Wait! Take a deep breath, it's not as bad as it sounds! John's posting let the cat out the bag ---the Chechen players are agreesive and rather good, to say the least. According to Tim and Nic, they are among the best players these American varisty soccer players have ever played against. The soccer field is really a concrete basketball court with a wire fence around it. The stadium was packed--- everyone wanted to see the Chechen vs. USA match. When the Chechen team scored a goal (which was often) the stadium roared and the whole town could keep score!

Nic's injury provided him with an unforgetable experience. In addition to the details John shared, the Russian police came to the hospital because a foriegner had been injured and they wanted to see if Nic was going to press charges. Nic declined as it was purely accidental. However, the police remained at the hospital with Nic. (We all know how much teen boys adore the police. After Nic suffred through the cartilege realigment, the police wanted to take Nic to the police station to fill out a complicated form with his statement. Fortunately, John's russian speaking colleagues convince the police to let Nic complete the form in the hospital parking lot. Nic now has a photo of him with a Russian policeman standing in front of the police car. Nic is wearing the policeman's hat. Parents, eat your hearts out:-)

The team is doing amazing ---- everyone played in the soccer tournament. The next several days sound great with more soccer, field-day type games, cultura; events and community service.

Sounds as though our boys will be returning as young men --- thank you all for sticking by them and for loving them enough to let them go.
CJ Juleff

Hey everyone! I am writing from my friend Hutch's home in Nalchik. We have had the most amazing adventure. Wanted you all to know that every one of your prayers and well wishes have been received. The boys are doing fantastic. The mountain was just incredible! I mean incredible! Each young man worked tremendously hard at climbing this long mountain. Each one reached a personal goal and was celebrated! The team worked together to support one another with every step. We are off the mountain and safe with no stomach virus as well.

Today we played the Chechen soccer players. About 250 kids showed up and lined the stadium to cheer us on. The age range is 6-18. Our team played the older kids who from my perspective could all have full division 1 college scholarships! They are that good. They were also very aggressive. Our team was wonderful sports! Brandon P was pushed down and has a nice road rash on his knee and elbow--and Nic got kicked in the face on accident and was sent to the hospital for an x-ray. Let me tell you the whole experience was unreal. The hospital was a vision you may expect! Paint falling off the walls and ceiling. Lights broken. Tiles on the floor missing and the list goes on. Nic rode there in a 1950's ambulance with the lights rollin. I am happy to report that his nose was not broken--but they did have to reset his cartilage. That was an experience to watch. Nic was a trooper and so brave. When they put him in this 7 X 15 room he was 3 feet away from an open surgery on a young girls nose. So much for the sanitary environment. Nic is feeling fine and has little pain.

In the morning we are playing more camp games with the smaller Chechen kids. There are 500 at the camp we are going to. In the afternoon we are doing a community service project by helping to build the soccer park that Hutch and his friends have been working on for 2 years. In the evening we are going to a Kabarkian traditional dance. One of the cooks who is Kabarkian invited us to attend. Over 1000 people will be there.

Tonight we had the pleasure of having dinner at the home of Rastam our cook from the mountain. His entire family was there to meet our team. The boys were kind and gracious and great eaters! Two groups of boys are spending the night in Russian homes---both the cooks from the climb. This is a big deal! The boys were excited to sleep out with some new friends. They are safe, healthy and exhausted. I have pushed them with a tight schedule!

They all talk about you all and how much they miss you.

I have seen some amazing moments with your sons and I can't thank you enough for trusting me with them. They are changing in front of my eyes. It is not uncommon to hear comments like: "Man do I have it easy at home", or "Man do I take my life for granite", or "You never hear them complain--they seem so happy without anything"!

This has been the most amazing journey for me and for your sons. I hope you are blessed to hear this has been truely awesome to experience!

We love you all!

John

Emailed from the Heidts: Update on Tim's Condition:

Good Morning Everyone,

We heard from Tim last night at about 12:30. They are back down from the mountain now and everyone one is doing fine. Tim said he was left behind when the group made their final push for the summit due to the intense sunlight off the snow and ice and that he didn’t have all his vision back yet. He said the rest of the group made it to the top and back safe and sound. He said the group all came back from the summit with sunburns, some even 2nd degree due to all the sunlight. He said the weather has been great, even reaching the 90’s. Today the weather is suppose to be in the high 60’s low 70’s, he said they are glad for the cooler weather. Tim said it was like you could reach up to the clouds and touch them, they were that close to the clouds. They are traveling to Nalchek (spelling) today to play soccer with the local kids and meet the children of the orphanage. Tim said they are crazy drivers over there. He said it is really green like a tropical forest over there. He said they had the same meal each night on the mountain ( Tim’s words ) a chunk of beef, 3 potatoes, vegetables and broth; a cross between stew and pot roast. One night they had meatloaf with their meal, he said he really didn’t care for it ( missed mom’s cooking ). He said they would be spending tonight at the cook’s house and his mother was going to cook them a home cooked meal. Now that had Tim’s interest ( food ). He said they were all having the times of their lives, and the trip was better than they all could have imagined. Tim ended the call saying the group was extremely excited about traveling around the country now, and getting to see all the sights.


Sounds like the group is having a great time and that they are proud of all their group and individual accomplishments. Hopefully this will be the life changing event in their lives that propels them forward with purpose and direction; and that there isn’t anything they can not accomplish in life. You could hear in Tim’s voice that they are all having a great time, and that the group is bonding into life long friends.



Congratulations to all the young men and all their leaders!!! Whorah!!!!


Thank you John for loving our boys so much, and taking care of them.


Kevin & Debbie Heidt