September 2005—St. Petersburg, Russia   A GOOD WORD FROM CAMP from Leif & Zhanya Camp

(Click on St. Paul Photo Albums to see photos of the Camp’s work and life.)

 

ЮБИЛЕЙ--You-bel-lay—Anniversary

Job 24:22 " But God draws the mighty away with His power; He rises up, but no man is sure of life.

      Anniversaries—of our birthdays, our baptisms, our marriages, the building of our churches and,  businesses and so forth are important occasions for remembering and reflecting on God’s blessings and care in our lives. 

This month marks an anniversary—two years ago this month we received our last paycheck from LCMS World Mission.  Living the last two years without a regular, guaranteed monthly pay check with benefits has been a lesson in faith.   I would be a liar if I were to say we didn’t often miss a regular paycheck, I would be a liar if I said I don’t struggle with the idea of living without health and life insurance or a growing “college” account for our children—but I would also be a liar if I didn’t understand that such things are at best a false security.  In truth, life does not depend on such things.  Often we live with a false sense of security in our jobs, our savings, our health and so forth.  God knows better—there is no security in earthly things or in our selves.  The recent back to back hurricanes that decimated the Southern US, tornados that yearly masticate the towns in the Midwest, car accidents, shocking medical diagnoses, all these teach us this truth: Only in Christ do we have any security, only in Him is there any assurance for this life and what’s more, into eternity.  All we have is a gracious gift from Him. 

Even when difficulties strike, when it seems that God has for a moment removed His protective hand and let something “bad” happen to us, although He certainly may be judging unbelievers, He is still caring for His children (as He promises that all things work out for good for those who love Him).  When we ourselves are in difficulty, as Christians we turn to our Lord for help (Ps. 121:2).  As disciples of Christ, when we see those around us in difficulty, we should open our hearts to them—for our brothers and sisters in Christ so as to be agents of God’s care and promised “good” (see James 2:15-16); for unbelievers as a living witness of God’s grace and love. 

Two years after the LCMS World Mission budget cut, God is still caring for us in this life, and for this we are very thankful.  Each month for the last two years God has sent us “manna” through using our own savings, through the generosity of friends and family, and through the generous gifts of brothers and sisters in Christ who have opened their hearts both to help us materially and uphold us in prayer.   Both are necessary for us to continue serving here.  People ask how long we plan on serving here—I answer, “as long as God wills.”  His plan, not ours, to Him all Glory, honor and praise.  Amen.

September 1

1 Corinthians 1:24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

      This month began with our daughter Nastya’s first day of school.  In Russia the first day is always September 1 and always a holiday.  Parents and grandparents gather together with the new first graders to celebrate.  This year we had a bit of a surprise. 

      Karl and Nastya are enrolled in a regular Russian grammar school which specializes in foreign languages.  As my wife, daughter and I were entering the gymnasium to participate in the September 1 celebration, the school administrator approached me and said, “by the way, we are expecting you to say a few words today—we want you to say something in English and one of our older students will translate.  Be ready—but don’t talk too long.” 

      So, about 15 minutes later there I was with my wife standing in front of over 300 parents and students, city officials and school administrators.  I said a quick prayer—for I really had not been prepared.  What could I say in 3 to 5 minutes?  I told the story of Solomon being offered a gift from God and choosing Wisdom before riches, career, and earthly success, and how God was pleased and blessed Solomon.  I then wished the new students not only success in their studies, but God’s wisdom and blessing.  

      Some people smiled and were pleased, some looked at me a little less kindly.  I doubt I will be asked to speak again at such an assembly.  Maybe I should have stuck to “Hello, my name is Leif Camp, my daughter is attending this school because of its wonderful language program, good luck” –that was basically what the translator they had picked was prepared to translate (my wife, his teacher and I all helped him translate into Russian what I said in English—which added a little levity to the day).  Of course, what did the school expect asking a pastor and missionary to address a large group of people?  

A Typical Sunday

Psalm 100:2 Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.

      Tuesday evening Pastor Fedor Tulinin, the head pastor of the parish in Pushkin, called me—“Leif, could you preach and do liturgy at the Russian service in Pushkin this Sunday, I can’t be there and I don’t have anyone to cover for me.”  So I agreed.  Then Fedor called to ask if I knew an organist who could cover the services as his organist had fallen ill.  Together we found someone—although I was beginning to get a bit nervous as Pushkin uses a different order of the Russian liturgy than the one I am used to at St. Michaels.  Then, Friday evening, Pastor Sergei Tatarenko called—he was sick and needed me to cover for him at the Russian service at St. Michael’s.  No problem—my sermon was already almost translated for Pushkin’s service and since St. Micheal’s meets at 11 am and Pushkin meets at 2 pm, things should work out. 

      Sunday morning I arrived at St. Michael’s with my copy of St. Michael’s liturgy, what I thought was Pushkin’s liturgy and my sermons in both Russian and English to find the doors locked.  After ringing the door bell for 15 minutes, I called on the phone.  After another few minutes the security guard woke up, answered and opened the door. As I was setting up the altar, the organist arrived, turned on the organ and nothing.  Turned out the wires had separated from the outlet.  As no one had a screwdriver, I found a kitchen knife, opened the outlet, and attached the wires.

