© Ivan Steiger MMI

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

November 2004

Our autumn was very pleasant and full of eventful challenges. With a great concern we were following up all the hurricanes hitting Florida and swirling all around. We were happy to hear that our friends were spared.

We can hardly believe that this is the last newsletter of this year. Klara was given an Arizona Highway Engagement Calendar for 2005 by one of our visitors. So, the first entries are already in it. Since we do not have a THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, we want take this time to say a big THANK YOU to our Family of faithful partners. We treasure in our hearts all the happy moments we enjoyed together this year with many of you.

As we used the heading ONE-DAY-AT-A-TIME in the last letter, we did not grasp how realistic it could be. Klara loves gardening and usually does some trimming and weeding around our apartment building Saturday morning. However, this time she was bitten by a small fly. The next day a dime size blister appeared and by Sunday evening she had a palm size blister. The doctor at the emergency applied some ointment on her leg and referred her to a dermatologist to change the dressing the very next day. Klara took some allergy medication, but by Monday morning her leg looked like a gangrene case. The doctor immediately sent her to the hospital for testing. That was the end of her days set aside to prepare for the HCJB Annual Conference in Colorado Springs. She was kept in the hospital for 8 days. Only persistent begging to let her go kept her on the schele. Three days later she was on the way. The air ticket was written through East Coast with a short stop to see the grandkids. Moments with the boys were part of her healing recovery. As we mentioned previously, grandparent gender is the same for both of us- "grandpa"—and Klara continued in this game. Boys are almost three and four and are greater and greater fun. During the Labor Day weekend they were visiting some friends. While we were visiting, the kids rode their tricycles and other vehicles. Of course there were some falls and scratches. "Grandpa" Klara became a doctor, rescue and ambulance person. As the play time got more and more involved, the examination advanced and the kids asked the doctor to check the umbilical cord. Next day, as Klara was playing with grandkids around the house, little Nathan crawled under her T-shirt and she became pregnant grandpa. Samuel was listening to the heart and checking the baby. Filip and Lenka are wonderful parents. The boys love to go to the airport and pull the suitcases. It is a nice way to say goodbye. Short days of family visit were so special.

From Manchester NH, Klara flew to Denver and spent a weekend with our younger son Vít. He was about two weeks past his knee surgery, still walking (limping) with the brace and cane. We visited his church in Arvada and attended all four services. We had a lovely lunch with a mission committee couple. Vít is involved with youth group and we became "grandma and grandpa team". It is nice to see that the young people and their parents love him. They took good care of him during his surgeries after the ski accident. Vít loves to show short video clips since he documented both surgeries. Actually he watched his entire knee surgery. He shares his medical adventures with all who do not get sick watching it. He loves the mechanics of body functions, how the bones, nerves and tendons work together. In December he will have his plate and screws removed from his wrist.

HCJB WORLD RADIO ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING
From Denver I drove to Colorado Springs in a new Honda Element—Vít's new car. I was a guest of David and Sharon Kealy and it was another highlight of the trip. Years back, David shared with us the dream about building their house. David designed the house himself and it is not only a lovely house to live in, but functions also as a place of ministry. Hospitality during the conference, lunches and dinners were very special and rewarding.

The conference went simultaneously at four locations via satellite. Colorado Springs, Quito, Elkhart and Texas were connected by big screens. The conference had many highlights. First of all meeting the old friends as well as new people in headquarters. Now I can put the names and faces together. We all got a little more mature. Average age for HCJB missionaries is 49. This was eye-catching especially during the awards time for the service of 50-40-30-25-20 years. We realized how the time flies when you live for the Lord. We have already put in almost 15 wonderful years with HCJB World Radio and about 18 years since we prepared our first radio program.

The theme of the conference was THE POWER OF GOD and for many reasons it was a powerful week. First of all it was encouraging to catch on the new vision for the World ministry of HCJB World Radio. We are always excited to see how the Lord works. Sometimes he closes doors at one location to open another opportunity someplace else. As we listened to the reports of each region we could see His power and blessings.

Developing new projects is always challenging and those involved are riding on the roller coaster of obstacles. There are governmental rules and regulation that are seldom aligned with vision and need of missionaries. To listen to the reports is mind-boggling. What is not possible to accomplish in men's power is possible with God's power. This time we were encouraged by the amazing reports from Australia and New Zealand World Offices. The new broadcasting site in Australia is a major step for reaching the Asian region. There is exciting news about digital short wave broadcasting promoted by China. This development can bring revolutionary change for the rest of the world. HCJB engineers are now exploring the possibility of manufacturing preset, low-cost short wave, digital receivers in China.

Let us share briefly
SEVEN ORGANIZATION CHALLENGES:

• Develop core teams in regions and sub-regions. Create ministry hubs for mass media.
• Expand recruiting and develop relationship with nationals.
• Monitor special needs and opportunities country by country.
• Transform strategy—recruiting short-term workers.
• Create international training centers.
• Research and development offices.
• Strategic response teams, skills and time.

The President of Trans World Radio was the conference's main speaker. Seeing the sincerity of both radio mission presidents, David Johnson and David Tucker, to lead us in the spirit of cooperation and mutual support was the major highlight of the conference. We are blessed to have Godly leaders who are aware of our human weakness. As for our region, we will have another important conference in November near Frankfurt with HCJB World Radio leadership to present and implement new organizational challenges in our part of the world.

Klara apologizes to all of you-she called no one while in the States. The family times on both ends of the visit were short and she treasured every minute of the rare togetherness.

