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...

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...

Adobo is one of those meals that brings so much warmth to the heart. You don’t just cook it; you feel it. Imagine my surprise when my husband, who never really cooked Filipino dishes, not only learned to make adobo but perfected it in a way that even our son, David, now prefers his version over mine! As a pastor’s wife in Cambodia, life is filled with interesting moments—one of them being when my Khmer husband decided to master cooking * adobo * , a classic Filipino dish I grew up loving.  Why ADOBO become the Star of Our Discipleship and church Potlucks? Vandy's version of adobo has become so well-loved that it’s always requested for our church’s potlucks a few times. People at the dorms look forward to it, and it’s become one of the highlights of our food fellowships. It’s such a simple dish, yet every bite brings a sense of comfort and community.  Today, I want to share my husband’s easy-to-follow recipe, a few fun facts about adobo, and a reflection on how something as o...

Whenever I Miss Home, I Cook Tinola In 2007, I met my Khmer husband in the mission field (Kratie, Cambodia). As you all know I came from the Philippines 😁😍😅 whenever I miss home, I would cook Tinola chicken soup! Cambodia is a country with its own rich culture and traditions. I love that some dishes and ingredients are familiar to me and often brings me back to the warmth of my home in the Philippines. Now that I am a wife, I have embraced this new land (the kingdom of wonders as they say) with my Khmer husband and son as we build our lives and our faith in this country. Yet, whenever I feel the longing for the Philippines, for the familiar embrace of my homeland, I turn to the comforting ritual of cooking "tinola" (hearty chicken soup!). I praise God for this season of discovering skills. I am still learning how to cook, it is Vandy who has better cooking skills at home. In fact, my husband could actually whip a few filipino dishes better than me now. His pork sinigang an...

Our Fabulous Lola Tessie Happy birthday grandma Teresita Galam You might be out celebrating your sweet day! May God bless the yearning of your heart We love you from Cambodia                                                       

My mission to Cambodia 🇰🇭 newsletter 2007 A few days ago, Pastora Lanie Caisip (lay pastor in Bologna, Italy) forwarded this picture to me.  I felt ecstatic about it! this has been more than a decade. I think it was apart from my newsletter a few months before I flew to Cambodia for my mission journey.  I was soliciting for prayers then (1-minute prayer shield!). Lanie said she kept it for a long time - that was a sweet and unexpected gesture to beat. Honestly, I have not even kept any of those letters anymore. It just warms my heart to the bits.  Pastora Lanie has not forgotten our deep connection way back. She was studying in the Bible school back then - I knew for sure God has been putting passion in my heart to help her out. So even with my tiny earnings, I have pledged to save some to send her small support (actually it didn't have to be money but mostly prayers, food/snacks, other supplies). I didn't think it was even a burden but a love for the people that God wi...