Occasionally [a] Musing

2003 was a pivotal year for Wonder Voyage. It was the first year that Shawn made a full paycheck. Expozure was taking off. Shawn found his source material for the Via Crucis (which he would go on to eventually publish). A lot of things started to go right in a history where there had previously been much hardship.

It’s hard to claim one particular event during the year as a “turning point” or “pivotal moment,” but to those familiar with Wonder Voyage’s history, one trip stands out in 2003. It was a pilgrimage an unlikely combination of two different groups; one was an Episcopal church led by youth minister named Molly Wren, the other was an Assemblies of God church with two lay-leaders: Shane and Georgia Small.

Their voyage was to western Ireland. In the west, we stay at a place called Esker Monastery. Esker sits deep in the Irish countryside, a picturesque hamlet that would look at home on a postcard. The church there has served its community for hundreds of years and provides a quiet sanctuary for our pilgrims in Ireland. When people reflect on their time at Esker, however, many of them mention Dominick’s Hill.

The Hill has become a sacred place in Wonder Voyage’s history. Many of our staff can relate a story about it- it is a place where many of us have heard the call of God very overtly. Often, it has been a call to sacrifice and a reassurance that God is sovereign and good. Dominick’s Hill was a place of worship for persecuted Christians seeking refuge from English soldiers laying waste in the footsteps of Oliver Cromwell. Three priests, running from Cromwell’s invasion force, used the hill as a hidden sanctuary for their congregation. The place of refuge allowed their parish a view of the surrounding territory and early warning of English patrols. Today the people of Esker and the nearby towns don’t have to go up to Dominick’s Hill to worship, but it remains as a place full of mystical relevance. It is a reminder of God’s connection to us in times of hardship.

The Hill is a special place for us. When teams go up there, we retell the story and encourage them to talk to God and to listen for His voice. Our prayer there is “Lord, your will be done in our lives.” The Hill is a place that bespeaks love, dedication and sacrifice- and God has met us there. On that trip up Dominick’s Hill in 2003; He spoke to Molly Wren, who became the first director apart from Shawn to lead trips with Wonder Voyage; and He spoke to Shane and Georgia Small, who went on to be integral to our Expozure retreats. And He’s spoken to many of us since in that same place. God has often altered our plans and sent us in new directions up on Dominick’s Hill.

In a sense, that pilgrimage in 2003 was a metaphorical walk up the Hill for Wonder Voyage. Through it, God pushed the organization in new directions and brought new people to journey alongside Shawn. Our prayer was “Lord, your will be done.” And from this trip, several things emerged: we realized that every trip was a story in itself and needed a title; it was the first time we saw our service work as creating legacy by partnering with long-term local outreaches (and asking them for “the job that nobody else wants”); it was the first time we brought in local storytellers to give our pilgrims a rich cultural experience; and it was first time we utilized Stone Soup, in which the team creates community meal with food purchased from local markets. All of our pilgrims have seen at least one (if not all) of these facets of our current trips. From this trip new pieces of the puzzle moved into place, pieces that have become part of our ethos and our culture at Wonder Voyage.

One doesn’t have to go to Dominick’s Hill to hear God’s voice (thankfully!). By being willing to listen to God’s voice, and because a few courageous people sacrificed themselves and let Christ direct their steps, Wonder Voyage’s 2003 became a pivotal year.

Mike Flickinger has been leading Wonder Voyage trips for four years and works full-time as Shawn’s administrative assistant.  He has been commissioned to write this series of articles documenting the history of our organization. This articles covers 2003, the fourth year of Wonder Voyage.