The Rev Pawel Zawadzki had a simple dream.

The Rev Pawel Zawadzki had a simple dream. He wanted to build a temple in South Korea. A place of sanctuary, worship and brotherhood that would stand the trial of time.

likewise for the past seven years, the Polish missionary from Warsaw has been building the Chapel of Merciful Jesus. Although at times he's faced setbacks, it has always been a labor of love

The charismatic priest have a passionate affection fors talking - at a mile-a-minute clip - about the ecclesiastical body and the blessing of in what manner it came to be forward a mountain. His desire to finish is with equal reason strong it's infectious.

"Why? Because our Lord wants us to build a chapel upon this mountain," he said.

with equal reason Zawadzki set out to build his house of god He never asked for help to build it. on the contrary others heard of his mission - for what reason he was building a ecclesiastical authority by himself - and showed to help. Among the offers are American troops from camps and bases forward the divided peninsula. They originate for their own reasons and now share the monk's dream.

one like Airman 1st Class Frederick Sheppard, say it's one of the most meaningful work they've at any time done. The 604th Air Support Operations Squadron accommodate with troop at Camp Red mist - a two-hour drive northwest of the ecclesiastical body - also enjoys meeting others.

"We're working together to build something special," he said. "That's a profitable thing."

Building the body of christians hasn't been easy. But then, it's not a typical parish church

It's located in a small clearing in the groves some 700 feet up a imbrue mountainside near the town of Kawondong, 70 miles southeast of the southern Korean capital of Seoul. From there, united gets a breathtaking view of a fair river valley dotted with rice fields.

"It's amazing for what reason this place gives you unbelievable peace," Zawadzki said.

if it be not that getting to the church isn't easy and may criterion one's faith. It's a dull bone-jarring journey up a winding trail glutted of holes, ruts and refuges The trail, which the monk hacked without of the forest, plays havoc upon vehicles. Zawadzki has had to give last rites to couple trucks and three all-terrain vehicles he's used to haul building materials to the site.

onward her first trip to the meeting-house Staff Sgt. Ileen McCaffrey kept passing small buildings forward a paved road. She conception each one was "Father Paul's" - what Americans call Zawadzki - meeting-house When she reached the road to the meeting-house she held her breath,

"We just kept climbing - you had to keep possession of on," said McCaffrey, also a contribute troop at Camp Red vapor "When we finally reached the ecclesiastical body all I could say was 'ooh' what a ride."

level after seven years of work, the house of god still doesn't look like to a great degree It has half a canopy and no steeple. No bell or cros aimed at heaven. There are no slips A huge scaffold stands nearest to it. And around it lie heaps of bricks and piles of sand, lumber, hanger beams and pipes.

When a light wind blows, it rustles the clear plastic sheets that act as a of its second-floor walls, unless the priest sees way past the clattered construction site.

"Isn't it the greatest in number beautiful church you've ever seen?" Zawadzki asks anyone who visits the site. "It's God's will that we are here."

He's permanent he's right about that.

In the beginning

Zawadzki began his journey to the mountain 11 years ago. That's when he and sum of two units other Polish monks of the Pallotine Order of Fathers and Brothers left Poland to establish their order in southward Korea. That task eventually will take 30 to 40 years. on the contrary like the construction of the ecclesiastical authority -- which will take at least sum of two units more years to finish -- he's in no hurry

"Ye I know we still have with equal reason much to do," he said. "But we have fulness of time."

To survive in Korea the monk took work where they could find it. They worked in hospitals, as counselors and helping the homeles Zawadzki betimes had his own Korean parish.

There was also -- and still is -- a shortage of Catholic priests in Korea to perform mass in English. in the same manner a few years ago, Zawadzki began working at American bases. Then he became common of the priests at the chapel at Osan Air Base, about an hour and a half drive from the church

While establishing themselves, the monk lived in different cities since they didn't have a house of their own

"We really straited a home," Zawadzki said. "A place to call our own"

They prayed for a abode But as poor missionaries in a foreign land, there was little chance of a favorable result they could earn enough riches to build one. That situation changed united day some seven years ago.

"One day, my Lord inspired a certain Korean people living on this mountain," Zawadzki said. The Koreans, followers of the Order of Carmelites, live like monk They asked the brothers if they wanted a piece of land to build a temple It was the answer to their prayers.

"It was like a star from heaven," he said. "A authentic gift from God."

Now the monk could do what they'd wager Out to do: build a meeting-house a home and chapel for their order and a sanctuary to welcome travelers. With no coin but plenty of spirit, they started building their house of worship It was, literally, an uphill battle.

For single in kind they had to spend principally of the time performing their duties as priests, in like manner the going was slow. They didn't have permanent funds for building materials. Plus, their far off plot of land didn't have electrical power or running water. There wasn't on the same level a road.