We played together this morning before church, but right now all I can remember doing was watching him write his abc's. Also, when I put his clothes on him today, I put him in a shirt he got for his birthday last year from the McAffry's that simply says, "dude," in black font on a gray t-shirt. I told him, "This is from Johnny's family for you." His instant reply (in English), "Johnny in America. I see him soon." (hi, Sarah!). Then, we made our way down for waffles for breakfast. I'm sure by now you can guess what Asnake ended up eating... a banana. Can't sweat the small stuff.
At 10:45 this morning, Mengistu came to pick us up for church. We went back to IEC (same as last week). As we all squeezed into our row and took our seats it was the first time I realized we were at church with Asnake for the very first time. We thought going into it that it was likely his first church experience, but Mengistu asked him and he might've gone a few other times. I was trying not to cry at the mere thought of being at church with him, but he was perched between Mark and me and about the time I started to think too much about it, the music started. All was fine and good until song 4. Y'all. I literally can't make this stuff up. "Good, Good Father" started and we all sat there looking at each other with our mouths open... seriously? Of all the songs on all the days. God IS SO in the details. It was THE sweetest thing to watch his eyes stop from looking around the room and taking it all in to being totally focused on the music and singing. It was a sweet gift.
We headed to a place called, "Rodeo" for lunch. I have tried numerous times today to upload a video of Asnake riding one of those front-of-the-supermarket horses. Maybe it will eventually work. He loved it. On the way to lunch, though, we were all discussing the message as it had been on generosity and giving. It was a powerful morning to hear the faithfulness of God recounted (again) when we simply learn to live with a open hands, even if we are in poverty (as noted in 2 Corinthians 8). One of the dads in the van reminded us of how yesterday some of the older girls at Asnake's orphanage made us (Mark, me, Brycen, and Regan) bead bracelets and hand-written small notes that said, "I love you," as a way to tell us how grateful they were that Asnake had a family. Generosity in poverty. It's a powerful thing. And, the red, green, and yellow beaded bracelet still on my arm is a tangible reminder. I will treasure it forever.
At Rodeo, we ate lunch....Asnake got a fire-roasted pizza, Brycen and I stuck with chicken stir fry, Mark got a steak (don't think American steak), and Regan went with usual, simple dish of rice and chicken. It was all delicious and it turns out Asnake ate pizza leftovers for dinner tonight and saved two pieces, "for tomorrow, please." As we ate at the restaurant Mark as Mengistu if today would be a good day to discuss with Asnake about his name change. We weren't sure if we would just introduce it and then gradually ease into it by calling him "Tyson Asnake" for a while, but we knew after a more formal conversation with Asnake about it the best way would be clear.
So, when we returned to the guesthouse Brycen and Regan came on up to our room and we stayed with Mengistu and Asnake in the living room. I sat in an oversized black leather chair with Asnake, holding hands. Mark sat across from us in a relocated dining room chair while Mengistu sat beside Asnake on a black leather couch whose arm touches the arm of the chair we were in. Mengistu asked us if we wanted to tell him and Mengistu would translate, or if we wanted Mengistu to just do the talking. Mark was gracious to explain our reasons for wanting to change his name (apart from the fact that the spelling of his name makes life in America a bit more challenging). So, he explained that first of all, all of our kids' names end in the letter 'n.' Mengistu had Asnake say each of their names and let him hear it outloud. Next, Mark explained that many times in the Bible when God changed someone's life in a profound way, He gave them a new name. So, Mengistu with all grace and compassion, holding Asnake's other hand the entire time, explained all of that and then looked up at us and said, "can I tell him his new name?" We nodded that he could. When Mengistu said, "Tyson, " Asnake looked up and smiled and said, "That's a nice name." We wanted him to know we weren't taking his Ethiopian, African name away, we were simply adding to it an American name. He is, after all, African American in the truest sense of the word. We also had Mengistu tell him that we would still call him Akuye sometimes, too (this is his preferred name). So, we asked Asnake, "do you want us to call you 'Tyson Asnake' or just 'Tyson'?" Without delay, "Just Tyson. No Asnake."
So, there you have it. He now knows he is Tyson.
It would be stretching it to say he knows who "Tyson McKeehan" is, seeing as how he didn't even know our first names yesterday and in Ethiopia they don't have last names. But, my motto all week has been: you can't fight every battle on day 1 or week 1. We will fill him in on our family name later! As for now, we spent the rest of the evening calling him "Tyson" and he answered and responded like he had known it for years. Sigh. So many pieces coming together. So many things I have pondered on and prayed over the last several years that the Lord is fleshing out in these days. And, He's doing it extravagantly. Mengistu was kind to let us know that when he told Tyson he had something to talk to him about, even at 5 years old, he sat there making eye contact and knew it was something to take it. We are grateful and asked Tyson if he had any questions or reservations about the whole thing. He said he didn't and life went on.
Dude. Your name just changed.
It literally didn't seem to phase him. He has played cards with us, used the best manners today saying, "please" and "thank you" and "families stick together" while waiting on us when it was obvious we weren't moving quite fast enough. At one point today after a mean game of Crazy 8's downstairs with Tyson and Regan, we were all walking up the steps and Regan tripped. It was like slow motion watching the Captain Crunch berries fly out of the bowl in her hand while she tumbled. Ty and I were just a few steps ahead of her, but he was to her aide in a millisecond. Helping her clean up her mess and saying (with his adorable rolled 'r's), "Regan, are you ok? I get it." His heart is kind. And his mind is tall. The name change didn't change any of those things.
We spent the evening (after eating and cards) having some massive dance parties in our room. The older kids taught Tyson how to dab. Hysterical.
The plan for tomorrow is for us to do some cultural training at Bethany and to get an update on the plan for the Kebele. We are thinking if there is still no movement on adoption certificates by Thursday (after we have gone there in person early in the week) we will involve the US Embassy since we are his parents and we are US citizens "stuck" in this country unnecessarily. Praying it won't come to that and that tomorrow morning they will open and use us a guinea pig to print the very first adoption certificate. I will keep you posted on what we hear!
Grateful to have you along each day! More tomorrow!
Chow, from Addis Ababa!!
Until WE'RE home,
carrie
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