The Hourngs in Cambodia!

Last Sunday my husband Vandy preached a message at our church to help us prepare our hearts for this season. It was a simple but powerful reminder of what it means to live our lives in a way that reflects Christ. He encouraged us to love people intentionally, even the ones who misunderstand us or dislike us. He reminded us to reach out to our family and friends who do not yet know Christ and invite them to join us in the joy of celebrating Jesus. And he reminded us that we must shine as lights in a world that is becoming darker and more confused every day. As he spoke, I found myself thinking about the meaning of this name that was given to Jesus. Immanuel. God with us. Not God far away. Not God watching from a distance. But God here. God near. God with us. Those three words feel even more important today because the world is not calm. Many are hurting. Many nations are facing conflict. Many families feel fear, worry, or uncertainty. Even here in Cambodia we feel it. Even when the ...

I don’t know for some reason, God’s Word really comes at the perfect timing. It’s like He has His own divine way of setting things in motion. Sometimes I joke that God has His own “algorithm” He knows exactly what we’re thinking about, even before we open our Bible app or pray about it. Just this morning, during my usual devotion time on my tuktuk ride to work, I opened my YouVersion app to read and reflect. The topic for today stunned me because it connected so perfectly to what my husband, Vandy, and I had talked about the night before. Isn’t it amazing how God’s Spirit moves and speaks to us in such personal ways? Last night, before we prayed as a family, Vandy suddenly asked me a question that took me back to a painful chapter of my life. “Why didn’t your family pursue your papa’s robbery case?” he asked. “Those people who did that to him should have been punished.” His question brought back memories I hadn’t revisited in a long while. The Pain of Losing Papa My papa, Rolly , was ...

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...

Choosing to Trust God Today is my papa Rolly’s birthday. He would have been 69 years old. Even after 23 years since he went home to be with the Lord, I still feel his presence in the everyday moments of our family. It amazes me how memories can remain alive even after so much time has passed. My sister Ruth messaged me this morning. She shared that her son, Izer, was supposed to have an inter-school chess championship today, but it was postponed because of a strong typhoon in the Philippines.  Like our Papa, it seems our children are inheriting his love for chess. My son David has started to take interest as well. He even joined the chess club at school and has been practicing regularly. He may not be at Izer’s competitive level yet since our nephew has been playing tournaments representing his school but I believe each of them reflects a piece of our Papa’s passion. I won’t be surprised if one day Izer becomes an international player. That would be such a blessing to witness. I sm...