How we chose Almaz's name

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In 2004, when Grant and I were considering adoption from Ethiopia, we decided to sponsor a child through Compassion International. My only requirement when selecting the child is that he or she would be born the same year we were married (1997). My thinking is that this would help me remember how old our sponsored child was. We began sponsoring Almaze Zenebe when she was 7. She just turned 14 on September 22!

Meeting Almaze Zenebe for the first time - July 2005

When we traveled to Ethiopia to adopt Alex in 2005 we were able to meet Almaze. Other than holding our son for the first time, this was by far the highlight of our trip. We traveled three harrowing hours (terrible roads with a terrible driver) to her town of Assela. We spent time at the Compassion project where she belongs, had a coffee ceremony in our honor, went to the home where she lives with her aunt and sisters and shared a meal with them and then traveled another three harrowing hours back to Addis. (Our driver actually hit a cow and the owner of the cow was trying to get money from us. Another story for another day.) 


We receive a letter from Almaze every couple months. In a recent letter she was so embarrassed and ashamed that she had fallen from 1st in her class of 77 to 2nd. A Compassion director in Ethiopia told us that the children who have their sponsors visit always are the highest achievers.

Meal in Almaze's home - July 2005 

 Grant, Almaze and me outside of her home - July 2005

Coffee Ceremony at the Compassion project - July 2007

Early 2007, when we were in the process of adopting a girl, we had decided that if our daughter had a difficult-to-pronounce Amharic name we would change her name to Almaze.

Seeing Almaze again when we traveled to adopt our Almaz - July 2007

On April 6, 2007 we received a call from our social worker saying that we had been matched with a baby girl. This was way earlier than we had expected. We thought we would get a referral in the fall and then travel sometime around December or January. I listened with hesitation, not wanting to get pulled in. The reason we were matched so quickly is because we thought we were open to parenting a child with some possible health issues she may have had. And then, when rubber-meets-the-road, we were unsure if we could really parent a child with these health issues.* So, I kept a little wall up around my heart while the social worker was talking knowing that we would probably need to say no. And then the last thing she told me was her name. Almaz. And we said yes.

Almaz is the literal translation for “diamond” in Amharic. It fits our daughter perfectly. She is a beautiful, sparkly, precious jewel.

And, here comes the pitch, PLEASE consider donating $5 (or more!) to Mudula Water so we can build a water pipeline to the town where Almaz’s first family lives. You can donate here.

With a grateful heart,
Anna

*as it turns out, none of those possible health issues came to be! Praise God!