God Loves You

So this weekend has been an adventure. Our car has been in for repair (don't worry, it's nothing we did) so we've been relying a lot on members for rides and we've done some walking. We've been heavily relying on one member in particular, and she's actually sitting in this room with us because she gave us a ride to the church to do emails, and in a little bit she'll take us to go get groceries -- Sister Cameron is an angel. She has a daughter on a mission, so she's pretty sympathetic. Her daughter Katie comes home in 84 days :)

I've learned a lot this week about the Atonement. I think that one of the advantages of being a missionary and one of the reasons we're transferred during our missions is because we arrive in a ward without a first-hand knowledge of anyone's history. We have no reason to think, "Well, I know the Atonement means repentance is available to everyone, but that person won't ever really change." I don't mean to say that I, as a missionary, am any less judgmental than any other imperfect person on this earth. I'm very sure I'm not. But it's such a blessing that in a new ward, we don't have the same tools to be judgmental as we would in a ward we'd been in for years. It makes me want to determine now to always remember the consistency of the Atonement. I have seen people change. I know it happens. I watched it happen this week. The Spirit can change the desire of our hearts, it's an incredible miracle. And it ALWAYS comes back to how much Heavenly Father loves us.

I don't really know what else to say. I'm going to end it there. The Atonement is real and it's for everyone, and absolutely everything I know right now is built on the foundation of God's love for his children.

I love you all, have a great week,
Souvenez-vous qui vous etes,

Sister Lonas

P.S. Oh and my hair is growing back in after dying it and I'm trying to decide if I should redye it blonde to fix up the roots, dye it brown (like, a little darker than my real hair) or just let it look bad for a while as it grows back naturally. Suggestions and insights are welcome!