Names

Names are very important here. Almost everyone is named after someone else. I even have a Gambian name and woman I am named after. There are also lots of nicknames, almost everyone is related and many people have the same name so it can get pretty confusing.

Babies are given their names on their 7th day of life in a ceremony that also involves shaving their heads and a big party. This coming weekend I will have another opportunity to attend a baby naming ceremony and pray blessings over those new lives in the name of Jesus. What a privilege to come alongside of our workers and their families in this celebration and shine a little light of Christ. And, it is also fun to love on these beautiful new babies. 

Over the last few weeks and continuing into the next few months we have many repair projects going on. Our property is full of handymen, carpenters, roofers, welders, fridge repairmen, solar repairmen, plumbers, yard workers, masons, diggers, builders, painters, cleaners and more. The trick for me is to keep all their names straight. The other day as I was talking with our lead worker about the projects I asked him to tell the fridge repair guy something about the carpentry work! I wondered for a second why he looked at me like I was crazy. 

Prayers appreciated for all the projects and most importantly for each of these workers that I would have opportunity to share about Jesus, the name above all names.