© Ivan Steiger MMI

September 2003

DEAR FRIENDS, PRAYER AND MINISTRY PARTNERS

SIZZLING SUMMER
After last year's cool summer and flooding this summer was extremely dry and hot. Temperatures around 100^o F for an extended period are very rare in this latitude. It was quite uncomfortable since air-conditioned houses, offices, hospitals and cars are not as common. Many took vacation and left the city.

MINI VACATIONS
As we were growing more and more exhausted, we started thinking of a week's vacation in June at least. It was difficult to put together even seven continuous days. We had many commitments, visitors, deadlines and appointments. We decided to take an extended weekend instead that we called:

THE SOUND OF MUSIC TIME
Some months ago we received information about a Christian Center in Austria, a five-hour's drive from Prague. We took along our faithful servant in the ministry Jindra and her husband Peter, and four of us made the trip. The Center is in St. Wolfgang by Wolfgang Lake near Salzburg. Mozart's mother was born and grew up in Sankt Gilgen, which lies on the other side of the lake. Actually that's why her son was named Wolfgang. This part of Austria belongs among the most beautiful places in the world. The mountains, country and turquoise-blue lakes are beyond description. That's The Beauty. Our souls were singing. This perfection had only one problem - our time was too short. We drove one day there, enjoyed two days stay, and the fourth day we drove back. If anyone among you has been dreaming about a Sound of Music vacation, we can help you to make this dream come true. The best time to come is before or after the main vacation season, in July or August. The visibility is best in fall. Actually, even during the ski season this is a wonderful place with nearby lifts. The price is right as well - about $12-15 per person and day.

THE PLASTINATION FASCINATION
A month later, we took another mini-trip to Bavaria. We stayed at Pavel's brother's summerhouse and together we made a lofty alpine hike to Jenner peak, near Berchtesgaden. The day was picture perfect. On our way home we stopped in Munich to see the Body World Exhibition. This was one of the most fascinating experiences of our lives, and we have already experienced a lot. It stirs up public opinion anywhere it is in motion. This revolutionary approach is well worth seeing. Already 10 million people have seen it. Briefly put. It is about the human body and on the display you can see a number of human anatomy specimens down to the smallest detail of the body-macro world (anatomy). You can observe locomotion, nerve, respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive systems, internal organs, urinary tract, reproductive organs, configuration of blood vessels, prenatal development all on numerous whole body specimens - awesome - this is the first time I am using this expression. Decomposition of bodies is prevented by using formaldehyde. Bodily fluids are replaced by acetone, followed by forced impregnation - plastination. The impregnation of bodies is done with a number of liquid polymerisable plastics. This process preserves the skin, muscles, tissue, cartilage, bones, nerves, bloodstream veins the way that everything remains as realistic as can be. During the process, the bodies are sliced vertically and/or horizontally. How wonderfully our Lord has made us! The exhibition is a unique opportunity for lay people to see the body world. We made a video, got a professional DVD and much more is explained in the Body Atlas. Numerous pros & cons articles were written about the event, but the most revealing to us was to watch visitors. We have never seen people at such wonderment. We all are mortal. The way we view this life and what comes after it is the most important question anybody ought to ask. Klara was so immersed in the anatomy material that she didn't mind two hour's freeway stoppage because of an accident in 100^o F heat that felt exactly as in AZ.

ROUTINES AND CHALLENGES
Klara's days start at the e-mail In-box. After she erases tens of crazy messages and virus-loaded attachments, she tries to keep the in-box below one hundred messages. Because of the junk mail, spams and virus attachments, we lose sometimes an important message or personal address. This might be frustrating. Every day, we receive a number of questions and requests from people worldwide who surf the Internet. Vladimir and Pavel maintain the web pages. From time to time, they do major clean up job. Jindra takes care of all the administrative and accounting duties. She communicates and corresponds with our readers. Gabi is "hiding" in the studio. She is digitizing hundreds of programs-not only from our own production. Some good preaching by different pastors are also digitized. Klara coordinates editing, translations and topics for magazines. She also coordinates and edits Slovak programs for translation, recording and broadcasting. Pavel is our resident theologian, speaker and writer.

OVERALL PICTURE OF OUR REGION
We would like to share with you another actual summary of a local Czech ministry we personally have known since 1993. In the past, we had strong ties to its pastor Pavel Hojka. After his death, our involvement, except the regular information and prayer contacts, ceased due to our numerous commitments. The following letter was written to all prayer partners and supporters of this ministry:

