She had stopped playing netball, because it was causing disunity with her parents. They believed that allowing a girl to participate in competitive sports would eventually result in losing her, perhaps to prostitution. Sports Friends Malawi was able to give them new information, and they decided to allow Jane to participate in sports. Now she is one of their most reliable netball coaches, and leads her local church-centered netball team.
Many children love Jane and her sports ministry. Several of the girls she coaches have given their lives to Christ, and are part of the church. Her parents are happy now because she is being used to reach the community for Christ.
Indeed Jane is a tool in the hands of God. She is now more active in her church and is making an impact in her family. She also has the joy of seeing members of the community come to faith. It is a great honour to use the skills of veterinary medicine to serve the materially poor, whose livelihoods revolve around livestock. My veterinary help to the Fulani people is a bridge to start conversations, as barriers of mistrust and negative stereotypes are broken down.
Everyone responds to love, if we can only strike the chord in their hearts. Fulani hearts are reached as we care for their herds. Almost every rural household has a chicken. In fact, chickens have been described as the ATM of the poor. But when diseases hit, flocks and herds are decimated.
So we train indigenous people and missionaries as community vaccinators. This has given us greater access to households, and has improved goodwill. Some share very intimate details about their lives as they see the love of Christ demonstrated.
