Relationship building

I've said before that one of the things about our mission effort that makes me proudest is that we aren't just dropping in building something then moving on to the next place the next year. Since we have been returning to this area for 8 years we have had the opportunity to build relationships and to see things change over time.
Three years ago a group added a couple of rooms on to a ramshackle house in a rural area for a woman named Alma and her ten children. Last year when we were here she asked if her children could help us work on our projects. So, this year her oldest son George is working with one of our groups. George will be a senior in high school next year and says that he would like to be an architect. He has surprised us by needing less direction than we thought he might. The first day he jumped right in and dismantled the sink and countertop that needed replacing. He has shown proficiency with a circular saw and some creative problem solving to make pieces fit.
George is joining us late today because he has to register for school.
I've told George about the architecture school at OSU. Maybe next year he'll be registering for school in Stillwater.