New volunteers from New Jersey have arrived and they're amazing. Our orientation with them took a full hour and a half because we were all laughing so much. When they first got here they immediately left to go visit the family they had worked for last year, which tells me they're a group that really understands what ASP is all about.
Even besides all those great qualities, this group has something that I always admire in volunteers--strong women. It's often really difficult to garner respect as a 22 year-old female construction manager--a common struggle for female ASP staffers. I find it heart-breaking that these kinds of stereotypes exist, and even though I would never go so far as to call myself a feminist, sexism is one issue that I really feel passionate about. I find encouragement, though, in women like the ones from this church. There are several who have never been to ASP, or even used power tools, and when I set them up at their worksite this morning they immediately assigned themselves a task and started doing demolition, no questions asked. Watching them and seeing their confidence and willingness on site is a true inspiration. I love that they don't feel a need to go to the men of their group for help and I wish more of the women that I meet felt this way, too. I generally make it my mission to try to empower all of the women who come to work, but it's always exciting when I don't have to.
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
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