Myra Lai returns from her mission (Aug 2013 - Jan 2015)

I never thought I could love people so much and desire their best welfare and salvation.

I would encourage everybody to go on a mission! Well, if Heavenly Father wills it too, of course. That was my case. His will trumped mine and I went. Since then, I have looked back many times with incredulity that I had ever NOT wanted to serve a mission.

The mission has changed me for the better, from the inside out. I never thought I could love people so much and desire their best welfare and salvation. My heart literally expanded (or my ability to love), and being able to feel a microcosm of what Heavenly Father feels is reason enough to serve. The joy that comes from serving and focusing on others helped me realize that we are all, indeed, in this together. We have to help each other out. Everyone is our brother, and we are our brother’s keeper. We are children of a loving Heavenly Father, no matter how we look or where we live or what we do or who we have become. What’s more important is the onward and upward from here.

Throughout my mission, I learned that our divine potential is more than we can ever comprehend. My mission was a way for Heavenly Father to teach me more about our potential to become like Him. As I helped others to come unto Him, I personally came closer to Him than ever before.

While serving in the Australia Brisbane Mission, I had the opportunity to serve in both the Chinese and English programs. While completely different in the way the work was done, the miracles were never ending. The Chinese people we taught, most without any religious background, were eager to learn and were receptive to the Spirit. I was very humbled by how sensitive they were to feeling the Spirit.

I know that as we focus on the small and simple things, we will see great and marvellous things brought to pass in our lives. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, in all its simplicity, contains the answers that we need to answer life’s deepest questions as we live it. Our Saviour, Jesus Christ, came and atoned for us so we would never need to walk lonely paths. He lives and loves us. He has given me the strength and love necessary to overcome my challenges, and I know He can do that for everyone as we each come unto Him.

Myra Lai