      English service and Russian service at St. Michael’s went well—and the organ did not fault.  Then I met my wife at the subway and we were off to Pushkin--which meant riding the St. Petersburg subway to the edge of town and then taking a bus.  While on the riding the subway someone stole her new “favorite” sweater from her bag (she had just taken it off because it was hot on the subway).   Still, we ran from the subway station to the bus stop, and sat on the bus to Pushkin.  During the second traffic jam, I called the organist to let him know I would probably be a little late—and I was, about 20 minutes (but the congregation had spent the time having a hymn sing, so were not upset).  

      Since neither the replacement organist nor I knew the order of service, and the one I had was not quite the one they used, there were a few moments of blessed confusion.  Still, the Word was preached and the Means of Grace administered.  As my wife put it, it is nice that you were able to serve. 

    

Prayer Requests

Pray for all those suffering as a result of the recent hurricanes in the US (and tropical storms that hit Japan).  Pray for the English language worship service, that it grow.  Pray for new pastors Slava, Ville, Yukka, and Alexei and deacon Lev that they may remain strong in their faith and be a source of strengthening the faith of those they serve.  Pray for Karl and Nastya as they study in a secular school, that they may be protected in their faith.  Pray for us as well that we may guide them properly through these times.  Pray for the parish of Gubanitza which is in need of a new pastor.  Pray for the Sanctity of Life seminars to be held in Petrozavodsk and St. Petersburg.  Pray also for the stewardship seminars that are planned for Volosovo and Gubanitza.  Offer a prayer of thanksgiving with us for the past two years of our service here.  Pray that God grant us more wisdom discern His will, faith to follow His will and strength fulfill His will.   

Other News

My work with the Mission Committee of the Ingrian Lutheran Church is continuing.  Seminars are already scheduled for the next several months in parishes in the villages around St. Petersburg—Volosovo (where I helped as a volunteer) and Gubanitza.  We are also planning for two Sanctity of Life seminars next month—one in the Karelian city of Petrozavodsk and the other at St. Michael’s in St. Petersburg.  The Bishop asked me to start my Pastoral Bible study early, so that has already started and will continue.  And the English Language service at St. Michaels has decided to do a monthly “family film night” as a means to reach out to expatriate families in hopes of gathering some of them into the fold.

New Pastors for Ingria

This month Deacon Yaroslav Boichenko was ordained pastor.  He has been serving as the pastor in Nizhniy Novgorod since the mission closed there.  He is a long time friend from our time there in 1996-97.  He, his wife and their two children spent a few days with us the weekend of his ordination.  Also ordained were pastor Yukki, pastor Ville, pastor Alexei and deacon Lev (Lev has been serving as liturgist at St. Michaels for the last several years).

Family News

Nastya has started Russian first grade.  Both Karl and Nastya attend the same school, so this is nice.  The difficulty is that the school plans to extend the study week to include Saturdays.  We are praying that they change their mind (but so far the administration has refused to listen to the many parents who are against Saturday school).  Also, Karl’s teacher has made a point of teaching evolution as the creation of the World.  Karl came home the other day and said, “today our teacher told us about the first human beings and didn’t mention Adam and Eve.  I know she is lying, but what can I do?”  It is a sad thing to remember—before the Communist revolution there were over 2000 Lutheran schools in Russia, now there are none….

 

.

Let children hear the mighty deeds which God performed of old.

Which in our younger years we saw, and which our fathers told.

 

O, teach them with all diligence the truths of God’s own Word,

To place in Him their confidence, to fear and trust their Lord.

 

Hymn 629 TLH verse 1 & 4

In Christ,

Leif & Zhanya Camp

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CONTACT ADDRESSES Feedback, questions, whatever are most welcome.

Our Russian home address:

Leif and Zhanya Camp

18 line V. O. dom 43 Kv. 7

St. Petersburg, Russia, 199178

 

Stateside contact address:

Leif and Zhanya Camp,

C/O Marli Camp

902 N. 12th

Melrose Park, IL, 60160

Russian Lutheran Church Address:

Ev. Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia

Bolshaya Konyushennaya dom 8

St. Peterburg, Russia, 191186

 

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

Note—Between St. Petersburg and central US time, the difference is 9 hours.  Stateside contact telephone: 708-344-4472

 

E-MAIL:  lzkcamp(at symbol)mail.ru & leif.camp(at symbol)elci.ru.  Prolife web site with Russian materials you can down load: prolife.elci.ru.  Other websites: Lisa Stapp has set up a website which has some of our last newsletters (with their cover letters and pictures):  http://www.worthywomanpage.com/camp/index.html.  Also my mother's home congregation has our newsletters--the latest can be downloaded from: http://www.stpaulmp.org/camp/  a second site archives our past newsletters since 2002 http://www.stpaulmp.org/archives/ .   Please feel free to share this newsletter with your Church, friends, or enemies if it might help (just please do not quote things out of context or edit my words in such a way as to change their intent).  If you would like to receive a copy via e-mail, simply email me directly and ask!

 

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