Magen Bradley - The World Race 2008

What happens after the race?

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I have been home from my race a year and half now. When I first got home I was clueless about what I was going to do and where I would end up. I didn't have a car, a house to come home to, or a plan to implement. I just walked into my small world in Ashland City, TN and hoped something good would happen. I was home to celebrate my brother's wedding and found myself sleeping at my parents house throughout the week and at my pastor's house on the weekends. I drove my pastor's truck for a while and got to see the last leg of the super expensive gas prices. I worked a job I said I wouldn't go back to because I wanted to move forward, not stay in the same place. I ran into the "no one is hiring" and "everyone is getting laid off" but I still had a job. And at this point I was living with my grandparents and borrowing one of their cars...so I had everything I needed...a job, a house, a car, a church. Sure it wasn't what I was aiming for but I was taken care of.

Within a few weeks of being home I got asked on a date by one of the pastor's at my church. I couldn't believe it! After 10 days of talking and dating him I knew I was going to marry him. This was something I did not expect. I remember being in South Africa talking with my team about how I thought I would never get married and this scared me because I wanted it so badly. I wanted someone to live my life with. Little did I know God has it planned out for me just a few months down the road.

Though this was good my first year being home was hell. I can't fully explain it. I was on a downward spiral of habitual and heart-wrenching sin. I have never before felt so displaced, so distant, so lifeless. I felt as if the my soul was being sucked of life, of any good thing. I was discouraged and unable to move myself towards God. "Transition" as we call it was not going to left it's finger from me. I was worried I was stuck there.

By God's grace all these things came to a sudden halt. There was nothing in myself that moved my heart and soul to healing and renewal. Nothing which I did that brought about change or freedom. Not even time had a play in this. I was in the shadows and God shown His light over my life and brought me back to Himself. HE, He did it all. He breathes breath into us, He calls us to Himself, He gives us freedom, He paid the price, He does what we cannot ever do...He saves! We have nothing without Him and can do nothing without Him. What a precious gift we have in Jesus...that He would call us to Himself and make us His children.

So where is my life now? What am I doing? I am living with my husband, Ben, with our dog, Ellie, and our cat, Panta in Nashville. I am still working the same job and still don't have a vehicle (my husband and I share). I am working with the k-5th graders at our church on Sunday mornings. I have accountability and prayer and book study with a friend once a week. I help my husband with anything he needs, I serve him and love him. I am pouring into high school students, friends and family who need Jesus or just need to be discipled and grow in their relationship and life with God. I am heading up a trip to Guinea this fall with trusted friends and taking my husband along as his first foreign mission trip.

We, as a family, are trusting in God to be our provider. We, by His grace, are being moved towards Him. We are more passionate, more loving, more gentle, more willing to do what He asks and have softer, more humble hearts to be face down and admit we are wrong. Then lifting all things to Him for His glory and fame.

Aren't we glad we serve a God who will never fail, never be threatened, and who deserves all the praises of His people?

4 Months After the Race

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I was (am) a January '08 Worldracer and four months after finishing my race God is still taking me places I have never been even though my address has not changed. I was thinking to myself earlier, "Am I better off because I went on the worldrace?" and in many ways I am because God dealt with me on some issues I was unwilling to face. So He took me away for a little while so I could stare my unwilling heart in the face and look deep into what I have known for years....my imperfections, my poor ability to balance out my life, my people-pleasing, my inability to say "no", my lack of rest while juggling life and trying to bring truth to people when I wasn't filling up myself, the rediculous lies I believed from year to year and simply trying to do it all without God. Um, it's funny....all God wanted to do all these years was purify me and for some unknown reason I kept burying those issues He was always so gently bringing to the surface. Do I reget having to be taken out? Absolutely not! I am better for it and my heart has always been on going. But I look back and think of myself as so silly for not wanting change. Now the question is, have I learned my lesson? will I continue to allow change in my life when needed? I sure hope so because the other side of being purified is beautiful.Now there is NO DOUBT that being purified and confronted and looking at all your imperfections is not easy! It's a hard road to travel down especially without any comfort whatsoever in your life...but if the comforts weren't taken away I would have kept covering up what I knew I had to deal with with luxury and the comfort and distractions around me. I am so thankful to have been taken out....I will need to be taken out again because there is still more purifing to take place but until (worldracers can hear me well here) I miss having nothing and being limited, I miss the challenges, I miss our community and our fellowship, I have even missed my tent and sleeping bag.

