Ricany, April 1996

Dear friends, partners and most of all, our brothers and sisters in Christ,

Our last News Release was marked August 1995 - sorry, it should read February 1996. It is amazing how easy it is to overlook the first line. We did not skip the winter wonderland events out of desperation. Hopefully when you receive this letter, the firm grip of one of the coldest seasons will be over. Out of the last hundred winters, this was among the 18 coldest. November, December, January, February, March ... it was the same cold story - snow, ice, freezing rain, salt, mud, colds, closed schools because of flu. Looking back over the last five months, the global warming trend sounded ironical or in reverse. We survived winter personally without any major problems. However, Klara was not as fortunate. She was unable several times to get home because of ice on the hill. Another time, just around the corner from our home, our front light and bumper was introduced to our summer neighbor's rear light and bumper. Bad road, frozen mud and ice under the snow, had grip on the steering wheel. The road was solid as railroad tracks. Steering wheel and breaks didn't respond. The man drove in for 10 minutes just to feed his rabbits. He left his car in the middle of the road. After the phone lines were laid this fall the trenches that were dug were not filled in. Why bother? Other street improvements are not complete anyway. Maybe, in the next millennium our neighborhood will get water, sewer and gas line. Our narrow street is now even narrower, pot holes bigger and deeper. The roads on our end of town are not maintained in winter at all or graded after mud rallies.

These days and the weather are not exactly what we'd like - as we say in Czech - beneath the dog's dignity . In Czech we say: Venku je pod psa. You may not feel so great yourself, a bit under the weather: Je mi pod psa is the Czech expression, which corresponds, though not exactly, to English idiom "as sick as a dog." If you feel you lead a dog's life, you can express it in Czech with the verb mít se (to have)": Mám se pod psa. The dog is a common image in sayings, idioms and smiles. (The Prague Post)

Actually I just realized how fortunate we are that the garbage truck comes once a week. The latest news is - may be in May the city will put some gravel on the road. When we catch a glimpse on TV of American neighborhoods in programs like "Colombo" or " Murder She Wrote", we first notice sidewalks, parking lots, lawns and clean cars. The mentioned inconveniences are part of the cultural shocks category belonging only to the women from Venus. My attitude about the winter ordeal is much better since I could share it with you.

Whenever we spend time in America, we come home with many books. Among our last acquisitions were books from John Gray: Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. Finally we had an opportunity to read this communication hand book. We have to admit, that we gained so much, not only for our personal relation, but also for better understanding of differences between men and women.

To understand our different needs and ways is not easy even for saints. "Just as a man is fulfilled through working out the intricate details of solving a problem, a woman is fulfilled through talking about the details of her problems."

Allow me just to quote little more: "Problems are inevitable. But these problems either can be sources of resentment and rejection or can be opportunities for deepening intimacy and increasing love, caring and trust."

We were so impressed by this book on men women communication that we asked both our sons to read it. They can get our blessing to marry (so far no prospect) only after they read and study this valuable resource with their future bride. ... The Venusians need to learn how to receive while the Martians need to learn how to give. ... Men are like rubber bands. When they pull away, they can stretch only so far before they come springing back. ... Women are like waves. In relationship, men pull back and then get close, while women rise and fall in their ability to love themselves and others."

You owe it to yourself no matter how long or short you communicate with opposite sex. We recommend this bed time reading from our heart. We are glad that this book was published in Czech as well.

Recent Praises:
Our son Vit and Klara's mother spent one week with us during the month of March. Vit's business trip to Germany for two weeks was expanded by one week of vacation. The same day he arrived, we all attended the diamond wedding anniversary (60) of our beloved aunt and uncle. She is the last surviving relative of Klara's father. For a number of family members it was the first reunion after more than thirty years. Some of them we saw last at an another wedding in 1963. My cousin never met our son Vit, since he lives in Canada from 1968. His son Mark met Vit for the first time and we could compare genetic peculiarities in the family. Mark came from France where he continues with 18 other international students at an aerospace engineering college. How clearly we could see the generation baton being passed on. The couple of honor is shrinking shorter, we are getting wider and our children are looking taller and more mature. They all are in their late twenties and none of them are married.

We met again with Mrs. Chladkova - our 101-year old friend. She had an eye surgery recently, but she already knitted for us two pairs of wool socks...

Our Ministry:
Jindra - is the first name of our administrative help or more complementing title would be assistant. She is married with two teenagers. Her daughter - Katka, will graduate this year. I never met a person who can type over 300 strokes per minute. She is a beautiful young lady. Ondra - the son is a typical computer wizard and he keeps links between our office and Jindra's office connected. In the family there is also an 83 year old grandmother with Parkinson's disease. The head of the family is Peter, and the tail of the family is dog named Apka. The whole family is committed to the Lord. We praise HIM for this help.

