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