CURTIS PUGH
Missionary to Romania
Sponsored By The
GRACE
BIBLE BAPTIST CHURCH
26080 Wax Road
Denham Springs, LA
70726
Elder Jerry Dodson,
Sr. - Pastor
jerrydodsonsr@wmconnect.com
PRAYER LETTER FOR
APRIL, 2006
Friday, May 12, 2006
Dear Pastors and Churches:
“All that
are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be
with you all. Amen” (Titus 3:15).
The
Brothers in Christ who labor with us and Janet and I send along to you
our warmest greetings in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. May God
bless each and all of you as you serve Him!
Bocsa Meeting: Spring is a busy time in Romania as most people
put in a garden and all the work is done by hand – usually after having
a horse plow the ground. But attendance has been steady though the
days are filled with work. We have had one returning visitor and
the candidate for baptism attends faithfully, though he has some health
problems. This month also marks the beginning of regular (and special)
giving to the literature work here in Romania by the “Gathering of the
Baptists” in Bocsa. Praise the Lord for this!
Filiasi Meeting: Attendance has been good in Filiasi, across
the mountains from Bocsa. We have had returning visitors each time
we have gone since our last report. The two younger men, Aurel and
Virgil, traveled into the “county” north of theirs – into the heart of
the region of Oltenia and a stronghold of the Romanian Orthodox church.
They made the trip by train with a backpack of our literature and a desire
to spread the Gospel. In one village they were cursed by the local
people and threatened with a beating because of the gospel. The local
policeman came and said that in order to distribute their literature in
that place they must first obtain the stamp of the mayor and the local
priest. Knowing that they had a legal right to knock on gates and
give away literature to interested persons, they continued their mission
until they had given away all the literature they had with them.
We have had two phone calls from persons wanting more literature in that
place – one asking such questions as “What are Baptists?” “What God
do Baptists worship?” “Are you monks and nuns?” “Do Baptists
drink in bars like the Orthodox priests do?” And this one: “The priest
tells us by our works we can earn our way to heaven, but your literature
says that if we do not see ourselves as God does, we cannot go to heaven,
is that right?” In answer to requests from that place, we have sent
to four people each a package of our materials. Please pray that
eternal fruit may spring forth to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Literature: Both our older materials and our newest tracts
are much requested and so we are busy keeping a supply on hand to fill
the requests that come in. Last month we distributed to interested
persons 7,762 tracts and booklets. We have purchased a large wall
map and from time to time put little stickers on it showing both where
we have preached and also the places where our literature has been distributed.
While we rejoice to see with the eye where these tracts, etc., have gone,
at the same time, every time I look at the map that is beside my desk,
I think how much more we need to do as there are a few counties into which
our literature has not gone and many towns, villages and cities – and these
represent a multitude of people – many of whom have never heard the gospel.
The 7,762 pieces distributed last month brings to 27,424 pieces given away
this calendar year so far. This is more than half what we gave away
last year – and we are not yet halfway into 2006. We praise God for
this increase! We keep up this work as you enable us. Pray,
please!
The roof doesn’t leak! After days of frustration in trying
to get the metal for the new roof delivered, having to purchase an extension
ladder and hire someone to deliver it (c. $15.00 for delivery) and six
days of work, the two bad sections of roofing on the mission property have
been replaced! (I think how much easier and simpler things would
be if we had a pickup truck!) Here roofers are just that – roofers!
Before the work could go forward we had to obtain all the supplies.
We had to figure and locate and purchase the needed rough-cut replacement
boards (no lumber yards here!), buy nails, screws, a socket tool to fit
a drill for the hex-headed screws, rubberized washers for the screws, plastic
film for temporary cover, and get the sheets of metal delivered.
Also we had to furnish an extension cord and a ladder as well as the noon
meal (and morning coffee) for 3 extra men for 6 days. This was extra
work for Janet that almost put her in bed from exhaustion. Oh yes,
we had to buy 5 kilograms (c. 10 pounds) of cement and obtain some sand
for a mix to seal the metal next to one of the chimneys. Few merchants
advertise and all this involved much going about from place to place asking
for various things we needed. But we are thankful it is done and
we are in the dry!
Janet’s Realm: Curtis drove me to Timisoara on a Saturday
recently and we located a lady selling petunias – “petunii” in Romanian
– from her small front yard. At some places we had looked they were
just too costly. Her prices were far more reasonable and so now on
the back porch we have colorful flowers doing well in the sunshine.
The lady was so happy to sell so much to me (c. $15.00 worth) that when
I went to leave, she not only helped me carry the plastic bags of plants
to the car, she kissed me on each cheek! My roses are doing well
– except for a couple of plants that got trodden under foot by the roofers.
The tulips have done well and provided several bouquets for the living
room, as have the lilac trees along the lower part of the garden.
Soon summer will be here! Today we turn the hot-water heating unit
off, in faith, believing we won’t really need any heat until the fall weather
arrives. The men have already come once with their scythes and cut
the grass among the trees of the garden. Soon we will have fresh
vegetables and it will be canning and freezing time!
Get Acquainted with Romania: For the second year in a row
flooding has come to Romania! Last year it was in the middle of the
country, but this year the snow and rain in the ten countries upstream
on the Danube caused extensive flooding along that river in Romania and
other countries as well. More than 12,000 Romanians are living in
tents and temporary shelters even now. Many of their homes were of
“adobe” brick and the walls just “melted” when the waters rose. As
far as we can learn there are no Romanian Baptists living in this part
of the Danube valley. The U.S. and E.U. and others have donated funds
to help these flood victims.
I see I am out of space once again! Thank you for your interest,
your financial support, and your prayers on behalf of us, and the lost
among Romanian-speaking people! Please pray for all of us here!
In the cause of God and truth with you,
Curtis and Janet Pugh
curtis@xnet.ro
Preaching Baptist
Baptism, the Blood, the Book, and the Blessed Hope
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