Wonderful Easter

Good morning! How was your Easter? Ours was great. We had dinner with Sister Olson and some other ward members. It was amazing. Sister Olson is an amazing woman. :) We also made a bunch of Easter cookies (thanks for the cookie mix! Perfect timing!) and took them around to various people to spread some Sunshine for Easter. It was so fun. :) I got to play "I Stand All Amazed" for the Easter program in the Branch, which was so, so fun. Gabby played the piano with me, and it was such a wonderful experience to be able to share my testimony through music once again. Speaking of music, singing the Messiah with Mrs. Rutter's church choir went SO well. I met lots of great people, and we feel that we represented the church very well. Stan, the conductor, seemed very pleased, and said we're welcome any time. I also met some vocal students from BGSU who were singing in the soprano section with me, and got to fellowship with them a little bit. We're going to meet with one of them next week sometime! 

Bowling Green is great. The world really is so small--I'm finding all sorts of connections here. For example, Brother Charter (the younger) in the Bowling Green ward served with Kelsey Balliff in the California Ventura mission! And Brother Nicholson went to HS in Bountiful, and sang in the choir with Larry Smith (my UAM and Bountiful friends will be super excited about that one! :) ). I also had another lady tell me that she knew a Wygant! So cool. :)

Sister Noffsinger went to the hospital last Wednesday...and just barely went home yesterday! We were all really bummed because she was planning to go home for Easter--but had to spend it in the hospital instead. :( On the plus side, though, we went and cleaned her whole house while she was in the hospital--it was a big task, but it felt so good to get so much done! Now her house is clean, doesn't smell as much like smoke, and she will be able to feel the Spirit there more strongly. :)

I really loved our Easter Sunday in the YSA branch yesterday. For 3rd hour, we watched several Mormon Messages and Bible Videos about Christ's Atonement and Resurrection. I felt the Spirit so strongly, and it really strengthened my testimony. What a glorious message! Not only do we have a Savior who died for our sins--but He lives! We have a living Savior and Redeemer, who guides His living church through a living prophet on the earth today. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father loves us enough to give us so much help and guidance. I know that President Monson truly is a prophet, called by God, and I am so excited to hear him and others speak at General Conference this weekend. I hope you all get to watch and enjoy it! 

I'd better get going, but I love you all so much! Thanks for all of your love, prayers, and support. Sorry I didn't have time to answer all of your questions/remarks--but know that I would if I could! :) Tell dad that I would be delighted to help with the future missionary program/activity he mentioned. I look forward to it. :) I know that missionary work is so important. I may not be able to see the fruits of every seed we're planting here, but I have full faith and so much hope that those seeds will not be wasted, and that good will come into these peoples' lives from it at some point. I know that our Heavenly Father is in the details of each of our lives, and that He prepares and guides those who are ready to find the gospel. I love my mission. It's changed and continues to change my life every day as I have the opportunity to consecrate all of my heart, might, mind and strength to doing His work and blessing the lives of others. Truly, the best way to grow, to change, to progress, and to be happy is to serve others and focus on the gospel. It's worked for me. :) And when all else fails, remember that "hope spurs weary disciples on" (Neal A. Maxwell, "Brightness of Hope"). I know that our Savior lives, and loves us, and that His Atonement is real. If nothing else, I know that. :) I'm so grateful for the opportunity to serve in The Ohio, where Joseph Smith and so many wonderful Saints lived and prepared the way for the gospel to spread to all the world. :) I love you all, and I hope you have a great week!

Love,
Sister Wygant