Our Neighbors: Part One. Meet Patrick & his Family

When Sarah and I moved to Pleebo, the chairlady of the PTA took us around our community and introduced us to all the people she thought it was important for us to know.  One of these people was our neighbor, Patrick.  Since that day three months ago, Patrick has become like a father to us; he and his family have become our adopted family, and I am so grateful to have them as our neighbors.

Patrick and his wife have three children – Patrick Jr. (15), Hattie (13), and Majay (7).  All of his children attend the Catholic school here in Pleebo, but he knows a lot about what is going on at our high school, as well.  Patrick works for an organization that is working to get teenage girls and boys off the streets and into school or into programs where they can learn a trade and become a successful member of society.  (He is someone we are looking to partner with once we start a girl’s club at our school – something Sarah and I are seriously considering.)  His wife has her own shop here in town, where she sells clothing and other small things.  She travels a lot to purchase new things, and often times she is out of Liberia shopping in Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, or Togo. 

Patrick helped us secure the current to our house during our first week here, and since then, he has served as the middle man for many small upgrades to the house.  (When our toilet was giving us plenty of grief, he found us a plumber within 24 hours of us telling him the problem.)  He also has a pump in his yard which he graciously lets us use to get water every day. 

This family has really adopted us into our community, and whenever we see them in town, they always stop to chat with us for a while before going on with their business.  Their children are respectful and always curious about what we’re doing.  Recently, Patrick Jr. has been coming by with small gifts from his mother, as well.  The other day it was a mat for our bathroom, which we had asked if she sold at her shop, and just tonight (September 14), he brought over some fried potatoes she had made for us.  Tomorrow, we are going to make some cookies and take them over for the family (we’re really neighbors, now!). 

I can’t imagine life in Zone Two without Patrick and his family.  I think we’re the luckiest volunteers in Liberia, if only for our awesome neighbors :)