So here's the challenge...how do we continue to be purified and challenged and stretched? How can we make our hearts and minds more like Jesus?

travel day

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

hey worldracers!!!

i am praying for you guys as you travel and make your way home!

and then for the few who are staying out a bit longer, have a blast!

goodness i miss you guys like CRAZY!!!!

i hope transition goes well for you.

let me know if you guys need anything!!! even if you just need to talk please do not hesitate to call me up!

and if you are close to nashville make it known and come see me!

i am excited to see this end of things for you, it's going to be good!

i love you guys!!!!

Transition.

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

My Dear Worldracers,

It is amazing to me that we (even though I am here) are on our last month of the race. The year is almost over...I can't seem to wrap my mind around that. We have definitely become a family this year...all of the race and everyone involved I love DEARLY! This leg of the race for me has obviously been different from what you have experienced but regardless it has been stretching and difficult and all together good. I hate that I missed Thailand and China and now Cambodia....but that's how the story went for me. My heart has been with you the entire way.

So WR Family, how are you? What's going on? What are you doing, thinking about, having trouble with....where are you at right now? No doubt you are thinking of transition and what you will do next.

I want to give you my two cents on the most talked about conversation....TRANSITION! Here is what it was like for me...maybe it will help you as you make your way home.

What you can expect/What happened to me/Advice:

Number one:

-People will pull you in every direction! You may be very busy seeing people. This is exhausting.

-I ran around everywhere and didn't stop or sleep or take any time for me.

-They can wait another day to see you...take time to REST! Don't fill up your every moment to see people. Spend time with JESUS! Go be alone if you need to... try not to overwhelm yourself.

Number two:

-You may not agree or understand the people you used to. You have a different mind set so you are going to see things differently now. You have changed in more ways than you thought.

-I felt frustrated with people who had such closed minded opinions. It was hard for me to have a conversation with them or even be in the same room.

-Be careful with your tone of voice, give your opinion in love, and remember not to be the judge. You are not there to win an argument.

Number three:

-Satan will do whatever he can to put you on your face. Things you thought you have overcome or things that are old sins will come staring you in the face.

-As soon as I landed in Chicago my first thought was, "I don't need God anymore." As Rusty says, "recognize and rebuke".

-Do not think you are stronger than you are. Do not put yourself in any situation where your past can creep in or even have a chance to come up to the surface...leave your past alone! Surround yourself with godly, God-fearing people who will encourage and uplift you as soon as you get home!!!!!

Here is a list of what to expect:

when you go to bed at night everything is quiet....I forgot what silence sounded like and it is awesome!
you will have a hot shower and it feels soooo good.
you can flush your toilet paper.
you no longer have to use germ-x.
you can drink the water - it's clean.
you can sleep in your bed...very nice.
you can adjust the temperature.
you now have choices???? I forgot what that was.
your light switch will work when you want to turn in on.
you can go off by yourself...ladies you don't need a guy to go to the store.
there will be stores...hahaha.
you can drive on the right side of the road.
you can turn on the tv and radio and understand what is being said.
you don't have to designate a day to clean your clothes...you have a washer and dryer.
you can unpack and stay unpacked.
things do cost more here and there is a lot of everything!
you will miss living in community.
you will miss your simple life style.
you realize you don't care about all the things you wished you had all year.
you are going to miss...all of it.

Random thoughts:

things will happen you will not expect.
God will take care of you.
keep moving forward, be productive.
sometimes you will be so overwhelmed you will just need to cry.
don't lock yourself in your room.
you don't have to start living like everyone else.
don't waste your time with tv.
God has everything planned out, don't worry about what you are going to do.
knock on every door until one opens.
if things happen to quickly for you then put the breaks on it.
talk about what we did.
enjoy your time with people.
don't forget what God has done in your heart and what He has told you.
go to God for everything! Ask Him about everything!
be careful what you eat!

Side note: the first three weeks I threw up every meal regardless of how little or what I ate....your stomach is not the same. And then again randomly every week since, so don't be alarmed. You may not like food like you did before you left....food still doesn't sound good to me. I also now have the worst gag reflex ever! I can't brush my teeth without wanting to throw up. Weird things start to happen to your body.

As more comes I will post it.

WORLDRACERS,

I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL DEBRIEF! I MISS YOU TERRIBLY AND MY HOUSE (WHERE EVER THAT IS) IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO YOU. I HOPE YOU HAVE A SMOOTH AND EASY TRANSITION!!!!

LOVE, MAGEN

Staying at home.

