Trip to the Bogota' Temple

January 12, 2010

Hi Mother,

I´m sorry for not writing yesterday. Yesterday we were so blessed to travel to Bogota to attend a session in the temple. We traveled all day there and back and it was very tiring but goodness the peace I felt there was so strong. I always feel or think about something different yet significant each time I´m in the Lord´s House and yesterday it was just peace. Even in the locker room and then even in the chapel and then all through the whole thing in Spanish and meditating in the Celestial Room, I felt peace. I could feel my testimony growing and the Lord strengthening me. I could feel my desire to serve with more diligence and love and persistence and boldness grow. Out of everything, it just felt right. It felt right to be there and that it is the House of the Lord. There weren´t thoughts of, I hope this is true because its pretty and a nice place to be, which I have thought before, but it actually felt like home (you know, like our real home), as if I´ve felt that presence before. It was very sweet.
My companion is Absolutely Amazing. Elder Aquino from Lima, Peru. He´s 26 and so . . .goodness, everything. Ha, I feel such strength as he´s my companion. He´s only been a member for 2 years and his testimony is so pure. He´s very obedient and we have the same ironic humor so we crack each other up. ha, the other day as we were taking a bus from Girardot to Melgar he says, "I need a smaller bus." "What?" I said to him not understanding what he could possibly mean as I looked down and around and saw our knees cramped against the seats in front of us and the bus packed even with standing people and all heads were bowed slight because of the low ceiling and us pressed shoulder to shoulder. And then he replied, "I mean, cuz this thing is huge." with a slightly raised eyebrow. hahahahahha, I got that he was being sarcastic and I laughed so hard. We get along really great. The main thing that helps with that is respect and service. He asks every time he wants to use my shaving cream. And the first morning with him I came out of the cold shower and saw that my shirt had already been ironed by him. Man, He´s a stud.
Ok, I got Carrie´s package and the tube package with letters gum and chocolate but that´s it. Does that mean that one is missing? Did you send another one for Christmas? Is there a way to track it if it really didn´t get here? I hope so. I love the care that always accompanies these packages. I feel that you all aren´t that far away. :)
Pnut butter is so nice. I just finished my one from gma mitchell. I never knew how blessed peanut butter is until I tried it after a month or two of Colombian food. Goodness some things are just so rich back in the states. ha, but I´m really good. I don´t wanna seem like gimme gimme gimme. I love you guys so much and thank you for all that you do. Especially your prayers. Did you guys not get your letters yet?

Ok, I love you and hope to talk to you soon.

Love your son and or brother and or whoever else this is gonna get exploited to.

Chow

Elder McDermott

p.s. Remember Family Ruiz who I wanted to be prayed for . . .well we had an amazing lesson with the spirit about the restoration and Jose smith´s experience and then they came to church last Sunday and they want us to come over at 4 today. I´m so excited. I think they´re gaining testimonies and it´s not just cuz of wanting to be around a good looking gringo. :) -That´s everything I want anyways.
Thank you for your prayers.