MAIN PAGE, página principal en Español, THE CHIMES, Monthly church newsletter, Monthly Calendar, Monthly Letter From Pastor Paul, SCHOOL NEWSLETTER, SCHOOL REGISTRATION INFORMATION, LWML, Scouting, Drama Ministry team, online map, driving directions, A Good Word from CAMP, links, Archives, Search stpaulmp.org, GUESTBOOK

December 2003 — Russia A GOOD WORD FROM CAMP from Leif & Zhanya Camp

ЖДАТЬ-zhdat-To Wait

James 5:7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.

Judging from some emails I have received, I realize that many of you are still confused as to what is going on with us here in Russia. I will try to explain one more time. LCMS World Mission closed its mission in Siberia as of Sept. 30^th this last year, and with it, my position with LCMS World Mission was also “closed.” Rather than move to America and live with relatives while we waited for a new call, we moved to St. Petersburg to live with relatives while we await our next call. In the meanwhile I am doing what I can to help out our partner church when and where asked. At present we are living on the good will of my mother in America who handles our finances and our savings—savings which we were able to put aside because of the salary we received as missionaries from LCMS World Mission.

One Lost Sheep

Luke 15:4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

Sunday, Dec. 14: I woke up this morning at 6:30 AM—couldn’t sleep. The St. Petersburg sky was overcast and dark, the Sun wouldn’t rise until close to 10, and even then would be hidden by clouds. It wasn’t the dark that made me restless, it was excitement. My tossing woke up my wife, who understood my excitement, and didn’t complain. Today I would be doing the thing I love to do the most—going to a village to help with evangelism. Today, along with Pastor Alexander Schmidt, I would be traveling to the village of Stecklani to show the “Jesus” film. Although the film has been shown extensively in all the major cities of Russia, the villages have largely been ignored.

The weather was unfavorable, overcast with wet snow, the kind I grew up with in Chicago—sloppy, slippery, and thick, clogging up the wipers on Pastor Schmidt’s beat-up VW van as we slid our way down the asphalt to the village church where he helps pastor the congregation. With the weather we had one major concern—would people come? The Devil had put up many roadblocks to showing the film—Alexander had just gotten over the flu, the flyers announcing the film had not been distributed as planned, and now the weather was threatening.

The turn out was disappointing-- several old ladies, a couple of young men who are working on a film ministry in another village, and one young man from the village whose name like the pastor’s is also Alexander. We stopped the film after the Ascension, and had a brief discussion. Everyone there was really touched by the film—even those members of the congregation who had stayed. Seeing the Gospel played out really seemed to help some people better grasp the meaning of Christ’s suffering and death and Resurrection.

After the discussion of the film, tea followed—and in Russia (much like in America), this is where the real discussions happen. During this time the young man from the village, Alexander, opened up about himself. He was very glad he came for the film, and seemed open to further contact with the congregation. He had been baptized in the Army by an Orthodox priest, but then had not gone to church since. We will pray and see if he will begin to attend church again—God does not let go of His baptized children so easily, but continually calls them back to Himself. I am hoping and praying Alexander will heed God’s call to return. If so, we will rejoice, if not, we will continue to figure out ways to extend God’s call—to Baptism for those unbaptized, and to return to faith for the baptized who have forgotten.

The Bishop Visits Siberia

Timothy 3:1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.

This Last month, Bishop Arri Kugappi, the bishop of our partner church in Russia—the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria (ELCIR)—took a tour of Siberia (his last trip was in 2001). He hooked up with Siberian probst, Daniil Sobolev, to meet with congregations and pastors of his Siberian congregations, government officials, leaders of the Roman Catholic Church in various cities (including the Catholic Bishop in Irkutsk), and several Bishops and leaders in the Russian Orthodox communion in Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk and Irkutsk.

Word from Siberia is encouraging —Ingrian work is expanding into Chita and there are invitations to start work in Abakkan and other places. The meetings with the various government and church leaders went well, and have opened more doors for ELCIR working unimpeded in Siberia. Work is expanding in Ulan Ude, Buratiya, Minusinsk, Krasnoyarsk, and Novokuznyetz, and solidifying in Novosibirsk and Irkutsk. Slava Shadrin has been installed in Minusinsk as catechet to run the services there, Ivan Kensep has been ordained deacon in Suatuk and upper and lower Bulanka to handle services there, and, Gennadi Ivanovich has been ordained as Deacon Pastor of the congregation in Novosibirsk. Slava Ostanin is helping out in Novosibirsk and Novokuznyetz.