Wed, 8 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

dear friends and family,

so if you don't know already i am staying at home. this means supporters you no longer need to send your checks in...thank you so much for your help throughout the year!!!!!!! you guys are awesome!!!

wr family - i am missing you like crazy as always.i love you guys.

i'll keep the world posted on the things in my life and what happens after you get off the worldrace.

Another Sunday

Sat, 4 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

more randomness

since i have been home sundays have been busy...filled with football games, family functions and random church visits....but tomorrow....i get to go to my church!!!!! tomorrow i will see my church family! i am soo excited:) and they don't know i am coming. hahaha

yes, team i am here...thinking of you ALL THE TIME!!!!

happy birthday robby!!!

and friends, no, i didn't make it to the hanson concert.

wr girls....we have sooo much to talk about!!!! i wish you guys were here:)

i love you all very much.

magen

Why am I still here?

Wed, 1 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Here I am Wednesday, Oct. 1 and for some reason I am not landing in Hong Kong. Instead I am sitting at my mom's work rescheduling my flight. Yes, I went to the airport and was ready to leave the states on Monday morning but due to visa problems I came back home. Why am I hear a little longer (besides circumstances)??? I have no idea. But shortly I will be there with my team. I can't wait to see them again!

What else to say??? I'll let you know when I leave.

More Days at Home.

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

another page of RANDOMNESS.

the schedule:

friday 19th:headed to hartsville, had the rehearsal dinner, stayed at hotel

saturday 20th:from hotel to cracker barrel, to set up for the wedding, then the wedding and reception at 6pm

sunday 21st:at the titan's game all day!

monday 22nd: spent the day with Lorrie and the kids

tuesday 23rd:spent the day with Diana and the kids

wednesday 24th:my birthday!, got my plane ticket, had a family dinner, spent the evening/morning at a friend's house

thursday 25th:ran errands, spent the afternoon/night/morning with a friend

friday 26th:today...had lunch with Lorrie and the girls, spent time alone

saturday 27th:my friend's wedding, staying the night with my brother

sunday 28th:with brother and last day with family

monday 29th:flying away

i got a new ipod today from a very special person...it's green!

i was alone for a few hours today and the weight of the world hit hard and the sky is still falling.

i leave on monday and i am still without a ticket to hong kong...does anyone want to come get me in shanghai???hahaha

food is killing me and still making me sick. every bite creates a stomach ache or vomiting.

i realized i am nothing like those i thought i was so much like.

i still like simplicity. and don't care so much about what i thought was important.

it's funny how people fall back into our lives when we least expect it.

and you realize what you thought you left behind you only buried...and all of a sudden you realize you like it better on the surface.

until things get ugly.

okay enough...i need to sleep and put away the world for a while. (ha that sounds depressing:))

Photos online

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

if you would like to see pictures from this year...

www.markstratmann.com

So many thoughts.

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

here is a page of all the thoughts and doingsof my life the past week at home.

(welcome to randomness)

thursday the 11th: woke up at 6am, went to see mom's new work, had a family dinner at mom's that night.

friday the 12th: ran around with mom during the day, went to family yardsale, ate lunch with mrs. cindy and mom at el rey's, worked on wedding stuff, went to cheatham county footbal game at night, stayed the night with dad.

saturday the 13th: tyson woke me up with water, shea and i took the ranger through the trails in the back of the house and went fishing...i caught one, went to eat vietnamiese food with yvonne and shea, spent time at nana's, went to grandparent's church, stayed with grandparent's over night.

sunday the 14th: church in the morning with grandparents, dad's birthday party, played "who can hit the ping pong ball the hardest" at each other with tyson and shea, gathering at ashley and kelsey's house that night, stayed with mom.

monday the 15th: i stopped and watched football and read all day...and went running.

tuesday the 16th: got to grandma's at 6:30am, went to see uncle's new house, went shopping for a dress for the wedding, went to dad's.

so i am over jet lag...finally. i am tired of eating so much food but not tired of eating the food i have. i see people i know everywhere i go...wal-mart, running in the neighborhood, restuarants, everywhere. i still haven't seen everyone i wish to...this takes time.

yes, rubie everything has snuck up on me...it keeps coming...but i just punch it down.

i feel like america is the hardest country i have been to all year even though i know the language, i know the culture, everything is familiar but the weight of it all on me is huge. i guess because it's personal to me...what happens here is personal. it's not something i will leave in a few weeks...i have to face all it's challenges, i have to deal with all it's ups and downs. to everyone at home it may seem as though things are fine with me but really i'm having a hard time.

