“May the words of my mouth
and the meditations of
my heart
be pleasing to You, Oh God.” Psalm
In Swaziland
everyone normally has an English name and a SiSwati name. Until a few weeks ago I still didn’t have a
SiSwati name. I went to the ministry of
my teammate Denise at the cultural market (where you can buy all the cool Africa things), she leads a Bible study everyday with
about 25 women. We were just hanging out
with them at the end and one of their little boys was sitting on my lap
covering me in dirt. If you know me
though, you should know I was in my element playing peek-a-boo and didn’t mind
at all that he was so dirty. When the
women found out I didn’t have a SiSwati name they decided they would name
me. A few minutes later they told me
Nothando (No-tan-doe) had to be my name.
My name means one who loves or Mother of love. It is so special to me because I feel God has
really given me a heart to love the unloved, to reach the ones who feel alone,
to remember the forgotten. I don’t know
where my life is leading me exactly but I know that loving is my mission. Whether I’m in the comfort of America, the hot jungle of the Amazon, the
blizzards of Russia,
or the bush of Africa God put me on this Earth to show love to the ones He puts
in my path.
everyone normally has an English name and a SiSwati name. Until a few weeks ago I still didn’t have a
SiSwati name. I went to the ministry of
my teammate Denise at the cultural market (where you can buy all the cool Africa things), she leads a Bible study everyday with
about 25 women. We were just hanging out
with them at the end and one of their little boys was sitting on my lap
covering me in dirt. If you know me
though, you should know I was in my element playing peek-a-boo and didn’t mind
at all that he was so dirty. When the
women found out I didn’t have a SiSwati name they decided they would name
me. A few minutes later they told me
Nothando (No-tan-doe) had to be my name.
My name means one who loves or Mother of love. It is so special to me because I feel God has
really given me a heart to love the unloved, to reach the ones who feel alone,
to remember the forgotten. I don’t know
where my life is leading me exactly but I know that loving is my mission. Whether I’m in the comfort of America, the hot jungle of the Amazon, the
blizzards of Russia,
or the bush of Africa God put me on this Earth to show love to the ones He puts
in my path.
Nothando is a fitting name for someone who has showed love as you. Keep doing the work of Jesus by loving the unloved.
We miss you in Baltimore!!!
Nothando…. Yes, it’s you! I miss you terribly… I’m thinking maybe I should take a road trip and come see you. What do you think?
LYLAS
Melissa,
that is awesome, that is definitely you, glad everything is going good!
Erik
Melissa,
I know that must have made you feel really good when you were given the name Nothando. One b/c you now know that the woman sees you as one who loves, which means the community sees you as a women of God who loves. Not to mention it brings confirmation from God that you are called to be a cannel of his love and you are walking in your purpose. We love you and miss you very much. Especially my wife! Oh yeah when you come back to B-more your new name will be Nintendo.
Grace & Peace,
Ray