10/27/15 - Mexico City, Mexico

Hello everybody!! This week has been a huge blessing. First of all, my amazing family has sent me countless packages and letters and I honestly could not be more grateful. I will attach some pictures so everyone can see how thoughtful they are. :) I love my family so very much. I love that we can all have families together for eternity. The song says families "can" be together forever, not families "will" be together forever. So keep your family close and love each of them. Progress together. Mourn together. Come closer to Christ. Together. I love this gospel so much and the CCM has strengthened my testimony more than I can even explain! Last Wednesday night we had TRC's which is when we get to meet with less actives, members, or real investigators. It is hands down my favorite part of this place! Anyways, last Wednesday, we taught a young man and I accidentally introduced myself as Joseph Smith!! Hahaha it was super awkward. And i loved it. Turns out he was a newly called missionary and actually arrived here at the MTC today! It was fun to talk to him. Our second lesson though was incredible. The spirit was soo strong. My companion, myself, and our investigator were all crying the entire time. We talked about the power of the Book of Mormon and we shared our testimonies with each other. I can't wait to only teach real people!! I love those experiences every time. We played Foosball this week and I guess I'm actually pretty good! Everyone in my District talks about having the "Spirit of Shearer" with them when they score a goal or something. Haha I never realized how much I like it! Foosball that is, not the spirit of shearer thing. Although, that is pretty cool too... ;) Guess what?? My companion and I were made Zone Leaders this past week! Woohoo!! It's been fun to help the new district out and strive to be good examples for them at all times. They all like to call me "Oh Great Leader" so that's exciting.. Pretty sure it's some reference to communist China, but hey! I guess I'll take it.. I got to say the sacrament prayer in spanish on Sunday and it was fantastically fantastic! I love the Spanish language so much. OH! We found the BIGGEST spider in our room this week! I was crazy huge. I got sick again yesterday.. I woke up with a 102 fever and I was throwing up all morning. I guess the sick life is just for me. We went to the doctor and he told me to stay at home all day and just rest, but my companions came into the room and told me that my teacher demanded my presence in class. So my companion gave me a blessing and I got up, got dressed, and went to class. Let me just say that the power of the priesthood is so real. I was able to make it to most of my classes yesterday and I feel infinitely better today. That blessing was beautiful. My companion said some things that I really needed to hear and blessed me so very much. Last Tuesday we had a devotional and I realized that Christ is always in our lives. Sometimes, like on the ship with the apostles, he might be sleeping. However, he is always there for us to awaken and rely on. In the story the apostles are almost rebuked for not having enough faith. However, I believe that they could not have had more faith as they went to the Savior first. We need to always go to the Savior first and awaken him. Let him help us calm the troubling storms of this life. This is my last week here at the CCM and it has been a great ride. However, I could not be more excited to get out into the field. Also music!! Yay!! Haha I just want to leave a challenge for all of you to read Alma 18:32. I love this scripture and know of it's truth. God knows all people perfectly. I hope you all have a great week and I'll talk to you soon from North Carolina!!

Always in a state of recovery from some illness,

Elder Shearer

10/20/15 - Mexico City, Mexico

This week was pretty rough. Last Wednesday during our gym time I was playing cage soccer and I think I went a little too hard. My heart wasn't doing very well so I told my comp we should probably leave. On the way out of the cage I blacked out and got pretty dizzy. I could barely walk so he and another Elder pretty much carried me home. It wiped all of my energy and I was out pretty much the rest of the day. I could barely even speak to my companions to tell them that this was normal for me! It was crazy. They all got really worried about me so they called the Doctor to come over to our casa and he gave me a check-up. I told him about my history with my health and he told me that he thinks I had a near syncopal event. (Not sure how to spell that.... haha) By the next day I was still just soooo exhausted so he came back over to our casa and did another check-up. Welp! It turns out that I have an intestinal virus. Unrelated from the heart problems, but still not that fun! So I was down for most of the second half of last week. It was pretty miserable, but alas! I am still alive!! Hahaha it's all good, I think i'll survive. I don't want any of you to worry about me as I've gone back to the doctor a few times and we think I will recover soon, but just thought I'd let you know what a crazy week it was! We also got a new district this past week and they are suuuper awesome!! I'm really excited for them. Guess what?!? Today is my last day of Accutane!!! Woooohhoooooo!! 5 months later and I did it! Haha take that acne!! ;) I gave a talk on Sunday in our sacrament meeting and I think it went really well! The topic was Faith in Christ and I gave the entire thing in Spanish! The spirit was really strong and I was very grateful for the opportunity to speak. It really wasn't a super productive week as I was sick for the most part of it, but another week under my belt! Oh yeah! I almost forgot! I can't remember what day it was, but I was walking home and this HUUUGGGEEE dragon fly came out of nowhere and started attacking my elbow! It was legitimately the size of my head, not even kidding. I tried to shake it off, but it was latched on there pretty tight! It was the weirdest feeling cause it was like sucking on my elbow! Hahaha my companions were all just laughing at me in the background. It was great. Anyways, I hope everything is going well at home! Thank you all for your emails, I'm sorry I don't have very much time here at the CCM so I can't reply to all of them, but know that I am reading them and truly appreciating them. I love you all so much!!

