Teaching the Next Generation Useful Skills

A Story from Matt, Written by Golden

I rolled the creeper under the Dodge flatbed and started working on tightening the axles. My first assignment at Flying H Youth Ranch in Naches, WA, was to reassemble a work truck that had been left in the shop bay for a month.

After loading hundreds of pounds of shop tools in the back of our 2006 long bed Dodge in June, I was wondering if I would get the opportunity to use them. Our first project in July hardly required anything.

Today, I enjoyed using my personal toolbox.

The ranch shop has concrete floors, two bays, one with a lift. It was quite the set up compared to the other camps I’d worked at when I was younger. A variety of tools littered the back wall. If I have time, I hope to organize them.

I finally got the front axle tightened when I heard someone holler, “Hello, Mr. Harris.”

The shop supervisor had told me some of the boys might come by to grab tools, etc. Apparently, lying halfway under this truck would be my first impression to one of the teenagers. I could really have fun with this.

I didn’t respond at first, wondering who Mr. Harris might have been. The kid hollered the name again just in case I hadn’t heard.

I rolled out from under the truck just enough to see confused eyes peering at me. “Nope. I’ve been called worse things though.”

The boy looked startled, “I’m sorry. I thought you were Mr. Harris.”

At the first meeting we were given pictures of the boys and their names so we could pray for them during our time serving on the ranch. I recognized the boy because of his beanie cap. He was the only one photographed with one on.

I addressed him by his first name, startling him once again. Perhaps I should stop creeping the boy out. “Can I help you?”

“I need wire cutters.”

We rummaged through the items laying out on the benches against the back wall. I found something I thought might work and the kid was very appreciative. He went off to complete his task. Ten minutes later, he returned the tool and thanked me again for my help.

Impressed by the boy’s manners, I made sure to report his good behavior to one of his guides as I knew the boys were ranked on performance.

As I continue working on the old truck, I couldn’t help but wonder what difference a ranch like this might have made on our boys’ lives. But then again, they would have needed it before high school, and this place only took high school age boys.

Our boys. Stubborn. Determined. A mind of their own. I wasn’t anything like that growing up.

I suppose if I asked my parents, they might say differently. My wife seems to think I’m of the stubborn nature. She is too. I guess that’s what makes us stick together so well.

Working with the boys on the ranch has been a great way to share the knowledge and wisdom I’ve gained in life so far. While I am still a work in progress, I know the Lord has given me information that needs to be shared with the next generation.

I wish I could share it with our boys, but this is not the season for that.

When that time comes, I hope to be ready. Until then I will work hard to fix up engines, listen to peoples’ stories, and share some of my own. Perhaps a bit of knowledge will be received by these boys on the ranch as I continue my work in this humble shop.