2022

November

Dear Friends,

In October, I read the book of Joshua. After years of waiting for the promised land, finally Joshua and the people of God enter the promised land. With the help of God, Joshua and the 12 tribes conquer these lands step by step. After which, these 12 tribes each receive a part of these lands so that each family can establish their home.

Three weeks ago (the last week of October), I started building my house in the town of Hateg of 10,000 people. It will be a house with a metal structure. The first 10 days, I dug the 40 holes to pour concrete, reinforce with steel bars. On the evening of the first day of construction, I went with my flashlight to the back of my land where there are 80 fruit trees. Following the light of my lamp, the first tree I found in my path was an apple tree (see photo). It is special because there is only one apple on this tree. My first thought referred to the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden. After 30 years of missionary life and many moves, I thought that God gave me a place for my old age, a home. I was really very happy with these thoughts and to finally have a home. The view of the mountains, the hills and the city of Hateg is superb, really like on a postcard. I have been a member of the local Quovadis church for 2 years. This church started about ten years ago. We are 40 members and many children and teenagers. I have known the leaders of this church for over 20 years. It is a very motivated team to live according to the gospel and above all to share it.

During the building days, I thought of the verse, John 14:3, which says that Jesus went to his father and He is preparing a place for each of us these children. If here on earth we can have a home that can be so wonderful, how can we imagine the beauty of our home with our Father.

Missionary News:

– In Romania, the Romanian state no longer applies restrictions due to Covid. We therefore organized many camps and evangelistic activities during this summer. During the three summer months, I was in our youth camp center in Poarta Oilor. We have hosted 14 camps, more than 1000 people, the majority of them are living in financially or socially disadvantaged conditions. During this summer many young Romanians and foreigners came to help us. Every week, we had a new team of 5 to 10 young volunteers for helping different activities. It is a good way for these young people to train to serve and work in a team.

– Quovadis church in Hateg, we organized a week of camp for our teenagers (about ten) and their friends (about fifty). In the church I am one of responsible for teenagers and also in the sound and light technical team.

– In September I made some renovation work in our Poarta Oilor center. Buildings require constant renovation work.

– About Ionut, the youngster living in a metal container, he is progressing well and he is more and more responsible for himself. Now it has water and electricity since this summer. In October, I made small repairs on his wood heating system. And I built him a garage where he can store his wood for the winter.

– Our team of YFC Romania missionaries is becoming more and more mature. The number of young people is increasing min the various activities in our different local centres. After 3 years of Covid restriction, young people are showing the need to see each other physically and so we are taking advantage of this.

– In the village of Doburca, the small gypsy community is growing, there are about thirty of them now. For 5 months they have been building a church where they can gather more easily. For the moment they meet in a house but the space has become too small.

Personal News:

– This year, my health is very good. I am very careful with my diet. I love cooking and over the past few months I have been making more and more Kimchi and Kimpa. My Korean stomach is really enjoying it.

– As you may have read at the beginning of this newsletter, I have started the construction of my future house (picture 3). Autumn is really very mild and so I took the opportunity to start the first works. For now I am doing all by myself and I hope to finish all 40 concrete pillars before winter. My wish is to finish all construction before next summer. But I will need your help. Financially I still have 4000 € to buy the materials. I would need more or less €17,000 to buy all the materials. The house will be made with a metal structure covered on the floor, walls and roof with sandwich panels. The area leaving space will be 102m2.

Prayer topics:

– A very good unity of our team at Poarta Oilor youth center. Mutual aid between foreigners and Romanians. In March 2023, a new foreigners young family will be the new administrators of PO.

– That I can be a good helper in the church of Gipsy, in the church of Hateg and in the youth center of Poarta Oilor.

– For my physical and spiritual health and that my motivation remains high.

– For my finances. My monthly support is 1300 to 1400 € depending on exchange rate variations.

– For the construction of my house. I really need financial help.

A big thank you to all of you who have supported me for so many years. Many thanks for your fidelity.

And when I have gone away and prepared a place for you, I will return and take you with me, so that where I am you may also be there (John 14:3)

Your brother in Christ, Myung Soo Merchie

You will find on my missionary site more information if you want to help me more concretely, a big thank you.

I) MAY

Dear Brothers and sisters,

More time is going more I have difficulties to send my mission news letter.

I am asking you to forgive me for that. I know is my responsibility and I have to be more more carefully about it. 

