Basic

Basic

Webster's Dictionary defines basic, when used as a noun, to be a necessary commodity for which demand is constant, or when used an an adjective of primary importance.

Over the past several years, I have been slowly going through closets, the basement, the shed and donating, throwing away, giving away “things” that were no longer working and/or not worth repairing, items that were used by the kids as they were growing up and no longer needed, dishware, clothing, etc.

Getting back to basics.

I have done this in anticipation of eventually moving out of this house into something smaller on one floor. Of course, that does not happen until I am tired of gardening, or floating in the pool, or all the cats leave in one fashion or another.

However, being here, it has me wondering if it really was in anticipation of living in Sudan.

Very basic stuff here. And I have simplited it as well, for my needs. I have moved one of the twin beds into the great toom.

Creating a smaller space.

Running the AC at night, it would take a much longer time to get the cooler air back to the bedroom. So, move the bedroom. And less to clean.

I rearragned the chairs, assigning some to the bed room, one to the front courtyard to watch soccer.

Then, when I want to play the piano, I move the bed a little.

Did I not mention the piano?

Works though slightly out of tune.

But the only music I can find are Christmas carols. So that is what the neighbors hear in Sudan with temperatures hovering around 120 degrees in the afternoon.

120?

Yesterday, I rode in a car that told you the outside temperature. At 7 PM it said 40 Degrees Celsius. I have been happy not knowing how hot it has been. But, they translated it to around 100 at 7 PM.

Yikes.

Ignorance is bliss. I want to exist without this day to day knowledge.

Besides, no humidity really does make a difference. Apparently, I like 120 here better than 85 in humid Florida. (Sorry Ann)

Water is a basic need and to be without means disruption at the minimum and death at the maximum.

Water is that binary compond that occurs are room temperature as a clear colorless orderliss tasteless liguid, so says Webster..

Today, there is no water in my row of houses. I have bottled to drink but that means no washing clothes, as I intended, until they turn it back on.

I read that to dream of clear water foretells that you will joyfully realize properity and pleasure, but if the water is muddy, you will be in danger and gloom.

Yesterday evening, Lauren Stanley, a priest from the Diocese of Va., was telling us how in the Diocese of Renk, there is no running water ever.

They have tried to collect rain water when it fell, but unsuccessfully. During the dry season, they use the water from the Nile, which is called the muddy river. Not good at all.

"Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink" is "a quote taken from a famous English poet of the 19th century...Samuel Coleridge, almost two centuries ago.

Here are some sobering facts:

Freshwater is believed by many international agencies to have become the greatest singlethreat to the world’s stability, human health, global food supply, poverty, gender inequality, and even the specter of war.

It was speculated by the World Resources Institute that more than half of the world’s population will be suffering severe freshwater shortages within 25 years.

"The International Conference on Water" held in Singapore in 2001, concluded that billions of people throughout the world are facing the problem of freshwater shortage.

"The International Freshwater Conference" held in Bonn, Germany, in December 2001, stressed that one fifth of the world’s population do not have access to sufficient clean drinking water. This is because wastewater from 2.5 billion people cannot be disposed of hygienically, making polluted drinking water the number one cause of disease around the world, ultimately leading to poverty and gender inequality.

So what do the people of Sudan do with this problem?

They rely on the kindness of others.

Like us. Like Lauren.

Lauren was, in her earlier life, a water engineer with the Peace Corp.

So, she designed cisterns and voila. Purified Water.

She and Simon Lewis are now going to find the financial backing to build this type of cistern in a number of smaller towns in Southern Sudan.

Lauren leaves for the US at 1 PM Sudan time and Simon for the UK on Tuesday. Between the two of them and the backers they find, this will employ a number of individuals. They both return to Sudan at the beginning of August.

Lauren, who works with Father Joseph, a priest who is running for Bishop of Renk and the benefactor of dinner, envisions, apprentiships for pipe fitters, masons, bookkeepers, procurers.

Setting up craftmen/women all over Southern Sudan..

This is how you build a country. From the ground up.

Basic.