During the winter we were much more involved in a local church in Prague. Pavel was preaching nearly every Sunday.

Our monthly presentation on Creation - Evolution is well attended and received by the public. Every time the topic is presented by a different professional in a given field. After the presentation the panel of other experts answers the questions from audience. At the last presentation several people suggested to establish Creation Science Society of Czech Republic. This is another opportunity for a new ministry. We wish to have at least nine lives! Recently our need for video viewing greatly increased, but our video machine (the second one) is caput. The power fluctuation, outages ... and other interference are not friendly to sensitive electronics.

As always when our boys visit, our computers undergo a major overhaul. The resident experts are trying to convince me that especially my computer will be better and faster; all what I find out later, is that it gives me different bells and whistles and it takes time to restore all my previous functions. While this happens I would rather stay in the kitchen. It makes me nervous to see all the computer parts on the floor while they hope to overcome all problems of hardware incompatibility as they call it. You can see, I survived another electronic facelift. Speaking of electronics an information highway, our son Vit was amused by our telephone line and answering machine. On our side of receiver we hear local radio. Also our Fax and answering machine (Panasonic) now picks up the radio broadcast. Most people are not used to answering machines and they hang up, while the machine records the radio message. When we try to retrieve several messages, it takes for ever.

E-mail, <steiger@mbox.vol.cz> yes we are on and our access is better and better every month. At the beginning we used the service of two providers and some of you could not get through. The phone lines here are something else. After many attempts several of you made it. Actually, another most recent good news is that we will get digital switchboard this year. It is fun and fast way to communicate, but no matter how advanced technology we use, we are not able to stretch time to answer all of you. I was finally able to put to rest our Christmas mail. On the other hand, I must admit - I have too many exciting projects on my desk all the time. I do not dare to move anything aside. Again, our apology for not being more personal to every letter. Our many thanks for several great books we received from you recently and super letters of your love, prayers, encouragement and other news. Your letters are important to us.

Radio broadcasting:
the Saturday and Sunday (also Monday and Wednesday) radio programs are received very well. We are getting more letters and addresses daily. In the second half of March another FM transmitter in Moravia was added. Now we cover 60% of Czech Republic. Six FM transmitters in Bohemia and two in Moravia. Our prayer is that we can add some more secular stations at different times. People again request transcripts. It is almost like years ago when we started publishing our magazine. With more listeners and more different topics we could expand the magazine. Last two issues caused some discussion. The topic - Independent Churches and Sobriety. Fermented wine and communion can be a hot issue among Christians as legalization of drugs among non-believers or as controversial as Church services on Saturday or Sunday. As far as we know, two congregations are changing toward nonalcoholic wine and individual cups.

Prayer needs:
Recently we had a small meeting with Campus Crusade's - Josh McDowell ministry in Prague regarding publishing some books. Campus Crusade is also involved with Sex education program in Hungary. I am personally interested to introduce this model to the Ministry of Education. The present recommended materials are quite bad. The Ministry of Education is quietly incorporating sex education into curriculum without parental awareness. Some teachers are also uncomfortable to use those materials. The parents are not informed about the content and methods of worldly sex education. Parental consent is not asked. I praise the Lord for the opportunity to address this topic on the radio.

In April we will attend Easter conference of Christian Assembly (like Brethren Church) in Ostrava. More than 1000 people is already registered. Pavel will speak twice.

In May we are scheduled to star about 8 minutes spot on Radio Free Europe. This is an important step for us since the general feeling in secular radio is to cut Christian broadcast rather than to increase.

Also in April the PRECEPT Ministries seminar will be held in Prague .

To conclude:

We are very happy to be involved in so many projects and to have numerous opportunity to serve our RISEN LORD. How blessed we all are. Dr. Harold Sala, Guidelines for Living, April 96 wrote in his letter:

Annoyed by the fact that his company had to be closed for Christmas and Easter, a certain man who was an atheist was complaining that Christians seem to have all the holidays. He mentioned Christmas, Easter, Good Friday Thanksgiving, St. Valentine, and All Saints Day adding, "We, who are atheists, have no holiday at all." Oh, yes you do," rebutted a friend, "April Fool's day."

Recent survey, among the students in our country, showed that the Christian holidays were the only positive evaluation of Christianity in our society. The rest of Christian attributes or knowledge and experience with Christianity among young people was negligible. This should be a reminder to all Christians. The atheist are not only complaining, but also doing something to change public awareness about us. Step by step Christians are pushed out of public life. Instead of Christian holidays they are promoting Earth Day, Gay Day, AIDS Day, Holloween, etc. The Green Cross International and its program for the whole Earth will create new Holiday system. Gorbachev's vision of the New World Order is finding more and more supporters. Interesting enough, their target date is January 1, year 2000.

Living in the presence of GOD, may the Lord richly bless you.

The Steiger's

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