I went to Foster’s Hollywood tonight at the mall - the first time I’ve had free refills at a restaurant since before I left the States!

Free refills, or any refills for that matter, is just not a very Spanish thing to offer at a restaurant. Neither is ice! This may seem strange to us North Americans, but if you happen to get any ice at all with your soda, it is usually only one or two pieces, and only after a strange look from the waitress.

Tim told me how to set the ISO on my camera to make it not grainy in the dark.

Even if that doesn’t mean anything to you - still take a look at the neat pictures I took tonight of the city lights from my balcony view!

View the entire set of pictures >>>>

My outside thermometer reads 98.9 degrees Fahrenheit (that’s 37.2 Celcius).

I just heard today that there is possibility of another bad heat wave this summer, similar to the European heat wave of 2003, which accounted for as many as 50,000 deaths.

The first time I was here in Spain was in June 2003 - and I definitely remember it being much hotter throughout the month of June than it has been this month. But.. right about now is when the temperatures will be climbing.

No air conditioning - but my fans are blowing!

Tonight - midnight - 0:00 of June 24rd is a huge celebration of the Dia de San Juan. Traditionally, people go down to the beaches and build bonfires and then jump over them. As you can see in the picture, taken from my balcony, you don’t have to go all the way down to the beach to catch a glimpse of a bonfire burning nearby!

As a side note.. I started hearing the festivities (fireworks, etc.) right around midnight, and within about fifteen minutes I was hearing sirens everywhere! You know what they say about playing with fire..

Fireworks!

View of a bonfire from outside on my balcony.

Closer view.

One of the hardest things about being sick like this is not being able to sing praises to God.

I’ve had a throat infection for a few days - started out as a simple sore throat last Tuesday and gradually got worse. I’ve been taking medication since Thursday, however, and the doctor said it should be ok after five days. Tomorrow is day five so I guess we’ll see how it is then.

God has been doing so much stuff this past week. I can’t get into it all, but it is nothing short of amazing what he has done in my life and in the lives of others.

I’ve been asking him to teach me and use me.. why should I be suprised when He does? Praise God.

—
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God

Name above all names
Worthy of all praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God

(From: Chris Tomlin - “How Great is Our God”)