i miss the Body sooooo much!!!!!

i wish i were there with you guys but it is better that i am here for many reasons.

i am reading your blogs and watching your videos...you guys are doing great!

hey this is magens little sister shea have you ever sat next to magen while she describes in great

detail what her vomit tastes like? HELP ME!

i'm back.

have you ever had to listen to magen ramble on about getting -pregnant and getting married in that order (this is a lie it's the other way -magen) for a while tho she is being seer yus tho she probly will never have enuf time to do either. (probably true -magen) -from tyson.

okay now i'm back.

i feel overwhelmed and bombarded.

i want this world to slow down.

i forgot how nice it was to have a place of my own, to be settled though i don't have and am not yet.

i am actually doing well regardless of difficulties...it's good to see what i will come home to.

i love listening to country music!

the sky was absolutely gorgeous yesterday.

i want to go get alone for a while.

everything is too loud here.

wow do we own some stuff.

i was thinking the other day about what has been used to refine us through this year...obviously the

Lord had His hand on the process but what are the things He used?

and what do people in other countries have that refines them or keeps them in the fire?

we have had our living conditions, the food we eat, the people we live with, the community we live in,

the ministries we have worked with,the people we have met, and

the situations we have faced.

they have their poverty, their governments, their wars, their religions, their lack of opportunity, etc.

so when we get home at the end of this race what will we be a part of that will keep us being refined, that

will continue to challenge us and mold us into sons and daughters? some natural things will

take place like marriage and having children (this is a huge refining process).

some of us will make bad decisions and have to face the consequences...going through our own personal fire.

some fires are bad and some are good but regardless we can learn and grow through them.

i just want to always be in community with believers and go through whatever fire comes our way together.

okay bed is calling at 7:40pm. goodnight. or at least getting off the computer is calling:)

fyi: my dress is super cute!

Stepping into another World.

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Friends and Family

So I made my way from Bangkok to Hong Kong to Seoul to Chicago to NASHVILLE. I was so glad to finally make it to my final destination. As I was walking off the plane a voice in my head said, "You don't need God anymore. You have everything you need here." Wow, what a bunch of CRAP that statement was. I obviously knew it was not true but I was surprised I was hit with that idea so quickly. Though I shouldn't have been because Rubie gave me warning before I left Thailand. Then my Dad met me at the airport and thought my bag was way too heavy (thanks Gretchen and Robby! JK).

Things I have appreciated: a comfortable bed......silence at night (I forgot what that sounded like).......a clean bathroom.....smooth streets and order on the road......the beauty of my hometown (It is offically the prettiest place in all the world).......seeing my family (it doesn't get much better than that).......going to my high school football game and beating our rivals (it was awesome!!!)......seeing old friends and familar faces everywhere!......and then there are one, two, three things in my head that I cannot write down but are the most precious and beautiful things I have ever seen.

Yes, I have eaten mexican food (thanks to Mrs. Cindy). Yes, I have done some things for the wedding! Yes, I have slept in a different place each night...tonight Dad's tomorrow Grandma and Pa-paw's. Yes, I am really tired! Yes, worldrace family I think of you everyday and several times a day...you are always on my mind. I love you guys!

Please keep praying for my team...they are undergoing some hard ministry and need to be lifted up. Thank You!

Still More to Come.

I have arrived.

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

worldrace family....i made it home! now i am off to sleep for a long time:) more later.

A taste of India

Fri, 5 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

First I want to say to members of my family that I did not forget about your special days this past month i just forgot to post them on my last blog...Kerry congradulations on getting married! Erica and Nathan, happy anniversary. And Tyson and Amanda happy birthday!

Now that I am in Thailand I wanted to share with you a little about what India was like. Our entire squad stayed in one house where the electricity went out daily sometimes several times a day and this is not convenient when it is seriously hot outside hence we called it the Hot House. We had gross food daily therefore I limited myself for most of the month to one meal a day simply because I can no longer eat the regular BPand J or bread or eggs or ramen...I would rather starve. And since this was the month where we joined with the squad again about several months of being apart the transition to living in a large community again was difficult....no person space, no quiet time, and lots of action everywhere you go. I say all these things in the beginning not because they are highlights of India but because they are the easiest to talk about, to write about. And honestly regardless of all these things which made our lives more difficult (and others I have not mentioned) India was good and the trouble we (I) actually faced was not in the heat or the conditions of our surroundings....its never really about that its about the struggle within ourselves that makes this trip so hard and I am so thankful for every crappy moment, every tear, every stuggle because all it does is refine me...this is what the race is all about refinement.

