Shay and Shannen

My Story:

Let me introduce myself. My name is Shay Belcher. I sometimes look back at my life and think about how, what we may call randomness, has led me to where I am today. My past looks like some sort of a tangled mess, but I can see the hand of God as I look back, directing me through it all. I grew up in the small town of Hood River, Oregon. I have felt some sort of calling for missions my entire life, but it wasn’t untill I was 22 that I finally felt released to pursue that desire. I attended a Discipleship Training School (DTS) with Youth With A Mission in Lakeside, Montana. What a wonderful place to start your journey as someone who desires to “Know God and Make Him Known.” My team spent two months in Thailand working with various ministries including orphanages and indigenous tribe outreach. The last two weeks we built houses for those affected by the Tsunami.
That is when I met a red headed girl from Nova Scotia, Canada that changed my world forever. She had a similar story to mine. Shaneen did her DTS in Kona, Hawaii and had already finished the schooling. She was in Thailand because she heard of people in need and jumped at an opportunity to help. That was in May of 2005. September 16th 2006 that cute redhead and I where married.

Why I’m seeking to live a life of mission:

Our experiences overseas have left us as some say “ruined for the ordinary.” Leaving your comfort zones and seeing with your own eyes what the rest of the world is living like, does something to you. We are currently taking some time off of overseas work to focus on our marriage. After Shaneen finishes her Citizenship here we plan to set sail again and find a home with those who need loved and to show them someone who has been wanting to love on them but has not been allowed access.