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...

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...

Charlie Kirk’s death has shaken many of us. Listening to Erika’s speech , watching how she honored him his faith, his love, his mission reminds us that life is fragile, purpose is real, and God’s call is urgent. We are ministering to university dormitories walking alongside students facing identity, pressure, doubt this moment holds lessons we cannot ignore. Read my previous post here  What is your Turning Point?  👈  Sharing with you six reflections and lessons, with practical applications for us in our ministry, and in our own lives.  May these move us to faith, action, and hope. 1. Faith Is Revealed in the Everyday, Not Just Grand Moments Reflection Erika said that every day Charlie asked her, “How can I serve you better? How can I be a better husband? How can I be a better father?”  He did not only live for the big platform or speeches. He lived faith in the small, daily acts of love and service. Life is not always about big events. Often faith is shown...