Posted in Pre-Launch by Andrea Pasquan on 6/1/2009
We
spent the last couple of days of training camp in downtown Atlanta. All teams were
assigned to do an ATL (Ask the Lord) on the streets of Atlanta. This is something
that they wanted us to get in the practice of doing. We literally ask the Lord
where He wants us to go and who He wants us to talk to, and then wait to see if
He gives us any thoughts, words, visions, etc.
My
team and I were really hungry so we decided to go get food from the street
vendors (which was also part of the assignment) and then do our ATL. On our way
down the street we were approached by a man who could tell that us 7 women
weren’t from the area. We started talking with him and when we told him where
we were headed he responded in a tone of warning, “You girls shouldn’t go down
there. I don’t even go there. When they see you girls walking around on these
streets…anything can happen to you.” FEAR.
Trying to creep up into our minds and spirits. Being the only “all-girls” team
on the August squad, we soon realize that fear is one of Satan’s tactics to get
to us and attempt to disable us. We
refuse.
We
continue talking with him and listened to various things he’s telling us, most
which we figured out were lies. When we offered to pray for him, he refused
because he didn’t like to pray in public. He said he’d get all emotional. When
we left him we gathered and prayed for him anyway. We spoke Truth over our
team.
“For God has not
given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.” 2 Tim 1:7
Again, we refuse to let Satan shake us and
fill us with fear. Jesus Christ has empowered us to walk in His authority,
whether it’s on the streets of Atlanta or in the slums of Cambodia. This was a great
wake-up call that spiritual warfare is very real and we will continue to face
it as we seek to advance God’s Kingdom. But praise God that we are not going
into battle alone and defenseless! The Word of God is Truth that we can claim and speak to one another. Our God is gentle
and loving, but He is also our mighty King who overcomes darkness.
Team
Benkadi (which means “we are stronger together”) is putting on our armor daily
so the arrows that fly right at us do nothing but fall to our sides.
Posted in General Posts by Andrea Pasquan on 5/21/2009
Just a quick note to yall.
I have training camp in Georgia for 10 days, beginning Friday! We don't know a lot about what to expect, but it will be spiritually and emotionally intense. And maybe physically. I can't wait to meet all the other world racers! Please pray for us to be open to God and let Him do whatever it is He wants to do. We will also be formed into our smaller teams of 6-7 people, so you can pray that we will begin to bond as family.
Also, many of you have asked how my financial support is doing. So to give you an update....including pledges I am at about $14,900...and $16,000 is my goal so I'm almost there! God has been providing through many of you, so thank you so much for being a part of this!
I will probably be able to write an update blog from camp so stay tuned...
Posted in General Posts by Andrea Pasquan on 4/9/2009
Here's a prayer for you to lift up. I copied this blog from Seth Barnes, head of AIM (www.sethbarnes.com).
Sarah Buller, an AIM participant in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, was killed in an automobile accident on Sunday. And though they're rejoicing in heaven, we're all the poorer for it.
Her passing reminds us that God has called us to a road that is sometimes more than we can bear. Sarah set an example by following God's call in her life and ministering to the poor in South Africa. She loved Jesus and died serving him. We can't help but praise God for her life.
Her last blog entry a few weeks ago gives us a picture into her life: "We work with kids in the townships and I work with babies. Life is good here. some days are more crazy then others!!! My parents just come to see me! And it was GREAT! They got to see the whole team. We went to Swaziland a country with in South Africa. I LOVED IT! My Dad got to see old friends. I'm in love."
"In love" describes Sarah's life well. She was in love with life and with those around her. And they couldn't help feeling it. Recently she got a tattoo on her foot. It said love, and it had a bunch of stars around it. Each star represented one person in her family, one for mom, one for dad, and one for each of her eight siblings (four of whom are adopted). She wanted them to be with her wherever she went!
Teammate Nicole Eckenroth describes Sarah like this:
Sarah was one of the sweetest people I have ever met. She was accepting of everyone. She loved to have fun, and she had no fear. We jumped off of a bridge together, bungee jumped that is. She is a night owl. She liked to stay up later than most, and sleep in later than most.
Sarah was precious when we were in ministry. We worked together at a children's home, with abandoned and beaten babies and toddlers. She was so good with all the kids. She wanted to be a mother so badly. She could handle toddlers better than most people.
She loved nature, and being outside. She loved the beach... and having ministry right next to the beach. She was blown away by the beauty of creation.
She was artsy... always seemed to have her camera on her... then she would photoshop them.
She loved music. She had a beautiful singing voice.
