My outreach on an island of "Black Magic"

My favorite side project and outreach is women's futbol.

Getting another team of young women to travel to a different island from ours called, Ambrym, to play futbol for a week was a mountain of difficulties and triumphs! The biggest challenge was taking women away from their husbands, families, social duties, homes, and comforts. Especially to play futbol and to a place known for witchcraft.

With absolutely no support from our island and a small tin can for a speed boat, we left our island only after weeks of training and speedbumps to embark on a 3 hour boat ride across the open sea. Upon arrival, we hike up to a near by village hoping for hospitality, to my surprise the girls with me didn't speak much, and I was the only one talking to these villagers. The chief and his people were welcoming, yet we waited a few hours before the scheduled truck arrived to pick us up.

Now in safer hands, we arrive to the Vanuatu Futbol Federation team and sleeping quarters, there I find another New Zealand volunteer, Serah, and another Peace Corps volunteer, Lindsay. I laugh in relief and happiness as we story about my adventure and challenges upon our arrival.

As the tournament went underway, we were one of 7 teams, and had no reserves to play two games a day in the blistering heat on a sand filled field. It was hard enough getting there, now with less appealing playing conditions, we once again overcame our setbacks. Needless to say, we took first place and won $100 USD as our prize money! The girls and I led every morning and evening with prayers and christian songs of devotion; our prayers had been answered. We didn't travel all that way, conduct fundraisers, train; to come back empty-handed, we came back with our pride in the shape of a Wimbeldon size gold cup 1st place trophy!

The looks of shock, surprise, and respect were what lifted our spirits the most upon returning back to our home island. The men and women all gave us a welcome home as we ran around our field holding our trophy high singing a war chant for our victory.

The hours, energy, blood, sweat, and tears spent doing women's futbol in Vanuatu=priceless