The Hourngs in Cambodia!

This month of August, our hearts are full of gratitude as we look back on God’s goodness in our family and ministry. It has been a month of celebrating life , walking through new seasons as parents, and pressing forward in the mission field here in Phnom Penh. Each story and reflection reminds us of God’s faithfulness and of our need to continually depend on Him in prayer. 🎂 Celebrating Life & Birthdays We began the month by celebrating birthdays in our family, including a simple but meaningful day for Papa Rolly . Birthdays for us are more than cake and gatherings they are reminders that every added year is a gift from the Lord. In our post “Our Simple Birthdays” and “Happy Birthday Papa Rolly!” , we reflected on how we want each year of life to be lived intentionally: to give more, serve more, and accomplish God’s purposes for His glory. Our prayer is to finish strong , knowing that each added day is a chance to shine for Christ.  Khmer Chess Match (Pich and David) 🍞 Fa...

The university semester is ending soon, and we have had lots of activities in and out of our campus. Few weeks ago, we brought our students on our university’s annual study trip to Siem Reap. Every year, this trip feels like both a mountain climb and a mountain top. It is exhausting, exhilarating, and always filled with surprises. It is also one of those moments that stretches not just the students, but us lecturers as well. This year’s program was different from the past. We designed it with more intention, adding activities that went beyond the tourist attractions. Of course, we still visited the famous Angkor Wat, but we wanted the trip to be more than sightseeing. We wanted it to be an opportunity for students to see life with fresh eyes, to witness realities outside the walls of their classrooms, and to experience moments that would open their hearts to the needs of others.  Siemreap 2025 - Photos credit to Limkokwing University Discovering Life Beyond the City One of the hi...

Choosing to Trust God Today is my papa Rolly’s birthday. He would have been 69 years old. Even after 23 years since he went home to be with the Lord, I still feel his presence in the everyday moments of our family. It amazes me how memories can remain alive even after so much time has passed. My sister Ruth messaged me this morning. She shared that her son, Izer, was supposed to have an inter-school chess championship today, but it was postponed because of a strong typhoon in the Philippines.  Like our Papa, it seems our children are inheriting his love for chess. My son David has started to take interest as well. He even joined the chess club at school and has been practicing regularly. He may not be at Izer’s competitive level yet since our nephew has been playing tournaments representing his school but I believe each of them reflects a piece of our Papa’s passion. I won’t be surprised if one day Izer becomes an international player. That would be such a blessing to witness. I sm...

If you’ve been following my blog, you already know that weekends and sometimes weeknights are special moments in our home. Not because we go on big trips or do something fancy, but because of something simple: baking with my son, David. There’s a kind of joy that comes from working side by side in the kitchen. We mix ingredients together, knead dough with our hands, and wait eagerly to see if it rises just right in the oven. The excitement in our eyes when we see the bread puff up or when the brownies turn out with the perfect crackle on top it’s priceless.  It’s not always perfect, though. Sometimes we mess up. The dough doesn’t rise. The yeast was inactive. The brownies turn out too sweet or too dry. And when that happens, we don’t give up. We just try again. That simple process of baking has become more than a hobby for us. It has become a space where we see God’s grace at work where we learn about life, failure, patience, and love. Just like how failed dough needs to be remade,...

I have a confession to make. I am not always on time. Yes, I said it. My husband, Vandy, would probably smile while reading this because he has spent years gently (and sometimes not so gently) reminding me about the importance of punctuality. One of the wonderful traits I admire and sometimes find challenging about him is his deep respect for time. He values it so much that we have had our share of small arguments over it. He has this principle: “It is better to wait than let people wait for you.” At first, I thought that was just his personality, but over the years I’ve realized it’s more than that. For him, being on time is about showing respect, valuing people, and honoring them by being fully present when you say you will. The Gift of Being On Time When you are on time, you are silently telling someone, “You matter to me. Your time matters to me. I came prepared to meet you, and I honor your presence.” Being punctual also says something about your character. And whether we like it...

Have you ever felt really exhausted? Not just the kind of tired you feel after a long day, but that deep, soul-level exhaustion? The kind that makes you want to curl up in a quiet room and forget about everything for a while? If your answer is yes, I want to say this, you are not alone. In ministry, in parenting, in marriage, in work, or even in our quiet spiritual walk, we all have those moments. And if you're part of a church community or serve in any capacity, whether as a volunteer, teacher, musician, leader, encourager, prayer warrior, you probably know what this kind of weariness feels like. Years ago, when we started planting our local church here in Phnom Penh , it was a season full of transitions and stretching. I remember how Vandy, my husband, would be physically and emotionally exhausted every weekend. He would clean and rearrange the house for our gatherings, prepare his sermon, lead worship, play guitar, set up the chairs, welcome people with a smile, and pray with th...