And now for another story on what keeps Ron busily happy in his ministry at Rain Forest International School (RFIS) as Director of Technical Services.  Sixth story: mentoring young men.

This summer some parents of Ron’s Industrial Arts students have asked if he would work with their sons – teaching them valuable life skills while they help him with jobs around the RFIS campus.  One of the projects they worked on was a stairway between the soccer field and the pavillion.  Last summer one of the young men at RFIS got it started with a “rough draft” of cement blocks.  This summer, the guys made it more permanent.

Ron and the guys mix up cement.  Do you know the recipe?  The guys learned how much gravel, sand and cement to mix up — and worked at figuring out how much water to add.  Mixing with a shovel is not as easy as it may seem.

Then they put the mixed concrete into the bucket for transport to the stairway.

And then dump the concrete into the stairway frame.

Even one of the teachers got in on the project.  Thanks to Ellen for her help in so many ways around RFIS after school ended and before she left. 

Ben has been going to work with Ron too, learning new skills.  He and his friend Andre have been building a new foot bridge to span a small revine on the perimeter.  Once it’s done one can walk (or jog) all the way around the school wall. 

Ron is honored to have this input into the lives of young men.  Pray that they not only learn skills but also pick up good habits as godly young men.