God willin’ and the creek don’t rise
Growing up in East Tennessee, this is a phrase I’ve heard often. “Tomorrow we will do such and such, God willin’ and the creek don’t rise.” Meaning, we will do it—so long as no unforeseeable circumstances arise and change our plans.
Many Haitians use a similar phrase, tacked on to the end of every single utterance regarding the future… si Bondye vle or si Dye vle, which literally translates “if God wants”. They make their plans, but realize that ultimately God is in control.
Every time our housekeeper Jocelyne leaves for the day, she’ll tell me goodbye and that she’ll see me tomorrow, God willing. I asked her why she says it.
“Maybe I get home and I get sick or start to have pain and I can’t work tomorrow. So I say, God willing. It’s God who decides if He wants it to happen.”
Our cook Yvette chimes in and agrees.
I ask Jocelyne if she has anything else to add.
“That’s it,” she says. “There’s nothing else to add.” As in… it’s as simple as that! We plan, but God is still in control. End of story!
Junior, our groundskeeper and go-to guy, has been listening and remarks, “I may go to sleep tonight and not wake up in the morning. It might be my last sleep. This is why we say it.”
And that brings us to the topic of Haitian prayers that almost always include thanking God for letting us sleep and also letting us wake up. Maybe I’ll save that topic for another post, si Bondye vle.
Creole phrase of the day:
A demen si Dye vle. (ah deh-min see jeh vlay)
See you tomorrow, God willing.
We’d like to extend a big 😍THANK YOU😍 to everyone that supported the 2019 Gala & Silent Auction! With your help we were able to raise $55,000 to support the Carmelle Voltaire Women’s Health Center in Tom Gato. This money will go towards labor and delivery services for the women of FondwaRead More
Representatives of the UNC School of Nursing, Rhonda Lanning and Leslie Hackenbracht traveled to Haiti last week with Family Health Ministries. They were in country for the opening of the new Carmelle Voltaire Women’s Health Center. The Center saw more than 50 patients during their first 3 days of operation. It was wonderfulRead More
The Global Health PLUS (Placement of Life Changing Usable Surplus) Program, in association with Duke Global Health Institute, allowed Family Health Ministries to glean hospital equipment from inventory to use for the Carmelle Voltaire Women’s Health Center in Haiti. The mission of Duke Global Health PLUS is to make this surplus medical equipmentRead More
Join us and be a part of a global celebration of a new tradition of generosity. We have a day for giving thanks. We have a day for getting deals. Now, we have #GivingTuesday, a global day dedicated to giving back. On Tuesday, December 1, 2015, charities, families, businesses, communityRead More
