I have not been purposely procrastinating my last post from this years trips…you can imagine  that it is difficult to put all of the experiences that we had into a single blog post. As I sit here at my desk  in North Carolina I am remembering the last time I was here. I was busily answering emails regarding last minute packing tips, confirming travel arrangements and organizing money for the month long journey. Now all of that seems so small in comparison to what actually happened.

Over the course of the last 30 days so much has happened. New experiences were shared, new friendships were made, old friendships were strengthened, teachers learned, students taught us so much, vision was made clearer (in more ways than one), new things were tried, fears were faced, laughter was all around us, tears were cried, new language was spoken and heard, traditions were explained and in general our view of the world and of each other changed.

As I reflect on the teachers trip I am so proud to say that our program was pushed forward so much this year. This is due to last years group of teachers who paved the way with the first With Change In Mind teachers trip and to this years group who helped to continue our vision. Our relationship with Kauma Primary School and the staff there was made stronger. With us returning students felt as if we really had made a commitment to them and the teachers at the school also felt they could trust us even more. I was so encouraged to hear some of our teachers talk about how they had learned so much working at the school. They spoke about how they would go home better teachers. Ive said it in previous posts and I’ll say it again, what a great group of educators we had this year! I hope that all the teachers who have participated in our program will share their experience with others and that our teacher trips will continue year after year. Important work is being done and I believe that all of the teachers who have traveled with us have made a difference in the way lessons are taught at Kauma. I was lucky enough to stop by the school after this years group had gone home. As I walked onto the campus I could hear teachers in the classrooms working. I could hear the sound of songs our teachers had taught being sung. I could hear the malawian teachers using techniques that I know our teachers had taught. As I walked through the school my smile got wider with each step. I want all of the teachers that have traveled with us to know that what you have done HAS made a difference!

With Change In Mind has BIG plans for next years teachers. I can’t wait to start seeing the list of educators come together. Our itinerary has been perfected and exciting things have been added. This is all thanks to those who have taken trips with us and with their feedback helped to improve our program. We are always striving to make our trips better and better.

We were so lucky this year to have our new friend Gordon Mendenhall join With Change In Mind in Malawi. The week he spent in Malawi could not have been more productive. With very little planning Gordon and I managed to come together and make some big things happen. In just 4 days 219 people were screened and 133 (maybe a few more) glasses were given. Gordon also was able to train 3 local people to do vision screenings so that With Change In Mind can continue to help provide glasses to people in Kauma and the surrounding communities. Mr. Mendenhall was kind enough to purchase enough eyeglasses to replenish our kit so that over the next year more screenings can be set up. (THANK YOU GORDON) In just one week so many lives were changed! I know one of those changed was Gordon’s. I tell people all the time that once you come to Malawi you can never really be the same. It is an incredible place filled with love, kindness and amazing people. I have a feeling Gordon will be back again and will be encouraging friends to add Malawi and the WCIM experience to their bucket lists.

It is impossible to wrap up what was accomplished this year for the organization as a whole. We now have our first WCIM representative in Malawi. Tovia is at our project site 5 days a week and will be working hard to make sure things progress and continue moving forward all year long. She will be teaching the care givers about farming, environment, permaculture and helping with the food program we have set up at Adziwa. I am so excited to have her with us. Having someone on the ground in Malawi will allow us to put in place many new things. We will be able to update the food program and bring more nutritious options to the little ones. We have already been able to make plans much sooner than usual for next years project! And we are now able to have an impact in Malawi all year long. All of this is incredible progress and I am so proud!

For all of you that are excited about being part of next years adventures stay tuned! Soon the dates will be set and we will begin registering volunteers. I will post over the next few weeks about next years teacher trips and the projects for our open trips. If you think this year was great just wait until you hear how we will spend June, July and August of 2015!