresses the entire individual: mind, body, and spirit. Our mission statement reflects that. I dream for a healthy generation in Punta Colonet fulfilled and living full, happy lives. Today however, there is poverty, neglect, abuse, poor eating habits, a lack of emphasis on education, only to name a few. We have much work to do my friends.

We’ve set the bar high this year, here’s a few of our dreams we’re working towards:

We need to bring electricity to our property, about 25k

We want to put flooring in our building, finish our commercial kitchen, storage area, office and classrooms

We are hoping to establish a tutoring program this year, equipping one of our classrooms with computers

We will launch our internship program for Mexican and international students to come and have a life changing experience while giving back to the community of Punta Colonet

We’ll expand our afterschool programming, camps and park hours for the community

We will do one large event in collaboration with local schools to bring encouragement and hope to the community of Punta Colonet

•  We need to bring electricity to our property, about 25k
• We want to put flooring in our building, finish our commercial kitchen, storage area, office and classrooms
• We are hoping to establish a tutoring program this year, equipping one of our classrooms with computers
• We will launch our internship program for Mexican and international students to come and have a life changing experience while giving back to the community of Punta Colonet
• We’ll expand our afterschool programming, camps and park hours for the community 
• We will do one large event in collaboration with local schools to bring encouragement and hope to the community of Punta Colonet

As you can see, we’re pushing! And these are only a few of the goals we’re reaching for this year. We can’t do it without you. Thank you for your donations, your monthly gifts and prayers. It’s changing lives.

Recently Brian invited the older children to begin dreaming for a future in University, to be the first in their family to further their education. He asked them them to share what they would say to an admissions officer. Learning English, Yoselyn wrote, “If I was in front of an admissions officer, at the University, I would tell him that my desire is to be part of this institution. I am not only interested in achieving academically, but also in fulfilling and trying to discover the purpose that God has for my life. I am willing to give my best, learn from the best, and demonstrate that I can be trustworthy as part of this institution. It’s a decision that will be worth it. My goal is to grow not only as a student, but as an instrument to glorify God. In each action learning and contributing to promoting values and becoming a better person and human each time.”

Impressive huh? Punta Colonet has amazing kids, worth investing into.

Love you and appreciate you always,

Chad.

Africa is becoming our home

Hi friends!

We’re in Uganda, Africa, where Erica and I collaborate with existing leaders to educate children. This is new, because the last 17 years Erica has been a part of a Bay Area organization who has educated 26 kids, and most of them have entered or are now entering life, beginning to build their futures. It’s beautiful. Erica was asked to become the Executive Director of S.A.N.D. and began a path where BayGanda would emerge. Today, I’m honored to serve the vision that I believe was placed in her heart from divine love, and I work alongside of her to see that vision become a reality.

We are collaborating with Ugandan leaders helping to develop their early education programs in existing, local schools. Instead of starting a new school, or schools, we want to sponsor, educate and support these impressive Ugandan leaders. Great things are happening here, and we believe in the future of Uganda. And the kids… they’re open and hungry. We walked into a class where elementary age children were being taught Chinese, they belted out to us in perfect unison, “Nihau!” They learned to say “Hi!” in Chinese only a few minutes before, vigorously writing on their paper so they wouldn’t forget. The children here understand at a young age that education is their path out of very real, third-world poverty. In the past two weeks we’ve been able to do teacher trainings for our friends James and Ananias (our first school collaboration), and help coach at a basketball camp for our friend Godwin. Every trip here we’re more and more woven into relationships. The boda bodas which surround us like schools of fish (mopeds), the women carrying just about everything on their heads, and children carrying water from the local well, it all has become normal to us. We bought a car and drive through the villages with people pointing and staring having never even seen “muzungus” before (foriegners). Africa is becoming home.

