Elder Curtis Pugh - Sovereign Grace Landmark Baptist Missionary To Romania - September / October, 2002 Report From Rominia

Saturday, November 23, 2002
Dear Pastors and Churches:
    We greet you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, who gave Himself for the sheep. It is our prayer that this letter finds each of you doing well and enjoying the blessing of Almighty God. In our last letter we reported on being moved into the mission house in Bocsa. Hardly settled, we received the news of the homegoing of our dear pastor, Elder Milburn Cockrell. Unable to make connections so as to attend the funeral, we continued with previous plans to make a brief visit to the States. We flew from Budapest, Hungary to the U.S. on Wednesday, October 16th and arrived back home in Bocsa, Romania on the 15th of November. Every Lord's Day while in America was spent with our own Church. I preached there at least once each Sunday while we were in the States. It was a blessing being with the church even in such a trying time. Within a month, our church lost not only her pastor, but one of his sisters, also a member, and another sister who, although not a member, was regular in attendance. So our little church has taken very severe blows in the last several weeks. But the work continues as Brother Chris Cockrell serves as acting editor of the Banner and Brother Steve Kiser teaches and preaches on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. Elder Todd Bryant of Northport, AL has been very kind to come each Lord's Day evening to preach to the church and for this we are very thankful. While in the States I had brief visits with only three pastors, Elders Jimmie Davis, Todd Bryant, and Steve Martin. These were a blessing.
    While in the U.S. we were able to visit with our daughter, Anna, her husband Mark and our granddaughters Bethia and Sarah. Sarah, who is 14 months, we had not seen before and Bethia we had seen 2 years ago. As many of you grandparents know, grandchildren are "grand." We also visited with Janet's brother and her father in Little Rock. Bill, Janet's brother, was kind to loan us a car for the duration of our visit. We were also able to visit my mother in McAlester, Oklahoma for a few days. Our family visiting we did "in between" weekends, which, as I wrote above were spent with our church in Mississippi.
    "Overwhelmed" seems to be the descriptive word right now. We, as a church, have been overwhelmed with the expressions of sympathy expressed by the Brethren at this time. For these many kindnesses we want to - express our appreciation - Janet's and mine - and that of our church. Upon our return to Romania we have been "overwhelmed" with the welcome given us by Brothers and Sisters in Christ here. Hearty words and handshakes, hugs and holy kisses, and tears have flowed as we met these friends upon our return. We have been told on more than one occasion, "We know you love us because you have come to live among us." "Overwhelmed" is also the feeling we have with regard to the work of God in this place. Since our return we have received visits from Brethren as well as phone calls inviting me to preach in various places - some near at hand and some at considerable distance requiring several hours travel. Literature has been requested and one 19 year-old young man has written telling of his recent conversion and asking for literature to help him in his spiritual life. "Overwhelmed" is also the feeling we get at hearing the unbiblical arguments the Arminian enemies of the truth are spouting against the clear teaching of the Bible - not that we are overwhelmed, but that their carnal reasoning is so overwhelmingly foolish. And most important of all, we feel "overwhelmed" at the goodness and grace of God as we see Him working in and through us — unworthy servants as we are!
    Upon our return we found the mission house and contents safe and sound. Used clay roof tiles were located and the back porch roof is in place. This winter has been mild so far, but we are so thankful to have a warm house now! After 3 winters in a cold and drafty house it is a blessing to enjoy the warm rooms. We praise the Lord for this and say anew, "Thank you!" for helping us with the costs of the house. Raul, the other member of the mission here, and Aurel who helps in the translation work, are doing well and had completed their part of translating a number of pieces of literature to be printed. (Now Raul and I must go over every sentence, making sure the English meaning is contained in the Romanian words - not a simple thing sometimes.) Brother Chris Cockrell shipped 3 boxes of books to us while we were in Mississippi and I purchased 2 second-hand suitcases so that we could bring back with us many other books, both new and old, for the Institute library here. We also brought back some videotapes - Biblical / educational ones - which we believe will be useful in the Institute. We do not have a video player and must purchase one that plays both the American and European type tapes.
    We expect to have our first visitor to the mission services tomorrow and ask that you pray also for this aspect of the work here in Bocsa. I see I am out of space - again! THANK YOU for your faithful prayers and financial help! Doors are open - pray for us as we seek to walk through them.
In the cause of God and truth,

   curtis@xnet.ro
    CURTIS PUGH
    str. Izvor nr. 3
    Bossca 1, jud. Caras-Severin
    1725 Romania