2025
JULY
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I apologize once again for the delay in sending this letter. It will also be short, as I only want to share my summer program with you, as well as a summary of my stay in Korea during February and March 2025.
I will send you a longer newsletter in September to share a summary of this summer’s various camps.
My stay in Korea during February and March 2025.
My last trip to Korea, before this one, was just before the Covid crisis in January 2019. It was with great joy that I was able to see old friends again and spend some time with each of them. A very big thank you to Ji Soon and Seong In from Busan for their invaluable help in organizing meetings with different churches and individuals. We have known each other for 20 years. Furthermore, God allowed me to meet new people who helped me a lot, especially in Seoul and Busan, Pastor Jeon (Mission for North Korean Refugees) and Miss Joo Young from Seoul. A heartfelt thank you to all of you for the time you devoted to me during my stay in Korea. The goal of my visit to Korea was to meet the people and churches that have supported me for many years, and a big thank you to each of them. Before the Covid period in 2019, 8 churches and 4-5 people from Korea supported me financially monthly. In January 2025, only 4 churches and 2 people continued to support me financially. After my stay this year 2025, in April, a church that had stopped, resumed their support and a new church in Busan, (Isaac Church) began to support me financially as well as 8 people. Today a total of 1,010,000 Won/month (625 € / 725 $). A big thank you to these churches and the different people. I am very grateful for the efforts of these churches and these people, because during these 2 months in Korea, I saw that the economic situation of Korea and Korean churches was very difficult. During the Covid period, I understood that many missionaries had to leave the mission field to return to Korea. I am truly sorry for these many people and missionary families. Faced with this situation, I am truly grateful to be able to continue sharing the word of God in Romania. A second wish during my stay in Korea was to find help to advance in the construction of my small house in Romania and so two churches in Seoul gave me a special donation of 8,000,000 won (Salt Light Church – Seoul) and another of 1,000,000 won (YungDong Church – Seoul). A very big thank you to them.
My summer camp schedule.
June:
23rd to 28th, camp for 70 children and teens (8-14 years old) at our Poarta Oilor (Sheep’s Gate) camp.
July:
7th to 11th, camp with 20 youth (16-18 years old). Only 4 youth attend church.
14th to 18th, day camp. Baseball practice. 50 children (7-14 years old) in my town of Hateg.
21st to 26th, camp with 45 youth from my church (and their friends) in the mountains.
August:
11th to 15th, camp with 70 children from my church (and their friends).
25th to 30th, Romm (Gipsy) youth camp with approximately 60 at our Poarta Oilor camp.
Sujets de Prières :
Many thanks for praying for the prayer requests in my last newsletter of December 2024:
1) For my trip to Korea from January 29 to April 2, 2025
Answer. Very happy with the new encounters in Seoul and Busan. And for the continued support of the churches, both financially and through prayer.
2) May I be a good example for the younger generation. May I have wisdom and zeal to share the Gospel.
Answer: My weekly involvement with children and young people gives me many opportunities to share all the experiences I have acquired and to encourage them.
3) For my physical, mental, and spiritual health.
Answer: Since the beginning of the year, I’ve been doing physical activities three times a week, including an hour of cycling. My physical health is very good. My morale and spiritual state are also very good, with occasional moments of solitude, but having very good friends in my church helps me a lot.
4) To properly fulfill my responsibilities within the framework of the YFC mission and my local church.
Answers. I am very happy with my involvement and collaboration in my local church and with the collaboration with my two pastors. With the YFC mission, I continue to fulfill my responsibilities as a member of the board of directors of YFC Romania. This year, 2025, we have experienced many administrative and financial problems in the management of our camp. But by the grace of God, we are seeing an end to these problems.
5) For my sister, Pascale, and my brother Michel in Belgium.
Answer. Every 10 days, I have contact with my sister who is in Belgium. Her health is always up and down. Sometimes she asks me to pray for her. For the past month, she hasn’t been able to walk more than 10 meters. I have less contact with my brother Michèle. I had a good meeting with him in January.
6) For the construction of my house and finances.
Answer. I’m encouraged because the construction of the small house is well underway. In two months, I hope to be able to move in, even if everything won’t be finished, but enough will be finished to live in.
7) For my monthly financial support,
Answer: The economic situation and the difficulties Korean churches are facing in general have not allowed me to significantly increase my monthly financial amount. However, I am encouraged because people in Belgium and Korea have started supporting me monthly.
New prayer requests:
1) For all summer camps, that children and young people may learn, understand, and live the Word of God.
2) For the construction of my small house and to move in, if possible, in September 2025.
3) For the Gypsy children I care for (see photos): Agnana, Adrian, Denisa, Crina, Ionela, Alin, Narcica, Codruti.
4) For my nephew Roch (44 years old). He has problems with alcohol and drugs.
5) For my health and financial support.
A warm deep thank you to all of you for your time and prayers.
Your brother in Christ, Myung Soo Merchie
Email address: myungsoo.romania@gmail.com and www.myungsoo.ro