Perpetually sick yet still loving life,

Elder Shearer

10/13/15 - Mexico City, Mexico

Holy cats these weeks are going by soooo quickly!!! I am already on week 4 and after today will only have 2 more P-days here in Mexico! I am so ready for the field though. I am excited to serve God even more than I already am and to truly be on his side of this battle! This week has probably been the best week so far. Yet at the same time, it has also been the toughest. But that's good! I've definitely learned that tough things are good things. Nothing that is easily will ever be worth it. And boy let me tell you how worth it this has been! I have never been closer to the spirit. I feel happiness and peace all the day long. Even when I am struggling with something or worried about somebody back home, I can feel the spirit truly testifying to me that all will be well. Last week we had what is called a TRC. Basically you get to meet with 2 less-active members for about 20 minutes each. It's kind of nerve wracking because you can't prepare anything for them because you obviously don't know their needs, but boy was it a great experience. I have realized that I love everyone so much!!! Seriously. I look into people's eyes and instantly feel God's love for them. It is such a blessing and makes missionary work all the more worth it! The Spanish is coming along so jivingly great. I can really feel myself progressing. I challenged my district to go solo espanol tomorrow and we'll see how it goes. I'm actually really excited for it and think that it will help all of us quite a bit. The Gift of Tongues is so real. I can truly testify that if you pray to the Lord with a humble and willing heart, he will fill your mouth with what you need to say. I have seen it happen so many times in my life and in the lives of my district members. I love my district! Sometimes they get a little rowdy and have a hard time focusing on the studying, but when they do, the Lord is with us. Guess what?!? There's no ice here or any AC so it gets preeeety hot. But hey, it's all good! Every Tuesday night we have Costco pizza night. Which is today!! WOOOOHOOOOO!!! It's pretty much the greatest idea ever. Every Sunday night we have a movie night and this past Sunday we watched "Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration" and I balled through the entire movie. It is probably my favorite church film of all time. It got me so many times and hit me with so many touching quotes like "Shall we not go forth in so great a cause?" I love Joseph Smith and am so grateful for his sacrifice. I also realized that I never told this short little story so I'm going to tell it real fast! For like the entire first week I was here, each night as I took my name tag off and went to bed, I felt so overcome with many worldly fears. I couldn't understand why, but I knew God was trying to teach me something. Well, I finally figured it out. God was trying to teach me that as I am wearing Christ's name on my heart, I need to keep my heart on Christ. It is a very simple truth that is so profound and brings more blessings than I could ever imagine or even explain. So anyways, yeah! That was a neat experience. Hey, guess what else?? I'm losing weight! That's right! My pants barely fit me anymore! Hahaha they totally bunch up like crazy when I put my belt on. So take that one Dad! ;) But hey, it's probably because I'm eating such healthy food and exercising every single day! I got a haircut today! The lady only spoke Spanish so I couldn't tell her anything about what I wanted so I didn't even attempt. I just sat down and let my precious hair fall to the floor. Haha I'll attach a before and after pic so you all can see. This really has been a good week. I miss all of you so much and am excited to see you all again. But at the same time, I am very thrilled to get out to the field and begin the journey I will look back on for the rest of my life. Thank you all for all of your prayers, I can't even tell you how much I can feel them. The Lord is truly blessing me. Have a good week everyone, I love you all sooo much!!!

Serving the Lord with slightly less hair,

Elder Shearer

10/06/15 - Mexico City, Mexico

This week has been remarkable. General Conference was of course the greatest thing ever. It was soooo cool to be able to watch it with all of the other missionaries! I feel like a really common theme was faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ. I'm so grateful to have living prophets on the Earth that can help us come closer to God. We had a little ping pong tournament this week with some guys in the gym and guess who won?!? Yup, that's right. Me. ;) That was actually a really fun day. My investigators are doing super well and my lessons continue to improve each time! Spanish wise I have found that the more time i take to study, the more Heavenly Father will be willing to bless me with the gift of tongues. Which is soooo real by the way. There have been countless times when I have remembered the perfect things to say in the perfect moment. Alright, so here in Mexico they have this cookie called a "Chokie" and it is AMAAAZING!!!! I seriously can't stop eating them. Life is pretty good here. I have hard times and some hard days, but ultimately, I know that I am here for the Lord and am so excited to serve him for the next two years. My sister is the best. Seriously! She sent me a care package of Krispy Kremes!! It was so magical. I love my sister so much and am grateful for her love for me. As I listened to Elder Holland's talk, I really started to realize how much my mother truly means to me. I love her more than I could ever put into words and am even more grateful for her many examples and sacrifices on my behalf. She has taught me so many things and strengthened me in times of need. She has carried me more than anyone else, save my Savior, Jesus Christ. My heart goes out to you Mom. My love for you is endless. I hope everything is going well at home and continue to pray for all of you! Thank you all for your support and for all of your prayers to me! I love you all and I know that this church is true!

Staying strong through Christ,

Elder Shearer