Curtis Pugh
Missionary to Romania
Sponsored by the Grace Bible Baptist Church
 26080 Wax Road
Denham Springs, LA, 70726
Elder Jerry Dodson Sr. - Pastor
(225) 664 – 3223
jerrydodsonsr@wmconnect.com
www.geocities.com/heartland/grove/3718
Field address: Curtis Pugh, str. Izvor nr. 3, Bocsa, C-S, 325300, Romania
Telephone: 40 255 555 136
E-mail: curtis@abaptistvoice.com
http://www.abaptistvoice.com
 
 

PRAYER LETTER FOR JANUARY, 2009

Wednesday, February 11, 2009
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).
    In these days of uncertainty and turmoil throughout the world, all of us need, as always, to have our confidence in God our Saviour!  That stabilizes us.  And as we stand together in the work of the Lord, we are ever mindful of our need of your prayers – prayers from those who love our Lord Jesus and who love us in the faith.  “Grace be with you all!”
    Lingering Conference Results:  We continue to hear from those who attended our 2nd annual Bible Conference last month.  These men are encouraged by what they learned and have been contacting us telling us so.  Many still have questions, but are learning, I believe.  Some who attended came for the first time.  One such, a Gypsy brother unknown to us, has been attending a Pentecostal church.  He went home and, being asked to preach, preached to the church there some of the things he had learned about the grace of God – they asked him to leave and not come back!  They said they didn’t want to hear that stuff in their church.  Perhaps God is working to get him out of “their church” and into one of the Lord’s Churches! The total inability of a lost man to please God is a doctrine the unregenerated person will not accept!
    Filiasi:  Attendance continues good in Filiasi except that our oldest member, Brother Nicu, has been in the hospital repeatedly.  I hope you will pray for him, especially, and for the others who faithfully attend.  (The corrupt and ill-trained doctors in Romania have made, I believe, 6 different diagnoses regarding Brother Nicu.  First he needed surgery right away, but later, they said he does not.  Perhaps they are wanting and waiting for a bribe.  This is the commonly accepted practice if you wish them to “do a good job.”)
    Bocsa:  We have had more sickness which has affected our attendance since last writing, but those who are able continue faithful in their attendance.  The Word is going forth and we trust God to bring in a harvest.  Pray for Cristi and Michael – two young men who know not the Lord, but who attend faithfully.
    Car Repair - Accident:  We have been able to make nearly all the needed car repairs and this past month we have paid $1,300 towards reimbursing this cost.  But, one of the men was driving the van in traffic and rear-ended another car.  Insurance paid for the damage to the other vehicle, but we had to repair the van ourselves.  So we have had to purchase more parts and pay for repairs and painting.  This is all reflected in the financial report.  In this time of financial turmoil, the Euro is weaker against the Dollar.  This has helped us some as the Romanian currency is tied to the Euro.  Right now we are getting more Romanian money for each U.S. Dollar and this has helped us with these repairs and other expenses.  However, prices in Romania are constantly going up and up, so soon things will change, I fear, for the worse.
    Get Acquainted with Romania: Romania is a very religious country.  More than 90% of the people claim to be Romanian Orthodox Christians.  The next largest group is Roman Catholic Christians. Then there are about 12 government recognized “cults” – including the Baptist Union Baptists.  So, from December into January each year the country is filled with rituals and traditions in the main centered around the supposed birth day of Jesus Christ.  Things start with Saint Ignatius Day – December 20th.  This is the first feasting after the long pre-Christmas fast.  Orthodox scholars say that the day originated when one Greek god caused a wild boar to kill another Greek god.  The worshippers of the slain god would kill a pig as a part of their worship.  So, in memory of Saint Ignatius the Romanian tradition is for each household to kill a pig on that day and to rub its blood on their faces so they will have a healthy look all day long.  (The Orthodox scholars claim that Romanians were Christians before Christ and that they have sanctified these pagan practices and now they are Christian ones – perfectly acceptable to God!)  When the pig is killed in our time, usually friends, relatives and neighbors come and share the meat, cooking some immediately and drinking alcoholic drinks. Then there is near constant feasting with special foods, sweets, etc. all leading up to “Christ’s birthday.”  Then there are the two days of Christmas – Christmas day, and “the second day of Christmas” as the Romanians say.  TV stations report how many Romanians are hospitalized because of over eating and drinking during this season.  Things finally settle down after January 6 which is observed as the baptism of Jesus.  On this day the waters throughout Romania are blessed by the Orthodox priests.  People gather at rivers and the sea and the priests throw small wooden crosses into the water.  Young men dive in to retrieve them so that they will be blessed.  This past Jan. 6th, one enterprising bottler of spring water had his waters blessed – so I guess when you drink his bottled mineral water, you, too, will be blessed.  I think he is a smart businessman – almost as smart as the Orthodox priests who are paid for every blessing, prayer, and ritual they perform.  Such is the religious life of most Romanians in December and January.  Their eyes do not see their superficiality and dead ritualism and the true Christ is a stranger to them.
    I am about out of space again!  We recognize that these are difficult financial times for many of God’s people around the world.  Jobs have been difficult to find in Romania for years, but now many are losing their employment here too.  In such times, we are especially thankful to God and appreciative to you for your continued standing with us, enabling us to obey Christ’s commission here in Romania.  Thank you!
    Please do not forget to pray for us!
    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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