Day 8 was to be a long one. It started with the chance we had all been praying for...a chance to play at the National Complex. It was not a scheduled match but this hope was important to the long term projects in UB. We arrived and hinted strongly to play on the brand new FIFA built futsal court. It was a move we would regret. Although the venue was amazing the tour had taken its toll on the old fellas and our youth had no futsal experience. We were crushed 5-1 against a team made up of 6 Futsal National Team members and members from the Ulaanbaatar DS team we had beaten on day 6. It was good to get a loss. It gave us a knock to the pride but motivated us to finish strong.
Next we headed to a prison for troubled youth. A 25 foot wall was an anomaly in the midst of the new high income apartment construction. We met the governor at the gate and he took us into a small room where Arjan gave his riveting testimony to all 40 inmates. His story, a tale of the Karate champion of Holland and 2nd in all of Europe who threw it all away through bad choices of alcohol, drugs and women. The story ended with hope and a choice that gave him a new life. I thought it hit the boys deeply and was a perfect lead-in to the mini camp we were about to attempt. I say attempt because we had to perform 4 stations in less than 40 mintes, with 40 amped young men on a basketball court and small grass area we dubbed the wasteland. However, it was a huge success. Reggie had his station rolling in laughter and Jonah had his group diving around like fish despite sharp rocks littering the wasteland. One of the best events on tour and all in less than 90 minutes.
The leaders then gave us a surprise concerning our journey north to Erdenet. We would not be traveling in a jam packed bus 7 hours...instead we would be taking the midnight train through the Mongolian countryside. It was a trip many stories will manifest from. I shared a cabin with the old men Aaron, Jonah and Mark. We talked chicken coups, fat ladies with too big an opinion and how our wives have changed our lives. We sipped on tea and nibbled on chocolate all while taking in camels, treeless hills and a sunset that will always remain in the memory of this tour.
Next we headed to a prison for troubled youth. A 25 foot wall was an anomaly in the midst of the new high income apartment construction. We met the governor at the gate and he took us into a small room where Arjan gave his riveting testimony to all 40 inmates. His story, a tale of the Karate champion of Holland and 2nd in all of Europe who threw it all away through bad choices of alcohol, drugs and women. The story ended with hope and a choice that gave him a new life. I thought it hit the boys deeply and was a perfect lead-in to the mini camp we were about to attempt. I say attempt because we had to perform 4 stations in less than 40 mintes, with 40 amped young men on a basketball court and small grass area we dubbed the wasteland. However, it was a huge success. Reggie had his station rolling in laughter and Jonah had his group diving around like fish despite sharp rocks littering the wasteland. One of the best events on tour and all in less than 90 minutes.
The leaders then gave us a surprise concerning our journey north to Erdenet. We would not be traveling in a jam packed bus 7 hours...instead we would be taking the midnight train through the Mongolian countryside. It was a trip many stories will manifest from. I shared a cabin with the old men Aaron, Jonah and Mark. We talked chicken coups, fat ladies with too big an opinion and how our wives have changed our lives. We sipped on tea and nibbled on chocolate all while taking in camels, treeless hills and a sunset that will always remain in the memory of this tour.
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