2002 Service Award Recipient

THE BELLINGERS 

March 15, 1964– J. J. Roberts’ birthday – the captain of the Del Santos called us to the bridge, telling us that the land we could see was Liberia. Three days later, Robert, James, Ann, Ruth, and I disembarked and were driven to our new home, Ricks Institute. Robert became the business manager. He felt his two big accomplishments during our seven years at Ricks were the water system so students didn’t have to use water from the creek when the wells went dry and the construction of the dining hall.

My job description was school nurse and I soon learned that it was much more than that. I treasured Mrs. Malekabu who assisted and taught me. Quick memories: a fork in the arm of a high school student, an epidemic of chicken pox,........the dog named Richelieu at Tolbert Hall, student strategies to con me into giving off-campus passes.

A joy of living almost three decades in Liberia was seeing our old students become adults. A whining, homesick child often on punishment became a responsible teacher, business person, government leader, respected pastor, loving parent. The heartache of living almost three decades in Liberia is that the tragedies of the most recent years have broken our hearts. Our adopted home has suffered, is suffering, and there is nothing we can do to change it. With gratefulness to God for calling us to Liberia and to you for your hospitality, I sign as I signed your passes… Pat B.

MEMORIES OF Mr. Robert Bellinger and Mrs. Patty H. Bellinger, R.N.