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Showing posts with the label Celebrations

Happy Father's Day

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Yesterday was a special day for our church. We celebrated two meaningful events: Father’s Day and the 12th anniversary of Phnom Penh Church (PPC).  It was more than just a day of celebration; it was a reflection of God's faithfulness, both to our individual families and to our church family. As I sat quietly in the back of the room, watching our young fathers smile, our children giggle at the video, and our church community come together with grateful hearts, I was moved beyond words. "As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him." — Psalm 103:13 (ESV) Sermon Shared by Pastor Vandy During worship, my husband Vandy encouraged the fathers in our church both young and old, to show God’s love to their families. He reminded them that love is not just expressed through big actions or special occasions but through the daily and often unnoticed things. The way we speak, the way we listen, the way we respond these are reflections...

Happy Mother's Day

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My cup runneth over! Mother’s Day at PPC our local church yesterday was a heartfelt celebration. Standing beside young mothers and even young fathers representing their wives who couldn’t join, I felt a deep sense of community. There’s something special about being prayed for, feeling the warmth of blessings spoken over us. As the congregation prayed for us mothers—asking God to heal, guide, and bless—I couldn’t help but get emotional. I’ve been a mom for 12 years now. And I remember, when I first became one, I felt unqualified. Doubts filled my heart. Could I be a good, godly mom? Would I be enough for my child? Would I fail him? I used to focus on the missing parts, the “what ifs,” and the fears. But over time, I realized that being a mom is not about having it all together. It’s about having a heart willing to obey and trust God, even in the chaos. Our church recognized not only biological mothers but also spiritual mothers—women who nurture others in faith, like Sister Hyangsuk...

Glorifying God Amidst Khmer Songkran

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This week, Cambodia is preparing for one of its grandest celebrations—Khmer New Year, known as Songkran. Across the country, schools, businesses, and establishments are gearing up for this vibrant and deeply cultural event. Streets will be adorned with colorful decorations, traditional games will bring communities together, and families will gather to share in the joy of the new year. As a university lecturer, I always look forward to how our students take part in this celebration. Every year, our foundation students lead a program that showcases Khmer culture, village life, and traditional games. This year, it will be a full-day event, with classes canceled to make way for the festivities. Small businesses and vendors—many of them student-led—will fill the campus, offering snacks, street food, photo booths, merchandise, and more. Fashion students will even present their creations on the runway, with models coming from different departments. I have been invited to give a speech before ...

Happy Birthday Mama!

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Honoring Mama 💕😍 Tomorrow, our mama Tessie (lola Tess) will turn 69! As I reflect on her life and all that she has done for our family, I am reminded of the words in Proverbs 31—a passage that so perfectly describes her character, resilience, and faithfulness. Growing up, my relationship with Mama had its fair share of ups and downs. As her firstborn, I was the "trial and error" recipient of her parenting 😅😂. We didn’t always see eye to eye, especially when it came to discipline. But looking back now, I can’t help but be grateful for the values she instilled in us—especially her unwavering faith in God. Mama and Papa had me when they were just finishing college. Life was hard, and our family moved frequently because of Papa’s work. Despite the challenges, they decided that Mama would stay home to raise us while Papa worked to support the family. It was the norm back then, but I now see how much strength, wisdom, and sacrifice it took for her to dedicate her life to our fa...

My MBA Journey Completion!

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I'm grateful to Limkokwing University Cambodia for granting me this scholarship to finish my MBA and     hone my skills and expertise to contribute  to Cambodia's nation-building program in the education sector.                  As I reflect on my journey of completing my MBA in Communications and Public Relations, this scripture resonates deeply. My experience, marked by purpose, challenges, perseverance, and ultimate victory, testifies to God’s grace and faithfulness. A Clear Purpose Pursuing an MBA was not merely a career decision for me; I press on it is also a calling. As a university lecturer, I sought to recalibrate my skills, expertise, and competence to better serve my students and peers. But more than that, I desired to honor God by modeling excellence in academics. The decision was rooted in a deep conviction that my life, including my professional journey, should reflect God’s glory. I wanted to demonstrat...

Sharing God's Goodness in Cambodia

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*oops! I actually made a typo error on the year of our wedding haha!  Vandy jokingly asked who did you marry in 2011??!  Our Wedding ceremony happened on the 30th of September 2009    **The 1st Dormitory: (The New Generation)** In 2011, two wonderful sisters, Roth and Chearta, established the first dormitory for university students from the provinces who wanted to study in the city but lacked housing. Inspired by their vision for a safe home for these female students, many of whom were unbelievers, we felt God directing us to support and help this important mission. By God's grace, we connected with individuals in the mission field who helped cover the rent for the dormitory. Soon, these students accepted Christ as their Savior and began being discipled by our dedicated sister, Roth, who lived with them. A weekly worship service commenced in the dormitory, and we were thrilled to see new believers actively participating in God’s work. We engaged deeply in Bible studi...

Worship Retreat and Baptism Weekend

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This month of November is extra special for us at PPC. Our hearts remain full of gratitude and joy as we reflect on God's amazing work during those two days of fellowship, worship, and commitment. Our retreat marked a special milestone for Phnom Penh Church (PPC). Held at the serene and picturesque coastline of Sihanoukville, it was more than just a getaway—it was a sacred opportunity to strengthen our bond as a church family, renew our commitment to the Lord, and celebrate life-changing decisions through water baptism. But before we dive into the highlights, let me first apologize for my absence on social media recently. Life got busy with looming work deadlines, and I also went through a season of illness that left me drained. Yet, in those challenging weeks, I was reminded of God’s promise of healing and restoration. Praise God for better health now, and I pray for His continuous strength and recovery as I resume sharing the goodness of His work in and through our lives. A Trib...