Shawn Small
After a decade working in parish youth ministry Shawn started Wonder Voyage Missions. Over the last 15 years, WVM has led thousands of pilgrims to over forty countries. Shawn is a storyteller and an award winning filmmaker. He is an author who brings the gift of engaging narrative to our journeys. Shawn is dedicated to creating voyages that give people abundant opportunities to encounter God.
| By Shawn Small | Wonder Voyage Ethos
'Love in All Things' was the first short film in our video series. We wanted our films to revolve around events that tell the story of who we are as a community; stories that define our call and heartbeat. This story, early in the history ...
| By Shawn Small | Travel Tips
In my life pre-Wonder Voyage, I was a youth pastor and mission pastor for over a decade. The last church I was employed at had 300 souls and a youth ministry with 80 kids attending weekly. We averaged four trips annually, with about 25 people ...
| By Shawn Small | Travel Tips
Booking tickets for a group journey can feel daunting. The airline industry changes often: fees, flight times, group policies, and a hundred other details can intimidate the best road warrior. When booking flights for your team, there are a few little tricks of the trade ...
| By Shawn Small | Wonder Voyage Destination
Up until the twentieth century, a pilgrimage was about the long walk. Pilgrims started a journey of several hundred miles without knowing if they’d return home. When a group of pilgrims left for that holy hike, a faux-funeral was often held so everyone could say ...
| By Shawn Small | Travel Tips
It's the little blue book that could: your passport. Everyone should have one regardless of future travel plans. You never know when you might win that trip to Mexico or want to travel to Canada. The process is fairly painless and once you’re done, you’re ...
| By Shawn Small | Travel Tips
One of the most nerve-racking aspects of leading a group trip is the necessity of driving a van or large vehicle. All groups Wonder Voyage leads are required to provide their own ground transportation within the continental United States. There are a handful of things ...
| By Shawn Small | Travel Tips
Choosing chaperones is one of the most daunting decisions for anyone traveling with teens. At Wonder Voyage, we require at least one adult for every seven youth coming on a trip. The adult leaders you choose will be a critical piece of the puzzle when ...
| By Shawn Small | Travel Tips
When Ryan decided to accept an internship to Ireland he was giddy. His first international trip would take him to the land of leprechauns, four-leaf clovers, and green beer. The best part was the road trip. He couldn’t wait to drive from Dallas to Dublin! ...
| By Shawn Small | Travel Tips
Wonder Voyage has been the leader in pilgrimage adventures around the world for two decades. Our guides have been the doorkeepers of wonder to over 12,000 participants. This puts us in the unique position to hear twenty years of stories post-pilgrimage and mission trip. There’s ...
| By Shawn Small | Travel Tips
Travel insurance is a tricky business. If you sign up for a cruise, buy an airplane ticket online or join an adventure trip, you'll be posed with the question: would you like travel insurance? Many times, the insurance offered is overpriced and underused. There are ...