When I first arrived in Gamo Doko Losha, I carried a quiet fear with me. I didn’t know if I would be accepted, if I could communicate, or if I would truly belong in this new place. Everything was unfamiliar: the faces, the language, the environment. I was hopeful, but also uncertain. It only took one moment, one honest conversation to turn that fear into confidence and my arrival into a homecoming. On my very first day, I met my community champions. I introduced myself and explained that I was a CorpsAfrica Volunteer, here to serve their community using my skills and knowledge, without any payment. I’ll never forget what happened next. Their faces lit up with surprise and warmth. One of them said, “If you can come across many kilometers to serve our community, why not us? We are with you.” One by one, they echoed that same message “Call us whenever you need us. We are with you, wherever you go.” 

That moment has stayed with me. It gave me peace and confidence and made me feel that I was not alone. I was among people who understood the spirit of service and were ready to walk this journey with me. From that day on, the welcome only grew stronger. The people of Gamo Doko Losha embraced me like a child who had left his mother too early. They showed me kindness, patience, and a willingness to guide me. I was greeted with genuine smiles, invited into homes, and included in community gatherings from the very beginning. With the support of my community champions, I began participating in daily life. I joined local efforts to build homes for vulnerable families and worked side by side with female farmers during seedling preparation. These moments didn’t just help me integrate—they helped me belong. Of course, not everything has been easy. One of my biggest challenges has been the language barrier. Especially in the first few days, communicating clearly was difficult. I often had to rely on gestures, facial expressions, or simply shared laughter to get by. But over time, I realized something important:those awkward, imperfect moments were actually building bridges. Every attempt to speak, every mistake, every shared laugh it all became part of the trust-building process. 

This challenge taught me a valuable lesson: humility and listening are stronger than words. When you show people that you’re willing to learn and that you respect their culture, they open their hearts to you. Connection doesn’t always require the right words, it requires the right attitude. When people saw that I respected them, and that I was here not to lead but to learn, their hearts opened even more. Now that I’ve started settling in, I’m excited to deepen conversations with the community, identify their priorities, and support projects that are meaningful and truly community-led. I’m here to walk with the people not ahead of them. These first two weeks have been full of emotion: uncertainty, hope, challenge, and inspiration. But through it all, I’ve felt one thing most clearly: I am not alone. I’ve found a new home in Gamo Doko Losha, and I’m ready to continue serving with humility, respect, and heart.