Grace Notes

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday–where am I going to get palms in Russia when there is still snow on the ground?  OK, in Russia the tradition is to use pussy willows–they have plenty of those and they bud early spring.
This month God has been exceedingly good as there has been much ministry to do, Karl even got to do a little mentoring, there is also a lot to pray

about, so read the attached prayer letter with is below with the usual host of photos.

Here are the captions (I suppose I should figure out how to include the captions on the photos, now that will give me a headache for next month…).

Karl mentors 1 & 2 Karl was just 5 years old when he first tried to acolyte.  His first attempt did not go well, so I took him to church the next week and we practiced.  The next Sunday he surprised everyone at how well he did — all he needed was a little help, encouragement and practice.  Karl has been acolyteing now for 10 years.  Our organist has a small son, Vova, who is now about 6 who has shown interest in lighting the candles (OK, most small boys are fire bugs).  Karl has been teaching Vova how to acolyte and the process is almost complete.  Next week Vova goes solo…

Two Family pictures (EW meant English Worship, Fam means family).  Karl and Nastya had their spring recital at school, Karl played trumpet, astya surprized everyone by adding another instrument to her spectrum–she played guitar (saxiphone, piano and now guitar).  5 pictures from the trip to Kingeseppe–in a couple I am distributing books, then I am talking about how to access the books, and in the last Ivan is talking about his volunteer program.  It was a very volatile meeting as the pastors used the chance to gather to grind all of their axes…

LHF Pushkin.  Head Pastor of the parish in Pushkin came to Turyo to load his small VW with books and journals.  A local non-denominational church (with Baptist/Pentecostal leanings) has asked him to teach them about liturgy (LHF has translated Reed’s book, and we have plenty of copies).  Of course, the scope has quickly broadened–when one starts to talk about Lutheran Liturgy, we have confession, we have absolution–so sin and grace, law and gospel. We have sacraments–OK, means of grace, grace and works, etc.  Keep Fedor in your prayers–this is a great opportunity but a bit of a labyrinth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This month I again traveled to Nizhiny Novgorod.  The finnish missionary architect was supposed to travel with me, but opted out after I had made

my plans.  The main point of the visit was to be to discuss and review the possibility of building the Sanctuary.  Friday I helped lead a discussion group on relationships, Saturday I led an open seminar which attracted several non-Lutherans (over tea we had a great discussion about baptism),  Sunday I got to preach in Russian (I preach almost every week in English now, so it was nice to preach in Russian for a change), after church I talked to the congregation about the possibility of building.  Funds are a major impediment, and I suggested that they should start their own building fund.  This they have agreed to do (to me such a step is obvious, but so it goes).

The last four pictures are of St. Annes, a former church that had been converted to a theater, then burned down the day it was to be turned back

over to the German Lutheran Church.  The German Church now does not want it, and is trying to turn it over to the Lutheran Church of Ingria. As the building is only half a block from the US consulate, it would be a logical place for  English langauge worship services and other ministry, but it is a
mess.  Blessings and keep us in prayer,

Ride on, Ride on, in majesty,  In lowly pomp ride on to die

Bow Thy meek head to mortal pain  Then take, O Christ Thy power and reign

TLH #162 vrs 5

 In Christ,         Leif & Zhanya Camp

 

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 8a 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@mail.ru & leif.camp@elci.ru.  Please feel free to share this prayerletter 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!

Back in Russia      

Upon arriving in Russia in February, I was flush with excitement and energy to teach my class on Galatians. After clearing customs at the airport, I was met in the parking lot by the seminary driver, Toivu. As always, these are real conversations.

Me: (Excited to be back in Russia) Hey, how are you doing?!  Toivu: (indifferent) Ok.  Me: Wow! This cold is bracing! It feels great!

Toivu: (Now looking at me with undisguised alarm as if I’ve gone crazy)

Me: (Feeling the need to explain myself) It’s been so warm in the States this winter. It’s just great to have cold!
Toivu: Well, it has warmed up to 14 F.