BACK HOME
Pavel assumed the hostess role and received our first autumn visitors. It looks-like September and October is the month to travel. Pavel met briefly with several friends from all over the world who came to Prague. We spent five wonderful days with our dear friends Kaye and Gene Woodward who we met years back in Indonesia. Klara had no time to experience jet lag. She arrived Sunday noon and the first event of the day was a jazz concert at the Prague castle. This was a special occasion and the President of the Czech Republic was the master of the ceremony. Monday we attended the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra—Dvorak, Shostakovich and Bach. Tuesday we met an unexpected group of ministry friends from the UK. After the office visit we had a lovely lunch together. All of them loved Prague with one regret—they came for short time. Actually one of the men said that he would love to be a tram driver in Prague because of the lovely scenery. Next day Klara and Kaye toured Prague's antique stores. Last day for the Woodwards was a shopping day and we concluded with dinner in our favored restaurant.

After our first visitors left we attended a birthday party for our sister-in-law. While Klara was Stateside she was looking for something funny in the Party world places but it looked like the life is over for those who reach sixty. There were funny ideas for celebrating the 40th or 50th milestone but not beyond. After the birthday party, Klara had the first opportunity to rest. Pavel and a birthday guest from Germany went to see a hockey game with all the stars, including Jagr, since the NHL in the US and Canada has been on strike.

The next few days there was time to finish unpacking, put the household together for the arrival of additional visitors. On the 1st of October Geoff and Priscilla Volker and their daughters arrived after ministering in Belarus.

Klara went with them to the National Opera Theater and they saw "Kate and the Devil" by Antonín Dvorak—a fairy-tale all kids here know and love. The libretto is about a Kate how she outsmarted Lucifer and his helping devils-old scratches. The English translation does not render the real Czech meaning well. Czech has the word "dábel" that is the real biblical "devil" and it also has a folksy word "cert [chert]" that could be translated as a "demonic, stupid, in a way harmless old scratch with tailed goat-like look, and a hoof on one leg." "Cert" is the word used in the name of the opera-not "dábel." Further, "Kate" is in folksy Czech form "Káca [Kácha]." You would never dare to call any real Kathy "Káca" since it is an old nickname for a simpleminded country girl. If a girl or lady does something foolish she may sigh to herself: "I am Káca." No wonder! Most of the children do not fear devils-stupid old scratches-when any "Káca" may outsmart them. Adults are convinced that if hell exists then it is a place of warm fun; if heaven exists then it is a place of boredom. While Klara was with our friends in the opera, our son Vít arrived with the wish list for Internet broadcasting. The house was bursting at the seams.

On Monday, the three wise men (Pavel, Vladimir and Vít) were installing all the computer gadgets. In the evening we attended a dinner for missionaries serving in Prague that was hosted by Barnabas Ministry. It was the time to see some our old friends and meet a few new people. A number of them have just arrived and in most cases they teach English in different schools.

On Wednesday we visited with Vít's grandma in her retirement place. She was very happy to see him and was really cheerful. Her mobility is getting more limited, but as she sits on her walker and pushes with the feet, she gets around quite well and fast. We attended with Vít another concert of Czech Philharmonics with a British conductor. The ovations were endless. Small remark: Critics say that the Czech Philharmonics have a special sound, since all of the musicians are native Czechs. This does not make the sound better or worse, but special. Noted world philharmonics also have top-class rendering; however, their musicians are mostly combined of "foreign legions." An orchestra made up of purely ethnic Germans sounds differently than an orchestra made up of purely ethnic Russians, though both flawlessly play the same music. There must be "an ethnic soul!" We also went with Vít to see a Czech movie and hockey game in the new arena that was built for the hockey world championship in 2004.

Pavel and Vít visited Prague Museum of Communism. It’s a very interesting place. Let us share with you a poster from the museum. I hope all will recognize comrade Stalin. The other comrade is the first Czechoslovak communist president Klement Gottwald 1948-1953.

The days with all of our visitors were full of activities. Looking back, September and October was full of fellowship, dinners and cultural events. We met briefly with several friends from all over the world who came at this time to Prague. To conclude, this autumn Prague became a tourist destination for many various reasons. For those who love music there are Prague Spring and Prague Autumn musical festivals-one month long each. It's always a musical feast.

Our days are once again returning back to normal schedule.

PRAISES FOR:

• All the friendship, hospitality and blessings during the time in America.
• During the conference in Colorado Springs Klara could take care of few administrative adjustments that will help in our ministry.
• While Klara was in Colorado her brother was visiting their mom here. On the way back they met in Denver and had a nice dinner together.
• Gabi's breast test came back clear.
• Vít's knee surgery recovery is very good. While in Prague he did not use a cane and did not limp any more.
• Another will be stepping forward to Internet broadcasting in the future.
• Trans World Radio's Satellite broadcasting license should be granted any day. It is realistic to expect broadcasting right at the beginning of the next year. We all are excited about this ministry.

PRAYER NEEDS:

• For Wisdom and the outcome of the HCJB World Office mini-conference for the Euro-Asia and Euro-union region. With so many changes in the ministry, new opportunities and new challenges, we need to coordinate and cooperate closely withthers.
• As we are preparing this letter, the Holiday season is making advances. The days are getting shorter and the first Christmas decorations are out, reminding us that it is time to get the Christmas letters going.

BEST WISHES FOR 2005 and thank you for your prayers faithfulness, love and kindness.

In His Grace
Pavel and Klara Steiger

You may mail your US.tax-deductible contributions to:
HCJB WORLD RADIO
P.O. Box 39800
Colorado Springs CO 80949-9800
U.S.A.

You may mail your Canadiantax-deductible contributions to:
HCJB WORLD RADIO
2476 Argentia Rd. #201
Mississauga ON L5N 6M1
CANADA

Attach to your check the following note:
FOR THE CZECH PROJECTS MINISTRY
ACC # 577850

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