Before my last village stay, my wife found a bunch of these packets of Gatorade powder mixes. You don't often have refrigeration in the village, so having cold drinks is something special. Also because you have to carefully manage your wait on the plane or chopper, every bulky item you choose to carry means you can't carry something else. Like, oh, solar panels.
I was in the village for 3 weeks (which for me is a decent to long stay), recording an audio version of Luke. The place where we were recording had to have a generator for power for the recording equipment and it also therefore, had a fridge!
Each day we'd hike or take a PMV to the recording area from the village house.
Drinking enough water in the hot climate is essential to survival. (as are several other items).
I got into the habit of pouring my powder mix into my water container, shaking it up, and dropping that in the fridge in the morning, then drinking half at break time, and half with lunch.
About 2 weeks into the process, I was tired, sweaty, and just plain ol' worn out. But each day, I looked forward to a few cold gulps of that drink. And each day I was thankful for my wife during that time, and for the people at our store who had this rare item available.
Today as I prepare to go out again, I recall those happy moments, and how I felt about the cool drink of something that wasn't luke warm rainwater. Of how my wife cared for me and sent that special treat.
And I smile.