She loved youth. The youth group we worked with, Firehouse, was blessed by her. She really was able to invest in the girls... to help grow them up in Christ.
Sarah loved to worship God. Her life was worship.
I had fun with her. One night, we didn't want to go to bed, so we sat outside in the yard. We laid in the grass star gazing, while Kevin played guitar. It was a perfect night!
Then another night, we stuck our head out the window while laying on a bed and looked at the stars... or tried to look. the whole time we couldn't stop laughing... we were sooooo giddy!
Sarah just liked to have fun. She brought joy wherever she went. She was never negative. She loved what she was doing. She loved God and loved people.
She was amazing! And it's so hard to think that she is not around anymore, but I know, she is in the Lord's presence. She has no pain. She has complete and perfect joy! She is missed. But I can't wait to see her again!
Teammate Beth Lynch wrote this about Sarah, "I think one of my favorite stories of her was when she and a few other girls drove to a lion park for the day. Sarah went into a cage with a lion cub and he pounced on her. She came back with a torn shirt and minor scrapes on her arm and stomach. She was so excited about it! We all laughed about how when she got home she could say that when she went to Africa, she was attacked by a lion."
"During Thanksgiving break, we went to Cape Town. We spent eight long hours in the car but it was so much fun! We goofed off and sang at the top of our lungs as we drove. That weekend we visited Table Mountain and it was the most gorgeous site any of us had ever seen."
* * * * * *
The local paper in Minnesota, where she was raised, posted an article about Sarah.
If her home-going leaves us overwhelmed by sadness, we have the consolation of knowing that sometimes God loves us so much, he asks for our best. And in receiving Sarah into his loving arms, he got the best we had.
Extra prayer point: Christina Via, one of my new friends in Colorado, will be leaving for South Africa on Friday to comfort Sarah's team and help them through this difficult time. She and her husband Chris were FYM leaders with AIM in South Africa for a couple years (Chris has to stay in Colorado because of his job). She'll be taking the team to Tom and Cindy Sipling's house in Cape Town (where my team stayed in February of last year) and will be helping them make decisions about what to do next. Pray for safety in travel, for strength for Christina, and for Tom and Cindy as they open their house to a group of hurting and needy people.
Posted in General Posts by Andrea Pasquan on 3/5/2009
"For most of us it is very hard to spend a useless hour with God. It is hard precisely because by facing God alone we also face our own inner chaos. We come in direct confrontation with our restlessness, anxieties, resentments, unresolved tensions, hidden animosities, and longstanding frustrations. Our spontaneous reaction to all this is to run away and get busy again, so that we at least can make ourselves believe that things are not as bad as they seem in our solitude." ~ Henri Nouwen
I am truly blessed to work at a place that pays its staff to engage in a full day of soul care. They brought in a couple of facilitators to guide us through the day, but most of the day was spent in solitude. It was a gift. They gave us Psalm 51 to read through, meditate on, and pray about.
"Blot out my transgressions, blot out my iniquities."
This part stood out to me. I don't want to carry the baggage of my past sins. My mind wanders to some "big" sins I've done in the past. But sin is sin and I sin everyday. My pride likes to tell me I don't really sin that bad, I'm doing pretty well in life. But once again, realizing and accepting the fact that I am a sinner and I NEED Jesus to blot out my transgressions DAILY, not just the "big" sins.
*Humility*
Though I may not always be verbally boastful in pride, it's on the inside. I know my thoughts, my inner attitudes, and so does God. I am not better than others, it is only by God's grace that I am saved and have true eternal freedom.
Humility is the garment of God ~ Isaac the Syrian
(7th century)
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Mt 23:12
In the second half of Psalm 51 it says...
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise"
*Brokenness*
Goes along with humility. When I am actually sensing or feeling brokenness, I feel weak. My pride doesn't want me to feel weak. But a broken spirit is a good thing, it breaks down the walls so God can work, God can speak to me, God can be evident through me. I know I'm going to be broken continuously while on the Race, but even before then it needs to happen. It brings me to my knees before my Maker and Lord, in humility...brokenness.
Finally, all of you. Have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart and a humble mind.
1 Peter 3:8 ~ I thought of our World Race team when I read this verse.
Have you had a soul care day in the past year...or ever? A personal retreat where it's silent and just you and God? Try it out. It's not a useless day.
Posted in General Posts by Andrea Pasquan on 12/19/2008
Here is our tentative race route...always subject to change!
Ireland
Ireland boasts one a heritage of Christianity through Catholicism. Yet the lifeless display of faith reveals that this nation is farther from God than ever. Rampant alcoholism and suicide rates reveal a desperate need for hope. Through sports, children's outreach, and the relationships that just happen along the way, World Race hopes to reintroduce a life-giving faith to this beautiful, historic culture.
