Update 19 Nov.

Ulaan Baatar is now covered with snow.  As the temperature slowly, but surely, works its way down so does the pace of life here.  I'm sorry that its been so long since my last update, but the last couple weeks have been pretty routine as I've mostly been on my own.

The youth group I'm leading has been going very well and thank you for your prayers.  A couple of the kids and I have been practicing and have started to put some worship music together so that is a nice addition.  The kids are great and a pleasure to be around.  They are also mostly all missionary kids so it has been my goal to get them talking as much as possible in the bible studies, because I'm pretty sure they have more to teach me than I can teach them.  This has been successful so far and they said that its the most discussion they've had at youth group since they can remember.  

The PE class I've been teaching is also going very well.  I was able to help arrange for a gym we can use so that they can continue to have PE through the cold months.  Although they had a little bit of an advantage on me playing soccer, I ball them up on a daily basis in basketball so thats a breath of fresh air. 

I don't know why but for the last few weeks there have been very few people wrestling and practicing, so I've been a little limited there but I'm hoping that will pick up again soon.  Thank you so much for your support and your prayers and have a happy Thanksgiving! (I found some American people to celebrate with here) 

Open pot holes like this are far too common of an occurrence around here.  On a side note, they do provide housing for most of the homeless population.

Update 4 Nov.

Sorry for the delay- I was waiting to get some pictures up, but I'll just have to add them later.  Our trip to the prison on Monday went very well.  We played their team in basketball and fortunately we had two 7' American guys with us (who are playing in the professional league here) because we hardly pulled out a win.  My shots weren't really falling to be honest.  The prisoners were tough players but nice guys when we talked and we took pictures and gave them shirts.  We didn't get to do our program in front of the whole prison which was a bummer, but a lot of guys kept wandering in until it was really packed by the end.  Overall it was good and it also had a pretty big affect on some of the Mongolian wrestlers who came with us.

This week we also started a bible study with some of the wrestlers here.  I'm interested to watch it transform because a lot of the guys seem pretty skeptical but also pretty interested in coming.  So pray for the study, and these guys!  At practice I wrestled the woman who got 2nd in the world in 2009.  She was pretty fierce and pretty intent on trying to hurt me, but I came out unscathed and I don't think I gave up a point either.

Thanks for your support and keep me in your prayers!  It's starting to get cold as we enter the winter and I'm on my own for the rest of November-  as Steve and Suhkee will be in America.  I'll still be doing some bible studies, running a youth group and trying to do some community outreach with them, as well as teaching PE.  Hope all is well!

Oh and I should get some pictures up in the next couple days!