Where Our Treasure Is, There Our Heart Will Be Also

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A few Sundays ago, our church gathered for something we had never done before. We officially sent off our missionary friends, Pastor Mark and sister Hyangsuk, to a new mission field in Kampot province. It was their new calling, and yet it felt like our calling too. They asked the church to pray for them, so we did. We laid our hands on them, prayed together, and cried together. It was simple, quiet, and deeply moving. Our dorm men and women stood there watching, some with tears, some holding hands, all feeling the weight and beauty of the moment.

Sending off to Kampot Province (New Mission Field)
Commissioning Sunday for Pastor Mark & Sis HyangSuk

This was our first time holding a commissioning service. There was no stage, no big program, no long speeches. Just people who loved God and loved one another, standing in faith. In that moment, I felt the truth of Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:21 settle deep in my heart. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Pastor Mark and sister Hyangsuk were not walking toward comfort or recognition. They were walking toward obedience. They were walking toward a place God had called them to serve. Their yes reminded me again that our treasures are often revealed in moments like this. In what we are willing to release. In who we are willing to send. In what we are willing to trust God with.

A SHARED JOURNEY

Pastor Mark has been part of our story for many years. He has seen us grow as a young couple. He has watched David grow from a little boy into who he is becoming now. He walked with us through difficult seasons and joyful victories, especially as we shared the same mission goals here in Cambodia. When he was still single, he gave so much of himself. His time. His strength. His teaching. His training. He helped us run the dormitories, guided the young people, and stood beside us when the work felt heavy.

Later, God answered a prayer we had carried quietly in our hearts. Sister Hyangsuk came into his life. This January marks their wedding anniversary. She has been in Cambodia longer than I have and has faithfully served with her mission organization. She speaks Khmer well and connects deeply with the people. Together, they became a strong and gentle team. Watching God write their story has always reminded me that He knows the desires of our hearts even before we speak them out loud. 

Pastor Mark & sister HyangSuk Wedding January 2024

Sister Hyangsuk is also my accountability partner. Every two Saturdays, we meet online to pray. We cover our husbands, our families, our church, and our ministries. We plan prayer meetings together. We cry together. We encourage one another. Our friendship is not built on convenience but on shared surrender. Even this relationship reflects where our treasure is.

As they move to Kampot, we know we will miss them deeply. Yet we are also excited. God’s work is expanding. His kingdom is moving forward. This calling gives us more reason to travel, to visit, and to support them in their new mission. Sending them does not mean losing them. It means trusting God with what we love.

CENTERING OUR HEARTS 

One of the most important topics in the Bible is the heart. Again and again, God reminds us that He is not only interested in what we do, but in why we do it. He is not impressed by activity alone. He looks at the heart behind the action.

Jesus taught that the heart is the center of our lives. Our thoughts, our choices, our desires, and our actions flow from it. In Matthew 6:21, He says, Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. What we value most slowly shapes who we become.

Our treasures are not always bad things. Family, work, comfort, security, dreams, and even ministry can become treasures. But when these things take the place that only God should hold, our hearts begin to drift.

We can often see where our heart is by looking at simple things. What do we think about most? Where does our money go? What drains our energy? What do we protect at all costs? These questions are not meant to bring guilt. They are meant to bring clarity.

Training our hearts to dwell on Jesus does not happen by accident. It happens through daily choices. Spending time in God’s Word. Sitting quietly in prayer. Choosing obedience when it feels costly. Paul reminds us to think about what is true, right, pure, lovely, and worthy of praise. When our minds are shaped this way, our hearts slowly follow.

REFLECTION ONE: TREASURE REVEALED IN SENDING

Sending missionaries is one of the clearest ways we see where our treasure is. It would be easier to hold on. Easier to keep familiar faces close. Easier to choose comfort. But when we send, we declare that God’s work matters more than our ease.

Questions to ponder:
What is God asking me to release right now
Do I trust Him with what I love most

Prayer:
Lord, teach me to trust You with the people and plans I treasure. Help me to hold everything with open hands.

REFLECTION TWO: TREASURE SHOWN IN TIME

Time is one of our most honest treasures. We make time for what matters to us. In mission life, time is given to people, prayer, and presence. This often means saying no to other good things.

Questions to ponder:
How do I spend most of my time
Does my schedule reflect my faith

Prayer:
God, help me to use my time wisely. Draw my heart back to what truly matters to You.

REFLECTION THREE: TREASURE SEEN IN PRAYER

Prayer reveals dependence. When prayer becomes regular, it shows that our trust is in God, not in our strength. Sister Hyangsuk and I pray together not because life is easy, but because we need God.

Questions to ponder:
Is prayer my first response or last option
What does my prayer life reveal about my heart

Prayer:
Father, teach me to come to You daily. Let my heart rest in Your presence.

REFLECTION FOUR: TREASURE TESTED IN SACRIFICE

Mission life in Cambodia often requires sacrifice. Comfort, plans, and expectations are laid down. Sacrifice does not mean loss. It means choosing what lasts.

Questions to ponder:
What sacrifices has God asked of me
How do I respond when obedience feels costly

Prayer:
Lord, give me strength to obey even when it is hard. Remind me that You are worth it.

REFLECTION FIVE: TREASURE ROOTED IN JESUS

At the end of it all, Jesus is our true treasure. People come and go. Seasons change. Callings shift. But He remains. When our treasure is in Him, our hearts stay anchored.

Questions to ponder:
Is Jesus enough for me
Where do I turn when life feels uncertain

Prayer:
Jesus, be my greatest treasure. Align my heart with Yours each day.

💕👫🙏

As Pastor Mark and sister Hyangsuk step into their new calling, we are reminded again of Jesus’ words. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. May our lives here in Cambodia reflect hearts fully given to God. 

Hearts Treasure, 
The Hourngs in Cambodia 😅💓🙏


Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia

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