Romania
The northern regions of Romania are home to the gypsy people of Romania. Strangers in their home land, they are segregated, ostracized and forgotten. Yet, they are a strong, proud and colorful people who are beginning to embrace the light of Christ in a whole new way. Teaching English, leading sports camps, and planting churches are but a few of the tasks set before us as we enter this area of the world.
Egypt
Egypt is a country rich in historical significance. The Egyptian people are no less rich in their cultural goings-on today. A country shaped by the past and under religious bondage, the people of Egypt are hungry to hear of the freedom brought through Christ. While pyramids and palaces give the land a romanticized veneer, under the surface lie hearts in need of relationship and hope.
Jordan and Israel
The Holy Land attracts Jews, Arabs and Christians alike to be a part of a location so rich in our combined religious roots. Serve the people of Israel while walking the paths trod by Christ.
Kenya
The Masai bush, the Nairobi metropolis, the Kiberra slums...comprise a country diverse yet unified in history. The Kenyan people are colorful, musical, artistic and hungry for the love of Christ. As a new era dawns in Kenya, so does the Gospel of truth and faith. By meeting felt needs in the bush and the city, we hope to leave lasting fruit and lasting ministries to carry on beyond us.
Uganda
From the Ugandan islands to the base of Mount Kilimanjaro, the African people of these nations share a common bond. Through the wild lands, home to Africa's "Big Five" animals coexist people, reached and unreached with the Gospel of Christ. Through evangelism, church planting and discipleship, we will be a part of a movement to further the kingdom of God in this precious region of the world.
PIONEER AFRICA
During your World Race, your team will take a month to "Ask the Lord" for a new mission field. He may lead you to a location developing, growing and booming or He may lead you to a land untouched by the World Race or even Christianity as a whole. It will be a time to listen to the voice of the Lord and, with true abandon, follow Him into the wild blue yonder.
Vietnam
Leaving the Caribbean, the team will cross the Pacific and land in a whole new world. The country of Vietnam has been under communist rule for decades and the oppression has taken its toll through seasons of warfare and rebuilding. The government is adamantly against religious freedom and as the country suffers in Buddhist bondage, the light of the Christian remnant shines as a candle in the darkness.
Cambodia
Fifty years ago, Cambodia saw one of the most devastating genocides in history. The Khmer Rouge slaughtered nearly two million people 1/3 of the country's population at the time. In 24 hours cities were emptied, left to be ghost towns. The nation has been in constant upheaval until recently. The strength and resiliency of the Cambodian people is inspiring. Be a part of holding orphans, born into a new era; meeting felt needs in some of the worst slums in the world; and church planting with an adolescent generation on the verge of religious revolution.
Thailand
Even though the official law states that prostitution is illegal, it is estimated that nearly 2 million women and men engage in this practice daily thus creating the lucrative sex industry of Southeast Asia. In addition to reaching out to the rural communities of Thailand, we go to the streets, into the darkest of spiritual environments to share what is most needed: hope. By helping women learn practical vocational skills and providing an alternative form of income, the face of Thailand's premiere sex industry is being changed one life at a time.
Posted in General Posts by Andrea Pasquan on 12/13/2008
Howdy!
I just wanted to send out a quick financial support update to you all. Right now, including pledges, I am at $8,650.01! (Every penny counts!) That is over halfway to my goal of $16,000! Praises to God for providing funds and also bringing forth many people who have committed to praying for me. I am so very grateful for your generosity and sacrifices you've made to support what God has called me to do. Thank you!
If you would like to be a part of this upcoming adventure through financial support, you can click on the "Support Me!" tab on the left.
And just for fun, here are some pics of recent adventures in Sequoia National Park...
Backpacking is a great way to prep myself for living out of a pack, calling my tent home, and digging my own bathroom facility. Okay, maybe not every country will be like that but it is good to experience the "simple life" sometimes.
Diana, J-So, Nick and I ready to roll - we're still clean at this point!
J-So, Diana, and I trying to stay warm on a super foggy night
May you take time this Christmas season to ponder, meditate, and celebrate the true meaning of what Christmas is all about -- the birth of Jesus! I'll be spending Christmas in Atlanta with my sister, brother-in-law, and dad. I'm looking forward to a relaxing time as well as colder weather (enough 75 degrees already!)
Let me introduce you to one of my teammates! Check out why Denise wants to go on this trip by clicking on the following link and reading her article"How I Was Called to the Mission Field".
