March 2009 , A GOOD WORD FROM CAMP

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ПОЧЕМУ—pa-chem-MOO—why?

Peter 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness -- by whose stripes you were healed.(read from 2:21-25)

Many Christians this season have asked this question, “why did Jesus have to suffer so for our sins?” This is a good question, and we know the head answer, but still that question arises. I am beginning to think we cannot truly grasp the depth of the eternal logic and law that demanded such a sacrifice. One reason is because we truly do not see our sin as so bad—certainly not deserving death. Maybe we deserve being grounded for a week, having our TV privileges taken away, or paying a fine—but never a spanking in this modern enlightened age. Maybe at worst our sins have earned a little time in jail, but being beaten, scorned, mocked, and finally crucified—we certainly are not that bad, are we? At best we can confess with our lips, but only rarely to we let our hearts truly see our brokenness.

In our selfish egotism and pride we cannot see our own falleness, our own need. To admit our total depravity when we do not feel so depraved is difficult—we compare our selves to others who in our opinion are worse than we are. If we cannot understand our own need, our own disease, then we cannot even hope to understand the cure.

Since we cannot understand our own sin, how can we understand such love? Jesus forsake all his glory, lowered Himself to become one of us. A prince leaves his palace to become a beggar and to live with beggars. Not only that, in order to save the beggars—most of whom do not know they are beggars, let alone need to be saved from being one—the prince chooses to let himself be killed so that all the beggars no longer have to remain beggars. His Father’s army is standing by to intervene—one simple word from the prince, and He does not have to die. Yet the prince freely chooses to suffer and die for those who have not asked him to do so. Why? Not simply because His Father asked, but because He loves the beggars, each and every one—He knows each one and loves them knowing their deepest sins and rebellion.

Who can understand such love? We cannot, we who only love if someone loves us and does what we want—if they are beautiful enough, if they have a good enough job, if their character measures up to our standards—there is always some hurdle that must be reached to earn our love and maintain it. How can we understand love that is given so freely without strings attached?

Jesus had a free choice, legions of angels were waiting just in case He changed His mind at the last minute. He did not have to die for us, yet He freely chose to love us and give His life so we might live—and then He rose victorious and calls us to Himself, to life now and life eternal. Lent is coming to a close as we contemplate the supreme gift of life our Lord Jesus won for us through the Cross and Resurrection, we may not be able to understand the depth of it, but we can begin to trust His love, and then allow it to change our hearts and lives so that we can begin to love those around us as He first loves us. The more we see our own rebellion, the more we can see that we have all been forgiven much (Luke 7:47), and we can live free from guilt, sin and death.

Angels on the Road

Exodus 23:20 " Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared

7 am, Thursday the 19^th, I pull myself out of bed, quickly get dressed, grab my guitar and two cases which contain my computer, video projector, speakers, cables and other material needed to teach at the two centers in Volkov This month I again drove out to Volkov to teach at two centers—one treating male drug addicts and the other a women’s shelter. As I left in the morning, the snow began to fall and by the time I hit the city limits of St. Petersburg, a blizzard was in the making. Still, I proceeded on the corrugated blacktop and by the time I made Volkov at 10 am, the snow had ended. About half an hour before, however, I heard a periodic scraping from underneath the car. When I stopped at “the house of Mercy” (the men’s narco-treatment center), I looked beneath the car and noticed some sort of cable or tube hanging down—I also noticed that due to the rough roads, a couple of my tires had lost some air. The car I have is old, but I am thankful for it has been a great help. Such needs for repairs are to be expected, and at least God had allowed me to reach my destination. I filled the low tires and went inside the center to set up for the seminar. I mentioned my car to one of the people in charge—he called a mechanic and by the time the seminar and discussion had ended at 12:30 pm, my car was fixed (seemed the break cable had come loose).

I immediately left for the second place—the women’s shelter—and after a quick lunch began that seminar, which was officially over by 4pm. Of course, over tea some discussion began, so it wasn’t until 6:30 that I finally was able to leave. By this time snow had again begun to fall. So far, everything had been more or less routine. On the way back, however, on the icy roads, something happened I will not soon forget. The road to Volkov is often a narrow two lane black top with narrow dirt and gravel shoulders with a deep ditch on each side. The shoulders were covered with about 8 inches of ice and slush. In the twilight and falling snow, a jeep type vehicle from the on coming lane pulled out right in front of me attempting to pass a truck. I had nothing to do but pull on to the shoulder, throwing ice and slush over my windshield. The on coming car continued in my lane and whizzed passed both me and the truck. I prayed as I struggled to hold my steering wheel straight and keep the car from skidding. My wheel did not respond, but the care held its course. Strange as it may sound, at that moment I felt angels hold my car on the icy shoulder as I slowed and then eased myself back onto the road.

I made it home without further incidence—God had also allowed me to return home. This got me thinking. Our lives are a journey, holding on to the narrow way, the way the Lord has shown us. Along that way there are things that break down in our lives, things that seek to crash into us, and things that seek to run us off the road so we fall into the ditch and perish, but through it all, God is faithful and does hold us on course—we need only trust.

I will try to drive more carefully, but I will continue to drive in faith—both on Russian roads and on the road of life. Trusting God to bring me home until He calls me home!

Prayer Requests

We have many prayer requests—for all those who have so graciously supported us and continue to do so with their prayers and material support, especially during this time of crisis. For Zhanya and me and our daughter Nastya as we seek God’s will in deciding where she will attend school next year (see below). For Zhanya as she continues to study and work—she is still seeking for clearer guidance as to what God would will for her to do. For me as I work with the two centers in Volkov (and for those there struggling with addiction—especially Alena who has asked specifically for prayers), continue to work with unchurched youth through the scouting program (that God open more opportunities), and for my teaching at International Christian Academy. For my safety in travel and with help to keep all the our documents in order. Pray also for me as I consider taking a Russian course—I speak and read OK, but I write horribly—I would like to read and speak better and at least write tolerably. For Zhanya as she prepares to take her US citizenship test—history and all the civics is difficult for her to assimilate (her test is scheduled for May 4). Pray for the continued work in Nizhniy Novgorod and the possibility of moving English Worship service to a more convenient location. Pray also that God continue to strengthen my faith, and as I always pray—for more wisdom to know, faith to trust, and strength to follow His gracious will!

Nastya and School

One might think the decision to send Nastya to International Christian Academy where Karl is already going would be a simple decision. There are two major considerations—the major one is a question of Russian language. Although the school does offer Russian class, the teaching is done in English, so we have noticed that Karl’s Russian has not improved. This is a concern. The other concern is the cost. God does provide, but we do need to consider how best to use the resources He provides. On the plus side are the Christian atmosphere and teaching, small class sizes, balanced program (they have good music/band and art teachers), flexibility with mission travel, and it would be convenient if both our children were at one school.

Nastya has Glasses

This year we began to notice that Nastya had trouble seeing things far away—she often complained how hard it was for her to see the black board at school, as she sits in the third row back. We finally realized she needed glasses, and got them for her. One of the boys in her class who sits in the second row, being a young gentleman, offered to let her sit in his seat. They switched seats, and he asked, “can you see better now?” Nastya, taking out her glasses and putting them on replied, “yes, I can see just fine!”

What punishment so strange is suffered yonder;

The Shepherd dies for sheep that loved to wander;

The Master pays the debt His servants owe Him

Who would not know Him

O Dearest Jesus TLH 143

In Christ,

Leif & Zhanya Camp

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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. These photos will not remain here indefinitely as Flickr is no longer a free service for me. The most recent 200 St. Paul photos will be displayed. -LW.

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. 12^th

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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