11 trips, 10 different locations, over 35,000 miles… I’m a little tired. The problem of working with Wonder Voyage is that you can never really take on any other job and be as satisfied. Sure, I could move down to New Orleans and help gut houses, pass out needed supplies to those who lost everything or pick up trash and debris in the 9th ward but then the urge to be hiking up a 14,000 foot mountain and rafting down the rapids of the Arkansas river sets in so I move out to Colorado. As I am rafting, I start thinking about my friends at Fathers Heart Ministry in New York City and how much I missing helping with their huge feeding ministry they do on Saturdays, where the homeless and hungry can come and eat as much as they want, get help on finding a job or getting off of drugs and really see the love of Christ in the eyes of the pastor, his family and all the volunteers. And as I am handing a plate of food to a mother and her child, I think back to the orphanage in Jamaica and all the kids we got to take on a hike through the Jamaican forest that led to an amazing cave. But then, as I am standing in a Jamaican apple tree and dropping fruit down to the kids I think about Daily Bread Ministries in San Antonio and about all the fruit, vegetables and bread that we loaded in to cars, vans and even a couple U-haul trucks. Of course no matter where I am, I always think back to Ireland and my love for that country. I think about the Curry’s and An Tobar Nua Café and all the kids they get to minister to just by them coming in for an inexpensive lunch. I think about the mountains, the hills, the rivers, the trees and all the green. I think about the little roads and the little towns and all the friendly people we meet in-between.

So what exactly do you do when you have a love for travel, adventure and people? I don’t remember there being a major for that when I was in college. I guess this is what happens when you say, “Okay God, you can use me.” 11 trips, 10 different locations, over 35,000 miles...Man, I love my job.

It has been a few weeks since our pilgrimage to New Orleans, and the weight I feel in my heart has not gotten easier to carry. We spent a week working, praying and surveying the immense damage that is still monumental even a year after Hurricane Katrina’s initial destruction. The work is so great, but our hands were added to ease the much needed help. Lives were affected by the scope of the destruction, but lives are being rebuilt, and hearts are being restored. For one week, we all felt that God was rebuilding, restoring, and restarting our own hearts with a newness only the Father can bring. Times of reflection brought us eternal perspective, and moments like that are what make a Wonder Voyage Pilgrimage distinctively different from all other mission relief works. I carry now with me the wounds I saw, the work left still to do, and the faces of lives affected. The work is still great, so until I can return, I pray to the Lord of the harvest.

Please grant me the grace, fairest Lord, that some day we might experience a spilling of heaven’s glory on the fields of which I’ve seen in New Orleans. Grant Your laborers the joy found in the echo of some angelic song among the day to day work that still remains. And grant us all eyes to see and behold heavenly things in the most humble of places. Amen.

It is hard to believe that our summer journeys have now ended and fall approaches. It was an amazing summer to be a part of; in worship and prayer, exploration and adventure, mission and service, God worked in and through the Wonder Voyage teams all summer long, all over the world.

In our "home away from home," New Orleans, our teams were able to minister to people through the work of their hands and the work of their hugs. From gutting houses, to staffing a mobile ministry, to helping with a VBS, to working in a children's home, hundreds of students from as far away as Pennsylvania were able to participate in God's renewal of New Orleans. In Del Rio, our Jr High team from Hillcrest was able to assist the staff of a small congregation to put on a "Superhero" VBS. This summer we also pioneered three new locations: Memphis, the Grand Tetons, and Oregon. Along the mighty Mississippi, we met the Lord in the faces of His people living in the streets and in housing projects; and we heard the voice of the Lord through the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In the great northwest we encountered God in the beauty and majesty of His creation. Mountains, waterfalls, wildlife, and wonder were the backdrop for the building of community.

We give thanks to God for His guidance and protection, His provision and sustenance, His mercy and grace. He was present with our teams all summer long. We pray that each student, leader, and staffer that made a Wonder Voyage this summer will continue to seek His face and experience the wonder, to continue to live the adventure of the journey, and to continue to serve Him by serving His people in the seasons to come.

What an exciting summer of service I had with Wonder Voyage and all those who made up the four teams I was privileged to lead. This summer was my first as a team director and what a fun / exciting time WE had reaching those in need while learning the principle of loving and serving one another. Traveling to Colorado,
New Orleans (2X), and also to San Antonio we participated in a variety of service opportunities like cutting down trees, working with the mentally handicapped, assisting the National Parks Service, and being a part of the rebuilding process in New Orleans.