As you know we had our hands on all types of ministry...my focus was on the orphanage. Though I wanted to try out other ministries me being sick for 7 days put all of that on hold and kept me in one place...which is all in all fine with me. So we taught the kids daily about the Lord and had a great time playing ball (or me getting hit by them) each day. We took it upon us to paint their walls with all we taught them over the month, to provide fans for them, to have parties with them and give them some leisure time with Finding Nemo and popcorn (the kids loved that). One thing is for sure those kids have a hold on you the moment you walk in.

The first two weeks of India like I said I struggled with regrouping back with the squad. I found that I couldnt get away, there was no resting place. But welcome to the worldrace! Then I found myself sick...not fun in the heat and very boring. I also found it hard to hear Gods voice. The words I would read each day meant nothing to me. I found myself questioning God about certain things and not letting faith and trust and I dont have to know be good enough answers for me. I struggled with my pride and humbling myself before people I loved. I even found it hard at times to offer grace. Inwardly I was struggling. Honestly at the time I didnt know I was struggling as much as I was. But at th end of the day (or the month) I loved those around me enough to take time to be with them and appreciate them, I could discern Gods voice over everyone elses, I took the steps to humble myself before those I loved and ask for forgiveness and offer them grace. And I found that regardless of what I can question about God one thing I can never deny is His love. It is perfect. It is always offered to me. It is in every way the healing power to all men, in all places, in all situations. God is love fully and forever, never changing.

Being refined...sometimes painful, always worth it.

back in thailand

Thu, 4 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

just a quick update:
family and friends...here we are defriefing india on an island in thailand. this is a great place to be after india...we are enjoying the beach and good food. we begin ministry in thailand next week. by the way i am already sunburnt. for the next 3 days i will be living in my bathing suit:)

YOU CHOOSE!

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

As a part of our CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION we had a door decorating contest.
We need YOU, (our friends!) to vote for the winner!
So here are the entries.

PLEASE VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE!

deadline for voting is: SUNDAY AUGUST 31

one vote per blog site!

have fun! :) hah.

door #1

door #2

door #3

door #4

and door #5

vote now! thanksssssss!

Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer!

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The tree is up, the fire is lit, and the countdown is on...

GET READY FOR THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVERRR!

India

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

just a quick update....

some of the ministry our teams are doing: orphanage construction and teaching bible lessons, door to door at the leper colony, college ministry, a refugee camp, and working at an after school program....we are staying busy.

yes i picked up the financial role again for the squad.

i am in love with a little boy...actaully 6 of them...WHY CAN'T THEY COME HOME WITH ME??? I DON'T GET IT!!

myself and the girls have picked up our execise routine again now that we are all back together.

pray for teagan as she just returned home.

also, we are having christmas in india...we started decorating our house....we are having 13 days of christmas...you will see details as we go...this is going to be fun!

this place has been hard on me...i feel that the weight of the race (emotionally, physically) has hit me all at once...i am worn down...not spiritually though, but i am having a harder time than normal. being stretched like this is GOOD.

donny, robby's brother, is doing well. he is at home now and walking. so thank you for praying for him.

okay that's all for now.

Travel Day

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

just so you know....

i flew from south africa today to UAE. I am in the airport waiting for my 2nd flight to India.

please continue to pray for Robby's brother, Don, who had the motorcycle accident.

i will try to post more later.

magen

Back in Swaziland! PART ONE

Sat, 5 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

SWAZILAND

friends and family! here i am in swaziland!!!
we have been here a week so
i wanted to update you all about what we are doing.

we are staying at nisela safari in our tents...
which i actually perfer over a

house because it provides my own personal
space. about 50 yards away from my tent

there is a lion (lucky) who is absolutely
beautiful!!! i have never seen a lion as beautiful

as he is. but he is somewhat scary...
lucky has escaped from his "area" twice
in the past month. each time he sees us he charges
the fence and it sways back and forth.

once he calms down he lets us watch him and
like i said he is beautiful. at night he roars so loudly
it seems as if he is right by our tents.
it's just part of the adventure living

out in the middle of nowhere.

since we have been here we have uprooted
an area so we can build a house for

a pastor (pastor gift). and then burned
through a huge field. i caught myself in flams
at one point when the i was spreading the fire
and the wind came at the wrong time.
the hair on my arm and my hand are gone...
my eye lashes were singed as well.
but it was a whole lot of fun!

on two other days we visited carepoints.
which basically are locations for children

to come during the day (similar to a day care) to be
fed and have some schooling. we were

playing with the kids and seeing what improvements
needed to be met. these carepoints
are amazing. there are seven in the nsoko area.
it's easy to have a large vision for these places.

we will be putting our primary focus on building
pastor gifts house while we are here.

