LifeSkills training and fun conversations

Hey everyone!
So, I just got back from a weeklong LifeSkills training with my counterpart, an HSA that is going to teach with me at the secondary school. It went really well. I feel like my counterpart learned alot and really benefited from this training. We learned some very interesting and exciting ways to teach communities about HIV/AIDS prevention! There's an interesting tool called "the bridge model" which visually shows how people can reach their goals (avoid HIV, get a good job, etc.) by using a "bridge" like abstinence, being faithful, etc. to get over their challenges represented by crocodiles, hippos, snakes in a river. It seems like a very effective tool that I can use with many different type of people like high school kids, women's groups, health center staff, etc.
We also learned some creative ways to give condom demonstrations, which I will hopefully be doing plenty of in the year and a half I have left here at outreach, under 5, family planning, and antenatal clinics! Something that was really funny was watching the coutnerparts reaction to the pictures of STIs and then deciding how important the use of condoms are for preventing not only HIV, but STIs as well. Another funny topic was about what goes on in the bedroom of Malawians. It was kind of funny because some of them asked interesting questions regarding American relationships, which further led to more "touchy" subjects and made everyone laugh!
My counterpart and I have planned to teach the health center staff many of the activities we learned first so that they can go out and teach their villages. I am very excited about all that was gained from this weeklong training!
So, while at the training, I found out some pretty bad news for my TBA project progression. My Peace Corps boss, Edith, talked to the Reproductive health person at the Ministry of Health and they said that the government is longer allowing initial TBA trainings. So, basically all of the meetings and work that I have been putting into the TBA training has been a waste of time. I am going to try to meet with the same person that Edith met with, but I am still waiting to hear back to set up an appointment with her. So, hopefully I can convince this person to let me do this training. I am really stressed about this and hope that it will eventually work. I feel like this is one of the ways that I can help women in this country and make a strong impact on the health of the people in Malawi.
I guess that's a quick update on what I've been up to lately...I miss you all so much. I hope all is well!