Update

I've been here about two weeks now and I'm starting to get the hang of things.  Steve and Sukhee were gone at an AIA conference this week so I didn't really have a choice but to figure things out on my own.

I got to go watch the "Guinness World Record" Wrestling tournament with 6,002 Mongolian wrestlers with a journalist I met Tim, and a wrestler, Minga, who wrestled at St. Johns University in Minnesota.  It was interesting to watch and very clear that there is much bigger appreciation for wrestling here, than in the US.  It was also interesting to see how every one competed together.  Because there are no weight classes usually the big guys win, but there a lot of small guys who compete, and also really old guys (like in their 60's and 70's).

I also got to see the city a little bit with Cindy and her sister Jill, who was in town.  I've been getting down to the gym and wrestling pretty much everyday and I'm starting to get much more connected with guys there.  It helps having Minga there because he speaks English and can communicate why I can't go live (my wrist).  This doesn't always help because still the other day I was "drilling" with a guy and he decided to go a little harder and threw me on my head, he got me pretty good to put it lightly.  But I'm good to go now!

I've been sitting around a little more than I like these last few days, but I'm excited for some opportunities ahead.  I'm going to try and start a wrestling club at one of the local international schools and I'm praying that it will work at.  Also I'm trying to get a youth group going at another local school so please pray for these opportunities!  And my wrist because I really want to get going on the mat!

Thanks for your support!

Settling In

I arrived safely in Ulan Bator (or Ulaanbataar, theres like 6 different spellings) on Saturday night.  On Sunday I got to live the Mongolian dream with the Barrett's and another missionary-type family working for Samaritan's Purse.  We left town driving for about an hour (driving in Mongolia is an adventure all in itself) to a National Park.  First we came across a kazakh bird keeper and I had the opportunity to hold a six foot vulture which towered over the two fully grown golden eagles he had.  Then we had lunch at a nice lodge and of course went horse back riding on mongolian horses.

Since then its been all about getting settled in, getting sim cards, unlocking my iPhone, learning to get around, learning to shop, getting a visa, etc.  I've quickly learned that if you get anything accomplished here its a good day because even the simplest tasks can end up being impossible, or just taking the entire day.

I also have been able to get into local wrestling gyms the last three days.  The first gym I went to had no one my size or age (it was mostly little kids) but I got to drill some Steve Barrett which posed plenty of a challenge.  The last two days I went to the Sport Palace where the national team wrestlers train for the most part.  I jumped in and drilled with the guys there but they sometimes have trouble understanding that I can't wrestle live because of my wrist.  Needless to say I'm anxious to be ready to go and so are they, plus there are a lot of tough looking guys I'm excited to go after.  I also met a journalist Tim who was a college wrestler at Virginia State and is writing about the national style of wrestling here.  I'll get to work out with him some over the next week or so.

Tomorrow I'm supposed to start taking Mongolian language classes, but I usually gotta see it, to believe it with plans out here so we'll see.  Other than that, I'm excited to keep getting more connected, I should start helping with a couple youth groups, and start teaching english classes at a university in the next month.  Please keep me in your prayers and let me know if you have any questions! 

Leaving for Mongolia!

Hi! I’m Jesse Stafford and if you didn’t already know I am about to fly out to Mongolia where I’ll be based until next July.  I had a great year at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs but when I learned about an awesome opportunity to travel to Mongolia as an intern for Athletes in Action for a year I decided to hang it up (just kidding I am actually planning to return the USAF Academy next July as a sophomore). 

On Friday, September 16, 2011 I will fly out of San Francisco and travel to Ulan Bator, the capitol of Mongolia (also the coldest capitol in the world evidently).   I will be living in an apartment there, and working as an intern under Stephen Barrett.  At this point I expect to be doing things like teaching English classes, helping out with AIA camps, and connecting with the local kids through wrestling, sports and bible studies.  I will also have the opportunity to do a lot of wrestling and training.

While I’m out there my parent’s and I will be continuing to update this blog with info about  what’s going on.  I would love to have your prayer support and if you would like to pray for me on a regular basis feel free to email me at jesse.stafford@yahoo.com for specific things to pray about!  Thank you for your support and I’m excited to head out!

Right now I’d appreciate your prayers for:

AIA’s Mongolian Ministry!

Continued recovery from my June wrist surgery.

That God would prepare me for the adventure that lies ahead!

Also if you have questions feel free to email me or even post them on this blog