THE COST OF SALVATION!?
Dear Friends,
In the last letter we informed you about many blessings that our Lord provided in the past years. At the first glance, it may appear as if only good and nice things have happened. The number of new Christians, servants and leaders is growing. However, next to the mentioned blessings, we experience struggles, sorrows and tears. Lately we looked back and assessed what has been happening and has happened. Allow us also to share with you the sadder side of life in our church outreach. Since 1996, God allowed us to run more than 40 grand summer mission camps and tens of smaller weekend evangelizations. Hundreds, perhaps thousand of people from Pisek and the vicinity heard the Gospel. Many of them decided to live for Christ, but their faith sooner or later dissipated. When we take a look at photos from all happenings, or when we go through the streets of Pisek, we encounter tens of people that at one time were so close to the Lord Jesus. From those who were very close, only a small portion remained faithful - maybe 10%. In times like that, we partake of Christ's sadness and realize that the door is narrow and only the few will enter. Actually, we lost some competent leaders and servants. In spite of the fact that the gate to salvation is narrow, we realize that in the present Czech Republic the entrance is even narrower than in other countries. Different "seasoned and experienced" servants and missionaries affirm this. Dave Patty says, "In the Czech Republic, to get one person for Christ is a very demanding battle and every new convert is very precious. Many churches in the Czech Republic do not have a new convert for several years, and when it happens, it is a memorable event for the whole church." Other missionaries, having experience and information from other countries, are surprised how hard soil is in the Czech hearts. Many of them, after years of hard work, leave our Republic very tired and sometimes, it appears, without a single visible fruit. Others are surprised by Czech unconcern in the well-being of fellow man and allergic reaction to anything related to the church. The late evangelist, preacher and economist Pavel Hojka used to say half-jokingly, but with sorrow of heart, "Obtaining one soul costs terribly much - converted to money - about a million Czech crowns or $30,000 or what makes an average Czech employee in five years!"

Actually he was not far off. Since our evangelistic outreach started in 1996 and we served tirelessly and faithfully, the ministry can be characterized by the following events - every week we provided regular teaching, organized many mission clubs and small groups, prayer battles, and spent hours visiting new believers or following those who were departing. We sacrificed our hobbies and personal leisure time to reach and serve others. Numbers of servants sacrificed personal ambitions, abandoned advancements at their professions, gave up opportunities to study abroad, etc. Looking back, with certain shock, we admit that since 1996 we invested into the outreach at least 15 million Czech crowns or $500,000 ($82,500 annually) for wages, camps, rents, transportation, airline tickets, invitations, tracts, materials, etc… And the results? Just a few tens of newborn people. If we invested that much energy and money in another country, there might now exist several big vital churches there. However, the Lord put us in the Czech Republic and we want to fulfill His mission among Czech people even though it is truly hard work. We are convinced that our (also your) effort, time and money are well "invested" in God's kingdom. Even though reaching one follower of Christ is so costly, it is an "investment" in eternity. He/she will spend eternity in heaven! That is the greatest reward for our "labor." Saved people already experience many blessings on Earth. They have been restoring relationships, establishing families and their children are led to Christ, becoming helpers, leaders and pastors. They are helping to reach more and teach them to live with Christ. Our work is not in vain and your faithful support and personal letters are a great encouragement. Every day we switch on the computer and our first sight points to the incoming mail. We share your letters with others and many of them we read in our church. Thank you. Your prayers and involvement means so much to us. Quite often we have tears in our eyes. And those who do not weep shine with joy. Each gift and contribution is miracle from God. Most of the time, we are reached in the critical time when it looks that we will not have funds to pay our bills or salaries. God's provision is the greatest testimony since the beginning of our church and we believe that God will look out for us from now on (possibly also through you) concerning the tight budget of our mission and the construction of the church multipurpose building. That alone is, from the view of man, impossible. The Lord called us to this work in the southwestern region of the Czech Republic. We continue to pray for the ministry and all of those who stand in this battle with us. We know how important it is when others pray for us. Please, allow us to pray for your needs.
Viktor Hojka

WHAT CAN WE ADD?
Nothing is more precious than the blood of Jesus Christ paid for our sin. From time to time we can be disappointed or discouraged, but we know that miracle of salvation is an integral part of His eternal plan. It is His timing, His provisions, His servants, His seeds we are planting- and all the glory belongs to Him. We know that He counts the "full number". Our plans or strategies are not instrumental. It is His mighty resurrecting power allowing us to be part of His everlasting plan.

* Remember that this is what God calls us to do - the results must be left up to Him. A difficult concept to accept when we try so hard and it seems to be to no avail. So, just continue on in your faithfulness and rejoice in God's goodness. (Katherine Hawthorne, Fallbrook)

CZECH AND SLOVAK SATELLITE PROJECT
At this time it looks for us to be one big disappointment. Our expectation of an HCJB-TWR partnership/involvement in technical support and guidance has not even begun. We do not fully understand, but accept the fact of endurance race. At this time we are praying that we will be able at least to help TWR with some funding from the ministry budget we raise.

PRAISES AND PRAYERS

• Praise for our real vacation in August. We spent 10 days on the Grecian island of Rhodes. We sailed the same sea as Paul did on his second, third and fourth journeys. We stayed in the same Rhodes City that Paul also visited (Acts 21:1). The Aegean Sea can get very stormy and this can turn into a quite scary event. It was interesting to follow 2400 years of history and the strong sense of religion. In many ways, the past of Rhodes City reminded us of the history of Jerusalem.
• Please continue to pray for this nation, local churches and the extensive ministry we are involved in. We praise the Lord for many JOYS and some sorrows.
• Please pray for our 5-week home ministry in the U.S.. We will be in NJ, AZ and CA visiting some supporting churches and mission conferences. PTL for the available car in Phoenix - thanks Palmcroft.
• Over and over we express our gratitude for your faithful prayers and support.

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