Her authentic love for Christ and passion for people are evident in her writing. Denise and Michael Murphy recently got married and they are both on the August '09 team with me! I'm looking forward to serving around the world with them.
We were asked to write a blog about our expectations of our mission trip.
I expect to...
- eat "exotic" foods
- be broken in many ways, many times
- be vulnerable and honest with my team
- be changed forever
- become attached to people and places and not want to leave, but we'll have to, so I know it will be a monthly challenge
- see God heal the sick and the broken
- live in uncomfortable settings
- see weird bugs and get used to living amongst them
- learn what true dependence on God really means
- battle against evil for people's souls
- be outside of my comfort zone
- feel helpless at times
- become exhausted and emotionally drained, but thankfully I have a Father who can replenish and whose cup never runs dry
- see God's amazing, awesome creation in every country we go to
Though I don't know specifically what God is going to do as we travel around the world, I expect He will do BIG things...for eternity and for His glory. And I am forever grateful to not only observe His doings, but to actively be a part of His plan. To be used by Him (even though it may be painful at times) brings me joy...and a smile.
"Be exalted above the heavens O God; Let your glory be above all the earth" -- Psalm 57:5
We were asked to write a blog about how we were called to this mission trip...so here's my story.
In 2003 I went on my first mission trip when I was attending Azusa Pacific University. 3 weeks in El Salvador working at a children's orphanage filled with 70 adorable kids changed my life. I remember being fascinated by the impoverished people in the community surrounding the orphanage. They had such grateful hearts toward God, even though they had very little material items -- nothing but a house made out of car tires and sheets of tin. My love for kids flourished during our time there, and I also enjoyed practicing the little bit of Spanish I knew. At the end of the trip, I realized that God had sparked a new passion in me for missions. From that time forward I knew that missions was going to be a part of my life in some way.
In 2006 and 2007 I went on mission trips to serve in New Orleans. We did yard work, food and clothing distribution, homeless ministry, and evangelism. (Handing out gospel tracts on Bourbon Street during Halloween and a Voodoo festival definitely took me out of my comfort zone!)
I knew I wanted to live overseas for a year at some point in my life, maybe get a taste of what missionary life in another country is like. But I've never felt lead to any specific area in the world. My sister's friend gave the World Race website to my sister and asked her to pass it on to me. When I checked it out I was amazed at how perfect it seemed for me. It was exactly what I desired but didn't even know it existed! After prayer and seeking counsel from others, I applied for the trip and -- wham-bam -- before I knew it I was scheduled to embark on this crazy adventure in August '09.
Somewhere along the way I learned that we are to be missionaries wherever we are, whether it's Cambodia or the office building you work in. I am a missionary here in the US today, and I will still be a missionary in 12 months when I'm traveling around the globe. Some words of Oswald Chambers resonated with me (which is very common!)...
"The goal of the missionary is to do God's will, not to be useful or to win the lost. A missionary is useful and he does win the lost, but that is not his goal. His goal is to do the will of his Lord.
In missionary work, the great danger is that God's call will be replaced by the needs of the people, to the point that human sympathy for those needs will absolutely overwhelm the meaning of being sent by Jesus. We tend to forget that the one great reason underneath all missionary work is not primarily the elevation of the people, their education, nor their needs, but is first and foremost the command of Jesus Christ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations..." (Mt 28:19) To "go" simply means to live. Where we are placed is then a matter of indifference to us, because God sovereignly engineers our goings."
That is a great reminder to me to not try and fulfill all the world's needs, but to focus on living in Christ, listen to His voice, and obey. Sounds simple enough, but I know I'll need to remember this truth again... and again. I'm up for the challenge.
Teammate Beth Lynch wrote this about Sarah, "I think one of my favorite stories of her was when she and a few other girls drove to a lion park for the day. Sarah went into a cage with a lion cub and he pounced on her. She came back with a torn shirt and minor scrapes on her arm and stomach. She was so excited about it! We all laughed about how when she got home she could say that when she went to Africa, she was attacked by a lion." 
Race hopes to reintroduce a life-giving faith to this beautiful, historic culture.
In 2003 I went on my first mission trip when I was attending Azusa Pacific University. 3 weeks in El Salvador working at a children's orphanage filled with 70 adorable kids changed my life. I remember being fascinated by the impoverished people in the community surrounding the orphanage. They had such grateful hearts toward God, even though they had very little material items -- nothing but a house made out of car tires and sheets of tin. My love for kids flourished during our time there, and I also enjoyed practicing the little bit of Spanish I knew. At the end of the trip, I realized that God had sparked a new passion in me for missions. From that time forward I knew that missions was going to be a part of my life in some way. 
