The Hourngs in Cambodia!

 As we wrapped up the month of February, I praise God for all these wonderful opportunities happened to our family and to our ministry. Sharing with you the highlights of this month: 😅 Lunch Fellowship at church 💖 2nd Child Dedication - baby Mateo (son - Skil & Pahna) 😍 Monthly Dates  😁 Holiday: Ferry ride @the Riverside 😎 Baking with David (cookies, strawberry, matcha walnut cakes) 😊 Nebulizing sessions  👏 Bible studies at home 👌 Meeting Sheryl for the 1st time (my Online disciple) 😍 Dad's mission trip in Sreyrieng with KCC team (Translating) 😁 Asian Hope school Fair 😅 Attended 2nd Khmer wedding this year (our university doctor) 👌 David's homemade origami flowers 👍😇😀

                                Translation Dad's been away for a couple of days last week. He went to help our friends (Team from the US). He normally would be the guide and a translator for their trainings and workshops series. This time the team visited Sreyvieng province for the first time. They have met with key lay leaders/pastors of that province. Vandy said it has been a while since he went out and done some translating series! He is thanking God for this opportunity. Seeing his fellow pastors and leaders learned together all for the advancement of God's Kingdom makes warms his heart. He shared that he's blessed upon listening to their experiences and passion for the Lord. They were very receptive and willing to improve in the areas of preaching and training.  We missed dad a lot these couple of days especially David - he always asked about him. Did he eat yet? what is he doing right now etc? ha...

 Sharing with you some highlights of  Phnom Penh Church ministry for this month of February

Success! This year's school fair is another success.  David couldn't contain his excitement last Saturday. In full force, we drove so early to his campus and spent the whole mornings going around and supporting different games, vendor food stalls and exhibition.   It's also a wonderful time to meet and chat with the community of believers and teachers.  We are glad we are able to participate again this year.  Dad actually just dropped us off at the school - I stayed and followed David around the school ground the whole time! It was exhausting haha! I actually reached atleast 8,000++ steps just that morning..  God's faithfulness Observing and just looking at David how he interacts with friends and teachers melted my heart.  I sighed and thanked God for His goodness! Who would have thought our son is now on 5th grade - rowdy, loud, talkative, energetic, friendly you name it!  We thought David - being in the Spectrum will make our lives into upside d...

Our monthly lunch date 👫💓😍 Happy tummy - happy Wife hehe 💝👩👍 Monthly dates with Vandy It is obviously a conscientious effort for us to still do lunch dates at least twice a month. We believe it is important for husband and wife to sincerely talk and just enjoy each other's company while eating together. It doesn't need to be in an expensive restaurant but if you have the budget go for it! hehe.. these dates are actually included in our monthly budget. We make it work intentionally, so we would enjoy our time together without feeling the guilt of spending. And we always stick on the budget - we can't get overboard. Whatever money left it will be carried over for the next month. This month is just becoming extra special, because we only dated once last month - so have extra budget to splurge on the steak (as seen on our photo above!) haha .. we could explore new resto and cafe in town. I do appreciate my husband for always taking the time to come and fetch me at work ...

First time meeting up with Sheryl (post with my dear sister Hyangsuk as well) Sheryl's first time @ PPC 💖😍 My heart is full today, I finally able to meet Sheryl in the flesh (we always meet/do discipleship online!).  I'm glad she's able to join our corporate worship. Sheryl was endorsed to us by our mentors from CCF. They said there is a Filipina who would want to know the bible here in Cambodia.  I messaged her right away and introduced myself. Our first official online meet was last November 2023, and I knew and sensed her sincerity to know God, she said she wanted to be guided.  Back home, she's from Bukidnon (somewhere Mindanao). Sheryl grew up in a Catholic home. She works in the garment industry here - in Kandal province (she's not in the city). I really appreciated the honesty and the desire for her to know more about God by studying the bible with me.  Somehow, I felt the prompting to talk with her about the concept of sin and the need for us of a Saviour ...

Welcoming the morning Dawn - my daily commute! Prayers unleash God's power Our house is really far from the university where I teach.  It would take 45–60-minute Tuktuk ride for me every day. It's a must for me to leave the house at 6:30 or else I will be late for my first class.  Morning travel is wonderful in the community we live. Our place is already outskirt of the city (further Phnom Penh airport).  I am glad to be able to see a country vibe scenery every morning. Rice paddy, cows, buffaloes, fishponds even old railways and sun rise are gorgeous each time. I enjoy this moment because this is also where I prepared my self to listen to audio bible, recite bible verses, read daily devotion and prayer time unhurriedly.    My Daily bread What I need for today?  daily shopping list Khmer household practices daily travel to market to buy their food even though they have fridge they still want to cook fresh produce every day. I think fridg...

I SERVE you  💓💞💝🙏 We exercise lots of "Acts of service" at home from picking up books/toys, arranging shoes, to setting up the table, down to bringing drinking water from downstairs, emptying trash away and even to buying eggs from the neighborhood. Big and small means of service means a lot to us because they are ways to show humility and selfless love towards others. Giving importance to the person first before you entail above and beyond love if that make sense.  Is it always easy to serve?  Of course, it is NOT always comfortable to be selfless all the time - there were times we also struggle doing it I am not going to lie 👌😅 but what makes it encouraging to do so is because of love I believe.  Looking at Deuteronomy 6:5 today, it's a good reminder that at times it's hard to serve others, I should always look at how God has loved me and still pardoning me up to this day. He has shown and thought me how to love - it should be enough reason for me to extend t...

I am keeping Micah 7:18 in my heart today.  It’s a reminder that God doesn’t stay angry with us when we sin - as long as we come sincerely and ask His forgiveness, He is faithful and just to forgive us. At times, I would feel unworthy of coming to him because I was not at my best (perhaps because of unforgiveness attitude toward my husband or David and I argued with something). I just felt inadequate to come clean to God. but then this verse reminded me of God's truth and wonderful character. He doesn't stay angry forever because He delights to show mercy on me.  I remembered my son David would come to me asking about heaven and God’s forgiveness: David: "Mom if I did wrong to any of my friends will God still forgive me? Can He still allow me to go to heaven?”  Mom: “You know David God sees our hearts and there's nothing we could hide from Him, if you have wronged anyone- you just need to sincerely say sorry to that person and make sure to mean it well. Then, come and ...

Our church is in the sermon series of knowing our purpose in Christ. This is definitely a timely and relevant topic to reflect about. Knowing our purpose is important, because this leads our trajectory on how to live life. Getting to the destination where we have thought about and anticipated to be.  It is keeping ourselves accountable to what has God prepared for us. But how do we really know whether our own personal plan aligns with God? Manual Recently, we have been doing lots of baking at home. Our favorite is Vandy's chocolate walnut cake. I also like kneading and baking "pandesal" a Filipino version of bread rolls. We were so becoming intense on this hobby that we have decided to upgrade our 10 year old oven. My husband was looking at purchasing a bigger oven (the commercial one!) - I know it could be too much, so I opposed initially, but he was thinking to invest on it for a possible baking cakes business. And so, we bought a bigger one since pandemic and we o...