The first thing that stood out to me this summer was the heart of the High School and Junior High students I worked with. Watching young people take part of their summer to go and live out the gospel message was amazing. I saw young people working all day with mentally handicapped children as if they were best friends. Teens going into houses filled with mud from Hurricane Katrina and cleaning up until the floors were visible - ready to be rebuilt again. Young people from different denominational backgrounds loving people while learning what it means to be a follower of Christ!

The second thing I observed was desire! These young people had a desire to learn - learn what it means to be an active participant in community (being part of a team). Each of them had a desire to grow spiritually, leaving what hindered their walk with Christ behind, while embracing the principles that helped them to mature in their faith. Young people, not only willing to serve, but willing to spend time journeying towards a deeper, more personal relationship with Jesus! Wow - what more could I ask for?

Finally, I am home again - a month on the road and I am now ready to relax, reflect and prepare myself for my next Wonder Voyage. Come and join us...

Right now I just want to be home and hold my wife and children. It has been a great summer and we ended on a fantastic final pilgrimage to Wales but I long for my bed (I've slept in 25 different ones this summer), Taco Bell and the joy of the mundane. In actuality, it is the everyday life that makes life worth living.

Family- I'll be home soon!

Our last evening meal was like all the others before: good food, great company and hilarious laughter. It will be so sad to say goodbye to our new friends from St. Timothy's. The zeal for life and the Lord (and catching sheep) are inspiring. Steve and Tara, who run the J2A program, were some of the finest leaders I have witnessed. May they all continue on the road to pilgrimage for eternity.

We stopped at two locations on the way to our evening location of Holmbury St. Mary. First, the Wells Cathedral, where we took a quick hour to explore- just enough to make us want to return. Our last location was Stonehenge- a surprise to all. After studying the ancient monument we took a few minutes to think about our lives as monuments and masterpeices of creation. We asked ourselves, "Do we really look at our lives with that perspective?"

A nice meal and great nights rest would prepare us for our final full day of pilgrimage.

We started the day following in the steps of a local saint named Brynach. He came from Ireland and left small churches from the Havensfordwest area, up through the Gwuam and back to the coast north of Fishguard. The Pontaen Church, where we began, started our day with a Lectio time and prayer around the ancient 11th century cross.

We went to the local mount that looks as far as Ireland in the west and allows us to see the entirity of where we have traveled this week. The church of Nevern, Brynach's resting place was nestled in overshadowing yews and the best Celtic cross I have ever seen. Many of us prayed at the ancient pilgrims cross, hewn out of the slate rock face on the pilgrims trail. We ended our day at the coast where another of Brynach's churches once stood.

As we pondered the life of this little known saint we asked ourselves if we are willing to follow after Christ in the same manner and be a living sacrifice for His will.

The afternoon was spent at the ancient ocean side chapel of St. Govan. Cave exploring seemed to take precidence. We ended our day at the massive Pembroke Castle. Again, a great day of exploration.

We then moved to the humble well and chapel of St Non. She had been raped by a local king and then refused to move in defiance until the king acknowledged his sin. The king came to repentance on the thudery night Nob gave birth to the man who would be known as St David. As we walked 3 times around the chapel we thought of those that have hurt us. We then cast a stone in the holy well and prayed a prayer of forgiveness and release.

We ended with another great meal filled with laughter.

But the real challenge came when the team was given the task of buying and preparing a meal. This is a difficult task for us Wal-Mart sensitzed Americans. The went to the local market in the town of Fishguard and also visited the butchers and the bakers. By that evening they created a great dinner to their graet relief.

I think they are ready for a great Welsh day of adventure tomorrow.

Our final destination was the retreat center of Ffald-Y-Brenin (Sheepfold of the King in Welsh). This idyllic setting stands on a large hill overlooking the Gwaun Valley in the heart of Pembrokeshire Wales.

May God meet us in a face-to-face manner at this thin place in the south of Wales.

A final thought: I don't know if you can tell me this.

We even learned how to tinkle in our tea! You'll have to ask Steve, the leader of the trip, how to properly do that. Yes, jet lag has set in deep.

Pray for strength, guidance and moments of wonder as we close out this season of pilgrimages.