Wednesday, January 08, 2003
Dear Pastors and Churches:
    I greet you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:" (1 Peter 1:8). My prayer is that whatever your present situation in this life, you may be rejoicing in the Lord and His salvation. We also invite you to join us in rejoicing in that God has supplied our church with a pastor! Brother Jeff Short has accepted the call to pastor Berea Baptist Church. We are looking forward to his ministry and leadership and are also praying that God will supply His Church at Indore, WV with the pastor of His choice.
    This is a special 2 month prayer letter so that we can catch up on mailing out the letters to those who support this work. Some of you will have already received parts of this information.
    When living in Canada we filed/paid taxes/social insurance there but had complications with an accountant in Oklahoma in getting up to date on filing our U.S. tax (social security) and so must begin paying a minimum of $55 a month until current. We must also begin to pay quarterly in advance. We are now required by Romanian law to have an accountant for the work. We have hired a professing believer who is well qualified and experienced. We must pay minimum wage plus an employment tax. This totals $74.44 monthly at today's rate - will vary slightly. You who receive the printed letter will see all this on the financial statement.
    The mission work here in Bocsa continues with good encouragement. God has blessed His Word to the hearts and lives of the three members. We have had two visitors in the last 2 months with one 24 year old young man coming regularly now. He has not missed a service since his first visit. Pray for him! New Year's Eve we hosted a time of fellowship. Five "college and career age" young people and one high school student came about 8 PM and stayed well past 3 AM. We sang, prayed, visited and enjoyed refreshments.
    Our literature work continues with new titles in progress. We use the Risograph and a folder stapler to make booklets. We need a paper cutter for trimming the booklets. We have finally gotten a definite price - tax included the cost will be 988.60 Euros - today a Euro and a Dollar are equal. We must go to Bucuresti after it ourselves. Please pray about this. Our literature is effectual and we want to enlarge this ministry. Today we received another request for our material. This latest request is from lasi (pronounced "Yahsh") in the far NE comer of Romania. We will ship CDs and books to supply this request today or tomorrow.
    I believe it wise to bring Raul Enyedi (like "Kennedy") to the U. S. for a few months. I baptized him. He is faithful in the Word and in the work, giving evidence of having been called to preach. He wants to serve God as a missionary here in his own country. I believe that sound Brethren, after examination, would recommend him for ordination and that our Church would ordain him and send him out as her missionary. I spoke with the Brethren at our Church about this when in the U.S. Already one Church has begun monthly support of Brother Raul. Their pastor, Elder Kelley Hinson, has visited Romania and met him. Perhaps we can visit churches next spring or next fall. Those interested can meet him, question him, hear him preach in English, etc. We have a problem: Transportation while in the States: I have no automobile but we do have our travel trailer in which we could stay IF we had a used vehicle (pickup or car) that could pull it. This would save time and costs thus making us more efficient in getting around among the Churches. (Janet will not be able to travel much with us, but can stay with family.) I do not expect to die soon, but want to leave behind men who can carry on and enlarge the work here (2 Timothy 2:2). I am working toward that goal. Please pray about this.
    In the last two months I preached in 5 places as well as regularly to the mission. We have purchased Bibles and shipped or delivered (without cost) Bibles, books, tracts, and CDs to 35 plus locations in Romania. The books and CDs go to pastors and serious Bible students. In these two months hundreds of tracts and booklets have been distributed freely to all who are interested in them. Yesterday, more than 100 tracts and booklets were picked up here for distribution in nearby villages by an itinerant Romanian Baptist preacher. This literature reaches further than I could ever travel and lasts longer than I will. For some it is the only real spiritual food and help that they receive. Several pastors in the States have encouraged me in this literature work and we are beginning to see the fruits of it - including fanatical opposition to the truths of God's free grace. May God be pleased to bless this work. We have also received another invitation - this time to preach in the city of Cluj-Napoca, the 5th largest city in Romania (328,000 people). Perhaps I shall be able to preach there in the future. At this time I do not know if I will be making a trip to Siberia or not. I await details from the pastor there. I will let you know about this as I know more.
    "Multumit foarte mult" - 'Thank you very much" for your faithful support in finances and especially in prayer for Janet and me - as well as for our Brother Raul and the mission here in Bocsa! We are able, as you are, to continue only by God's grace. We thank you and praise Him who sustains us all in every way. Pray for the Pughs.
    In the cause of God and truth,
    Curtis and Janet Pugh
    curtis@xnet.ro
    CURTIS PUGH
    str. Izvor nr. 3
    Bossca  1, jud. Caras-Severin
    1725 Romania