Me:(now, not so thrilled, silently processing this revelation that it had warmed up to 14) Oh …

Later, at the seminary….

Me: (cheerily, watching the snow come down) Well, it looks like we’re still getting snow.

Ivan, the seminary handyman: (Thoughtful, while shoveling the snow) Oh, this? It’s not so much. I remember when we got 20 cm (about 8 inches) in mid May.

Me: (grinning bravely, but now thoroughly disillusioned) How much? In May?

The lessons: Be careful what you wish for- or- We may have mild winters in the States, but Russia continues to defy the global warming gods.

Graduation Day at the Seminary

The graduating class this year at the Theological Institute of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria was not as large as usual. Due to attrition and illness, we had only two students defending their theses on February 17. Some short thumbnail sketches follow:

Erdene Bandanov- Most of you may remember that Erdene used to be a shaman in the villages of the Republic of Buryatia, out in Russia’s Far East along the banks of Lake Baikal. I have related in the past how Erdene came to faith in the one true Lord, Jesus Christ, after despairing over the fact that he was possessed by a demon. He craved power over people, but soon realized that worldly power meant that he was in thrall to one more powerful than him– the devil. Through prayer, the Lord expelled the demon from him.

These past few years he has been studying diligently and now upon graduation will serve the Lutheran congregation in the village of Toksovo (founded in 1625) in the Leningradskaya Region. I will miss my conversations with Erdene, a fascinating student who is dedicated to bringing the Word to a primarily Russian congregation, while also doing outreach among Buryat immigrants to St. Petersburg.

Erdene once told me that when he had come to faith, he and some fellow Christians followed a group of shamans to a local mountain where they were performing their rituals. He told me that he and his friends just shouted out continually “Hallelujah!” and praised the name of Jesus. The shamans despondently began to descend down the mountain, as one told Erdene- “You are frightening away the spirits!” Let us pray that Erdene will continually be used by the Lord to scare away the demons who once bound him as he proclaims true freedom in Christ to the people of Toksovo.

 Vladimir Yakushev- Vladimir is from the very far north of Russia, the port city of Murmansk. As with so many of the students at the seminary, Vladimir grew up as an atheist. I am always amazed at being reminded of the youthful atheism of my students who are now devout Christians. Master’s degree student Ivan Laptev spoke to me recently of his childhood atheism. “Of course we believed. We didn’t know any better.” So as you can see, these positive changes from the days of communism have become more firmly grounded in 21^st century Russia.

Vladimir himself became a believer in his early twenties and gravitated to the Lutheran Church after his daughter’s illness led her to a Lutheran congregation in Murmansk who prayed for her healing. Vladimir will serve the Lutheran congregation in Murmansk as pastor, but is also using his skills from his previous profession as a cameraman. He is currently shooting a video of the history of the Theological Institute for which I gave him an interview.

Pray for the Lord’s continued blessings upon the Theological Institute of the Lutheran Church of Ingria where I teach a course each semester.

Thank the Lord for work on a Rehabilitation Center for alcoholics in Mongolia that has received assistance from LCMS members.

Thank the Lord for blessing my cousin Shawn Nunnink and pray for His continued healing from her cancer.

E-mail: matveih@yahoo.com—mailing address- 26650 Woodshire, Dearborn Heights, MI., 48127.

To support my work financially, you can send a tax-deductible gift to:

LCMS World Mission; Missionary Support; PO Box 790089; St. Louis, MO 63179-0089 —–Make checks payable to LCMS World Mission. Mark checks “Support of Matthew Heise.”

If you would like to partner with me in my ministry with ongoing support as an individual or congregation, please contact Debra Feenstra for information on Together in Mission or Mission Senders at 1-800-248-1930 Ext. 1651 or Debra.Feenstra@lcms.org Thank you and may the Lord richly bless you!