Names. We think long and hard about what to name our children. Usually we go for what we think sounds good or one that has a meaning we think is nice. Some people just pick out something completely different.
I notice in Malawi many names are in their native language of Chichewa and some are very common. For example there is Chimwemwe. Mtendere Village has at least 10 kids named Chimwemwe (or at least it seems like that many) and the doctor at Blessings Hospital is Chimwemwe. This name means joy. I like that.
One name I that noticed becoming common around Mtendere was Masiye. This was the name of one of the newest girls. She’s about 5 years old and lives in a house with another Masiye who’s about 13. The house next door had another girl named Masiye who was about 14. I asked their house mother what did Masiye mean since it was so popular here. I’m thinking maybe it means beautiful or happy. I listened and she told me it meant orphan…
Did you hear that? ORPHAN! These 3 precious girls were named orphan (or one who is left behind). Both parents were dead and either died in childbirth leaving them without a name or no one knew their name when the parents died. This is usually the name the village would have given them. A child named Masiye Banda in Malawi would be the equivalent of someone in America being named Orphan Smith (or Jane Doe).
I was very sad to hear this. It is sad to think they will go through life with a name like orphan. I hope they know that they are never alone and that they can be adopted into God’s family. We did several lessons on this very subject while in nightly devotionals and VBS. These precious children may have this name now but thankfully all believers will all have a new name as Revelation 2:17 states: “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.”
I notice in Malawi many names are in their native language of Chichewa and some are very common. For example there is Chimwemwe. Mtendere Village has at least 10 kids named Chimwemwe (or at least it seems like that many) and the doctor at Blessings Hospital is Chimwemwe. This name means joy. I like that.
One name I that noticed becoming common around Mtendere was Masiye. This was the name of one of the newest girls. She’s about 5 years old and lives in a house with another Masiye who’s about 13. The house next door had another girl named Masiye who was about 14. I asked their house mother what did Masiye mean since it was so popular here. I’m thinking maybe it means beautiful or happy. I listened and she told me it meant orphan…
Did you hear that? ORPHAN! These 3 precious girls were named orphan (or one who is left behind). Both parents were dead and either died in childbirth leaving them without a name or no one knew their name when the parents died. This is usually the name the village would have given them. A child named Masiye Banda in Malawi would be the equivalent of someone in America being named Orphan Smith (or Jane Doe).
I was very sad to hear this. It is sad to think they will go through life with a name like orphan. I hope they know that they are never alone and that they can be adopted into God’s family. We did several lessons on this very subject while in nightly devotionals and VBS. These precious children may have this name now but thankfully all believers will all have a new name as Revelation 2:17 states: “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.”
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