Living in Malawi has shaped me in ways I don’t think I could have understood from a distance. It’s one thing to read about a place, to hear stories or see images, but it’s something entirely different to wake up in it, to move through it, to feel it.
Being here has shown me a side of life that can’t be taught or explained fully unless you’ve experienced it firsthand.
There are realities here that are impossible to ignore. I’ve seen the gaps, the places where systems fall short, where resources are limited, where support is needed.
Those moments stay with you. They challenge you, shift your perspective, and force you to question what you once took for granted. But alongside that, I’ve also seen something just as powerful, if not more. I’ve seen resilience in its purest form. I’ve seen people take what they have, no matter how little, and turn it into something meaningful. There’s a strength here, a sense of community, and a way of finding joy that doesn’t depend on excess or convenience.
It’s in the way people show up for each other, in the laughter that cuts through hardship, and in the creativity that comes from making the most of what’s available.
This experience has changed me. It’s made me more aware, more grounded, and more intentional in how I see the world and my place in it. I don’t just see what’s missing, I see what’s already there and that balance has given me a deeper understanding of both struggle and strength, of both need and dignity.
Malawi hasn’t just been a place I’ve stayed; it’s been a place that’s shaped me, quietly and powerfully, into someone who sees more, feels more, and understands more than before.
Jodi McMahon, USA, Africa Team October 2025.