The very beginning of my stay with my host family in September 2025 gifted me two unforgettable moments that I will carry forever.

I arrived around midday on a Sunday and was immediately welcomed with a warm lunch already prepared. Later that evening, I joined my host mother to cut grass for the cows. While working, I met an elderly man with a skin condition. The moment he saw me, he ran toward me with joy, embraced me, and exclaimed that I was the one God had sent to make him happy in his old age. He went on to praise me, calling me beautiful and good, even suggesting that I was perfect for him. His wife, sitting nearby, welcomed me warmly. Jokingly, the man asked her if she would allow me to become his second wife. She smiled, saying she had no problem, as a way of starting a casual conversation in the village.  We parted with laughter, and from that day, he kept checking to see if I was still around. That encounter filled me with joy and gave me confidence that my service would be full of kindness and connection.

A week later, a very different memory unfolded. On a Monday morning, I opened the backyard door and came face-to-face with the family’s cat, which had been away for days. Terrified, I panicked, stepped back, and ran through another entrance. I soon learned the cat was pregnant and had returned to give birth. Four days later, I discovered she had delivered her kittens, but after only a few days, they were gone. I was told cats often abandon or throw away their kittens, and the truth of that broke my heart. While I admired her cleanliness and resilience, the painful reality stayed with me, leaving me to wonder where her kittens had ended up.

One moment was full of laughter, joy, and human connection; the other of fear, surprise, and sadness. Both shaped the beginning of my experience with my host family and gave me stories I will never forget.