Reading the Bible translations in both Creole and English--. In
reading Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me." Or as I remember it…. "God will give me strength--I
can do this!" I was surprised to read the Creole rendition of this
verse. "In any situation that appears before me, I can degaje, thanks
to Christ who gives me strength." Degaje has a different meaning than
expected. Haitians use it in this way: If you don't have the skills
or materials to do something correctly, you "degaje" it--make it work
some other way.

The Haitian understanding is not that with God's help we can make any
dream come true. In this place that would be a lie, with God's help,
we can expect to degaje. We can get by; we can make life work.

And in some ways is that also the bibles message. Paul writing from
prison, he is not telling the Philippians or us, the secret of being
successful; he is teaching them and us, the art of survival in any
and all circumstances--in poverty and riches, in hunger and plenty.

Degaje-ing is a daily way of life in Haiti—