Woah Travis

Names in Ethiopia are important. So important, in fact, that they are not given to a newborn baby for at least a week after the baby is born. And then, many Ethiopian cultures have a naming ceremony of some sort. We know one tradition where three names are chosen, one by the parents, and one by each of the sets of grandparents. On the appointed naming day, the three names are written on pieces of paper and placed in a hat, leaving the child’s name to the luck of the draw. Names are often given with the hopes of them being prophetic as the child grows into them. For example, Habtamu means “the rich one”, Teshome means “the promoted/exalted one”, and Getachew means “their lord/master.” Every name has a translation, and often a story or a reason behind it, a part of Ethiopian culture we have come to love!

The Gmz people, however, are traditionally cut from a slightly different cloth. They still wait for several days or weeks before naming a new child, but their names are not so much prophetic, but rather descriptive. WoHis means “Mr. Black”, WoMpu means “Mr. White”, and WoC’agad’ means “Mr. Eye Crusty”, all of which are physical descriptions of the newborns. Many times, Gmz names are descriptions of their times of birth. For example, one of the translation team member’s name is Janey, which means Thursday, the day of the week on which he was born. The name WoTaak comes from the word for millet (taaka). He was born during the millet harvest season. Dewan was born at a memorial celebration for a village elder, an event called a “dewan”.  One Gmz name was intriguing to me when I first learned of it - WoAanz means “Mr. Poop.” Not exactly an honorable title to carry around throughout one’s lifetime, but we know plenty of people who bear it. At first I thought maybe it was a descriptive name given to a baby who had a few impressive bowel movements early in life, but it turns out to be that the mother-to-be mistook the labor pains for her own impending BM. Hmm… Finally, Gmz names are sometimes given in connection to special events that happened around the time of their birth. For example, WoPawe was born in the hospital in Pawe, where is mother was taken to receive emergency  care. Wok’ob’, meaning “Mr. Hunger” was born during a time of a famine in the area. And when the first foreigners moved onto Gesas mountain, at least three babies were known to have been named WoJohn after the Canadian in whose house we now live in (affectionately referred to as 1^st John, 2^nd John and 3^rd John). We moved into Gesas in 2010, and just a few months later we were informed that a local witch doctor gave birth to a baby boy and named him WoMikiyaas. Mikiyaas, being Micah’s Amharic name, was the first naming marker of our arrival.

Now where am I going with all of this? Those of you who receive our prayer partner emails been reading some about our friend EyC’uli. After two babies dying shortly after birth, EyC’uli became pregnant again, and on June 14, gave birth to a tiny baby boy. However, within that first week of his life, it was clear that both he and EyC’uli were having health problems. Not eating well, not pooping, not gaining weight…there was more than one time when it seemed this tiny new life would be cut short. Yet God, in answer to our prayers, seems to have had a different plan, as today both mom and baby were back in church for the first time. We invited them to our house afterward and chatted some more. At one point I took the baby’s tiny hands and commented on the tiny fingers. EyC’uli smiled and asked me, “Did you hear the baby’s name?” Seeing my smile, she continued, “It’s just like your name, WoTravis.” Feeling the rush of honor and flatterment (is that a real word?) which my culture associates with such a respectful naming gesture, I looked away in embarrassment. Had Andrea and I made such an impact on this friend to warrant their child bearing my name the rest of his life? One might think so, and therefore think more highly of me, so maybe I ought to stop this story right here. Unfortunately, that would be ignoring the point I already made above, Americans and Gmz have very different factors at play in naming their children. Still holding baby WoTravis’ tiny hand, EyC’uli laughed and went on to explain some more, “My husband said WoTravis was a good name for him because the baby is really skinny, just like you!”

Now wait just one cotton-pickin’ minute! I am used to being called thin, skinny, bean pole, etc, back in the States, but to hear that such a reputation precedes me even among the Gmz people? And even during the hunger time of year? Wow! I don’t know if I should feel bad for the little guy or not, “Well, WoTravis, you were named after the little twig of a man we once knew…” There is already a common Gmz name used of thin babies, (WoMakash, meaning “Mr. Thin”), so I wonder if WoTravis will simply take on the superlative meaning translated something like “Mr. Toothpick”! Yes I did recently make a new hole in my belt, but has it really come to this? Well, I’ll have you know that right now, as this blog is posting, we are travelling back to Addis Ababa where upon arrival I am going to stuff my face with one of the nicest, fattest cheeseburgers the whole country! No, make that two cheeseburgers! Anyone know any self-help books such as “From Bamboo to Baobab in Just Ten Weeks” or “Seven Secrets to Doubling Your Chin Without Lifting a Finger”? Little WoTravis and I have a reputation to change!