One of the odd cultural things for me (Elin) to get used to here in the village where we work is the fact that first names are not significant for the women. In fact, if you were to walk around the village with me asking the women, “What’s her name?”, pointing at me, I doubt you’d find more than one or two who could tell you my actual first name. They would say, “She is Phil’s wife” or “The mother of Callie” or “The mother of Elias” First names are not that important to them but rather who you are connected with even to the point that the names of some women are unknown except to them and a few of their family. Since I am someone who can’t remember people’s names to save my life, this culture is custom made for me. All I have to do is learn the name of one of their kids and voila, I have them pegged!
Yet, God knows each of these ladies names even when no one else does. How many times in Scriptures does it just say.”Now a certain woman” or “A woman” sometimes it gives her location “A woman of Samaria” but overall a lot of the women spoken of in Scripture are not named. It’s neat to know that God knows the names of each of these Mwinika women, even when I and many others don’t know them. To us they are those “certain women”, but to Him they are unique and well known women in desperate need of His healing, cleansing, provision, restoration, forgiveness and more. Many people have asked for a list of the women of the village here so they can pray specifically. Well, let’s just say we have a lot of “what’s her names” around and the task of finding their “real” name is almost impossible! But, still please pray for these ladies that they will come and hear the truth and discover that God that knows not only their name but every fiber of their being and loves them deeper than they can imagine!