During the four and a half days between us feeling impressed to bring Mintesenot into our home and when we picked him up Ry and I searched for the perfect English name for him. It is common in Africa to have both a tribal and English/Christian name, and the majority of our memories with the name Mintesenot were negative due to his behaviors and the tough times we all went through.
We felt with a new name we'd all be able to start over in a sense. The day before we picked Mintesenot up Ry and I agreed on the name Alexander, Alex for short. It is of Greek origin, and its meaning is "defender of mankind, warrior."We also are impressed with many in the past that have borne the name Alexander, and hope they can be a source of inspiration. Mintesenot we kept as his middle name as it's still apart of who he is, and means "he who can do all things," in a Amharic.
When we told Mintesenot we'd like to give him a special English name he was very excited. He later told me that naughty Mintesenot had gone away and now he was Alex the good boy.
That's great that he was able to keep his past as a part of himself, but be given a new name and thus a chance to begin his new life as "Alex the good boy." That's very sweet. You and Ryan are amazing people. Alex is so lucky to have you.
ReplyDelete