August 2007—St.  Petersburg, Russia   A GOOD WORD FROM CAMP from Leif & Zhanya Camp

(Click on http://www.flickr.com/photos/stpaulmp/ to see photos of the Camp’s work and life.  This month’s are here.)

 

ПЛАН—plahn—plan

Acts 16:7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. 8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.

      I thought I would give you an easy one this month—“a” as in “ah”, otherwise it is the same.  Plans are important as they get us moving, but as Christians, we should always be prepared to change our plans as the need arises.  The good Samaritan, for instance, did not plan to stop by the road, to spend time at the Inn, etc.  God has His plans, and this month, once again, He has shown me that His plans are far more exciting than mine…

      This month the Ingrian Lutheran Missionary Committee sent me to Siberia—with the plan to lead seminars in two parishes (Irkutsk and Ulan Ude).  His plan was much bigger—but read below

Siberia—Irkutsk, Ulan Ude, etc.

Acts 18:8 Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.

      On August 17 Finnish Missionary Pastor Pekka Jauhiainen and I caught the red-eye flight from St. Petersburg to Irkutsk to lead missionary seminars and help with some evangelism in both Irkutsk and Ulan Ude (in Buryatiya).  The flight itself is a long one—crossing five time zones—so we arrived in Irkutsk at noon on the 18th where we were met by local Ingrian Lutheran pastor Albert Mazerenko.  Albert’s first question was, “do you mind a little change in plans?”  He had decided that we would be more useful to his work if we held a seminar in one of the villages where he has set up a preaching station.  We agreed and were off to Sayansk, 300 kilometers north of Irkutsk.

      Sayansk is a town built only 30 years ago—specifically built by the Soviets to house a chemical plant, so it has no religious history (the town itself is interesting—built on the hill while the factory is built in the valley so the pollution does not bother the town).  A local man Ivan and his wife Marina hold “church” in their apartment, while Albert tries to come once a month to teach, lead worship with communion and so forth.  It was to Ivan’s we were headed.  On the way Albert’s old Russian van broke down—the cable between the gas peddle and the carburetor broke.  Between the three of us, we managed to fix it with God’s help (a connecting piece had flown off and I just “happened” to find it resting on one of the engine mounts).  Of course, our patch job did not allow for much acceleration, so we arrived a bit late—the usual 4 hour trip taking almost 7 hours.

      Since the group was small (only 9 people), rather than a formal seminar, Pekka and I led informal discussions on personal spiritual life, how to better witness, and some strategies on how to grow the small group that had gathered besides answering many doctrinal questions.  I also took some time to talk about pro-life, explaining the church’s position, answering questions and distributing some brochures.  All this time Albert and Ivan were trying to better rig up the regulator on the van.

      The next morning we set out again for Irkutsk—leaving at 5:30 so as to make it back for Sunday morning worship (where I preached on stewardship).  After worship I again led a short discussion on pro-life—them Pekka and I simply answered questions.  We then asked Albert what else he had planned—as we planned to leave for Ulan Ude by train on Tuesday.  He answered that since we both looked rather haggard, that he thought we might benefit from a little rest on his dacha and a neighbor’s banya.  On the way to the dacha—as we were talking—he sighed.  Hearing this, I asked what was up.  He said, “you know, there is this other village—but it is very far away—550 kilometers (330 miles).  I baptized my cousin and his family, and left them some Catechisms and literature.  I need to get back there and commune them.  It’s just so far, and gas is very expensive.”

      Not knowing any better, I asked, “do you want to go?”  Then asked the same of Pekka.  At first Albert was not so sure, it was a long way and he didn’t want to put us out.  I said, “we have the time, I can find the money for gas, so if you are sure your van will make it, why not?  We can show the Luther film—do a little evangelism—and you can feed the little flock that is there already.”  Pekka agreed (I have figured out that Pekka like myself will agree to almost anything if it looks like an opportunity to spread the gospel). 

Before we could go, Albert had to get his van fixed and I had to find a cash machine, so we did not leave until late afternoon on Monday  (which meant spending the night along the way).   We arrived Tuesday morning not really knowing what to expect, since this village has no telephone service and no one knew we were coming (people climb a local hill so their cell phones can pick up service). First we found the village head to ask permission to use the local village club that evening to show the Luther film, and then hung up a few posters.  By the time we hung the last poster, the whole village knew—they have no local telephones, but small towns are small towns…  The posters were simple—“Today in the club at 9pm (after the last milking) the film Luther will be shown.  Free admittance.  From 7pm until 9pm pastors are available for questions.”

