Dan

Dan from the USA served as part of WEC's Short Term placements team. He tells us what gets him up in the morning to do that, and what’s the most challenging thing about living in a different country

WEC: What gets you out of bed in the morning?

Dan: The hope of a fresh cup of delicious, perfectly brewed, Fairtrade coffee.

WEC: When did you realise God was calling you to cross-cultural mission?

Dan: I never wanted to be a missionary! But my wife has always had a heart for mission and it rubbed off on me. I began to ask God about whether mission was something he wanted me to do. We sought God's direction for a few years and finally, in 2013, God brought us to WEC.

WEC: What prompted you to come to the UK?

Dan: My wife and I were in a transitional phase, trying to figure out what God was asking us to do. I was working as a chef in the USA and God created an opportunity for me to work as a chef at the (then) WEC HQ at Bulstrode. WEC hadn’t even been on the radar, so this opportunity came out of nowhere.

I work in the WEC Short Term office, mobilising, discipling and mentoring young people.

WEC: Could you tell us a little about your current role?

Dan: I work in the WEC Short Term office, mobilising, discipling and mentoring young people.

WEC: Which country you’ve visited has had the deepest impact on you?

Dan: I grew up in Indonesia and this was one of the most important seasons of my life. It shaped my worldview, helped me begin to understand people from different parts of the world, and gave me a love for adventure, people and new cultures.

WEC: What’s best and most challenging about moving to a different country?

Dan: The most challenging things are practical things (like figuring out how to get around) and being away from friends and family. The best parts are all the new things we get to discover, places we get to see and people we get to meet and, for me, new food I get to experience.

Growing up in Indonesia shaped my worldview, and gave me a love for adventure, people and new cultures.

WEC: How have your kids responded to the move?

Dan: My kids are great! They are so adaptable and love the adventure. They have been amazing!

WEC: What do you like to do in your time off?

Dan: I like to cook, play basketball, swim, play guitar and video games, and spend time with my kids. I also love the NFL (American football), so I try to watch that when I can.

Read more about WEC’s short-term missions here.

In 2019 Dan and his family are moving to Tasmania to begin their cross-cultural missions training at Worldview Centre for Intercultural Studies. Let’s pray for Dan on the next part of his adventure of faith with the Lord.