The Hourngs in Cambodia!

Tonight is countdown night. Classes are still going on as usual today, but the campus feels different. Many of our students have already gone home. Some rushed to bus stations early this morning. Others quietly said their goodbyes yesterday, eager to be with their families before the year ends. The hallways feel lighter, quieter, almost like they are holding their breath. This year, Cambodia will not welcome the new year with fireworks . Even though a ceasefire has been agreed on just days ago regarding the border tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, the government has chosen to remain cautious. There will be no large celebrations, no fireworks along the river. Safety comes first. Wisdom comes first. And maybe also compassion. Because how can we truly celebrate when so many are not home yet? Almost half a million people remain displaced near the borders. Families are still uncertain. Parents are still worried. Children are still adjusting to temporary shelters and unfamiliar places....

Today is a holiday in Cambodia. It is Peace Day . This is actually a new holiday created just last year in 2024. When it was announced, many of us welcomed it with hope. A day meant to remind us that peace matters. A day to pause and reflect on unity, healing, and safety for our nation. And yet, who would have thought that this year, a border dispute with Thailand would take place so close to this very day. It feels ironic. Peace Day arrives while bombs have shaken border communities. Families have been displaced. Homes have been damaged. Fear has quietly entered places where children once played freely. For many, peace suddenly feels fragile and uncertain. In moments like this, staying silent does not feel right. As a family, and as part of a faith community, we felt a strong pull to do something. Even something small. We could not just watch from a distance and move on with our daily routines as if nothing was happening. These are not just headlines. These are real people. Mothers. ...

There are seasons in our lives when God teaches us through the simplest things. Not through grand miracles or dramatic events, but through ordinary days that are wrapped in struggle, hope, and hidden beauty. When I look back at my childhood, I realize that some of the clearest lessons God taught me came during a time that looked dark on the outside literally and spiritually but was filled with light on the inside. Growing up in Palar Village Taguig , long before BCG or Bonifacio Global City became what it is today, life was simple. And sometimes, it was hard. There was a year, almost two, when our area had no electricity at all. Development had not reached us yet, and every night felt like stepping into a small world lit only by candle sticks and gas lamps. To many people today, that might sound like an inconvenience. To children, it could have been frightening or frustrating. But strangely, those powerless nights became some of my happiest childhood memories. Every evening, as the su...

There are days when the Bible speaks so directly to our heart that we know it is exactly what we need at that moment. Today is that kind of day for me. Our verse is from 2 Timothy 1:7. It says that God did not give us a spirit that makes us timid. Instead He gave us power love and self discipline. This verse stays with me as I write today. I can see how much I need this truth in my life as a mother, as a wife, as a servant of God, as a lecturer, and as a simple believer learning each day what it means to walk with Jesus. Yesterday’s little moment with our son David helped me see this truth in action. We always try to be intentional in teaching him values. But most of the time we know very well that talking alone is not enough. If we only speak without showing, he will not listen or understand. We have learned again and again that the best lessons come from example. God keeps reminding me of something simple. I must live out the values I want him to learn. I must be quick to listen, slo...

It has been more than 15 years since our family first answered God’s call to serve in Phnom Penh.  Looking back, it’s amazing how time has passed and how much the Lord has done in and through this ministry. When we first came and moved to the city to serve in a Bible School , we had nothing but faith in our hearts and a deep desire to serve the Lord among the Khmer people. Eventually God lead us here, we didn’t know exactly what the journey would look like, but we trusted that God would lead the way. Read Previous Posts:  Bible School 👈 Our first mission field in Kratie, Cambodia 👈 Trusting God's Quiet Provision 👈👈 Today, as I write this from our home in Phnom Penh, I can’t help but thank God for His goodness. Every year has been a story of His grace, and every challenge has become an opportunity to see His faithfulness unfold. Our family has been serving faithfully with Phnom Penh Church (PPC) for over a decade now. Our calling is simple yet deeply meaningful to disci...

There was a season in my life when I became quite addicted to baking bread. I remember it so clearly our son, David, was around six years old when we discovered he was having frequent skin rashes. We couldn’t figure out the cause. His doctor advised us to try a gluten-free diet until we could identify what triggered his allergies. At that time, I was both worried and overwhelmed. When I researched what foods we should avoid, I was alarmed. Almost every food David loved had gluten in it. As a mother, it broke my heart to see my son’s limited food options. I wanted him to still enjoy eating without fear of allergic reactions. So, I decided to do something new. I thought, maybe I could make our own bread from scratch. I read that handmade bread is often better than the commercial ones because it doesn’t contain as many preservatives and unnecessary ingredients. That discovery gave me hope and so began my bread-making journey.  The Early Days of Kneading and Waiting Hear me out it wasn...