The Hourngs in Cambodia!

Still in Father's Day high celebration. I can't help but think about my own Papa as well. I am writing this blog post today in loving memory of my papa, Rolly.  He passed away when I was just 22 years old. To this day, I still miss him deeply. His absence is felt in the everyday moments, the family gatherings, the memories we wish we could still make. And while he is no longer with us here on earth, the legacy he left behind continues to live on in our lives and in the lives of those he served. Papa Rolly was a man of God. He had a deep passion for the lost and a heart for the gospel. He intentionally planted a church in my mother’s hometown in Isabela (the Philippines). By the grace of God, that church is still thriving today. Many of mama ’s relatives were saved, baptized, and are now active in the ministry. One of them, my niece Cielo, was even called into full-time ministry and is now the pastor of that same church. Papa saw my calling for missions early on. I know he would...

Twelve years ago, God gifted us with a beautiful baby boy David. Last Saturday (June 7th), he’s officially 12.  Almost a teenager. It feels surreal. I still remember cradling him in my arms, marveling at the miracle we had waited and prayed for. His sweet smile, chubby cheeks, and joyful eyes gave us warmth even during our most uncertain days. He was and still is our ray of sunshine. Coming home from work each day to his big hugs and excited squeals has always been the highlight of our day. Whether I had a long day at the university or Vandy, my husband, had just returned from a week in the provinces doing mission work, seeing David run toward us always made everything worthwhile. But something in me shifted this year. He’s growing up. Yes, he still needs us, but differently. He now prepares his own school uniforms, picks out the color of sets he wants to wear, and tells us his food preferences. He has opinions. He voices them. He has feelings and thoughts he wants to express. And ...

It was just another ordinary weekend. Nothing fancy, no big plans. Just a simple family errand: we promised David, our almost-12-year-old, that he could finally buy the UNO card game he's been saving up for. He earned the money by reading Khmer books, selling homemade chocolate crinkles, and consistently taking sermon notes every Sunday. We were proud of him. So, off to the mall we went. I’ve always appreciated that David isn’t drawn to gadgets . Instead, he’s into board games, puzzles, and card games. It’s his way of unwinding, and we see his creativity and joy through it. After finding the perfect UNO card set and making the purchase, we decided to linger a bit longer. I needed to reach my daily 10,000 steps goal , and walking around the mall seemed like a fun way to finish it. As we strolled down to the ground floor, we passed by a sports store (Decathlon) . They had an open table tennis area where anyone could try the equipment. Naturally, it caught the boys’ attention. David w...

Our verse today in Psalm 42:11 reminds me of our compassionate God. He deals with and meets us even when we are downcast, upset, and angry.  When David was growing up, there were many times I would explode out of my anger due to frustrations. I thank God that He has met me when I needed Him the most.  By God’s grace, I’m still growing in the area of self-control. God is still in the process of building my character in the fruit of the Spirit . There are many times I would be caught off guard at the way I respond unlovingly toward my husband and son. Vandy would always remind me to consider people around us since my sister-in-law and her teenage son are now living with us. They are definitely seeing our lives daily. It's a challenge to respond with grace, practicing and putting into action the faith that is in us. How to reflect the goodness of God more practically? That even my son would emulate and copy. I praise God because, though we could still sin, He is faithful and...

Last night, my son David broke down in tears. He confessed that he had chased down a classmate at school, demanding an apology for making fun of him. My heart ached as he shared how he’s been bullied—how his classmates single him out, call him "no fun," and mock him. David doesn’t fully understand yet that he has mild autism. His dad and I have been hesitant to tell him because, in the past, he’s reacted negatively to the word. But now, his peers are using it as a weapon against him. As a mom, it’s crushing to see your child hurt, especially when they’re trying so hard to fit in. We’ve talked to his teachers, but the pain lingers. And as Christians, we wrestle with this truth: People will let us down. Friends will hurt us. The world can be cruel. But one thing remains unshaken— Jesus loves him. And so do we. Bible Verses: "Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." – 1 John 4:11 "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome ...

Whether you’re a homemaker, a working mom, a young woman preparing for marriage, or someone just curious about faith, this is for you. As a pastor’s wife in Cambodia, I’ve walked through seasons of joy and storms alike. I've seen the beauty and the burdens of managing a household.  I've burned bread in the oven while hanging the laundry and rearing a sick child with tears falling quietly because life felt too heavy ( David was 3 years old at that time while dad was away for ministry work in the province) . Maybe you have, too. Through the years, by God's grace, I'm thankful for having a husband who's not only the head of our family in terms of leading our family spiritually but has even become beyond that role. He's always been supportive and present in every situation that I needed him. To be honest, our household might be different from other Khmer households or Asian families as a whole.  But through all of this, one Scripture passage has remained close to my...