The Hourngs in Cambodia!

We are back from the long Pchum Benh break in Kampong Cham, and my heart is still full from the time we spent with family and friends. It was a meaningful trip on so many levels. We had a wonderful time with Vandy’s side of the family, and despite the heavy rains that poured throughout the week, nothing could stop us from celebrating the holidays the Khmer way. The table was always full. Plates of steaming Khmer food were passed around. Freshly harvested fruits made their way from farm to plate in a matter of hours. And of course, there were the traditional rice cakes my in-laws prepared "ansoum and numkom" which they always make ahead of Pchum Benh. These cakes are not only for the family to enjoy but also to be brought to the pagoda by Kong kong as offerings for ancestors, to be blessed by monks. If you’ve read my previous reflections  👈 you know that Pchum Benh is one of Cambodia’s most sacred festivals, rooted in Buddhist tradition. While as Christians we do not practic...

For many Khmer families, Pchum Benh is the most important religious and cultural event of the year. It is a time of remembrance, of obligations, and of traditions passed down from one generation to another. For us as Christians, it is also a time to live out our faith in a way that honors family while holding firmly to the hope we have in Christ. The ride from Phnom Penh to Kampong Cham takes a few hours. Along the way, the scenery changes from the busy chaos of the city to the slower pace of the countryside. We pass rice fields stretching endlessly on both sides of the road, dotted with farmers wearing wide-brimmed hats and "krama" Khmer scarf. The smell of grilled meat and sticky rice from roadside stalls drifts into the car. David, always curious, points out the cows grazing lazily and the small children running barefoot along the dusty paths. In these moments, I silently pray. “Lord, prepare our hearts. Help us to shine Your light as we visit Vandy’s family. Help us n...

It is Pchum Benh week in Cambodia!  By the time you are reading this, we may already be in Kampong Cham, visiting Vandy’s side of the family. Every year, this becomes a familiar journey for us. More than just a holiday, it is a deeply cultural and spiritual season for Khmer people.  For us as Christians, it is also an opportunity to reflect on God’s grace, to reconnect with relatives, and to quietly live out our faith in a way that shows love and respect while also pointing to the hope we have in Christ.  Read Previous Posts here: Why Do Cambodians Celebrate Pchum Ben?  👈 What does it Mean to Live Out my Faith?  👈 This year, as I prepared my heart for these visits, Colossians 3:1 kept coming to mind: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” This verse feels so timely during Pchum Benh . While many people are looking back to the past, thinking about their ancestors and th...

Charlie Kirk’s death has shaken many of us. Listening to Erika’s speech , watching how she honored him his faith, his love, his mission reminds us that life is fragile, purpose is real, and God’s call is urgent. We are ministering to university dormitories walking alongside students facing identity, pressure, doubt this moment holds lessons we cannot ignore. Read my previous post here  What is your Turning Point?  👈  Sharing with you six reflections and lessons, with practical applications for us in our ministry, and in our own lives.  May these move us to faith, action, and hope. 1. Faith Is Revealed in the Everyday, Not Just Grand Moments Reflection Erika said that every day Charlie asked her, “How can I serve you better? How can I be a better husband? How can I be a better father?”  He did not only live for the big platform or speeches. He lived faith in the small, daily acts of love and service. Life is not always about big events. Often faith is shown...

It has been days since Charlie Kirk has gone to be with the Lord. The news came as a shock. Vandy and I have been following his ministry for years, especially his passion for young people and his boldness in proclaiming truth. His advocacy for the next generation caught our hearts because, in many ways, it reflects our own calling here in Cambodia. 👉  Ministries in Cambodia Our ministry has always been centered on university students and young professionals. We believe that the future of Cambodia rests on the young people , and the best way to truly impact them is not through mere social programs or personal ambition, but by pointing them to the unshakable truth of the gospel. We have long prayed for a movement among the Khmer youth a movement that rises up for truth, for righteousness, and for Christ. So when we learned that Charlie Kirk passed away while doing what he loved proclaiming the gospel on a university campus it left us silent. We sat around the dinner table as a...

As a family, we’ve been serving the Lord here in Cambodia for over a decade. Looking back, it’s only by His grace that we are still doing what He has called us to do. We have simply depended on God’s quiet provision through our jobs and side hustles. We are grateful to our friends who would sometimes surprise us with their gifts. And we value and honor God for we know that's also one of the ways He would meet our needs. 👉  Our "Love Project" 🥰💕🙏🍪🍰🎂🧁   Psalm 127:2 says, “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for He gives to His beloved sleep.” This verse is like a warm blanket to us, especially when the worries of tomorrow try to steal our rest. We don’t live stress-free lives. There are bills to pay, mouths to feed, and ministry responsibilities that don’t pause. But we have learned something valuable over the years: when God is our provider, we can rest. Not because everything is perfect, but because everythin...