Back in Swaziland! PART TWO

Sat, 5 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

THE FOURTH OF JULY!!!

JUST BECAUSE I AM NOT IN AMERICA DOESN'T MEAN I DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY CELEBRATE THE 4TH OF JULY LIKE WE DO AT HOME. SOME AMERICANS IN SWAZILAND PREPARED A PARTY FOR US.

WE HAD LIVE MUSIC, DANCING, BASEBALL, VOLLEYBALL, ULTIMATE FRISBEE, FIREWORKS AND OF COURSE HAMBURGERS AND HOTDOGS WITH POPCORN, COTTON CANDY, AND COOKIES.

EVEN THOUGH I WASN'T HOME I HAS A GREAT TIME CELEBRATING THE 4TH HERE IN SWAZILAND!

Back in Swaziland! PART THREE

Sat, 5 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Last night I went to spend time with God...I know He had
something to tell me so I took my notebook, sat in a private place...

the laundry room...and listened. (I am a person who likes to plan

and be prepared for what is going to happen next. I want to know

what I am getting myself into before I arrive but the problem is

my plans never turn out the way I had originally planned them.

They usually take another route. I'm not complaining

because it is usually better. Still I worry about what is next so

often that I don't focus on what is happening now. And I put so much

importance on what I do - school, work, church stuff - when at the

end of the day those things are not so important.)

What IS important is I reveal who God is. Wherever I am, whatever

I do I must reveal Him. We were talking about the Fruit of the Spirit -

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,

and self-control - if I can live out these characteristics of God DAILY

then He will be revealed to whoever is around me. God could

do amazing things through people if I (we) simply live out love to all

people, in all situations. If we live out peace in the midst of choas.

If we live out joy in times of hardship. It sounds so simple but doing

it is a completely different matter. It means we put our flesh aside,

we die daily, and we walk in the Spirit. It means we must

keep ourselves in contant check...making our main goal

to reveal who He is to those around us.

Obviously, we cannot do this on our own. So what if we really

believed in who God is? If we really took Him seriously? If we

really wanted to be where He is and be called His children? Would

not we desire our days to be filled with loving Him? When He says, "Come be

with me." Wouldn't we go becuase we love Him and He is the

most important person in our life? When we desire to cover His children in

prayer wouldn't we go do it because we love them? We want them

to know Him more imtimately and to have freedom in their lives.

It is so important to BE with God...to sit and listen to what He is saying...

I assure you He is speaking. To obey the Spirit when it moves

you to act. To go and worship the Lord because your

heart is overwhlemed and overflowing with His love

that you must pour it back unto Him. To recognize what He is

doing in your life and what He is doing around you and

praise Him for it. To go and love the man who loved

you first.

Transition.

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

so my team and i are in joburg, south africa. we got our india visas yesterday...which was a huge task to get completed. we are leaving for swaziland tomorrow morning and will be there until july 25.

as you know we spent the past month in cape town...or gordon's bay. it was absolutely beautiful and it was a time for our team to sit back and listen to what God had to say to us. one things for sure everything i prayed about happened...sooner than i thought it would. i found myself asking God to not allow me to be decieved about anything...well He answered me and i was confronted time after time. did it hurt when i felt i was being beaten up? sure. but it was great. when you come out on the other end knowing God was with you the entire way and He is still with you and loves you all the same it makes the pains of grwing not so bad. actually it makes you want to go through it all over again.

there are so many things that have happened this month...so many things i have learned and things i have only heard but am trying to learn. everything listed on the previous blog are things that are going through my head.

one thing that was great that i can talk about because it's easy is that my team is awesome. not only are the girls and i digging deep into each other's lives but they decided to pay for me to have a little fun while i was there. they all pitched in and paid for me to go shark cage diving! it was awesome!!!! so thanks to my team i was able to go out there with them. besides sea sickness it was a ton of fun.

so all of you who are praying for us here are some things to keep on your mind...

1. pray that money would be there for us to do all that we would like to in swaziland...there will be a lot of traveling and ministry expenses so our dollar needs to stretch.

2. pray for rachel and her family...she is still in the states. (her father passed away a few weeks ago.)

