Cutting Edge Foundation - cefoundation.net

Skip Piotrski, building contractor and CEF board member, leaves the first week of September for Chad to supervise the construction of the caregivers' housing at Hopital de Guinebor II. The reason for this housing is that relatives usually travel with their sick loved ones in order to care for them along the way, and help with their care while they are in the hospital. These caregivers often lack a means of transportation and/or the funds to stay in a local inn. Staying anywhere off-site becomes an unacceptable situation. Without this housing, many caregivers would feel forced to camp out near the hospital.

Skip and his wife Stephanie, a nurse, both serve on the CEF Board of Directors. They live in Indiana.

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” Ezekiel 36:26-27

While in Nairobi, we use a Christian pharmaceutical warehouse to purchase our medicines. This trip, Dr. Oubre and I stopped there to set up a new account for Cutting Edge Foundation. We met a wonderful lady named Beatrice we had been dealing with for years but had never met in person. She is a delightful caring Christian woman. Beatrice is a typical Kenyan – well educated, articulate, polite and gentle. As we talked, she shared her heart with us about the recent events in Kenya-the political and tribal unrest, the maiming of so many Kenyans, and all the killings that had recently happened. She took time to show us pictures she had on her computer. Our hearts were broken by the photos of dead Kenyans, many of whom were children; the destroyed churches and other buildings, and images of thousands of displaced people. We could see that her heart was broken by what was happening to her country. She asked us to please continue to pray for her country and thanked us for the work we were doing in Sudan. It will take a long time for times to get back to normal in Kenya and for healing to take place between the tribes that have been fighting with each other. I do not think the world is more evil now than it has been in the past. What is different now is that we have the technology to destroy and kill on a massive scale and have the media to instantly show it to the entire world on television. Evil is always in the human heart until Christ performs true heart replacement surgery on us. He takes our heart of stone and replaces it with a new heart. We become new creatures created in His image. Pray for Christ to bring healing to Kenya and in the entire world. He is our only hope.

Pray for our Kenyan brothers and sisters. Pray for peace all over the world. Pray for the only lasting true peace of Jesus Christ to fill our hearts.

“They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheep skins and goat skins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated-the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.” Hebrews 11:37-38

I have heard this story several times on my trips into Sudan from very reliable people; including Bishop Nathaniel Garang and I believe it is true. In the early 1990's there was an illiterate Dinka named Paul Kon. As did most of the Dinka at that time, he raised cattle. He was a non Christian who worshiped idols. One day he was touched by the hand of God and was able to recite the entire Bible-verse and chapter from memory. He accepted the Lord and started preaching, starting a revival in the Werkok area. The people came together and burned all their idols and turned to God. He had a large church, the Zion Church, built in the shape of a cross. The church is still standing and is in use today. Paul Kon was a prophet. He predicted not only his own death but also that he would be buried in two graves. Later, when he was killed the people who killed him were afraid he might come back to life and sawed off one of his legs and had it buried. The people of his church came and got him and buried him (without his leg) outside Zion Church. The war years were incredibly horrible in Sudan and I am sure the Lord used him to bring His message to the Sudanese people when times were bad and they needed to hear the word of God. An incredible story!!

There are still many martyrs. Go to the Voice of the Martyrs web site for more information on modern day martyrs and check out the book Jesus Freaks.

“Faith is not a once done act, but a continuous gaze at the heart of the Triune God.” - A. W. Tozer

Pray for all the martyrs. Pray that the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ will grow and spread and all will one day know that our Christian brothers and sisters did not die in vain.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. Matthew 19:14-15

I always have a passion for the little children. My heart is always broken by orphans. On this trip, I spent more time talking to the mothers. I asked how many children they had living and how many had died. I was broken hearted to hear that most of the women had lost multiple children-either during childbirth or to disease early in their life. These women love their children as much as we love our children. They hurt just as much as we do with the loss of a child. I cannot help but feel some guilt when I think of all we have back home and how much of this could be prevented by simple childhood immunizations and basic health care. I once heard an African pastor read 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, but each time he got to a body part he substituted a country-USA, Sudan, Kenya, England, and Cameroon etc. You get the point. Are we really functioning like the body of Christ? How can we have so much and not share with those who have so little?

Why does Christ say that the kingdom belongs to little children? Their innocence, their unquestioning faith, their absolute trust in Him, their simplicity? The children were not afraid of Jesus. Are we afraid to really let our guard down and just be our true self with Him? He was never too busy to stop for the least of His world. I can see Jesus playing and laughing with the children. Jesus reached out and touched them. Should we do less?

“Life is a flame that is always burning itself out, but it catches fire again, every time a child is born.” - George Bernard Shaw

Pray for the children and those called by God to bring health care to them. Pray for all the families who have lost so many children.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. Proverbs 15:30

The Lord occasionally gives us the opportunity to help change a life. We had been in Werkok, Sudan for more than a week when Joy (Joy and Dave Mueller, long term missionaries with PCC) told us about a little girl with a cleft lip. She lived in Padak, a village 10 miles to the north. We had been trying to contact her family without success to let them know that a surgical team was coming in and could repair her cleft lip. Children with cleft lips are ostracized by society now as they were in Biblical times. A team from CMA (another partner Christian organization with an outpost in Padak) just “happened” to drive by our compound. We asked them if they knew of the little girl and they knew where she was and told us they would contact her. Several days later her father brought her to us for evaluation. She was a beautiful little 4-5 year old girl who would not smile because of her deformity. When Drs. Bert Oubre (Cutting Edge Foundation) and Jim Munis arrived, they talked with the father and girl about surgery and repairing her cleft lip. The family quickly accepted and surgery was planned. The little girl was a trooper – she did not even cry when her IV was started. The team had prayer with her and her father and then proceeded with surgery. The wounds healed well and without infection. Two days later she was a new person. She and her father had smiles from ear to ear. Her life will now be different. The little girl's name had been Nyanachek-which in Dinka means one with a deformity. After the surgery, the father had a renaming ceremony and changed her name to Deborah, in honor of Dr. Oubre's wife. She will now be able to be accepted by her people, find a husband and hopefully lead a normal life. I wonder what the Lord is going to do in her life.

Pray for the true healing which comes from our Lord Jesus Christ. Pray for the medical personnel on the mission field.

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? Psalm 56:3-4

We left the US for Sudan in early January of 2008. We had all been following the news of the political and social turmoil in Nairobi, Kenya. We had to fly in and out of Nairobi to get to our destination in Sudan. We watched the riots and read of the numbers killed and displaced by the violence. We had conference calls together and prayed a lot. What should we do? The only correct human answer was to not go. To fly into such uncertain conditions was not wise. I had many Christian friends questioning the wisdom of continuing on with the trip. The State Department had a travel advisory to avoid travel to Kenya unless absolutely necessary. There was much that needed to be done in Sudan and if we did not go it most likely would not get done. In addition to setting up the clinic and providing much needed medical care we needed to take in medial and building supplies for the hospital project in Sudan, set up the compound for the surgical and building teams coming in after us and keep our word to the people of Werkok that we would return. We went. It was a strange feeling sitting in a 777 that can carry 300 people with only 50 passengers on board. Most all of us were missionaries or aid workers. We talked and prayed on the flight from London to Nairobi. The trip from the Kenyatta Airport to the Mayfield Guest House was very quiet. In a city of about 4 million people, the only ones out were the police and military. Two days later, we left Nairobi via Wilson Airport and flew up to Loke and then onto Werkok. All of our flights went well and were uneventful. A month later we retraced our path back to Nairobi and then home. Nairobi was much different then. People were out and about, businesses were open and traffic was back to normal. Now we are all back home safe and sound.

I struggled with going on this trip. After I got to Sudan, I felt a deep peace and felt at that time I had made the right decision, but I did not feel that way until then. I know and accept the risks involved in missionary work, and I think the Lord has called us to be wise in what we do. I search and pray for divine guidance and always pray that I am doing this for the Lord and not for me. Struggle is part of the Christian life. It was a good and blessed trip. Stories will follow.

“If you live for the next world, you get this one in the deal: but if you live only for this world, you lose them both.” - C. S. Lewis

Pray for wisdom from above in all we do. Do not pray for your life to be easy but for the strength thorough Jesus Christ to live your life as He wants.

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

What is the truth? Many today do not believe in absolute truth – everything is relative. The Bible is not just a book, but a doorway into the spiritual reality of God himself. Jesus is the absolute truth. God's word is the absolute truth. God exists, loves us, wants a personal relationship with us and wants to set us free. Free from what? Free from the penalty of our sins – free from our past, we are new In Christ – free from guilt – free from the fear of death: we have eternal life – free to know that there is much more than this world; this world is only a dim shadow of the spiritual reality all around us – free to trust in Jesus who will always be with us through all of life's trials – free to let go of all our false assumptions, like we are in control of this life – free from the fear of illness; we know Jesus will ultimately heal us – free to know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him – free to know that when this life ends we will open our eyes and be in the arms of Jesus for eternity. The list goes on and on. Accept a life changing relationship with the creator of all. Meditate on the freedoms you have in Christ and give Him all the glory, honor and praise.

I will be in Sudan for the next several weeks with teams from CEF, PCC and CMA. We would appreciate your prayers. I will resume writing when I return, as God wills.

“Beauty is truth, truth beauty; that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.” - John Keats

Meditate on God's eternal truths every day. Thank Jesus for showing us the truth. Pray for peace in Kenya, Sudan and in all the earth and that all may come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. Amen.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28

My list is certainly not exhaustive, and I do not want it to be. I only wanted to point out some of the obvious problems that I see-in myself and others.

I hope these musings on rest and sharing my thoughts will help keep you close to Jesus this season.

Lord help us to rest in your arms. We pray for peace in Sudan and other countries where there is conflict. Thank you for the gift of your son, Jesus. Amen.

The Christmas season has always been difficult for me. I obviously know that we as Christians celebrate the birth of Christ at this time of year, but I tend to get overwhelmed by the busyness and materialism of the world around me. Memories from the past bubble up to the surface of my awareness and I reflect on the death of my parents and others who have been close to me. It becomes a time of introspection for me as I review my past and present and consider how things could have been different. For me, the time leading up to Christmas is a time of unrest.

Lord help us to rest in your arms. We pray for peace in Sudan and other countries where there is conflict. Thank you for the gift of your son, Jesus. Amen.

“Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.” Isaiah 40:31 NASB

God is interested in our availability to serve Him, not our abilities. If we wait (are available and willing), He will use us and give us strength to accomplish those things He wants us to do. The Bible is filled with stories of people with limited abilities, but were used in a mighty way. As we ponder what God wants us to do with our lives, wait on the Lord and He will provide the strength and endurance to accomplish His purposes. Our project at CEF cannot be done on the strength and abilities of our members – we must humble ourselves before the Lord and work with His strength. We will fail if we attempt to do this with only our human skills and talents.

“Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils. But if God be for you, who can be against you?” - John Wesley in letter to William Wilberforce

Lord help us to wait on you. Give us strength and endurance to accomplish those things that you want us to do. We pray for peace around the world, but especially in Sudan where there have been so many years of trouble. Amen.

¹⁰Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.”
And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
¹¹So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. ¹²And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”
¹³Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. ¹⁴And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”
¹⁵But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. ¹⁶For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
¹⁷And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. Acts 9:10-18

Hebrews 11 is called the heroes of faith chapter and many are mentioned starting with Abraham onward. I think Ananias belongs in the heroes of our faith. Look at what he was asked to do. He was asked to restore the sight to a man who had been persecuting those of the Christian faith. Saul held coats while Stephen was being stoned! We can understand when Ananias questioned God's command to restore his sight. Imagine that during WWII Hitler was struck down and lost his eye sight and a Jew was asked to go in and restore his sight. I think that is a good analogy to what Ananias had to do. He was a man of faith and followed God's orders.

There are many heroes of faith. Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley and the list goes on and on. During the years of civil war in Sudan, I am sure there were many heroes of faith. While in Werkok, I meet one of those heroes – Bishop Nathaniel Garang. He stayed in southern Sudan during the long years of war and helped keep the light of Jesus burning during a very dark period of time. I loved sitting around the campfire listening to his stories. I was impressed by the respect shown to him by his fellow Sudanese.

Let us always pause and give thanks for those who have labored to uphold the faith during difficult times. One day we may be called to stand up for our faith during a difficult time and we can draw courage and strength from those who have gone before.

“Cowards die many times before their death; the valiant never taste of death but once.” - William Shakespeare

Lord, thank you for the stories of heroes in the Bible that we may learn from and use as examples to follow. Thank you for all the many heroes of faith that shine brightly to inspire us onward to the goal – to know You and share your story with a lost and fallen world. Amen.

We all know the story. Peter, the bold and fiery disciple, pledged to be with Jesus and die for him. (Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.” John 13:37). During the first trial before Annas Peter denied knowing Jesus and during the second trial before Caiaphas Peter denied him two more times. In John 21 after his resurrection, Christ asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Christ was reaching out to bring an obviously heartbroken Peter back into the fold. Peter got over his failure and went on to fulfill his destiny in Christ and become the “rock” of the church that Christ had predicted he would become.

How often do we let our failures in life define who we are? How often do we let our past failures continue to haunt us and chain us to our past? Satan wants to keep us bound up and feeling guilty, but Christ came to free us from condemnation. If we remain chained to our past failures, we cannot be useful to Christ in the present. We need to know the truth that we all will stumble, but Christ is there to pick us up, forgive us (he already has), and set us back on the path of righteousness in Christ. We need to remember Paul's words, “one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13b-14). We need to not let our past make us feel guilty and prevent us from working for the kingdom of God.

“The church of Jesus Christ is a fellowship of forgiven failures.” - Jon Bloom

Lord, please help us to forgive ourselves as you have already forgiven us. Help us to not be chained to our past but know the reality of the future we have with you. Amen

In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 2 Timothy 3:12

Peter said, “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.” 1 Peter 4:12

“Tears are often the telescope by which men see far into heaven.” - Henry Ward Beecher

Lord, please wrap your arms around me and let me feel your presence in a mighty way. I want to touch you, feel you, see your face. Be with me as I go through life's trials. Only with your strength Lord can I survive. Amen

Author Richard Swenson MD talks about overload syndrome, how we pack so much into our daily lives that we have no “margin”. The only way to develop our intimate relationship with Jesus (and others) is to spend time with Him. Do you realize that one hour is only 4% of our day? How many of us spend one hour per day seeking the Lord through Bible reading and prayer? I know that I do not.

The pace of life in Africa is much slower than here. During my trips to Africa, it is difficult for me to adapt to the slower pace of life. I get so used to the hurry…hurry…hurry pace here that my internal rhythm is always set on full speed. It is very difficult for most of us to back off the conveyer belt of life and take time to be with Jesus. We need to seek first His kingdom. One way to capture more time is to have planned periods of solitude. Jesus considered time alone with His Father important and so should we. The Scriptures tell us that Jesus often went off by himself to spend time in prayer with His Father.

How much less stress we all would have if we would learn from our African brothers and sisters and slow down our pace of life. At the end of our days when we are before the throne, I am sure we will not wish we had spent more time at work or in committee meetings or even on hobbies or in sports. We will wish we had spent more time deepening our relationship with God and others.

“Death is a friend of ours; he that is not ready to entertain him is not at home.” - Francis Bacon

Lord, teach us to valve our time and to use it wisely. Help us to know you in a very real, deep and personal way. Amen

¹³Then Haggai, the LORD’s messenger, spoke the LORD’s message to the people, saying, “I am with you, says the LORD.” ¹⁴So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, ¹⁵on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month, in the second year of King Darius. Haggai 1:13-15

As the Jews were rebuilding the city, temple, and walls of Jerusalem they faced great opposition. The environment was harsh and growing crops and taking care of even their basic needs was difficult. The neighboring people were not helpful and even threatened to attack. Despite all the odds the city and temple were rebuilt and Nehemiah rebuilt the wall in 52 days! How did this happen? The people were “stirred up” by God's spirit.

How easy it is to try to rely on our strengths. We need a constant reminder that we need to rely on Christ's strength not our own. We can do all things through Him; without Him we can do nothing. (Philippians 4:13, John 15:5)

The Sudanese are returning to a harsh environment and a country which has been devastated by over 20 years of civil war. The infrastructure is gone. Schools, churches, and hospitals were destroyed in the conflict. Not only do we plan to help by providing medical care, we are reaching out into the community to help in the rebuilding process. Most importantly we need to keep our eyes on Jesus and seek and follow His guidance in the rebuilding process. We are there to share the love of Christ through word and deed. Please join us as we work hand in hand with the Sudanese to help them rebuild their world. Everyone is not called by God to travel to Sudan to rebuild cities, provide medical care, and spread God's Word, but we are all called to devote ourselves to helping our Christian brothers and sisters in whatever ways we can. Ask the Holy Spirit to remove the scales from our eyes and let us see the tremendous needs of the world around us.

“In a civil war the firing line is invisible; it passes through the hearts of men.” - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Lord, please always remind us that we can do all things only through you and teach us to not rely on our own power. Amen

³Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, ⁴“Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” ⁵Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: “Consider your ways!
⁶“You have sown much, and bring in little;
You eat, but do not have enough;
You drink, but you are not filled with drink;
You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;
And he who earns wages,
Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.” ⁷Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Consider your ways! ⁸Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the LORD. Haggai 1:3-8

I have been studying the return of the Jews to Jerusalem in 538 BC. The Jewish Diaspora had been living in Babylon for 48 years. Many of the Jews became comfortable in the new culture. Only a small remnant of the Jews who left in the deportations returned home to rebuild Jerusalem, the temple, and their lives. Under the leadership of Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah they made the 300 mile journey from Babylon to Jerusalem. Eighteen years went by as they resettled in Jerusalem. Then the Lord spoke to them through the prophet Haggai and told them it was time to rebuild the temple.

The history of southern Sudan is similar in many ways. During the more than twenty years of civil war, many Sudanese were killed and many left their country to settle in the relative safety of the surrounding countries. Now many of the southern Sudanese are returning home to a country which has been ravaged by civil war. They are now in the process of rebuilding their country just as were the Jew returning to Jerusalem.

How comfortable have we become in our culture? How difficult is it for us to get less involved in our cultural activities and pursue activities for the Kingdom of God? It is easy to criticize the majority of Jews for choosing not to return home to rebuild Jerusalem, but would we have been any different? We need to reconsider our ways and make intentional choices to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). The ways of the world can be subtle and seductive and can appear to be the right way, but we, as God's children, through prayer and with the direction of the Holy Spirit must make choices with God's kingdom in mind.

Lord, please bring comfort to those who need it and for those of us who are too comfortable use your Spirit to arouse us to awaken and be about Your work.

And Jesus said “let the little children come to me and do not hinder them for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. Matthew 19:14-15

The Dinka are a very dark skin population and tend to have very sparse facial and body hair. I love working with the little children, watching them as they come into the clinic for visits. I love to look into their eyes as their mother stops and sits down with them. You can see them gazing at me with curiosity. I tried to imagine what is going through their minds. Often as the younger children sit in the mother's lap, they will reach out and stroke the hair on my forearm - you can just see the little wheels turning inside his mind: “Mom, not only is this guy white; he's got fur.” I gaze at these beautiful children, frequently deeply saddened. I realize that for the lack of a simple mosquito net, they may well contract malaria and die. For lack of a simple immunization, they may contract polio or pertusis and die from a disease which is easily preventable. For lack of clean water, they can get diarrhea and dehydration and die. But even more importantly than their physical health is the fact that these children may die before knowing about Christ. They are so young, beautiful and innocent. My heart just breaks when I think about their future. But I do have hope: hope that it can be different, hope that through groups like CEF and other NGO's working in Sudan, Chad, and in other countries we can make an impact – one life at a time and provide clean water, medication, immunizations, mosquito nets, and most importantly, the story of Jesus Christ.

Lord, be with the children all over the world. Draw them close to you, protect them, put a burden on our hearts to do all that we can to reach out and help them. In Christ's name, amen.

The burden is great: sickness, suffering, accidents, poverty, starvation, tragedy abounds all around us. In the medical clinic, it frequently seems like endless days and endless crowds of patients waiting to be seen. It is so easy to get overwhelmed. At times like this, I remember the story ,“The Star Thrower”, written by Loren Eiseley in the 1960's. Allow me to paraphrase the story and share it with you: In the northeastern United States, along the coastal region of Maine there was a great northeastern storm which blew in. For many days, the mighty winds roared, seas churned and the waves crashed upon the beach. Finally, the storm cleared and calmness returned. A man went for a walk on the beach to survey the damage and to see what had washed ashore. As he was walking down the beach, he saw thousands of starfish washed up all over the beach along with many shells and miscellaneous treasures from the ocean. As he looked further down the beach, he could see a man walking towards him. The man would walk up to the dry sand, pick something up, wade out into the ocean, throw it into the ocean, and then return and do it again. He would do this over and over and over again. Finally as he got closer to the man, he could see what he was doing. This man was reaching down, picking up a starfish, wading out to the ocean and throwing it back into the ocean. Walking up to the man, he asked - “What are you doing, how can you possibly think you are going to make any difference? There are thousands and thousands and thousands of these starfish washed ashore.” The man calmly looked at him, smiled, reached down, picked up one starfish, walked out into the ocean, and threw it back in. He turned to him and with a smile said, “Made a difference to that one.” To me that is the way we need to look at life. We need to reach out to one soul at a time, one individual at a time, one life at a time. If we look out and see the magnitude of that which is before us, it is easy to get overwhelmed. If we do as Jesus did, seeing each as an individual and take one life at a time, that is a Godly perspective.

Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap the harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

Lord, help me to never give up in working for you and your kingdom and to reach out to try and touch one life at a time. In Christ's name, Amen.

And then he said to his disciples, “the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest therefore to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:37-38

The latest data I could find on Christian missionaries was from 2002. The world population is approximately six billion people. There are now approximately 140,000 protestant missionaries. Approximately 64,000 of which are from the United States but only 6% of these missionaries to go Islamic countries. It is sad when we consider the greater than one billion Muslims in the world and the very few number of missionaries who are reaching out to them. I remember the story in Luke 16 of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man went down to Hades and Lazarus ascended into the heavens. The rich man from Hades begged for Lazarus just to put his finger in the water and put a drop of water onto his tongue and to send a message to his brothers so they could avoid his fate. I remember reading somewhere the story, that if we could truly imagine what it would be like to be present when one lost soul is cast out from God's presence and has to descend into hell for an eternity, it would change out lives and cause us to want to reach out to others and share with them the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Lord, we as Christians and our churches, need to awaken from our apathy, to see that there is a lost and fallen world around us and that literally millions are dying without the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

Lord, we trust in you and your justice, in your mercy and your wisdom. Lord, we pray that you will help awaken us from our slumber, give us a passionate fire inside of us to reach out to those who do not know you.

Lord, we pray for all the people who do not know you. Lord, we pray that they may come to know you. Lord, help us to reach out to them in whatever way that we can to share your story with them. In Christ's name, Amen.

Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers fear God, honor the king. 1 Peter 2:17

My father spent 24 years in the army and retired as a chief master sergeant. He was raised in rural Pennsylvania, lived through the depression, lied about his age to get into the army, went through World War II and Korea and along with others of his generation worked to rebuild our country after World War II. My father insisted on respect. In our house there was always, “yes ma'am, no ma'am, yes sir and no sir” or the consequences were not good for your physical health. Unfortunately, disrespect has risen in our culture where it is epidemic. Respect for elders is a strong feature of the Dinka culture. I remember meeting Bishop Nathaniel Garang on my first trip to Werkok, Sudan. Bishop Nathaniel Garang is a relative of John Garang, who was the leader of the SPLA resistance movement in southern Sudan for greater than 20 years. John Garang has, unfortunately, recently died in a helicopter accident. I observed that when the Dinkas would meet Bishop Nathaniel Garang, they would take their left hand and place it over their right elbow, bow, and shake hands. Why do they do this ? To show respect. This is the way they show respect to their elders. They cherish their elders as a storehouse of wisdom and experience. How truly different that is here in Sudan than amongst our culture in America.

“When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant that I could hardly stand to have the old man around, but when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years.” - Mark Twain

Lord, help us to learn to show proper respect to everyone. In Christ's name, amen.

Brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. My message and my preaching were not with wise or persuasive words but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power so that your faith may not rest on man's wisdom but on God's power. 1 Corinthians 2:1,4-5

During my trips to Sudan, I have been asked to preach at several churches. On my first trip to Sudan, I flew into Nairobi, Kenya. I had a two day layover stop in Nairobi, so I was on my way to stay at the Methodist Guest House and then fly up to Sudan. At the airport, we rode into town in a van provided by the Methodist guest house. I rode up front and started a conversation with Dominique, our driver. Dominique was a bishop at the local Pentecostal church. He asked me if I had any plans for church the next day, as the next day was Sunday, and I told him that I did not. He asked me to go to his church and I gladly accepted. When we arrived at the Methodist Guest House that night, he told me he had been praying as we were driving to the house and he had felt that the Lord wanted me to deliver the message at his church the next day! After several deep breaths and a bullet prayer to Jesus, I accepted his offer. I prayed about what message God wanted me to share and God gave me peace as I realized that the message was His, all the power was His and all I had to do was faithfully tell His story as best I could. The next day, we rode to a small wooden church in a poor part of Nairobi. There were simple wooden benches, the earth for a floor, no windows but a beautiful spirit was present in this church. I read the story of Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus. I emphasized how important were Paul's two questions for all Christians to answer for themselves. The first question was - Who are you God? The second was - What do you want me to do? I talked about how important it is to truly known God and to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and then find out what is God's will for your life. What does he want you to do? As I spoke in English and it was translated in Swahili, I did not worry. I knew the power was not with me but with the word of God.

My word that goes out from my mouth, it will not return to be empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

Lord Jesus, thank you for providing the Bible, your holy living word for us. Help me to truly understand your word and to be able to faithfully share it with others. Help me to hide it in my heart. Thank you Lord Jesus. In Christ's name, amen

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. The earth is full of his glory. Isaiah 6:3

While working in southern Sudan, it is easy to be overwhelmed by the desperate needs of the people and the starkness of the surrounding desert environment. I was seeing the stark barren landscape and not seeing the glory of God which was all around. But God opened my eyes - I saw the beauty in the sunrises and sunsets. I gazed at His beautiful birds and wonderfully strange insects. I stood in awe as I looked at the expanse of the stars during the nights and pondered the words of the hymn, “How Great Thou Art”. One night as we ran the generator to provide lights for our compound, thousands of fireflies came in and we literally had a wall of living, flashing lights. What an awesome display! Then I pondered over Paul's words in Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,” Lord, your creation does display your glory and the truth that there had to be a creator for all of this. There is no way this could have happened randomly. Those who believe in the primordial soup are believing in a fairytale that requires more blind faith to believe, than to believe in you, our creator.

Lord, open my eyes, remove the scales from my eyes and let me see your glory all around me. Lord, please do not let me take for granted the many miraculous displays of your glory. Do not let these miracles become ordinary to me. In Christ's name, amen.

