Saturday - May 7, 2005
Dear Pastors and Churches:     Trip to Romanla:
        Except for a day's delay, double charges for extra luggage (I am working on getting a refund), and one lost suitcase (later recovered), our trip back to Romania was uneventful. We returned in the car to Florida where we sold it, were dnven to Tampa airport by Pastor Sheppard, flew to Budapest, Hungary and rode from there to Bocsa, Romania by van. It was a long trip but God supplied grace freely!
   Conditions:
        We rejoiced to be welcomed home by our co-workers and friends here. We found the property to be in good shape (still some paving and fencing needed) and all the equipment operational (except for the Nissan). The supply of literature was low due to increased requests so we immediately set about getting in supplies and beginning reprinting.
   Flooding:
        The first Monday we were home, I took the car into Tirnisoara to get the brakes fixed. On the way we drove through some shallow water over the highway in two places. It was the same on our return, but the next day our little city was an "island." Rivers rose and dikes broke due to the sudden melting of huge amounts of snow in the mountains as well as days and days of heavy rain. The highway to the east and the one to the west of Bocsa were covered with water and thus impassable! Some houses in Bocsa were inundated and one part of town was isolated due to high water.
   Opportunity:
        Hundreds of villages and towns have been and some still are flooded, mostly in the county to the west of ours. Thousands of people have been driven from their homes and no one knows how many houses have been destroyed. Mud-brick walls "melt" as the water rises and the weight of the dry bricks and roofs above cause them to collapse so that entire houses come crashing down. Few people had time or ability to get their household goods out and so lost almost everything. I know that our job is primarily spiritual, but,
"If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?" (James 2:15,16).
    IF any Churches or individuals are led of the Lord to aid in the relief of these flood victims and wish their gifts to go to believers, we will see to it that all your gifts will go directly to these brethren who stand in need. Please MARK YOUR CHECKS "FLOOD VICTIMS" and send them as always to our home Church. We will let them know this help comes from sovereign grace landmark Baptists.
   Bosca Meeting:
        Brother Raul and I continue to preach each Lord's Day morning in the services of the "adunarea baptistilor" (gathering of the Baptists) here in Bocsa. One new Brother has begun regularly attending these services and another who came for awhile and has been kept away by work indicated he intends on attending again. We rejoice in these men and the fact that God has opened their understanding to free grace - in the midst of a society of salvation-by-works.
   Oltenia Preaching Point:
        On the second Sunday after our return, seven excited people greeted Raul and Aurel and me as we arrived in the city in Oltenia we regularly visit. It had been almost a whole year since I had been able to go there. The fellowship was good and I believe God helped in the preaching. One young man was in attendance who had not come for more than a year. We were not able to travel there last Lord's Day, but expect to do so regularly in the future.
   Trip to Poland:
        I have received much help in relief of pain in muscles and tendons caused by the auto- immune disease which I have. This has come through a natural inflamatory oil which I have made inquiries about. but cannot find either in Romania or Hungary. I asked Raul and Aurel to help me make a quick trip by car to Poland, the nearest place I can find this product. So for three days in April we were involved in driving to Warsaw, purchasing a year's supply, and returning to Romania.
   Literature:
        We are presently involved in bringing our stock of literature back to normal levels. This past week we received six requests for all our publications by e-mail. Some of these requests came from university students in Bucuresti. Word-of-mouth advertising is the best method and this is the way our literature ministry has grown. One evening this week a pastor from the N.E. part of the country contacted Brother Raul. He had been in our general area and drove out of his way to pick up a supply of literature to distribute. Some went to another pastor-friend, but most was to be distributed in his city. With the visit came a repeated request that we come and stay with him and preach to his people. So we now have another place to which we feel constrained to go and preach!
    I am amazed at the strength and health God has freely given to me thus far since coming back to Romanial I believe He is using some natural means, such as the anti-inflamatory oil I take twice daily, but know that this would not be beneficial apart from His sovereign will and free grace! And we see the grace of God manifested as you all stand with us in prayer and in your faithful givingl Thank you for your part in this mission work - and praise the Lord for His working in you all 'For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13).
    Pray for the Pughs and Aurel and Raul who labor with us!
    In the cause of God and truth,
    Curtis and Janet Pugh
    curtis@xnet.ro

Preaching Baptist Baptism, the Blood, the Book, and the Blessed Hope

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