The people in our village are Baolé people, which is a people group that originated from Ghana and migrated to Côte d’Ivoire. Soon after we arrived in our village, we were called to the front of the church during a service. Unbeknownst to us, we were being given new, Baolé names. The Baolé people give people names based on the day they were born, and they differ between men and women. The name given to me was Amlan, which means a woman born on Wednesday. Being given a new Baolé name shows the village’s love for us and shows that they accept us. I wasn’t even born on a Wednesday, but that doesn’t matter to me. Knowing that the village welcomes us as a part of their culture and community means more than the actual meaning of the name.
The village has also given us new clothes to wear two times. The first they gave us a t-shirt and a wrapper (a piece of fabric they wrap around themselves). Both of them have a picture of the village prophet on them, which just shows what church and village you are apart of. It is weird for me to wear clothing with a man’s face on it, but again, the meaning behind it is what matters more to me.
The second time we were given new clothes (just to borrow this time) was before church. We were taken to the prophet’s house, and his wife and some other women from the community dressed us in traditional ceremonial lapas. They also painted circles on us, which is also used for ceremonies. I will be honest, it was a little uncomfortable and not something I really loved wearing. But it made me feel like an African princess, and it showed me yet again how our village cherishes us.
As I’ve heard my new name and worn some of my new clothes, I am reminded of how God also gives me new names and new clothes. Before I became a Christian, my name was Sinner. Before, and even after, being a Christian I called myself Not Enough, Unworthy, Hopeless, Insecure, Afraid. But God gives me new names (Proverbs 22:1). He calls me Forgiven (Ephesians 4:32) and Adopted (1 John 3:1). He calls me Free (2 Corinthians 3:17) and Bold (2 Corinthians 3:12). He calls me Wonderfully Made (Psalms 138:14). He calls me Ambassador of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20).
He also gives me new clothes to put on. He gives Christians armor to wear so that we can stand against the tactics of the devil. The pieces of armor include the belt of truth, the chest-piece of righteousness, the sandals of readiness for the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. He clothes us with gladness (Psalm 30:11) and strength and honor (Proverbs 31:25). God gives me a garland of grace (Proverbs 4:9) and a crown. The crown is a crown of beauty (Proverbs 4:9, Isaiah 61:3), righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8), and life (James 1:12). He sees more value and beauty in a woman who has a gentle and quiet spirit than one who is only worried about her outward appearance (1 Peter 3:3-4).
When I enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ, I go from being a caterpillar to a butterfly. I die to my old self, and I am given a new self in Christ.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.”
??-2 Corinthians? ?5:17? ?
