I remember the first day I met Joe, he and his Grandmother approached me at the front door of 71Five VoTech – Grants Pass the evening before our new class was to start. His grandmother pleaded with me to let him attend our course as Joe had a rough childhood and struggled in school and could desperately use some guidance. Joe is a rather short stocky young man with a head of hair on him standing there next to his grandmother looking down. I said we could rush the paperwork through as long as he was able to make it to class 15 minutes early the next morning, they both agreed and took the paper work home to complete. The next morning Joe was the first one at the door waiting for me, with a new stylish haircut ready to go. He has always been our quiet reserved student that each class seems to have, he never complains and is always on time for class even though he catches two buses to be here by 7:45 am. In the past eight weeks he has opened up to the other students and participates in everything he can get his hands on. In a recent community event Joe showed up 4 days straight to volunteer his time to help out our team in fundraising activities and was also recently spotted at our Directors Church on a Sunday. I thought I would be the teacher, but in Joe’s situation it is he who has reminded me of the importance of daily small acts of kindness and perseverance along with the power of morning prayer in class that found this young man in Church on Sunday. Joe has stated he would like to return in the fall to join us in another VoTech training course.

ROBERT MANNING,  71Five VoTech Coordinator – Grants Pass

541.951.7591 | robert@71Five.org

“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB

I recently sat down with a student who signed up for a training course at 71Five VoTech – Grants Pass to gain some automotive experience. Travon is a 17 year old young man with aspirations to work on custom cars… When I asked him about his journey thus far in our class he replied, “I’m getting a lot more out of it than I expected!” He was prepared to sit in the corner and take notes, he did not expect the hands-on experience and the morning life skills conversations. I also asked him what he thought about the foundation of our ministry being faith based and being part of our daily lives and conversations. Travon replied, “I was raised in a very over-the-top religious home and I drifted from faith as it was more than what I was capable of tolerating.” He said he felt comfortable and appreciated our light approach to the word indicating that he had not given up completely and felt hope in his future. This was a young man who was reluctant to be here, sitting in the corner just watching, not interacting much, now he is a social butterfly in the shop and seems to have bonded well with his classmates. When I asked him if he would want to take another course with us he replied, “If there’s a way… I will.”

ROBERT MANNING,  71Five VoTech Coordinator – Grants Pass

541.951.7591 | robert@71Five.org

“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB