The Hourngs in Cambodia!

Bong Pich (big brother Pich) David’s been wanting to have siblings.  We told him to pray 🙏 and ask God for His will. We actually encourage him to keep his hope open that if ever God might send him siblings that might be coming from other mommy’s tummy or other family.  Honestly, Vandy and I are definitely open for “adoption”. I know it’s a big move to take, but we know God has something to do with this. Making a difference to the lives of people around us would mean loving them unconditionally like how God is loving us.  What makes it even more fulfilling is to open our home for them and make them part of our own family.  Our ministry right now is directing much not only in the church but mostly to our dormitories - we are giving our time, love, and even our resources to them because we know they need a family here in the city. We are more than willing to be their spiritual parents.  And it so happened that one of our nephews (Vandy's side of the family) need a...

My temporal happiness! When I was still working in a corporate world in Makati, my main goal was to work hard, get promoted and offered a higher salary, so I could support my siblings, to buy anything I like and eat everything I want.  These are just typical wants and dreams of a "newly graduate" me.  I was on fire chasing dreams after dreams! I felt happy for wanting more but then soon I realized these wants were just temporal happiness. I even became greedy for always wanting more and for not being contented - I get disappointed easily.  I got lost somehow. ENTANGLED In the process, I started to compare myself to others that were more successful than me.  I was in denial at first because my greediness seemed just silent desires not something big. And then it began to creep.. I wanted more validation, better status, and more comfort.  Somehow, I knew this was not a good place to be. I struggled. I felt ENTANGLED! I felt twisted and complicated inside ...

                             Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God .  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7 A Jungle house! I love plants 💚😁😅 a lot. This hobby perhaps has become my relaxing activity aside from baking I guess. On a weekend, you will see me doing something in the garden, I even make my own organic fertilizer using kitchen scraps. My husband sometimes would tell me I'm overboard with it - I have made our house into a jungle that's what he describes it!  🌳😂 I have many kinds: from flowering buds, climbing, dangling plants, herbs, vegetables and even fruits like mangoes! My plants are usually a wonderful conversational starter whenever we have visitors at home. They would be amazed on how plants co...

My mission to Cambodia 🇰🇭 newsletter 2007 A few days ago, Pastora Lanie Caisip (lay pastor in Bologna, Italy) forwarded this picture to me.  I felt ecstatic about it! this has been more than a decade. I think it was apart from my newsletter a few months before I flew to Cambodia for my mission journey.  I was soliciting for prayers then (1-minute prayer shield!). Lanie said she kept it for a long time - that was a sweet and unexpected gesture to beat. Honestly, I have not even kept any of those letters anymore. It just warms my heart to the bits.  Pastora Lanie has not forgotten our deep connection way back. She was studying in the Bible school back then - I knew for sure God has been putting passion in my heart to help her out. So even with my tiny earnings, I have pledged to save some to send her small support (actually it didn't have to be money but mostly prayers, food/snacks, other supplies). I didn't think it was even a burden but a love for the people that God wi...

Rehearsal Dinner Our missionary friends - uncle Mark and Hyangsuk got married last Saturday. Prior to that, they have arranged a special dinner with us friends & families who have helped in preparing for their big day. We love them both, so it's just automatic for us to help them out as much as we could. During their planning, I have helped them connect with wedding suppliers and caterings. Vandy on the other hand was task to do the prayer in the ceremony. And David, well just an added rowdiness and cuteness on the side haha! he helped in entertaining guests (especially children his age!) - in here, he has created a good bond with Hyangsuk's korean niece and nephew. Now I don't have any idea how our son was able to communicate with them since David doesn't speak in Korean language. So last Thursday night after the rehearsals, we flocked together and enjoyed traditional Korean feast. The food was amazing, and the fellowship bond was wonderful too. The crowd was intim...

Intermittent Fasting  It has always been a routine for us (Vandy & I) to do Intermittent fasting every morning (it did start during the Pandemic and by God's grace we have continued up until today).  The 2nd week of January is definitely an extra important to me personally. It has been my annual goal to start a new year with sound mind and right heart. It is on this time that I get to pin down my aspirations, seek spiritual breakthroughs & guidance, and personal revival from the Lord.  I'm glad to be able to do this discipline during work week. At times, it's challenging because I teach at least 3-4 hours a day. There were moments of pangs, nauseas, and low energy - but praise God for sustaining me! It's good to have a guided directions on how and what to pray specifically (on personal,family,community,ministry,work and beyond). But my main goal is to really deepening my faith, clarity and spiritual renewal.   Why Fast? Traditionally, fasting means ...

In one of my classes, while waiting for students    I love how straightforward this Psalm 34:14 is. I have looked at other translations and it did struct me that - we are not only called to be peacekeepers but also to be peace makers . Pursuing peace is definitely challenging 😥 nowadays but take heart, God is giving us peace that surpasses all understanding 😍🥰💕✌️  On Practical peace ✌️ We just started our new semester in the university. This new term, I am teaching Communications. We are now at the lesson on how communication impacts “Maintaining positive relationships”. I believe it must have been prompting from the Holy Spirit, I shared and gave a practical example to my class: pursuing peace starts with us, and it would be resonated down the line. Before going outside our places/zones (workplaces/academics), let’s look at how we convey our message in a clearer, concise, even to the tone and manner of message delivery to the audience since we are the sender or ...

Psalm 121:7-8 "The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." What's going on? Have you ever felt that rush or strong urge to pray for someone without even knowing what to pray and what's going on? I felt that moved yesterday for a dear sister Somnang. She and her husband Kakada are a young couple at our church. They have been praying for a child. And this year that prayer is answered praise God!  Somnang actually had a minor moto accident as she was riding back home yesterday (don't be shocked.. riding a moto is a typical mode of transport in Cambodia). Kakada might be worried but I believe he felt assured when we were able to convince his wife to just book "Grab/PassApp" for her safety while husband is away in the province. Thank God she and the baby inside her belly are perfectly fine. They live in the middle town (closer to the Men's dorm).    Kakada and...

during our recent trip to Kep (countryside).. Vandy and I would talk about things that need to improve with each other. Waahhh!  Keeping it real Sometimes it's very challenging to keep up with everyday routines and basically you get tired and unpleasant at the end of the day.. hah! that's me.. see told yah! 😔😢😳 I am still a work in progress.☝😅 It could also be the "time of the month" - but I have resolved this year that I should be able to take it stride and let not be a reason for me to be feeling irritated/irritating others. It's true that I am easily distracted and dismayed. It's not good to be caught off guard when this happens. I thank God for giving me this word on Psalm 119:11 God's truth cautious us and protects us as we meditate on His words. Despite of my shortcomings, He let me recognize the more reason for me to store up His words in my heart so I may not sin against Him.  

Japan needs our prayers! we have lots of friends in Japan (missionaries and families). Though most of them are not directly affected, we believe that as part of the body of Christ we should be able to unite and pray for the whole country. It is a national crisis.

Sousdey Chanam Thmey (Happy New Year!)  How's your 2024 so far? I am grateful and hopeful. The best is yet to come 💕 Let's claim it! This verse in James 1:22-23 is definitely a good reminder for me to go back to the basics this year - pointing me to the word of God 😉 Here at home, my husband is basically the one who's putting bible goal reading into a commitment.  It's always encouraging to see him intentionally hold his bible or listen to his audio bible when he's doing chores or exercising.  It is not only because he is a pastor and need to prepare sermons, but showing how he is really prioritizing that discipline is really impacting us a lot. My husband won't tell us to emulate what he is doing but his actions somehow influence us to do the same. Vandy is a man of few words - in fact he is a quiet type of a guy but he is definitely a doer person! I could see it on the ways he thinks, he processes, makes decisions, even the way he talks to people, helps anyb...