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 | Travel Tips
People often ask me what is the best form of currency to take with you when you travel- cash, debit cards, credit cards, traveler’s checks? Here are my thoughts on the currency question: There will always be a place to exchange CASH when traveling, but carrying ...
| By Shawn Small | Travel Tips
If you are an Indiana-Jonesite like me, you may have that strange desire to bring some sort of relic home with you when you travel. It’s like a garage sale fantasy where you shuffle through some old books and find a priceless first edition for ...
| By Shawn Small | Travel Tips
I believe a journal is as fundamental a part of travel gear as shoes and deodorant. I often go back to reread my experiences and reflect on how that affected my life. On one particular day, I was searching for the journal that chronicled my ...
| By Shawn Small | Travel Tips
Last September, while traveling with my wife, the security lines were running a bit slow at DFW International Airport. The TSA officers were being thorough in their process of screening baggage and travelers as they passed through the metal detectors. Since 9-11 I have been ...
| By Shawn Small | Travel Tips
We nickname it Montezuma’s Revenge, green apple quick step, back door trots or the belly bug, but there is nothing cute about diarrhea... especially while traveling. Though it primarily affects people visiting developing nations, diarrhea can strike anywhere. In fact, I have traveled in Amazon ...
| By Shawn Small | Travel Tips
Traveling around the world has great benefits to the soul, but it can have potentially dangerous effects on the body. As I boated down the Amazon River in 2007, I thought about the potential for escalating danger. Floating through thick jungles, days away from civilization ...
| By Shawn Small | Wonder Voyage Ethos
Designing, planning, and implementing an entire mission trip or pilgrimage can be daunting, especially when you’re the one leading a group. Having someone to guide you through the process can make all the difference. This is where Wonder Voyage directors excel. We are not tour ...
| By Shawn Small | Wonder Voyage Ethos
Most of us travel with some level of expectation about how our trip will go especially if it is with an organization that has planned the trip for you or your group. It’s easy to feel disappointed or frustrated when those expectations fall short. At ...
| By Shawn Small | Wonder Voyage Ethos
It was one of the most awkward trips of the summer for one of our voyage directors. He was going to lead a team on pilgrimage in Colorado. The leader of the team had agreed that the focus of the journey would be on recognizing ...
| By Shawn Small | Wonder Voyage Destination
In 2000, Wonder Voyage chose Ireland as its first international destination. Twenty years later, the misty Emerald Isle is now our most extensively explored location and one of which we never tire. Ireland has a way of feeling like home, especially since so many of ...