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ДУРАК-do-ROCK—fool

1 Corinthians 1:18 ¶ For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

April fools day is not really a big Russian holiday, but it is beginning to catch on. Why Russia imports so many of the questionable practices from Western Culture and not the more positive aspects, I suppose is more evidence of original sin, but that is not where I want to go with this introduction. Christians by worldly standards are “fools.” Why? Well, from a worldly perspective, because we often sacrifice things in our own lives, comfort, material wealth, and so forth, in order to spread the Gospel and help others, it often happens that some people will take advantage of our kindness and mercy. We may also be considered fools for forgiving those who have wronged us, allowing those who have sinned against us to “get away” with something at our expense. And woe to us if we actually turn the other cheek, respond to evil with good (how foolish does it look to the world if someone curses you out while driving down the freeway and you smile and wave?).

I remember back in 1995 when I was getting ready to go to Russia as a volunteer missionary with LCMS World Mission. What city I would be placed in, what my exact duties would be, where I would live and so forth , I was told, would be decided during on field orientation—so I had to go forward in trust. My friends, however, thought I was crazy traveling half way around the world and not knowing where I was going to live or what I was going to do—besides “try to spread the Gospel.” Most foolish.

Still, I do not think I am fool enough for the Gospel—I still get concerned about how we are going to live, what I am going to do next, whether or not people really care (I know they need the Gospel, but so often they don’t seem to want it—and sometimes when I witness, their rebuffs can make me feel foolish for opening my mouth). But I pray that I may be more of a fool for Christ, a more brave, more foolish witness to the Gospel, for in truth, the fools are those who reject God’s existence, His Word, reject His Wisdom. As Christians we need to pity the fool, love them and reach out to them.

In Between

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. ³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; ⁴ and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

This month, like all months, I had the usual work to do—a seminar on God as Father for the St. Mary’s “admission free—discussion club.” I traveled to Turyo to help with Bible study, work with youth and work with the Church leaders, I led English worship, led morning devotions at the central Church offices, continued to work with the local scout troop and so forth (this month I was also asked to write an article for the Ingrian Lutheran Journal) . I list these things to make a point—not all the work I do, as I always feel I could do more—but rather, when I see the pictures I take every month, I realize that most of what I do doesn’t get photographed.

What do I mean? Well, as much as I enjoy seminars and leading worship, the most effective witnessing I do happens in between—one on one with unbelievers, nominal believers and believers. For instance, a couple times a month I go to the public banya with a doctor I know. Although he considers himself a Christian (Russian Orthodox), he sees no conflict with this and believing in incarnation, past lives and so forth. So we talk, I listen, and answer along these lines—that is not my faith, my understanding of death as a Christian is different, as it says in the Bible, we die only once (Heb 9:27). Then we join our Heavenly Father and await the resurrection. Who would want to live this life all over again?

I occasionally go to a local café with one of the scout leaders after the scout meetings. Again, he claims to be Christian, but as we sit and talk about different things, usually about the time I need to leave to go home, he pops up with a faith question that necessitates another hour of discussion (there have been times I have had to say, “let’s save that for next time, as it is already late.” Talking with people after seminars, talking with pastors over lunch or tea, talking with parishioners after worship service, a chance conversation with strangers waiting in line at the Russian immigration offices, or my son or daughter asking a question while we are walking to the park—these instances may even be more important than my “scheduled” events. No matter how hard I have worked on a sermon or seminar, no matter how well I have prepared and no matter how well things seem to have gone, I have come to learn that it is especially during the in-between times that I need to be most prepared to listen, witness, teach, correct and encourage.

God is with me in these moments, and I often think that God has me here more for those side moments than the “big” things I try to accomplish. Although such moments don’t make for a photo op, I am learning I need to make more “in-between” time for my family, for my co-workers and fellow pastors, for those attending seminars and for strangers in line. I think of Jesus—the Samaritan woman at the well, Peter on the beach, Zacchaeus at the dinner table, Pilate in the courtroom. Each individual soul is important, and reaching them does not take a preacher, an new evangelism program, or a revival movement—it just takes each Christian finding time “in-between” to listen, to witness to the truth of Jesus Christ and His love for each of us.

Prayer Requests

Continue to pray for our good friend Marilyn Wolf (she has a great love for Russian and Lutheranism and has been a great source of help and encouragement). She has pancreatic cancer and by human reckoning will soon join the Church triumphant. Pray for Zhanya as she continues working at the central Church offices heading up the pro-life project. She has been asked to write an article for the Church journal and she needs to write her first pro-life prayerletter (which I will then translate). Pray for Karl and Nastya as they study—Nastya especially is struggling with spelling in English. Pray for the preparations that are underway for summer evangelism—we are helping with some short term evangelism groups that are coming over to do English language camps with the Ingrian Church (this is rather intensive). Pray for my work with the various individuals, that my witness may remain strong without compromise, but at the same time in the spirit of our Lord’s love and truth. Pray for Pastor Kudratzov, Pastor Boichenko in Nizhniy Novgorod, Herman, Alexander, Denis, Pavil, Sergei, Eduard,

Another Word for Fool

Russian language like all human languages has many different words for insulting a person’s intelligence. Another word which transcribed into English would be “tupitza” –pronounced “two-pizza” is even more insulting than the “dorock.” So the urban legend in St. Petersburg has it that one poor tourist got himself punched in the nose when he walked into the local pizza hut and told the cashier, “two pizzas please.” Not everyone understands good English.

If you cannot speak like angels, If you cannot preach like Paul,

You can tell the love of Jesus, you can say He died for all,

If you cannot rouse the wicked with the judgment’s dread alarms

You can lead the little children to the Saviors waiting arms.

TLH #496 v2

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. 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!

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

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