I want to thank you gracefully for you perseverance to support me in your prayers and financially for so many years. Thank you indeed.   

MISSION :

By God’s grace during the 3 years COVID time our mission Your for Christ Romania grow up. 

In the first year of Covid period, like every where in the world, many mission activities meeting was canceled. 

But we keep contacts with young peoples through Internet media as many churches and mission organization have done.

My surprise was on that period the number of young adult whom wanted to be involve to help us.

Five years ago our mission team was like 15 peoples involved weekly on sharing the Gospel, 

today we are 28 peoples (picture 3)  

On picture 8 you could see cities and area where we have full time Romanian missionaries couple serving daily.

We are happy that we could share the gospel to the 3 main communities, like Romanians, Hungarians and Gipsies.

They are representing 98% of Romanian population.  

The way we are serving the God kingdom is by helping locals churches to sharing the gospel to teenagers and young peoples  

using music, sport, games, arts to meet them. As well many camps during summer time.

For me, this year 2022, is my 30 years as missionary in Romania. 

The past 3 years I have move from big city Arad to our new YFC Camp at Garbova (pict.9 and 10) named Poarta Oilor (Sheep’s Gate)

4 years ago, the owner of that Christian camp, a Deutch couple (80 years old), asked to YFC Romania to buy and keep going the mission of that christian camp. After one year of prayers and discussion we really was conscious, aware of the difficulties  

but all leaders of YFC Romania, wanted to make a step of faith and keep going the mission work for the christian camp.

In 2019 on February we said yes to the dutch couple, and severals days after the Covid get started in Europe more and more 

Only last year, in 2021, we was able by the Romanian Government to run youth camp. We get 650 young peoples during summer time.

This year 2022, from mid-June to mid-September is all booked, we will get around 900 young peoples.  

So I am living full time at this christian camp for the past 3 years. We are a team working full time there, with a family from Swiss and 2 Romanian families and severals volunteers from Romania and abroad. 

Since 3 months we have refugees from Ukraine, 6 families with children, 20 peoples.

Next week we will celebrate 25 years of YFC Romania at the Christian Camp. 

I came in Romania in 1992 but only after 5 years I was able to registered YFC Romania as Christian NGO in Romania.  

I am also involve in 3 small churches, 2 around the christian camp, Gipsy church in the village of Dobarca (pict 6, baptise last year) and brother Church in the village of Garbova (pict 7) 

The 3 church is in city of Hateg, around 100 km from the christian camp. They are really devoting to share the gospel to childrens and young peoples. I know the pastor and severals members since more than 25 years.

I am also involve to a Romanian Pastor Organisation. 

The goal is to helping locales churches to be focus on helping church’s members to become disciples and not staying just spectators.  

We organize every years severals conferences. 

Last April 2022, we started it again after Covid time. Only 80 church leaders participated. 

But first week of November this year a big conference will be organise and more than 600 leaders churches are expected.

PERSONAL :

Last year my older brother pass away in July. He had 60 years old and had many health problems after many years of alcohol addiction.

My older sister, 62 years old, has also many health problem and wish to go through euthanasia. 

In February and Marsh this year, she shared me a lot about that.

2 times I had health problems, during winter 2020 and winter 2021.

The first time was 4 months and second time 3 months. I had very week health physically and emotionally. 

But with God’s grace and help of some good friends and some treatment, I get really better. 

This past years, I was thinking about where to go for my old age. After reflection and pray, my heart wish to stay in Romania.    

So last year I bought a land (pict 11) where in the futur I could build a small house in the city of Hateg. 

I am 56 years old and I have to think about to get a place where I could stay for my old age. 

I could not stay forever in the christian camp and is the good time to prepare it before to get old and also before, maybe to get to much health problems in the futur.

A good Romanian friend borrow me 19.000 € to buy it (3.600 m2). I have 2 years to giving him back. 

After that I could start to build a house. 

I think I will do it with Containers. It will be more cheap and I could build step by step more easily. 

PRAYERS :

For my sister Pascale (health problem) and 2 children … Beatrice and Roach. They are not christian

For my wisdom how to serve better in Christian camp (Sheep Gate) and 3 churches (Dobarca, Garbova and Hateg)

For giving me better responsibility to send and share my mission report with peoples and churches whom supporting me.

For financial support to building my house for my old age. 

For my health, sometime is going up and down. 

So thank you a lot for giving me this opportunity to share with you. May God’s blessing be with you everywhere you go.