The Hourngs in Cambodia!

👉from Part 1 Is it okay to be disappointed? In our family, we believe it is. Disappointment is not something we hide from our son David. We actually see it as a way to grow. Recently, David tried to start a small chocolate crinkle cookie business. He was so excited, thinking people would buy it all day long. But things didn’t go as planned. Sales were poor, and he felt crushed. He even thought about giving up. One evening, he showed me a diagram he had made—his own little business analysis. He had written down what went wrong and what could be improved: people didn’t see the crinkles, the banner only showed spaghetti, and sales only happened at lunch and dinner. He even listed ideas for making it better. I was amazed. What looked like failure turned out to be a lesson. That night, we prayed as a family. We reminded David that even big businesses fail but learn to stand up again. And more importantly, we reminded him that disappointments can lead us back to God. Psalm 119:105 says...

This might sound like a strange question, especially in a culture where we often encourage ourselves and our children to “stay positive” and “look on the bright side.” But what about those moments when things don’t go as planned? When the effort has been poured in, the hopes were high, and yet the results are not what we imagined? In our household, we believe it is not only okay but also necessary to allow space for disappointment. I know this might sound unusual. For some, discouragement feels like weakness, something we should avoid or quickly cover up. But over the years, especially as young parents, we have learned that disappointments can become classrooms where faith grows, where character is shaped, and where God’s light shines brightest. Our son David recently experienced this in a very real way through something as simple as his chocolate crinkle cookie business . What began as a small home project turned into an unexpected life lesson, not only for him but for all of us as ...

This month of August, our hearts are full of gratitude as we look back on God’s goodness in our family and ministry. It has been a month of celebrating life , walking through new seasons as parents, and pressing forward in the mission field here in Phnom Penh. Each story and reflection reminds us of God’s faithfulness and of our need to continually depend on Him in prayer. 🎂 Celebrating Life & Birthdays We began the month by celebrating birthdays in our family, including a simple but meaningful day for Papa Rolly . Birthdays for us are more than cake and gatherings they are reminders that every added year is a gift from the Lord. In our post “Our Simple Birthdays” and “Happy Birthday Papa Rolly!” , we reflected on how we want each year of life to be lived intentionally: to give more, serve more, and accomplish God’s purposes for His glory. Our prayer is to finish strong , knowing that each added day is a chance to shine for Christ.  Khmer Chess Match (Pich and David) 🍞 Fa...

The university semester is ending soon, and we have had lots of activities in and out of our campus. Few weeks ago, we brought our students on our university’s annual study trip to Siem Reap. Every year, this trip feels like both a mountain climb and a mountain top. It is exhausting, exhilarating, and always filled with surprises. It is also one of those moments that stretches not just the students, but us lecturers as well. This year’s program was different from the past. We designed it with more intention, adding activities that went beyond the tourist attractions. Of course, we still visited the famous Angkor Wat, but we wanted the trip to be more than sightseeing. We wanted it to be an opportunity for students to see life with fresh eyes, to witness realities outside the walls of their classrooms, and to experience moments that would open their hearts to the needs of others.  Siemreap 2025 - Photos credit to Limkokwing University Discovering Life Beyond the City One of the hi...

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...

If you’ve been following my blog, you already know that weekends and sometimes weeknights are special moments in our home. Not because we go on big trips or do something fancy, but because of something simple: baking with my son, David. There’s a kind of joy that comes from working side by side in the kitchen. We mix ingredients together, knead dough with our hands, and wait eagerly to see if it rises just right in the oven. The excitement in our eyes when we see the bread puff up or when the brownies turn out with the perfect crackle on top it’s priceless.  It’s not always perfect, though. Sometimes we mess up. The dough doesn’t rise. The yeast was inactive. The brownies turn out too sweet or too dry. And when that happens, we don’t give up. We just try again. That simple process of baking has become more than a hobby for us. It has become a space where we see God’s grace at work where we learn about life, failure, patience, and love. Just like how failed dough needs to be remade,...

I have a confession to make. I am not always on time. Yes, I said it. My husband, Vandy, would probably smile while reading this because he has spent years gently (and sometimes not so gently) reminding me about the importance of punctuality. One of the wonderful traits I admire and sometimes find challenging about him is his deep respect for time. He values it so much that we have had our share of small arguments over it. He has this principle: “It is better to wait than let people wait for you.” At first, I thought that was just his personality, but over the years I’ve realized it’s more than that. For him, being on time is about showing respect, valuing people, and honoring them by being fully present when you say you will. The Gift of Being On Time When you are on time, you are silently telling someone, “You matter to me. Your time matters to me. I came prepared to meet you, and I honor your presence.” Being punctual also says something about your character. And whether we like it...