“You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:13
Welcome to my story, the story He has written with unending grace and love. It’s not fancy or flashy, but it’s far from boring and dull. It has been filled with amazing highs and soul-crushing lows…and throughout it all, He has never left my side and He never will. I wave a banner of His love and His faithfulness because I have seen it, experienced it, lived it and believe in it with all that I am.
The Lord introduced Himself to me when I was a kid, but I can’t say that we had a relationship until I was about 21 or 22. Looking back, I can see how He relentlessly pursued me, even when I ran. He met me when I was at rock bottom, broken, and had lost all sense of self worth. It wasn’t glamorous, but the journey we began from this point forward marked my life with purpose, hope, joy, value, peace, love, and freedom, introducing these gifts one piece at a time. He showed me how he didn’t fit in the box I tried to put Him in, and over time He became my best friend, caring about the deepest parts of my soul.
One defining moment in our relationship was in 2013, on the back of a van in Kenya. I was on my first mission trip, had just graduated from college, and was all in for living my life for Jesus. I didn’t really know why, but I felt like it was the right thing to do and it felt good. I thought if I cleaned myself up some, He would be proud of me and I could earn a spot into His heart. Well, as we are riding back to the town we were staying in after seeing the Great Rift Valley, one of the women on our trip was playing music from her iphone because the radio in the van didn’t work. I don’t know if you have ever heard the song by David Crowder called “He Loves Us,” but it came on and began playing out of her speakers. As I sat there, soaking in the foreign surroundings and beautiful people, I hit me for the first time that HE loved ME. He loves ME- all of me, Shannon Victoria Sears. My whole life I had been told that “Jesus loves me,” but in that moment, in the middle of Africa in the backseat of a van, the words I’d memorized in my head, finally collided and exploded in my heart. Everything changed in that moment.
That was 3 1/2 years ago, and we have come a long way since then, but every chapter has been a blessing. The pictures below display a glimpse of the love that God has poured out in my life and the opportunities He has placed in my hands. I am so grateful for all He has done and the doors He has opened. I’m thankful for the people He’s so kindly placed in my life at just the right times, and the relationships He has allowed to flourish.
My family is not a cookie cutter family,
but we love hard, laugh hard, and have a great time!
They are strong, supportive, and the definition of loyal. There’s nothing like FAMILY. <3
From left to right: My dad (Scott), my stepmom(Esther) & niece(Jocelyn), myself, sister-in-law (Nicole), and my brother (Patrick)
My Mama & I
From left to right: Patrick, myself, my brother-in-law (Chris), and my seeester (Tori)
Those that know me know that I am a goofball. I think it runs in the family. 😉
My sister was an answered prayer, and the gift of an unbreakable bond.
My stepdad (Jerry) & I …exhibit B of the goofiness
From left to right: Joe & Jeanna (cousins), Uncle Ed & Aunt Vicky, me, mom & Jerry, Jaycie, Clay (stepbrother) & Cindy, Jay (stepbrother) & Haley
And then there was her…my precious niece, my Jocelyn, my big bundle of JOY!
I would not be who I am without my INCREDIBLE friends.
God has taught me so much through these amazing people,
my brothers & sisters, who I’m blessed to do life with.
“As iron sharpens iron”
My heart, My students:
Being a teacher has taught me more about life, relationships, patience, and unconditional love than I ever imagined. These little faces will forever carry a piece of my heart. I have countless stories of how the Lord has moved in unimaginable ways through this opportunity.
wYLdlife– This ministry has pulled me and grown me in ways that I am so thankful for. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I started chasing middle school kids, but Jesus did. Middle schoolers are way more important, way smarter, and way more fun than people think. They teach me how to love all the time.
Kenya <3
My happy place.
With that being said, I’m excited for the adventure that lies ahead with Him. While parts of me are heartbroken to leave the people I love the most for 11 months, the depths of my spirit burn to know Him more, to see through His eyes, to feel what He feels, and to love like He loves. My hope and prayer is to let Him use me for His glory, to bring hope where hope has been lost, to bring love where love has been forgotten, and to bring light into the darkness where others might question. That’s what He did for me. This is not my story to tell, but His.
I’m leaving in October to share Jesus and become more like Jesus in the following 11 countries– Chile, Bolivia, Argentina/Paraguay, Thailand, Cambodia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Uganda. My desire is for you to join with me by reading my blog and praying for my team and I. I’ve never claimed to be a blogger or a decent writer, at that, but I’m believing the Lord will speak through me the words He wants to share. I promise to be real, honest, and vulnerable with you, because the power of prayer is real.
Thanks for joining me in this new and exciting journey. I look forward to sharing many amazing testimonies, trials, and stories with you. I LOVE YOU! Yes, YOU!!
Shan
xoxo