3. people have been getting sick in swazi so pray against that.

4. pray for divine appointments...there is so much ministry available to us while we are there. i really want our team to see every approtunity to bring life and speak truth over people. i think this is going to be a powerful month for us but we need prayers to go up daily.

thanks everyone for what you are doing. i wish all of you could experience what i have been able to with the Body, with God and do this thing with me. it is worth every penny, every minute i'm here, and all the energy that has gone into it.

NEXT LOCATION

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

S W A Z I L A N D !!!

Listening II

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!! I LOVE YOU DAD!

PLEASE PRAY FOR RACHEL HUNT'S FAMILY...HER DAD PASSED AWAY THIS PAST WEEK.

GOD IS ANSWERING PRAYERS.

MY BROTHER IS ENGAGED!!!!

WE ARE AT OUR HALF WAY POINT.

1. read the shack. it's by william young.

(what has the Lord been saying? or better how can i put it into words?)

2. He is still calling me out to prayer and you know what...He's answering them. I have good Father.

3. knowing a lot about God and knowing God are two completely different things.

4. the church is not a building or place for laws...it is a gathering of people (whether in worship or in searching for truth) that are covered by grace

5. let us not walk through church doors and only seem to be and talk as if we know the Father...let us really be and really know.

6. "church" may not be what we think it is, it is much simpler.

7. having no possessions and giving to anyone who has a need...do we really know what this means?

8. (from last night's conversation) how do you know you are saved? ask yourself this question.

i will leave it at that for now.

Listening.

Thu, 5 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

fyi: i cannot check my email...so if i haven't responded that is why. and...it's gretchen's birthday!!!!

so here i am at gordon's bay in south africa simply sitting and waiting on the Lord. it's a good time for the team because we are such "doers". it's nice to just BE with God. no rush, no schedule, no obligations simply go and be with the Lord. while i'm here i am reading the kneeling christian and the shack. i recommend both to you. the Lord is constantly calling me to prayer and bringing me back to a more simpler way with Him. He is drawing me closer to Him...asking me hard questions and stirring up the deepest parts of me.

i have learned the past few weeks about the Father and the Son. how Jesus did nothing on His own initiative. He only did what He saw the Father doing and only said what the Father told Him. now if only i could just stop and listen to the Lord long enough where all i had to do was what He did and say what He has said. sure we could look at the word and see what God did and said but He is still speaking. He is saying more than the words writen on a page. (i am not rejecting God's word by any means but saying He has more and is not limited to those words.) knowing His voice is so important!

i have heard the Lord say so many things but what i have decided not to hear? it's easy to hear God's voice...He's always speaking. but what if the Lord said something that would challenge you, stretch you? would you hear Him? would you hear the Lord if He said, "sell everything you have...everything. then give all your money to the poor. i want you to go live in another country." this is all He says. would you hear that? you may say "that's not wise. it's not responsible. i can't just leave with nothing." ask yourself why can't you?

we say we trust the Lord and He is our provider, right? so if we really trust Him then wouldn't we go where He says to go? and trust He will provide for us? honestly, we don't know what real trust is. we really don't know God as provider. we trust on our pay checks from work. is this extreme, is it foolish? i don't know.

and with prayer. what an imtimate way to spend with the Father...pouring out your soul before Him, interceeding for those around me, and speaking life over people who are not living at all. i was reading in the kneeling christian about who receives the blessing in prayer, how many pastors and leaders of the church or even christians for that matter are not praying. and if they are how limited it is in power, in affection and in time. just because a church sees fruit is not necessarily the result of the pastor's prayers even though it may look as though it is but it is definitley as result of someone's prayers. and when light is shinned on all circumstances the blessing will go to the one praying not to the other who seemed to be praying.

do you believe prayer is powerful? do you believe when Jesus said, " if you ask anything in my name i will give it to you"? if we believe these things why do we not pray more often? why are we so hesitant to ask God for anything? if we want things to change, if we want people to know the Father we must pray.

i believe i have given you enough to think and pray about. more later.

Book Recommendation

Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I recommend reading A Tale of Three Kings by Gene Edwards. It's a short and easy read about authority and brokenness. Below are some quotes I took while reading the book. It is a story breaking down the roles of Saul, David and Absalom.

God has people who claim to have God's authority but don't, who claim to be broken but are not, and many others in between.

Remember brokenness and submission require pain and suffering.

David fled from Saul alone. He was not aiming to bring division.

Suffering was giving birth. Humility was being born.

