Page 42 - Harnett Life Winter 2019

CCCC Welding Student Dylan

Smith Uses Training To Assist

Missionaries

Dylan Smith enjoys the scenery during his summer visit to the Ethiopian highlands.

During the weeks between high school graduation lage of about 10,000 residents in the Ethiopian high-
and his first semester at Central Carolina Community lands. The village surrounded by a rugged landscape is
College, Dylan Smith could have done just about any- more than an hour’s drive from the nearest city, Arba
thing. Make some money with a summer job. Spend Minch, and even that community isn’t especially large,
time relaxing at the beach. Or maybe hang around with a population roughly the size of Gastonia without
with friends before everyone scatters to begin a new its suburbs.
phase of life.
Making It Work
What he chose was taking skills he developed in the Welding wasn’t part of the initial plan. “I was really go-
two-year Caterpillar Welding Apprenticeship Pro- ing over to be an extra helping hand to help Jonathan
gram halfway around the world to help some mission- do whatever he needed to do,” Dylan said, describing
aries with local ties. So Dylan got his travel papers in how his agenda took shape. “They had some projects
order, boarded a plane and began his long journey to set out, but things over there get delayed sometimes
an East African apple farm. waiting for paperwork.” He noted that you’ll be sitting
for two or three weeks and then all of a sudden things
The idea took root earlier this year, when missionar- fall into place.
ies Jonathan and Jessica Bridges were back home in
Sanford for a visit and stopped by Flat Springs Baptist Dylan’s welding skills were sorely needed. So as the
Church to talk about their work in Chencha, a vil- month passed, he found himself welding a gate, build-

Page 42 Harnett Life ~ Winter 2019