Welcome to Ethiopia- where everyone’s name has meaning, and they are proud of what they stand for.
“Hello my name is Ashanafi. In Amharic (the local Ethiopian language) it means winner!” “Hello my name is Zammich. It means army.”
“Hello my name is Abebe. It means blooming.”
These three men, all of varied ages, are my friends and fellow believers of Christ. When you walk into church, this is how believers will greet you: name and meaning. They dance excitedly to the words “I know who God says I am.” They don’t take their names lightly. They all carry unique purpose for the Lord and His work.
And then, they ask you. What is your name? What does it mean?
Before the Race I would have had no idea what my name means. It was just my name. I knew Hebrew names or some names of other cultures meant things, but most American names were just names.
I was wrong.
In Argentina my squad took a day and wrote identity statements. A squadmate, who has done it before, led the activity. He had led his team the month prior and so they helped us as well. They looked up the meaning of all our names and wrote them down for us. They prayed over our names. Then they gave us time to pray for ourselves. We talked to the Lord and asked; “Who do you say I am?” “What makes me angry/excited/emotional?” “What plans do you have for me, specifically?”
The purpose of this activity is to be able to walk confidently in your identity. It gives you something to start your day with, so that when the repetitive lies come you have something specific and straight from the mouth of the Lord to combat them. We talked about how it was important to consistently be praying over your identity, because the Lord may reveal different things to you in different seasons. He may call you by a name or characteristic you don’t believe yet or don’t understand. Trust that the kind voice is from Him, and He has a plan to reveal that piece to you in time.
This was month two. We prayed over our names and what the Lord had for us in this season. We wrote it all down, because writing it down gives the words weight and helps us to remember even when we are the most broken. Even when we are struggling to hold on to the fact that we are forgiven and called, we have it in writing that the voice of the Lord told me I was more than this moment.
Last month was month eight- Bulgaria. Six months had already passed, so I asked my team if we could revisit our identity statements; taking more time to pray over them and seeing if the Lord had anything new to show us. We have all changed so much since then! We are headed to a new continent! It’s a new season.
So I went back and found my name card.
Anna – mother
Elise – one who is consecrated to the Lord; God is my oath/God is my satisfaction
Bauer – fellow citizen; neighbor
And I wrote a new identity statement.
I am Elise: one who is consecrated to the Lord; set apart for His holy work. I am fully satisfied in Him, consumed with His love for me. I am desired, sought after, encouraged, protected and urged on by my Father and those who love Him. I am a compassionate friend; a dwelling place and giver of the intimacy I am lavished in. I dance with delight for my Father, and worship flows freely from my lips. I am a redeemed woman called to great tasks. I am a teacher and discipler; a dreamer ever filled with curiosity from and for the Lord. I am deep rooted in loyalty and people trust my words to be true and life-bringing. I live a life of diligent obedience to the Lord.
I was nervous getting off the plane in Africa. I was maybe even more afraid stepping out of the van here in Awash. I felt like I was in Bolivia again, questioning what the Lord was thinking sending me here. I have prayed for peace every day, and He always brings it. But when someone asked me to introduce myself and then said, “What does it mean?” I remembered.
I am Elise – one who is consecrated to the Lord. The Lord is my satisfaction.
I didn’t understand His plan exactly in that moment, but I did understand that He had one. I have a surplus of everything I ask for. It’s right there in my name- I am fully satisfied in Him.
Our month in Awash is ATL: Ask the Lord. So we are doing a little mix of everything, and often don’t know what we are doing until it’s happening. But I am learning to refer to the specific promises the Lord gave to me, and trust that he loves me more than the birds of the air (Matthew 6). He created me with this purpose and knew I would be in this town from the moment I was born. He has not forgotten me, but instead walks before and beside me. He has plans for me here and at home that I can only dream of. I simply need to remember who I am.