That same day, Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake, such large crowds gathered around him, that he got into a boat and sat in it while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables. Matthew 13:1-3

We learn many of God's deep truths through stories or parables. For me, God has used two primary methods to help teach me the deep truths of his word. I love studying God's word, taking classes, listening to lectures and all of this has helped me to increase my understanding of his word. But the great truths that have pierced me to the core of my soul, I have learned through stories or parables both in the Bible and through contemporary stories that God has put in my path. The other times of great learning have come through times of suffering or adversity. The brain is able to process information much faster and remembers much more vividly when it has a picture or image to work with. We all have those images permanently seared on our memory of past experiences, stories and events that are as fresh now in our memory as they were the day that they happened. We think in images, not in words and Jesus of course knew that. I think that is one of the reasons why he used parables to teach his points and not extensive theological lectures. Somehow the truth revealed through stories, adversities or suffering penetrate through our superficial intellectual mind and bore straight through into our soul.

“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls. The most massive characters are seared with scars.” - E. H. Chapman

Lord Jesus, thank your for your stories that help me know you more deeply and clearly. In Christ's name, Amen.

Jesus, reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing, he said, be clean.” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. Matthew 8:3

In Africa, I have often had the opportunity to work with patients with leprosy. They are pretty much ostracized by culture now, just as they were in biblical times. I often get to see other patients with “untouchable” conditions - chronic ulcers and various other visible ailments which make them pariahs or outcasts of society. Jesus frequently touched the untouchables in his society – the lepers, the prostitutes, the tax collectors. As I have reached out and physically touched these patient's, you can see the relief and amazement in their eyes as someone shows compassion and love to them by physically touching them. We live in a very high tech society and underestimate the power of a simple touch or hug. There have been many times back home that I have been at the bedside of patients who were dying or at other times of crisis. I did not have any great words of wisdom but I could sit and hold a hand or give a hug or cry with them. We need to realize that the simplest act of compassion is frequently that of just being with somebody and providing touch. Jesus did and so should we.

“I see Jesus in every human being. I say to myself this is hungry Jesus, I must feed him. This is sick Jesus, this one has leprosy or gangrene, I must wash him and tend to him. I serve because I love Jesus.” - Mother Teresa

Lord Jesus, help us to remember that you frequently reach and touch those who are considered untouchable. Help me to reach out and touch those who are the untouchables in my society and share with them the love of Christ In Christ's name, amen.

During my November/December trip to Werkok, Sudan, in 2006, I was asked to deliver the message at the church in the village. Southern Sudan is primarily populated by the Dinka tribes. They rely primarily on cattle for thier welfare and a lot of their culture centers around the cattle. I asked my interpreter to help me understand their culture so I could find some examples to use with the scripture I was using. We were talking about all being one in Christ and the unity that exists among believers and being adopted into God's family. Peter, my interpreter, shared a beautiful example with me. He said the Dinka all raised herds of cattle and the cattle are frequently very different colors - they vary from white, black, brown and rust colored but when they are milked, they all give the same color milk. He said that is how we are in Christ Jesus. We may externally appear different but internally, we are all the same. What a great example to show the unity of Christ. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” Gal 3:28. The next day, as I was speaking in church and using his example, I could see the heads in the congregation nodding in understanding as I was using this example to demonstrate the unity we have in Christ. When we visit and live in other cultures, we need first to seek to understand their culture and learn their language to help us share our faith and love of God in ways that are meaningful to them. God's truth transcends all cultures in all times and is as relevant to us today as it was 2000 years ago.

Lord, help us find ways to reach out to others and to share your message in ways that are meaningful and can be understood by those around us. In Christ's name, Amen.

And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” Romans 10:15

While staying at the Mayfield Inn in Nairobi, I met a young missionary couple from Tanzania. They were in Nairobi for a period of rest from the rigors of their remote mission assignment. As we came to know each other, they shared that they were becoming quite discouraged because of multiple problems at their village and the lack of visible fruit from the ministry. I shared with them the incredible story of Svea Flood. We talked and prayed and I hope that they felt reassured in their mission. The story of the Flood missionary family lifted their hearts and helped to give them encouragement to go on. The life of a fulltime missionary is difficult. They need our continuing prayers and support as they are working to build up God's kingdom. Wayne and Pam Elliott have been our first CEF missionaries in Chad for the last several years. Life has often been difficult for them. Pray for them, lift them up to the Lord. Pray for them as they work to help complete the medical facility and to reach the lost for Christ.

“Lord send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. Sever any tie but the tie that binds me to thyself.” - David Livingston

Lord always remind me to pray for your missionaries. Let them feel you presence in a mighty way. Lead, guide and direct all they do. In Christ's name, Amen.

“For I know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

As the postoperative days passed by, mother and child gradually stabilized and improved. Mother had great difficulty initiating breast feeding but Debbie tirelessly worked with her and largely through her efforts the mother was able to successfully continue breast feeding. The mother was so thankful for Debbie's help that she asked her permission to call her baby, Deborah in honor of Debbie. Debbie graciously accepted and we were pleased that there would be a Baby Debbie in southern Sudan. After four days, we had to catch our plane to fly off to the next village. There was no one in the village to continue giving parenteral antibiotics so we stopped the parenteral medication and switched over to oral antibiotics. When we left, both mother and child were doing better but they were still ar risk for complications after the ordeal they had been through. Several months passed by and my friend Dr. Hopper went on a mission trip to southern Sudan and stayed at Lohutok. My eyes opened wide and my heart sang when he sent me a picture of the mother and her beautiful baby daughter, Debbie, both healthy and doing well. I am not sure what plans God has for Baby Debbie but in my heart, I feel that there must be something special in her future. To God be all the honor and glory.

