A Short-Term
Mission Story from Cambodia
by Lynelle Gabriel

Lay Haur (Lie Warr) is a little girl who came to see me with her grandmother. At eight, she is almost as tall as Jhette but weighs only thirty-one pounds. Her grandmother is forty-one years old and has five children. Lay Haur came to live with her only two weeks ago so she could attend school for the first time. Her grandmother was concerned about Lay Haur’s weight and says she began coughing recently.

Lynelle Gabriel was a member of the medical outreach team to Cambodia organized by the CinA International Church in Okinawa, Japan, led by Missionary Pastor Glenn Kennedy.

Jhette, Lynelle’s daughter who is nearly five years old, made a doll because she wanted to bless another little girl. They bought a doll kit at the mall and Jhette rubbed the doll’s heart between her hands and blew kisses on it before placing it into the doll, which was then stuffed. She picked out clothes and loved the doll before putting it in Lynelle’s suitcase.

I started with the exam and immediately knew something was wrong. I know what the normal heart sounds like and hers didn’t seem normal. I thought I might be hearing some PVC’s (premature ventricular contraction) but asked for a second opinion. Doctor Ryan confirmed bradycardia (an irregular heart rate) and PVC’s. I referred her to the cardiac services available in Cambodia.

Most likely, Lay Haur will need a pacemaker. The odds of her getting one are minimal as it is very expensive and her family will not be able to pay for it.

I had been praying for Jesus to send me a special little girl to receive Jhette’s doll. I had not envisioned a little girl with a heart problem but God knew better. This was the girl! I proceeded to tell Lay Haur about my daughter and how she knows Who Jesus is and wanted to share His love. I shared with her how Jhette had warmed the doll’s heart and made it special, just like Lay Haur’s heart is special. I showed and gave her the photos of Jhette making the doll.

When I asked Lay Haur if she wanted to hold the doll, her eyes grew big and bright and, though she was still very shy, you could see she was amazed to be receiving this doll. I told her that “Jesus gave His life and died on a cross for our sins and He did this for free. We don’t have to do anything for it. Just like Jesus, Jhette doesn’t want anything in return – it is a gift. She only wants you to know that Jesus loves you and there is a little girl halfway across the world who loves you too.”

“I love my new doll” Lay Haur was “the girl” they
 prayed for to receive Jhette’s doll.

I continue to pray for Lay Haur as only God can heal her heart. Most likely, without the pacemaker she will continue to experience fatigue and eventually go into heart failure or have a spontaneous cardiac arrest. I actually looked into adoption because she could then be brought to the United States, placed on insurance and receive a pacemaker. Unfortunately, Cambodia is currently denying overseas adoption because of illegal activities.

At this time, my prayers for Lay Haur are for healing of her heart and especially for her acceptance of Jesus. Either way, Jesus will heal her heart.

Rejoicing in the Lord but weeping from Cambodia.

Lynelle

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