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Compared to my generation, the physical things many women do today can only be described as amazing. In many ways, they remind me of the women of World War II who showed the world they were capable of doing men’s strenuous work, and they did it well.

Lisa Reynolds, assistant director of Greensboro’s Habitat for Humanity, can shingle a roof, raise walls, install a floor, build a deck and landscape a yard.

Reynolds believes one of the benefits women receive from working with Habitat was a sense of ability — “I can do this” or “If I can do this, I can do anything!”

She said, “It’s liberating and empowering.”

Reynolds’ job involves many responsibilities, such as managing special projects like Greensboro Habitat’s domestic and foreign mission trips, the AmeriCorps program and its members, and other special programs including Raising Roofs-Builders for Habitat, the partnership with the Greensboro Builders Association.

To date, Greater Greensboro Habitat for Humanity volunteers have built more than 300 homes in Greensboro, partnering with hard-working families who contribute 300 hours of sweat equity — volunteer labor — in their own and other Habitat houses.

Habitat was founded on the conviction that all of God’s children deserve a decent and safe place to live. Those who volunteer for Habitat see they are making a difference in people’s lives as they experience lives being reborn, given a new purpose, and a fresh start.

Reynolds first became active with Habitat in the mid-’90s when she lived in Virginia and her children were small.

She and her family moved to Greensboro in 1997, and she renewed her association with Habitat when her new church home, Christ United Methodist Church, sponsored its eighth house, partnering with Centenary United Methodist Church in 2005.

Reynolds discovered that it was possible to work with Habitat in construction full-time as an AmeriCorps member, so she jumped at the chance. AmeriCorps is like the Peace Corps, only all the service is done within the United States.

“It was a great service learning year for me,” Reynolds said, “Lots of hard work, but this experience gave me a new set of skills that I have since been able to use in service to others.”

Reynolds has been on 10 Habitat mission trips, mostly to provide Hurricane Katrina relief in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, but she also has been on trips to Honduras and the North Carolina mountains.

On her first mission trip in 2006 to D’Iberville, Miss., with Christ United Methodist Church, she was given the task of replacing a roof. “I had a crew of about eight to 10, mostly unskilled and inexperienced workers, but we completed the task we were assigned,” she said.

On her second mission trip, she and a fellow AmeriCorps member led a group (women only) back to D’Iberville where they installed drywall.

“Every time I go on a mission trip, even though I’m usually in a position of leadership, I always learn something new,” Reynolds said. “I particularly enjoy working alongside a professional who will share the tricks of years of experience.”

Reynolds said the overwhelming feeling from a Habitat mission trip is one of joy. “When I am on mission, in fellowship with others, I am keenly aware that I am dancing God’s dance, that I am in partnership with him, and that he delights in my work.”

Reynolds indicated that many Habitat volunteers have little to no experience. She said that’s OK as house leaders and AmeriCorps members are trained to lead and teach volunteers. Also, volunteers with experience are often called on to mentor those who are brand-new.

The tasks on any given volunteer work day are designed to be volunteer friendly. Safety is emphasized above all other considerations, according to Reynolds, so no volunteers are asked to do any task with which they are uncomfortable.

“I work with great people,” she said, which is not to say that there aren’t the normal job frustrations that others encounter. “But I believe that we handle them differently because we honor the fact that we are in Christian mission together.”

Reynolds said her volunteer time with Habitat through Christ United Methodist Church gave her a vocation — her present job at Habitat — and an avocation — her skills and opportunities to go on mission trips. “I see God at work, in and through others, every day,” she said.

As the church celebrates and prepares to partner and work on its 10th Habitat house, Reynolds will serve as the project leader with this Habitat team: Tim Spangler, finance chair; Beth Taylor, in charge of volunteers; Linda Danford, food chair; Julia Geniac, leader of the family liaison team; and Susan Norman Vickers, staff liaison. Robbie Dunnagan, who has worked on all 10 Habitat houses, will serve as the team’s member-at-large.

Reynolds feels that working in construction with Habitat is very empowering for women.

“There are people of all shapes and sizes working on site, and women are often surprised by how much they love it. I think a construction site offers unique opportunities for women to conquer fears and to vanquish feelings of helplessness or dependency.”

Last summer, Reynolds re-roofed her own garage . “My children would call and ask, 'Where are you?’ and I’d say, 'On the roof,’ and they’d say, 'Of course you are.’”

For more on volunteering with Greensboro’s Habitat, call 275-4663 or visit www.habitatgreensboro.org .

To nominate a person for this column who has or is making a difference in the lives of others, e-mail Peggy Longmire at rlongmire@triad.rr.com or call her at 288-9040.