To Mexico. In 2024 we were able to accomplish more than any other year previous at our project in Punta Colonet, Baja California, Mexico. We are so grateful to Brian and Sandy, Sofia, Santi and Rebecca, Erika and Dolores, for their leadership of Buena Onda. We have an amazing team whose passion is to love children and build a lasting work in our dusty, Mexican pueblo that you’d miss if you blinked. People overlook this place, but I believe God has a special plan for the people there. In 2025, I’m expecting Buena Onda to blow the doors off the place–– This is our mandate:

“Every child in Punta Colonet educated, healthy, thriving in spirit

and with an opportunity for a future.”

Personally, I made a giant step of faith for 2025. I have been doing handyman work to help meet life needs the past year or so. I read a book called “Thirst”, which told the story of Scott Harrison who started Charity Water which provides clean, drinking water through wells around the world in it’s most impoverished areas. They just passed 1 billion dollars raised in 20 years. I was moved by Scott’s vision and grit, and by the faith of everyone in the organization. As I processed the story of Charity Water, I felt the inner leading to step away from my tool bags and move full-time into building our nonprofit efforts in Mexico and Uganda. I asked two of my oldest friends, Ben and Bill, to personally support me. They both stepped in and are providing 70% of my monthly salary. Fellas, thank you with all my heart. I’ll spend the first quarter of this year raising personal support and continuing the raise the resources needed to take our work to the next level in Mexico. We can’t rest until every kid is supported in mind, body, spirit and future.

Thank you everyone for your love. You are here with us as we do the work, because you send us to do it. We ask that you become a monthly giver (use the donation button on the navigation bar above), follow us on Instagram and tell as many people as you can about what we’re doing. I’m reminded of what Nataly’s abuela told me in the beginning when she donated the land for our project…

“…Just do something good with it.”

With love,

Chad.    

Dear Friend,

This is way more than a line in an blog post, let it grab you…

We can change the life of an underserved child.  

My vision is to see every child in Punta Colonet educated, healthy, thriving in spirit and with an opportunity to create something of their future. Mind. Body. Spirit. Future.  

In 2024 at Buena Onda we accomplished big things. We were able to:

1.        Complete our septic and plumbing system, we have flushing toilets!

2.        Bring our amazing Directors Brian and Sandy to our project, along with hiring facility maintenance staff, teachers, and our brilliant Administratora, Sofia.

3.        Complete our director’s apartment & playground

4.        Complete our nonprofit status in Mexico

5.        LAUNCH OUR AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS!!

6.        Hire additional staff to support programming 

And, in 2025, this is what we hope to accomplish:

1.        Business and grant partnerships

2.        Broaden our monthly donor base

3.        Bring electricity to our project (we currently use generators)

4.        Expand our after-school programming and bus route

5.        Offer tutoring and build out our computer room

6.        Large community event in collaboration with local schools

7.        Launch Internship program

8.        Launch Youth Group for older kids

9.        Complete our commercial kitchen, office, facility flooring, shower area and computer room. 

Our current reality is that every month our spending is higher than what we have coming in. I’m hopeful we will soon balance the budget with additional supporters. Even if you can’t give a large gift, remember that $25 or $50 a month adds up to a large gift over time. Your donation is huge for us! Thank you for seeing what we see, even if you’ve never been to Punta Colonet. And, thank you for giving. These are among the best kids on the planet and they deserve a chance to fulfill their God-given potential.

We sincerely appreciate you! “Be unabashedly visible.” -Unknown 

With love, Chad.Founder and President, Buena Onda

Friends, I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for giving this year towards Buena Onda, we are SO GRATEFUL.  

100% of your gifts have been directed towards our project, and we’ve made much progress this year. We’ve finished our Director’s apartment, our commercial kitchen is operational, and we have flushing toilets! You know, it’s the little things. AND–two weeks ago we had our playground installed with the help of Theraplay and Submerge Church in OB. This month we’ll be bringing Christmas gifts to Punta Colonet for the 9th consecutive year. In 2024 our after-school programs launched. Wow. We’ve come so far. Today is Giving Tuesday and I had the privilege of donating towards two of my favorite non-profits, Buena Onda and Bayganda. Please give a little extra today, there is no possible way any of this could happen without you.

Thank you for your love, your heart, and your help. Grateful for you. 

With love, Chad.Founder & President, Buena Onda