Tuesday, July 08, 2003
Dear Pastors and Churches:

"Grace to you and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ' (Philippians 1:3).
    I noticed in my study that Paul greets four Churches with this greeting (Corinth, Philippi, Colose, and Thessalonica) and that John addresses the seven churches in Asia in this way. Surely these are the two things most needful in our lives today also. And so for both you and for us we desire these two great blessings from God!
    Since our last report things have seemingly been "business as usual" here. These last weeks have been ones of walking beside the wagon - just doing the ordinary routine work that must be done with little visible results. Many hours have been spent in checking translated articles, punctuation, formatting, etc. and then we have gone to the rearmost room in the annex of the house where the print shop is located. The Risograph has worked well in duplicat ing tracts and booklets. After duplicating these, they must be gathered, folded and stapled, trimmed, sorted and packaged for future shipment and distribution. And records must be kept of the number produced and distributed. Of course it has been necessary to travel to Timisoara to purchase paper and transport it back to Bocsa. Other supplies such as ink, masters, staples, etc. can be ordered by phone and later picked up at the local post office.
    Although our main planned distribution thrust for this summer to the east and northeast has not begun yet, we have already given some titles away as some have written their requests and others have come by asking for booklets. So we rejoice in the midst of daily routine we have opportunity to speak with others and supply them with Sound printed materials.
    We have had a couple of visitors attend the services of the mission herein Bocsa since I last wrote - "special" visitors in that they are not among the "regular" visitors who usually attend. These seem to have been genuinely interested in the truth - at least they have been attentive to the preaching. One young lady of high school age is not allowed by her father to attend our services regularly as he opposes our doctrine, but she was rcently allowed to come. Another recent visitor is from a neighboring village and this Brother has gone back home with a supply of our literature for his friends and neighbors. So we try to keep sowing the seed! Two or three of our neighbors usually gather in the little park at a bench near the mission house each Sunday morning and afternoon and listen to the singing through our open window. How much of the preaching they hear we do not know. They have not come to our services, but are always friendly and greet us as we leave after the services. (I often take some people home afterward).
    I traveled in order to preach and distribute literature in two other places since our last report as well as preaching regularly here in the mission in Bocsa. I have begun teaching through a confession of faith article by article each Lord's Day here in the mission. I presently have invitations to preach in three other locations and two of these have specifically asked for copies of our literature. I will go to these as I am able, Lord willing, in the weeks ahead.
    Janet's health continues about the same, although she has some days when her dizziness and vision problems are more severe than others. She continues supervising the housework, working on children's materials, helping me in various ways, and helping out in the print shop as she is needed although she does not often travel with me to preach as the rough roads cause her distress due to increased dizziness, etc. My left eye is much better, though it still occasionally causes me pain, and it weeps sometimes, especially toward the end of the day. The edema has almost completely gone away. For God's grace toward us in these things we are thankful!
    We do appreciate so very much your earnest prayers on our behalf Paul wrote, "Finally brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:" (2 Thessalonians 3:1). That is our heart's desire - to see the Word of God changing lives by the power of the Holy Spirit - all for the glory of the Lord Jesus! So, please remember us before the throne of grace often.
    And we want to express our appreciation for your faithful giving to the work here. It is your faithfulness that is the means which enables this work to continue. We thank God for you! We have received word that a Church that has not previously supported us has voted unanimously to begin supporting us. We rejoice not only in the additional funds, but that this Church also will be earnestly praying for us. A few Churches have been forced to drop their support in the last several months due to financial problems. But they have assured us of their continued prayers and interest and indicated they hoped to return to support as they are able and also asked that I continue to send them our monthly prayer letters. How we praise God for all of you who are a part of this work through your prayers!
    Pray for the Pughs!
In the cause with you,
Curtis and Janet Pugh
curtis@xnet.ro
    CURTIS PUGH
    str. Izvor nr. 3
    Bossca  1, jud. Caras-Severin
    1725 Romania