I'm sorry if anyone out there is getting annoyed that my whole blog is basically pictures of adorable puppies.
And let me continue by saying:
If you're actually annoyed by having too many puppy pictures in your life, you probably don't have a soul and are also a terrorist.
So for all my remaining non-terrorist friends, here's what was waiting for me at the bottom of a ladder today:
The rest of my day was spent running around taking care of volunteers and their projects, teaching and empowering the college kids to learn the use of new power tools and watching them take ownership of their tasks and bond with their families. We've had several weeks with college crews now but the ones this week were particularly low-skilled. Don't get me wrong though, this isn't actually as bad as it sounds. Any good discussion on interpersonal relations will discuss the importance of willingness and work ethic-- if someone is unable yet willing, they are teachable, while those who are unwilling, regardless of skill, are often the most difficult to motivate. One of the groups I worked with this week spent their whole week putting up vinyl siding. This is generally considered an easy task by ASP standards, but it becomes a little difficult when the house you're siding isn't straight, plumb, level, square, or any of the above. Add to that some inclement weather (a 2nd day of spring blizzard) and you're going to need an ambitious and driven crew to get the work done. Today they finished all the siding, and the best part is: they're all from California and all still managed to survive the snow and ice cold wind. I'm really proud of them and I hope they feel the same way about themselves. There were a few other crews that I got to teach this week-- some of them had never even used a power drill, didn't know the difference between screws and nails, or had never used a tape measure. While there's definitely less emphasis on empowerment in the adult program than there is in the youth program, I'm still filled with joy when the timid girl on Monday becomes the one underneath the house stapling insulation on Wednesday and the one instructing her group on the use of various power tools on Friday.
I also find that I really enjoy the teaching part-- it's like it runs in the family or something. I've always felt like (and been taught) that you aren't really skilled at something until you can teach it to someone else. These past few weeks have been a lot of practicing that, and learning from my mistakes. 'Cause yeah, if you're not specific about stuff things tend to happen, like the wrong side of T1-11 siding gets painted or floors are so irreversibly covered in leveling compound that you have to cut them out and start over. But it's all worth it when porches get built strong and level, roofs get completed and keep the rain out, and floors are finished and make families cry.
I'm hoping I get to keep writing honestly positive blogs like this one so that when I'm stressed and feeling like high-tailing it to Michigan I can read back through these and be reignited by all the things that set me on fire for ASP so long ago.
P.S. Still asking for prayers and crossed fingers for the running water project!
"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10
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