At 7pm we came to the club and 18 people were waiting (by the time the film started, over 30 had arrived).  We answered many questions, many of which centered on what Christians believe (the Creed), how and why to pray (the Lord’s prayer), and Christian behavior (the 10 Commandments).   Then there came the question:  will you baptize anyone while you are here?  It seems that Albert had left some Small Catechisms and other literature with his cousin whose wife shared them with her sisters, who shared them with their families.  So, as the village head was listening in, we asked if we could again use the village club rent free the next morning—setting instruction for 8:30-10:30 followed by a baptismal service. 

14 people the next morning came to be instructed and baptized (their names are in the prayer requests below), several more are interested and caught us as we were leaving to ask when we were returning so that they might be baptized.  Some of those 14 are already looking into what it would take to buy an abandoned house in the village for a chapel.  Albert is now committed to returning monthly as funds are available (Pekka and I both left what we could).

Needless to say, we did not get to Ulan Ude on Thursday as planned—we arrived Friday Morning.  Having our schedule and plans interrupted by baptism.  Would that such interruptions were many and often!

 

Prayer Requests

Pray for pastor Albert as he is now committed to feeding a new flock (in addition to being Senior pastor in Irkutsk and working a second job to support his family), for his safe travel, and for those that were baptized that they may continue in faith—for Maria, Vladimir and Lubov Chernikh, for Diana, Elenishka, Uri, Elena and Albina Zorin, for Lidia and Sergei Tankovid, for Svetlana and Ludmila Grishenko, for Olga Sanogova and Tatiana Kudravcheva.  Pray for the Finnish missionaries as a new Russian law designed to make visas easier to get for European Union members actually limits the amount of time they can be in Russia (90 days every 6 months).  The Ingrian Church has challenged the law and the government has promised a response in September.  Pray for my children as they prepare for school.  Pray for the upcoming work in September, October and November as the upcoming months are full—my cup overflows with too much work. 

August Pro-life update

This month as part of the Siberian trip we planned literature distribution and short seminars for the Irkutsk congregation as part of the larger perish education/evangelism plan.  Since we also traveled to two villages, I did manage to do a short seminar with literature distribution in one—Sayansk.  In Ulan Ude I led a longer seminar, after which, because of so many questions, I ended up showing a film clip from “Window to the Womb.”  The seminar took twice as long as planned and those attending not only begged, but practically chided us that we should come back and teach more and often because the need is so great.  In October Pastor Don Richman is coming to lead his annual seminar (which we help arrange) and in November Carolyn Rice is coming to lead Bible studies on post-abortion forgiveness and healing.

By the Way

A lot else happened in Siberia—we did a house blessing, we did make it to Ulan Ude to see the new apartment that is used by the congregation for Worship there, led seminars on the Lutheran understanding of Spiritual life (very important in a Buddhist context where dualism is rampant), stewardship and witnessing.  During our time there, we took another detour to the village of Peterpavlovka to meet with deacon Uri Peddelski and catch up with his work there—offering some much needed encouragement and participating in some evangelism. Such trips are expensive and time consuming, but for me one of my favorite things to do—people in the villages are especially hungry for the Gospel.  I understand I am particularly blessed when God allows me go and share His Word—as the work and success are His not mine.

 

 

He that believes and is baptized shall see the Lord’s Salvation;

Baptized into the death of Christ, he is a new creation,

Thro’ Christ’s redemption he shall stand among the glorious heavenly band

Of every tribe and nation

TLH 301 verse 1

In Christ,

Leif & Zhanya Camp

_________________________________________________________________________

Click on http://www.flickr.com/photos/stpaulmp/ to see photos of the Camp’s work and life.  This month’s are here and descriptions are with them.

 

Well, this month has again been busy, but I was able to do what is my favorite thing to do--travel to the villages and do evangelism.  I saved up some money to fly to Irkutsk--and along with me came Finnish Lutheran Missionary/Pastor Pekka Jauhiainen.  Training and mentoring local leaders is important, teaching in the congregations is important (which I also did this month)--especially if we follow Apostle Paul's example.  If we are to follow his example further, as missionaries we will also use every opportunity to evangelize.  Pastoring a local congregation, doing the work that a local leader can do, may not be good missiology, but evangelism is always good missiology!

 

Pictures are HERE along with their descriptions.  Please keep us in prayer.

 

Blessings,

 

Leif

 

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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