By earthly measures he was a shattered man; by heavens measure, a broken one.

Better he kill me than I learn his ways. Better he kill me than I become as he is. I shall not practice the way that cause kings to go mad. I wil not throw spears, nor will I allow hatred to grow in my heart. I will not avenge. I will not destroy the Lord's anointed. Not now. Not ever! (David about Saul)

David showed submission, not authority.

He taught me not the quick cure of rules and laws, but the art of patience.

Legalism is nothing but a leaders way of avoiding suffering.

How sure are you that God is with you all the time?

I seek His will not His power.

The motives of man's heart will eventually be revealed.

Mama Rita II

Sat, 24 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

THANK YOU FOR GIVING TO MAMA RITA!!!!

I want to share with you what we were able to do for this family through your support. I cannot thank you enough for helping us raise money for them...this family has become not just another orphanage we were able to help but a place where our hearts were left. It is not an orphanage like you may think, Mama Rita's house is filled with God's presence, His protection, His favor, His provision. He alone is providing the needs they have.

To remind you of PAST conditions. There are 32 children living under the care of Mama Rita and a friend, Peter. The 12 eldest children sleep at Peter's house while the others pile up in Mama Rita's small home. All the children slept of the concrete floor and there was no personal income for the family. But like I said, God is providing for them. After we put up the blogs and gave ourselves we were able to raise $3000 for them!!!!! Here's what we did with the money.

1. We bought blankets for each child.
2. We bought enough mattresses for all the children to sleep on.
3. We purchased all the school supplies the children would need for next year. (notebooks, pencils, pens, crayons)
4. We bought them a freezer. (This allows them to sell items right outside their home - income!)
5. We purchased the land!!! (Now their is a greater hope for a new home.)
6. We bought several bags of rice and containers of oil.

Here are some pictures for you.

BLANKETS! TEAGAN BEING SILLY.

TEAGAN IN THE WATER.

BOYS PLAYING ON ONE OF THE MATTRESSES.

!!!!THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

GOOD NEWS

Sat, 24 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I AM AT $11,030.
THANK YOU FOR GETTING ME THROUGH!

just so you know

Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

first of all, i want to thank everyone who has supported me to stay here and do the work...in a matter of a few days over 2000$ was put into my acccount...THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

secondly, i am in swaziland currently with the squad having a mid-trip debrief. (i saw musa today!!!! it was wonderful...a guy i met 2 years ago here.)

and...my next country is south africa. we are going to cape town.

good news, God has provided all the money needed for Mama Rita to purchase the land for a new home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

please pray for my team member, Jen. she is in need of 2650$ for her to meet her goal just for africa.

God has taught me so much about myself...stripping me completely. and He continued to show me amazing things about His love, what it means to be a daughter of the King, and has transformed my life because of it.

please pray for my family. my aunt lost her husband this past week. (nathan, you were so good to me.)

erin, what did "new baby" mean???!!!???

dad, are you the anonymous????????? and have you been the entire time??????

someone tell me about 24 church...i need an update!!!! i miss you guys! (how's the discipleship going, how are tim and carissa, how's the youth group..everything)

okay, family, friends, supporters....i love you guys. i will write more soon.

love, magen

A LITTLE LATE!

Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

MAY 11, 2008 - MOTHER'S DAY

I was thinking on this past mother's day what I love about my mother so much...so I thought I would make it public how wonderful and cool my mom is.

1. she loves the water and can lay out by the pool all day 2. in fact she has more bathing suits than i do and they are all really cute 3. she always likes to look good, she has the brightest summer clothes of anyone 4. in high school she and i would have long talks about everything in "our spot" 5. i can still tell her anything 6. she and i can sit in a waiting room (remember mom when i went to see the doctor about my knee) and laugh about everyone who walks in the door...okay maybe that wasn't nice but we cried we were laughing so hard 7. she and i have ran around the house jumping on beds because we had nothing else better to do and she even carried me a little ways (hahaha) 8. i can ask her for anything 9. she makes the best food ever! 10. if you want to have fun my mom is the one to do it with 11. she never lets people run over her family 12. she somehow raised 6 crazy kids 13. she supports me in everything i do 14. she works her butt off for people because she loves them 15. she can love under the best and the worst conditions 16. she reads a thousand books a year...i only start a thousand books a year

BASICALLY MY MOM IS AWESOME!!! AND THIS LIST DOESN'T GIVE HER JUSTICE BECAUSE TO ME SHE IS PERFECT.

MOM, I LOVE YOU!!!