Heavenly Father, I want to pray for the children all over the world. There is much hunger and illness. Lord we pray for your beautiful children, protect them, watch over them. In Christ's name, amen.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to the God. Philippians 4:6

The conditions were primitive to say the least. The room had one open window to provide light and ventilation. Unfortunately, it also had no screen and provided a steady stream of flying insects, including wasps the size of small birds. It was very hot in the room and we all were perspiring heavily. We used alcohol to clean the instruments and prep her abdomen. We used the plastic sheets for drapes. We all prayed fervently because we knew this would not work without the Lord's help. I started the IV, administered the ketamine and served as both the anesthesiologist and surgical assistant. Debbie worked as our circulating nurse and tried to find whatever else we needed during the surgery. Burt had spent many years in Africa and had done many cesarean sections before but none under conditions as primitive as this. As the light faded, I held a mag light so that Burt could see to finish the operation. We delivered the baby and she was in surprisingly good shape. Her APGAR scores were good but she was febrile. I was sure that she was septic after three days being in the mother's womb with ruptured membranes. After we had stabilized the baby as best we could, we turned out attention back to the mother. The placenta was very scarred down and could not be separated from the uterus. Now, in addition to doing the cesarean section, we were going to have to do an emergency hysterectomy. With great skill and copious prayers, Burt performed the hysterectomy. We were finally able to get the surgical wounds closed and finished the surgery. Now that the emergency delivery and surgery were done, we attended to the medical needs of the mother and child. Both were likely septic and we looked to see what antibiotics were available. We found some amoxicillin and gentamicin and gave the mother and child a dose of both. We prayed and thanked the Lord for his provision. What a day for our first day at the village of Lohutok!

“God has not called me to be successful. He's called me to be faithful.” - Mother Teresa

Heavenly Father, I thank you for being with us and calming our anxious thoughts. Knowing that you are always with us gives us strength to persevere even under difficult circumstances. In Christ's name, amen.

And God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Philippians 4:19-20

As Bert, Debbie, and I entered the OB ward, we saw a pregnant woman lying on a stretcher in the corner. She was sweating profusely and looked truly near death. I walked over and checked her pulse which was very weak and thready. I asked Michael, the medical assistant, what was going on. She had been in labor for three days with ruptured membranes, her baby was in the breech presentation, and they had been unable to deliver the baby. The midwife had tried everything that she knew to do but nothing was successful. After three days of labor and ruptured membranes, both mother and baby were getting toxic, septic, and rapidly approaching death. They had no way to transfer her to any other facility and at this point they were waiting for her and her child to die! The husband had accepted the reality of her impending death and returned to their village to care for the other children. We looked at each other, knowing that God had called us here to intervene. We had not intended to do any surgery and did not bring much in the way of surgical supplies. We surveyed what we had and came up with several vials of medicine for anesthesia but we found little else. We searched the supplies available through the clinic and the hospital and were able to find basic scalpels, sutures, alcohol and a few plastic drapes. There were a few very old and rusty surgical instruments. Steve and Iris Matussak, a new missionary family, had just moved into the village two weeks before we arrived. Iris was a trained midwife and had a box of OB equipment! Even more incredible was the fact that Iris had been given this box by Dr. Hopper from Princeton, West Virginia, just 30 miles from my home in Pearisburg, VA. Now we had enough supplies and instruments to attempt a cesarean section. God will provide. No major surgery had ever been done in this village before.

“Tears are often the telescope by which men see far into Heaven.” - Henry Ward Beecher

Heavenly Father, thank you for always being with us. Thank you for your promise that you will never leave us nor forsake us. Thank you for always providing for our needs especially at times when circumstances are difficult. In Jesus' name, amen.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witness in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8

Many people would consider Sudan and Chad the ends of the earth. In January of 2006, CEF, along with Partners in Compassion Care and Christian Mission Aid, sent a short-term mission team into southern Sudan to visit several of the villages, provide medical clinics and assess their need for additional medical services. Dan Sponner, our pilot, carefully landed the Caravan on the dirt runway outside the village of Lohutok, southern Sudan. Dr. Burt Oubre, Debbie Williamson and myself were part of the CEF team coming in to hold medical clinics and to evaluate the medical needs of the local villages. We carried in basic medical supplies which we had picked up in Nairobi and were paid for by Voice of the Martyrs. We were greeted by the village elders and escorted to our tukals (mud huts) which were to be our home for the next week. After we dropped off our possessions, we were given a tour of the village and then taken to the hospital/clinic in the village. Approximately 40-years-ago, there had been a medical missionary doctor who lived in this village. But after he left, no other physician had been in this village. The clinic was your basic cinderblock building constructed on a concrete slab. There was a small laboratory area, a clinic area, a medical/surgical ward area and an OB ward. There was no electricity or running water. They did have a lab tech that could do basic tests such as malaria preps and parasitic stool examinations. There was no x-ray facility. They did have a medical assistant, Michael, who had worked as a medical aid with SPLA during the war years. There was a local midwife to help with deliveries. This was your typical, remote, rural medical facility in southern Sudan. As we toured through the facility, little did we know what the Lord had prepared for us.

Lord, thank you for your Holy Spirit to empower us to be your witnesses and to share your story with peoples even to the ends of the earth. In Jesus' name, amen.

Whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. Matthew 20:40

In December of 2006, I had been working in Werkok, Sudan, for the last month running medical clinics. Everyday, 40 to 80 people would show up form the medical clinic. There were many cases of malaria, dysentery, tuberculosis, parasitic infections, and other tropical diseases. We started the clinic at 8:30 in the morning and we would work until everyone was seen that day. Usually the clinic would finish before two o'clock in the afternoon. The afternoons became so intensely hot (over 100 degrees) it became very difficult to continue working. Late one day, as I was finishing seeing the last few patients in the clinic, a young Sudanese woman came in with her two healthy robust sons. My thoughts were less than pure as I saw her approaching - “What is she doing here with these two healthy robust looking children? Didn't she know that I was hot and tired and would like to take a break and have something to drink and sit under the shade for a while?” She approached and sat down and through my interpreter, told me of how in Janurary her children had been very severely ill and she had been very afraid that they would die. She had brought them to see me, I treated them and they had gotten well. She came back this time because she just wanted me to see how well her beautifully two sons were doing and to say thank you. I was truly humbled and bowed my head and asked God for forgiveness for my earlier thoughts. Lord, thank you for this precious gift in reminding me why I am here. I am here to serve others, to love you and to love them with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.

“One of the world's worst tragedies is that we allow our hearts to shrink until there is no room in them for little besides ourselves.” - A. W. Tozier

Lord, help me to remember that you came to serve and that you are my model. Help me to truly love you with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. Help me to lover others the same way and to serve them as you would. In Jesus name, amen.

Whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. Matthew 20:40

In November and December of 2006, I had been working in Werkok, Sudan, running medical clinics. Everyday 40 to 80 people would come for treatment. There were many cases of malaria, dysentery, tuberculosis, parasitic infections, and other tropical diseases. We started the clinic at 8:30 in the morning and would work until everyone was seen. Usually the clinic would finish before two o'clock in the afternoon. The afternoons became so intensely hot (over 100 degrees) it became very difficult to continue working. Late one day, as I was finishing seeing the last few patients in the clinic, a young Sudanese woman came in with her two healthy robust sons. My thoughts were less than pure as I saw her approaching - “What is she doing here with these two healthy robust looking children? Didn't she know that I was hot and tired and would like to take a break and have something to drink and sit in the shade for a while?” She sat down and through my interpreter told me of how in January, on my previous trip there, her children had been very ill and she had been afraid that they would die. She had brought her children to see me at the clinic. I treated them and they had gotten well. She walked a long distance carrying her sons so I could see how well her beautiful two sons were doing and to say thank you. I was truly humbled and bowed my head and asked God for forgiveness for my earlier thoughts. Lord, thank you for this precious gift in reminding me why I am here. I am here to serve others, to love you and to love them with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.

“One of the world's worst tragedies is that we allow our hearts to shrink until there is no room in them for little besides ourselves.” - A. W. Tozer

Dear Heavenly Father, give me dreams and visions of what you want me to do for your kingdom. Give me the strength to work to make those dreams come true for the growth of your kingdom. In Jesus' name, amen.

CEF is sending weekly devotionals to keep you informed of our mission activities and share our stories with you. We hope you will be blessed, challenged, and drawn closer to God.

I will pour out my Spirit on all peoples, your sons and daughters will prophesy, old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Joel 2:28

In 2002, the Cutting Edge Foundation was born as a dream or vision by a group of Godly men and women. We felt a call to try and make a difference in the provision of medical care to some of the most remote parts of Africa, especially in areas in the 10/40 window, where there is a large Islamic population. By provision of medical care, we wanted to show them the love of Christ in action and by doing that, have an opportunity to share with them the Gospel story of Jesus Christ. What started out as a dream, through the provision of God, is now becoming a reality. We now have construction underway on a parcel of land just outside N'Djamena, the capitol of Chad. We are also working together with our partner organizations, Partners in Compassion and Care and Christian Medical Aid, to staff a medical facility in Werkok, southern Sudan. Please join with us as we labor to finish this task and share Christ with a lost and fallen world. This vision is being fulfilled by individual Christians (not governmental support) who feel called to support God's outreach into some of the world's most difficult areas.

“Do all the good you can by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, to all the people you can, as long as you can.” - John Wesley

We are now going to send weekly devotionals to keep you informed of what is going on with our mission and share our stories with you. We hope you will enjoy them and that they will challenge you and draw you closer to God.

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him. Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:17-18

The infant mortality rate in the United States is 6.4 deaths per 1,000 live births. In Sudan, it is 61 deaths per 1,000 live births. In Chad, it is 91.4 deaths per 1,000 live births. Current life expectancy in the United States is 77.8 years, in Sudan 59 years and in Chad 47 years. As you let the cold reality of these statistics enter into your heart, realize that the statistics for Sudan are basically for northern Sudan. The statistics in southern Sudan would likely be almost identical to the ones in Chad. The need for even basic medical care is immense in Chad and Sudan. Many are dying before they even have a chance to make a start in life. Infant under five mortality rates are incredibly high. Everyday approximately 10,000 children, mostly in sub- Saharan Africa, die of preventable diseases. The provision of clean water, proper sanitation and immunizations would make a huge impact in these countries. We, at CEF, feel a burden to reach out and help these people who are truly “the least of these.” Please join us in this venture as we strive to bring basic medical care and the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the furthermost corners of the world.

Mike McMahon

“Let my heart be broken by those things that break the heart of God.” - Bob Pierce.

Prayer Power

Lord, open my heart to the needs of the world around me. Let my heart be broken by those things which do indeed break your heart. Show me what part you want me to play in this, and through the strength of your Holy Spirit, help me be obedient to your commands. In Jesus' name, amen.

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