Leaving comfort behind is never easy. When I arrived in Lumen, fear met me before confidence did. Even as the community gathered to welcome me, tears filled my eyes. That moment marked the beginning of a journey that would test my resilience, deepen my humility, and redefine my understanding of service.
When I was dropped off from the vehicle, the reality of my new life set in. I didn’t know what awaited me in Lumen, and the uncertainty was overwhelming. Although the entire community came out to welcome me, I couldn’t stop crying. That first night was long I cried myself to sleep.
My host mum is kind and welcoming, but adjusting was not easy. Discovering that the toilet was far from the house made things harder, and the lack of a backyard and the discomfort of the room added to my struggle. For a while, I found it difficult to fully settle down and feel at ease.
Determined to connect with the community, I spent the next few days visiting each compound. I greeted community members and informed them of my arrival and purpose. Lumen is a large community, and it took me three days to complete the visits, but it was important to show respect and begin building trust.
I was unable to meet the Alkalo immediately, but I met with his son and members of the Village Development Committee (VDC). I explained my role with CorpsAfrica and requested a community-wide meeting so everyone could understand why I was there. Later, the Alkalo’s son informed me that the meeting would take place at 3:00 p.m., and I prepared myself.
On the day of the meeting, I waited for over an hour as people slowly gathered. Eventually, the meeting began. I introduced myself, spoke about CorpsAfrica, explained my purpose in Lumen, and shared the types of community led activities we could work on together. The community welcomed me warmly and expressed their happiness to have me in the village.
A few days later, my host mum invited me to join her in the forest to harvest groundnuts. It was a simple experience, yet deeply meaningful. Walking beside her, learning, and sharing that moment helped me feel more connected not just to my host family, but to Lumen as a whole.
Days have now turned into weeks. I am still here, learning, growing, and discovering myself. Each day, Lumen feels a little more like home. This journey is teaching me patience, resilience, and humility, and I am excited about what lies ahead.
As a CorpsAfrica volunteer, I look forward to serving this community with dedication and respect. I hope to grow alongside the people of Lumen and to have a successful, impactful service rooted in partnership and trust.
