Ricany, May 1997

Dear friends and partners, our brothers and sisters in Christ,

it is a windy, cold and gloomy day, perfect for sharing our action-packed days with you. Yesterday we welcomed two rapid groups of visitors. In the morning five Trans World Radio workers dropped in for a cup of coffee and dessert. In the afternoon, David Kealy, Dick Jacquin and Dave Johnson from HCJB offices arrived. We had a short sight-seeing tour of Prague, and enjoyed a nice dinner in a restaurant named "The Stables". After having an appetizer of roasted horse salami, Dick said: "It was the best tasting horse I've ever eaten". We mutually shared our ministry blessings along the way. Pavel and Dave Kealy made some travel plans for the Fall to visit Siberia and explore some unreached territories. As I think of their plans, it's better for a woman to stay behind the front lines.

GUIDE THROUGH ISRAEL

It is time to report on "Future events' which already have become past. In our last letter we shared with you about Pavel's trip to Israel. The daily news present the world with many serious security problems in Israel, but the group did not face any complications and was allowed to visit all the sites on the list. It was an excellent action-packed tour and I am sorry that I can't include some pictures of Pavel as he ascended on a camel's back up Mount Sinai. I was not there to report. My days were busy and filled with all types of emergencies. As soon as they calmed down, Pavel was back home. To see the shining faces, broad smiles, and very happy people was a great reward. Pavel was already asked to guide the tour again next year.

COMPUTERS, COMPUTERS...

The rest of March was dedicated to installing a network for our computers. I am glad that all the parts and cover boxes are back in the place. I am always quite uncomfortable when the old system is replaced by upgrades. It always means that some of the old equipment does not want to cooperate, and as marketing goes, upgrading always requires more investment into hardware and software than initially planned. Now we have three computers linked together, connected to a main printer, one station is connected to the scanner and it is great that each of us can open any file on any computer without carrying diskettes and passing viruses around. The major data administrative overhaul is still ahead of us. We have to centralize all data and text documents floating around three computers, some of which are doubled, into one directory. All that extra activity is probably why I feel out of breath again.

CONFERENCES

Sex education conference
We did attend a statewide Sex education conference in Hradec Kralove. It was divided into Pedagogic and Sexuologic block. Some of the speakers are not only advisors and publishers of Sex education materials for schools, but also publishers of pornography. All the experts in the field are basically introducing sexual agenda we know from Planned Parenthood and population control agencies, the feminist and the homosexual movements. Our collection of contraception devices for school demonstrations and recreational use is growing.

The situation in the country is sometimes quite absurd. The government recently appointed a general secretary for anti-drug policy coordination while he is fending accusations that he participated in a top-secret communist program to dispense anabolic steroids and other performance enhancing drugs to Czechoslovak athletes in the 1980s.

It is said that one picture is worth of a thousand words. Below you can see a map of the Czech Republic showing FM radio stations broadcasting our Christian programming. The "unreached area" is narrowing. Praise the Lord! Some people from the higher-elevated Northern part of the "unreached area" called us: "We hear you!".

The World Congress on Family
Like a breath of fresh air was the World congress on Family in Prague. Mostly Christians from different denominations and countries, including Mormons and their excellent musical performance, representatives of Islam, shared their concerns and goals how to preserve family values. It was inspiring to see professional women who did not place their career over child raising and the family. It was good to see fathers speaking about the family with joy and recognizing it is a pleasure to provide. Ivan Shevchenko, father of ten children said: family with one to three children is like a laboratory, three to five is an institute and five plus more is an academy. We heard many worthy speakers in many different languages and met people with the same goals and deep love for children.

Christian conference
We spent the Easter holidays in Ostrava at annual conference. On the way we visited our 80-year old aunt. She sure was glad to see us again. This year's conference topic was FAMILY. Pavel addressed the problem of Czech population decrease and assured young couples that three children are nice, four are beautiful. Our hearts were touched by the message of Czeslaw Bassara, the Polish coordinator of Child evangelism in Eastern Europe. His words are always engraved deeply in our hearts. He compared the family to the basic car model with one body, one driver, one steering wheel, two lights, two breaks and four wheels. He illustrated what would happen if we changed the basic model. Adding another driver or steering wheel would only complicate car performance. Adding more wheels or lights will not change much of the car's function, but some of us approved positive impact of another safety device - the third break - mom sifting next to dad.

During the lunch break we took Filip and Jana to show them where we lived and where Filip was born. As we walked, Pavel suddenly started crossing the street. I asked: 'Why are we crossing it right here?" and I got the answer: "Because I am the steering wheel'.

We receive annually about 2,500 pieces of mail related to our broadcasting and publishing. There is a fraction of negative responses, the vast majority of it is, however, encouraging. We want to share their joy with those of you who are the heart of the ministry. We realize that without our Lord we can do absolutely nothing. You and we are His tool to form a team to do His will. The following letters are addressed as much to you as to us. Our intention is not to boast or to praise our work or service, but to give you joy of being part of this mission outreach.

Dear Steigers,
let me thank you first for The Battle for the Soul magazine and your broadcasting. I am praising the Lord for your work and your ability to wake up people from their slumber and touch their lives. No shame should be felt when you take people to the root of their problems. You provoke people to think, to examine the scripture - His letter - and your words are more than good. If it offends individuals and they don't like what they hear they can simply turn the program off. However, they are not aware of what they are missing. You force people think and search for truth in God's word which is more than beneficial. We need to read, listen and study the Bible and think about what the Lord is telling us.

I am always happy to hear your sonnet. I also like the program Through the Bible. I wish that the people would wake up from futility of their search and desire for material possessions. Their lives are full of troubles. I wish that they could set up their priorities according to Scripture. ... I record your programs for other people who know about your work but they cannot listen to the radio PROGLAS.

We know your voices, you are close to our hearts. Another sister from our congregation became a magazine reader. I share the magazine with others. I am grateful to you and to all Trans World Radio workers for your faithful and important work. You don't labor in vain. I do believe that the Lord will hear our prayers and will give you enough strength to do what you are called to do.

Daniela S., Zabreh na Morave, no. 1273

Dear Steigers,
about five years ago I found your book in a bookstore. I was excited about the content. Finally I found many answers to my questions, many speculations became clear and with your help I could at last formulate my own thoughts. It came in the right time while I started to consider the existence of God, the Creator and my relation to the Savior. God made it clear to me what it means that He is my Father.

Tomas Z., (33), Hradec Kralove, no. 1353

Dear friends,
Monday 12-14, 1 tuned in your evening broadcast. I would like to ask you for a broadcast schedule, frequencies and your magazine. Thanks. May the Lord bless you and protect you.

Marek V., France

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