The Hourngs in Cambodia!

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...

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 ...

For three consecutive weeks, my beloved country, the Philippines , has faced one disaster after another strong typhoons that uprooted homes, great floods that submerged communities, volcanic eruptions that covered towns in ash, and now, a series of powerful earthquakes that have shaken the nation from its northern provinces down to the southern islands. It feels like one tragedy after another. The whole country is trembling, not only from the movement of the earth beneath, but also from the fear that grips every heart. Finding Peace Amid the Earthquakes Even though I now live in Cambodia, my heart aches for the Philippines. Each time I see the news or receive updates from family, I feel both thankful and anxious. Thankful because they’re still safe, but anxious because I know how unpredictable nature can be. My mama, who lives alone, often comes to mind. I message her daily to check in and remind her to prepare an emergency bag with essentials medicines, bottled water, a flashlight, a...

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...

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...