It is ridiculously hot right now. It must be at least 100 degrees out…and I’m talking Celsius, not Fahrenheit. I just woke up from my customary Sunday afternoon nap and went looking for the guys so I could complain about how hot it is. After all, what’s misery if you can’t share it. But low and behold, the house is empty and everyone left. I’m not exactly sure where everyone is…and being the guy responsible for the coming and goings of this household, I should probably care, but…the house is empty and everyone left. It’s nice having the house to myself. It doesn’t happen very often. Besides…you know…I’m sure they’re fine…

Actually, they’re probably playing soccer at our neighbourhood soccer field. Seriously, the sun could go nova, end the world and burn everything to a crisp…and the guys wouldn’t even notice the increase in heat. They’d just keep playing. We have to drive around in the truck with the windows up, sweating to death, because no one wants a little sun to touch their skin. But add a soccer ball and they’ll spend two hours in the scorching heat in nothing but soccer shorts…

Every Sunday afternoon, there’s a standing game at the field. Each team has to contribute one Boliviano (about 20 cents) per person to play. Then the winning team gets the other team’s money. I can’t quite decide if it’s a good (or ethical) use of their limited financial resources or not…but it gets them out of the house for two hours, so…

I would just say that it’s their money so who cares…except that I’m pretty sure it’s my money. They have a tendency to “forget” to give me my change from their bus fare on occasion…so I’m pretty sure I’m funding this little business venture.

Fortunately they’re pretty good, so they usually win. Being the good Christian leader that I am, I’ve told them I want my cut (I’ve kept it to only 10%….pretty generous I think), but somehow after they buy pop on the way home, there’s never anything left. I think when Andres moved in last week the guys were mostly just happy that they had another good player for their team.

And being the good missionary that I am, what do I do when the house is quiet and peaceful for those two hours, you ask? Spend that time in prayer and contemplative meditation?

Nope…I make microwave popcorn…

Here’s the thing…I really like microwave popcorn. It’s mostly why I bought a microwave. Well, not really…but truthfully, it’s why I was most excited about having that microwave.

But microwave popcorn is kind expensive here, so I can’t really afford to buy it for everyone. If the guys try it and like it…I’ll never hear the end of it. You have no idea. So the only time I can make it is either late at night or when everyone else is gone. Sadly, my first thought when I realized the house was empty was… “I can make popcorn!” It’s not like that’s what you really want to eat when it’s 100 degrees out. And I’m not proud of my selfishness…sneaking my bowl of microwave popcorn into my room at two in the morning. But we are who we are, and I can only be so selfless and thoughtful before my head explodes.

So here I sit. My fan blowing on my face…my big glass of Coke and my bowl of popcorn beside me. Soon enough the guys will come banging and clomping in from their game, arguing about who has to cook supper or whatever. I’ll have to jam the last few handful of popcorn down my throat and guzzle what’s left of my Coke, and we’ll start it up all over again.

But that’s okay. I enjoy my life and my few moments of peace.

Ha…David just threw a rock in my open window because he doesn’t have his key’s and the gate’s locked.

Like I said…all over again…