Of course, the Bishop returned from his trip tired—he is very overworked. On his return he had to deal with finding an interim pastor for St. Micheal’s (during the Christmas season no less) and the leadership void left after the death of Pastor Sergei Preiman. The Bishop’s task is great—he is the leader of about 100 congregations and groups spread over 5 time zones. His pastors and leaders look to him not only for spiritual and organizational leadership, but financial support as well. In Siberia, especially, he sees much perspective for growth—but also great hurdles. His visit opened many doors, but the question is how to capitalize on them when both personnel and material resources are in short supply (especially after the closing of our Mission in Siberia). No one ever said “good work” would be easy!

Prayer Requests

Pray for Bishop Arri Kugappi, Siberian Probst Daniil Sobolev, and the other pastors and leaders of our partner church as they face the challenges of expanding work with shrinking resources. Pray for the health of Gennadi Ivanovich who is again hospitalized with heart problems. Pray for Ivan Kensep, Slava Ostanin, Slava Shadrin, Uri Peddlesky and all the other pastors, deacons and liturgists who are working in Siberia. Pray for St. Michael’s parish in St. Petersburg as they search for a new pastor (St. Michael’s is one of the major parishes in St. Petersburg). Pray for young Alexander that he heeds God’s call, and take a moment to pray for someone you know who is baptized but has fallen away from the faith—that they, too might return to their Lord. Pray for me and my family as we wait for a call and seek to discern God’s will.

Family News

Both Nastya and Karl have been attending kindergarten—Karl has been attending the “prepatory” level (which is equivalent to our first grade) to prepare for Russian first grade, Nastya is attending the “elder” group. The good thing is that they are both now attending the same school, which makes it easier. Nastya is still having occasional Kidney infections—these seem almost chronic. Zhanya had a wisdom tooth pulled right before Christmas—it returned some feeling to her back which she had lost several years ago. We all got to celebrate Christmas without having to immediately travel somewhere—this is the first time we have been able to do so. I have been asked to help teach a Bible class at St. Michael’s while they search for a pastor, and otherwise things are going along fairly well. Karl has the quote for this month—we have been going to a lot of Christmas services at various congregations. At the last one when the pastor announced that Jesus was born, Karl asked, “daddy, why was Jesus born again?”

A Russian Joke

Ivan was having a bad day. On the street he wanted to catch the metro, but their was a sign on the station door—“this station is closed for repairs, the nearest open station is three blocks east.” While walking, nature called, so he looked for a restroom. The sign on the door said, “this toilet is out of order, the nearest working toilet is one block down and one block to the left.” Finally, he makes it home and walks up to the elevator to ride to his apartment on the 11th floor—there is a sign on the elevator door, “this elevator is out of order, the nearest working elevator is in the next building.”

So what of Christmas?

I know that this letter should have a bunch of stuff about Christmas and the New Year—I thought about that. I made a decision to focus on the work of the Church this season. Jesus came to seek and save the lost—and we, his church, are here to continue that work. As much as I celebrate the birth of Jesus, I cannot but help think of all those who are still lost this season, those who celebrate something other than the birth of their Savior. As we celebrate, let us not forget our task of calling others to embrace that celebration as well.

He Whom shepherds once came praising,

awed by heav’nly light a blazing,

Cheered by angel news amazing:

King of glory, Christ is Born!

Hymn 54, LW.
_____________________________________________________
 

In Christ,

Leif & Zhanya Camp

_________________________________________________________________________

NEW ADDRESSES as of Sept. 30th--Feedback, questions, whatever are most welcome.

New Address: Leif and Zhanya Camp 18 line V. O. dom 43 kv 7 St. Petersburg, Russia, 199178

Stateside address: Leif and Zhanya Camp 902 N. 12^th Melrose Park, IL, 60160

Packages Leif or Zhanya Camp Industrialniy prospect dom 16 kv 21 St. Petersburg, Russia, 195426

Telephone: after getting an international line by dialing 011-7 then 812 (our area code) 321-1508(our phone number)

Note—Between St. Petersburg and central US time, the difference is 9 hours.

E-MAIL (Note new address): lzkcamp@city.com.ru Please feel free to share this newsletter with your Church, friends, or enemies if it might help! If you would like to receive a copy via e-mail, simply email me directly and ask!

St. Paul Lutheran Church and School, 1025 Lake Street, Melrose Park, Illinois 60160; Church: 708‑343‑1000, School: 708‑343‑5000

Links to sources outside this site are provided for the convenience of members and visitors who may find them helpful or informative, but do not imply any kind of endorsement by St. Paul Lutheran Church, and of course we are not responsible for their content.

While we strive for accuracy, we assume no responsibility for errors on this site.

Please contact the church or school to verify information

If you see an error on the site please email the website administrator at: lynette@stpaulmp.org