Cambodia Bound

I'll update with a more eloquent post, but for now, here's the itinerary for the trip.  I've listed the detailed schedule by day in the event "description"

Lights, Camera...Canadian! (and Pirq)

Several months ago I discovered one of the best apps in existence: Pirq.  It's pretty amazing.  It's basically like having a coupon for a lot of really great restaurants and coffee shops except you don't have to buy a paper and cut coupons!  Pirq is a hidden treasure of money!  Download it today, unless you HATE saving money.  Yes, if you hate having money, you should not use this app.

So here's me starring as a Canadian who is unable to put her hands down.  (I am not Canadian yet, the video seems to have auto tuned my speech pattern to sound very canadian.)  Many have suggested, and rightly so, that I should be the "face" of Pirq.  I agree.   And, Action!

And, Scene.  By the way people- I was in 17 plays/musicals in high school, but my real start was in 4th grade when I starred as Harriet the Hamburger in "Harriet the Hamburger Takes a Trip Down the Digestive Track."

Hair Products + Cambodia

Two products you MUST try: Solid Shampoo and Conditioner from LUSH!  I've been using the solid shampoo (Godiva, lower) for a while and love it.  It smells so fresh, has a great lather, and lasts a long time.  I've not tried the conditioner before but just got it today (Jungle, upper)...and it smells fantastic! Plus, they are great for travel.  Cute little tins and no liquid that the TSA will mistake for bomb ingredients.  

These will be perfect for my upcoming trip to Cambodia.  Along with a small team of other young adults and senior church leadership, I will be traveling to Cambodia January 25th through February 7th 2012.  Our focus is relational.  We will be working with Cambodian young adults, students, and pastors, and testifying what we know to be true about Jesus Christ.  

A brief background: Nearly 2 million Cambodians were killed between 1975-79 by the Khmer Rouge.  In their attempts to return Cambodia to an agrarian society, any professional and/or educated people were killed.  To this day, the population is relatively young, a large percentage under age 35.  The country is slowly healing from wounds of the devastating genocide; The Christian church a growing part of the healing process.  

God is good. Even in praying and writing to friends for financial support, I am awed by how God moves. His work is beautiful....and so is my hair (sorry, I couldn't think of another way to tie it all together).

*If you'd like information on how you can support me in my trip to Cambodia, please email me: kebickell at gmail (dot) com

Perfect in Power, in Love, and Purity

I have been listening to "Holy, Holy, Holy" from Sufjan Stevens' Songs for Christmas album on repeat for hours.  I've heard this song, even sung this song, a bunch of times.  Hearing this version last night, something happened.

I turned the lights off and lit a few candles, hit repeat and soaked in the saccharine, warm love that comes when worshipping Jesus.  It is a song that has been poured over my heart and I can't help but have tears.  This song is the sweetest, most beautiful, most still song to praise, to give thanks, to proclaim the awesome power, perfect love, and divine purity.

 

The Fig Tree is where it's at

I was awakened too early this morning with the thought of Nathanael and the Fig Tree. Unable to fall back asleep, I opened my bible to John 1:48-

"How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you."

"How do you know me?" Jesus said "I saw you..." Something about this grabs my heart and comforts me in a new way. The idea that Jesus sees me brings His love into reality. He sees ME. To be known and noticed and..."seen" is something I've struggled for most of my life. I've not been blessed with a family that loves, at least not recognizably so. In fact, it's been years since I've actually spoken to anyone in my family. Such is life for the time being. My point isn't to whine about my imperfect family life, but to give thanks for the blessing that is scripture. What is missing in my life is found and fulfilled in scripture-

As Jesse Rice comment spoke on a recent retreat, the idea of being under the fig tree is Jesus saying "I see you." The dreaming, and hoping, and aching I'm doing right now is key to what God is going to do in my life.

So, I give thanks for the dreaming, and hoping, and aching, and look forward to what God is doing in my life.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Dog Poop

1. Dogs poop.

2. The "law" says you have to pick it up

3. The lady was standing in my yard on her cell phone while her dog pooped.

4. She looked at me, then walked away.

5. Dog poop left in the yard (and it wasn't Ellie's).

I bet she was just told that she won an all-expenses-paid vacation to Tacoma, and she was so excited that she casually walked away to start packing. Or she was blind, and able to walk and talk on a cell phone without assistance. She's a human miracle!

Amidst God's Grace and Goodness

As of late, life has been kind of chaotic....but subtly chaotic. No major event has occurred. But my routine has been slightly disrupted. Sleep schedule is a bit off. Just feel "off". I've been trying to change jobs, leaving the ER for Oncology. Seems like such a relief to switch to something where I am powerless to heal. But what an opportunity to let God in to do the work. Since returning from Africa, I've known it's time to move on. It's been difficult finding my way out. I recently was able to interview for a job that I think would be a great fit for me. I haven't heard anything yet, and I'm becoming less and less hopeful. Which brings the question.....How can I be hopeful in the face of disappointment? It's so easy to rejoice when we're taking steps toward something we want. I want to be somewhere else. I feel I have the potential for more, and where I am isn't cutting it; where I am isn't glorifying God. I'm sure God would disagree somewhat with that statement. During the time surrounding the recent chemotherapy class and interview, I was hopeful, grateful for the window, for the glimpse of what I could be. Thankful that I might have found the way out of the ER. During that time, I rejoiced, saying to myself that even if I didn't get the job, I would still be content. And I'm disappointed. It's SO HARD to be hopeful and then live through the disappointment of failure. I'm struggling to find the joy in the situation. But I remember- my joy is in God, not in the situation. So, I grieve the lost job. I'm sad. I feel beaten, how can I summon the strength to keep going?

I saw a rainbow on the way to church tonight. We have the opportunity for rainbows all the time in Seattle with the rain and sun. Tonight I took it as a personal reminder of God's promise. A message sent directly for me reminding me of God's grace and goodness. So, it is with that message that I rest in the arms of my God who loves me and has a master plan. It is in His comfort that I wait for my steps to be revealed. It is in this stationary period, this season of wandering that I rejoice in the Lord for all that He gives and withholds.