Wednesday, January 17, 2001
Dear Pastors and Churches:
    “Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen” (Galatians 6:18.)
    If we have the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ with us, we shall surely be doing well!
    As we look back over the year 2000, we say “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within
me, bless his holy name” (Psalms 103:1)  We have faced some difficult times, but God has been with us and according to His everlasting love and purpose of grace, He has sustained us.  Janet continues to
improve.  She is gaining some ability, it seems, in her right ear.  Hearing in this ear was lost due to the
surgery performed to remove the tumor from the stem of her brain.  She still has much dizziness, but can walk inside the fellowship hall without her stick.  She has lost some of her peripheral vision in the lower left field of vision, but the problem with double vision has improved – and we believe is continuing to improve.
    Just in the last week or so she has become strong enough to go out and “shop” (briefly visit a store or two) and this is a grand improvement for which we thank God.  She continues her program of walking and can now negotiate steps pretty well.
      As many of you know, the last of December, Janet’s mother passed away.  Janet did not think
she was well enough to make the trip from Mississippi and due also to the severe ice storm we were
unable to go to the funeral.  But in this difficult time, as we have seen throughout our Christian lives, God supplied grace.
    Because some of you have asked repeatedly for this information, I supply you with the following.
My gallbladder removal cost us nothing at the Choctaw Health Center other than travel and incidental
supplies and x-rays.  However, the kidney stone procedure cost as follows: anesthesiologist, $550 and
hospital $8,178.24, but this last amount MAY be reduced.  We are waiting on hearing from the hospital
about this.  Janet’s hospital bill of $59,783.53 has been reduced by the hospital to $10,000 cash or $200 a month for 5 years ($12,000 over 5 years.)  For this reduction we are certainly thankful!  Her anesthesiologist bill came to $5,335.00 and we are paying also on her lab bill of $1,858.  Her surgeon cost a total of $4,235 which is paid in full.  Also paid in full are the costs of her ophthalmologist and
neurologist.   In addition to these expenses there have been “incidentals,” i.e. x-rays, electro-cardiograms, several MRIs, CAT scans, etc., as well as the cost of places to stay, etc.  Through the help received from many of you, most of these “incidental” costs have been paid as they came due.  At present the total owed is $25, 921.00, but a part of this may be reduced as mentioned earlier.  God has certainly shown Himself strong to provide and care for us and we praise Him for His goodness and greatness!
    During the month of December I was for several days in Romania preaching and looking after
literature translation work as well as taking care of some necessary things such as rent, etc.  I reported to you all on this trip in last month’s prayer letter.  I have done some writing while we recuperate here in Mantachie, and done a bit of research and reading in materials which are unavailable to me in Romania but which are here in the Berea Baptist Library.
    We have certainly enjoyed the fellowship with our pastor, his family and the Church here.  I have
made one radio tape for the Berea Baptist Broadcast, but have not been able to leave Janet to go other
places to preach.
    We have begun to purchase and prepare for shipment some things such as books and clothes for
use in Romania.  Sound books are well nigh impossible to come by there and as we prepare for the Berea School of the Bible in the Romanian language we will need these things.  Operation of this aspect of the work will involve considerable travel as will the distribution of literature.  Your generous giving has provided $25,877.67 toward the cost of a new vehicle for this work.  We hope to buy a Nissan diesel 7 passenger 4x4 which will cost something over $28,000 and have general work funds with which to complement the special funds you have given to reach this price.  THANK YOU for your help!
    We have purchased our return tickets to Timis’oara, Romania and are scheduled to fly out of
Memphis on the 19th of February.  As I write this, Janet has already begun packing.  She has the ability I lack – she can get more stuff in a suitcase than I ever can.  We will be taking two “rest stops” overnight in places where we change planes so as to help her make the trip all right.
    As we begin this new phase of work – the Berea School of the Bible – in the Romanian language
we are going to need to make some sizeable purchases.  We will need a good laser printer and either a
copy machine or a digital copier.  As the latter are quite expensive, I expect we will settle for a copy
machine.  These will be used to prepare the lesson books, exams, etc.  I ask that you pray specifically
that God will guide in the “shopping” for these things.  Availability of supplies and repair parts (or rather the danger of the lack of them) as well as longevity of service and cost of operation are important
considerations especially in our place of work.  We will also need to purchase a desktop computer.  We
will be going ahead with supplying good Baptist materials in English on disc to pastors and Bible teachers who have computers with CD-roms.  As we have more and more materials translated into Romanian these will be included on the discs for free distribution.
    As I am almost out of room, I must close.  THANK YOU for your generous and faithful financial
support and especially for your frequent prayers on our behalf.  Your cards, notes, phone calls and visits have meant much to us during these past difficult days.  We praise the LORD for you and ask for your continued prayers as we return to Romania.
    Pray for the Pughs, please!
    In the cause of God and truth,
    Curtis and Janet Pugh
     curtis@rdslink.ro