The Hourngs in Cambodia!

I am grateful for a husband who not only cares for our family but also serves our church faithfully. Vandy is dependable to his friends and to the wider community. He may be quiet, but his life speaks loudly of faith in action. Our 16th anniversary reminded me again of the importance of marrying with intention. For the young people and singles we minister to, we often encourage them: date with the intent to marry. Marriage is not about fleeting feelings but about building a life together under God’s guidance. A few days ago, on September 30, my husband and I celebrated our sixteenth wedding anniversary. Sixteen years, it feels both long and short. Long because of all the stories, lessons, and memories we now carry together. Short because the days seem to have passed so quickly. This year, our celebration was simple but very meaningful. Vandy picked me up from the university after my morning classes, and we went on a lunch date. He brought me to a steak house, a rare treat for us since...

We praise God for the blessing of holidays spent with family, for opportunities to reconnect with loved ones, and for the chance to witness again how His grace is working in our lives. This past month has been full of moments that reminded me of God’s goodness not only in celebrations but also in challenges that stretched our faith and deepened our trust in Him. We had the joy of spending time with Vandy’s side of the family during the Pchum Benh holidays. For those of you who might not be familiar, this is a deeply important holiday in Cambodia, filled with traditions and gatherings. For us as believers, it also becomes an opportunity to live out and share our faith in quiet but intentional ways, showing God’s love through our presence and our prayers. At the same time, September has been a month of reflection in our family and ministry. There were lessons in disappointment, reminders of God’s provision, deep reflections on eternity, and moments where Christ’s firm foundation carried...

Last week, we celebrated something special our birthdays. Not just mine, not just my husband’s, but both of ours, within just a few days of each other. Vandy turned… well, let’s just say he officially has a birthday on August 6th, and I turned 45 on August 9th. I say “officially” because in Cambodia, birthdays especially for those born in the 70s aren’t always recorded as the actual day a person was born. My husband’s real birthdate is a mystery even to him. According to my mother-in-law, when he was born, the family didn’t immediately register his birth. Later, they chose a birthday based on Chinese signs and the season of the year. This wasn’t just about tradition it was protection. Read my similar post here   👈 You see, during that time, there was still a lingering threat of another Khmer Rouge regime like movement. Young boys could be recruited as soldiers. By delaying his registration, they were protecting him. Vandy was the only boy among four children, the only one who ...

There are days when James 1:19 feels like it was written just for me. Honestly.  😔😅 “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” James 1:19–20 Sometimes I find myself reading this verse and then sighing with a little bit of embarrassment because, if I’m being real, I still struggle with this more often than I’d like to admit. I want to be someone who listens more, speaks less, and doesn’t let anger take control of my heart or my words. I want to represent Jesus well not just in church or ministry but also at home, in the university where I teach, in our neighborhood, in the market, and even in those little day-to-day encounters that no one else may notice. I don’t want to come across as someone who’s just “religious” who talks about God but reacts to people harshly or impatiently. Instead, I want my actions, especially my respo...

We just came back from our much-awaited annual family retreat last week. It was refreshing and soul-lifting. I praise God for the chance to slow down, to laugh and talk and enjoy each other’s company without rushing. We made it a goal to set a time each year just for this to pause, reflect, and be reminded of God’s purpose in our family. David, our son, looks forward to this trip because he gets all our attention. We plan our retreat during school breaks and in the middle of the year, even if it costs quite a bit. It’s worth it. June is not just our family trip month, it’s also durian season and David’s birthday! It gets expensive transport, food, accommodation but we save up for it. My husband Vandy is a great planner. While I’m more of the spontaneous type (and yes, a spender!), he balances me out. We save for this retreat every month, so when the time comes, it’s not a burden. Vandy books early, during low season, for discounts. David and I just show up and enjoy the hard part, th...

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...

Covering Our Husbands with Grace and Humility  As wives, we all want our marriages to thrive—to be filled with love, understanding, and connection. But let’s be honest, marriage isn’t always easy. Between the busyness of life, the weight of responsibilities, and the occasional disagreements, it’s easy to feel disconnected or even frustrated. Whether you’re a young wife navigating the early years of marriage or a seasoned wife who’s been through it all, one thing remains true: prayer is the foundation of a strong, Christ-centered marriage.   Today, I want to invite you to join me in focusing on Philippians 2:3-8, where Paul reminds us to have the same mindset as Christ—one of humility, selflessness, and love. These verses aren’t just a call to action; they’re a blueprint for how we can love and support our husbands in a way that honors God and strengthens our marriages.   👉  Click Here to Get Your Free Prayer Journal! Why Humility Matters in Marriage? Humil...