From time to time, people write us and share stories of how they are being Nuru in their world. Your stories are incredible, and we want to share them so you can inspire others. The following story comes from a Nuru advocate and mom named Nicole. We thought you would enjoy her story. . .
<blockquote>A mom’s life is exciting and routine at the same time. Mothers go through the same schedules daily. morning routines, school runs, play dates, gymnastics lessons, shopping, meal prep, baths, homework, bedtime etc. There are always surprises along the way that require quick thinking and changes to the plan, none the less, the routine is usually the same.
Several weeks ago, on Veteran’s Day, I sat at my laptop at the end of one of these very long and particularly challenging days. My husband was reading to our daughter in our bed and I was exhausted! I checked in with friends through email and Facebook and wondered if I had anything clever to share as my Facebook status. I was about ready to turn off the computer, deciding I had nothing brilliant to say, when a friend from college sent me a Facebook chat message, asking to watch Jake’s Story, a video clip on Nuru International’s website.
I’d heard of Nuru before through college friends and even reminded myself to get around to sending a donation sooner or later. But the moment I watched that video clip, my day and my perspective on the world was changed. The video explained how terrorism is fueled by extreme poverty through a very personal story. The images, highlighting desperate looking eyes, stuck with me. Many people would notice the children in those images. I noticed the mothers. I had just completed a day where I felt overwhelmed and exhausted by all I had done FOR my children. What if I was desperate to provide necessities for them but couldn’t? I can only imagine how that inability causes a mother’s heart to ache. Forget the luxuries of school, recreation, and creative snacks. These women can’t give their children clean water.
I knew then that even though I couldn’t move to Africa and help these women and their families, there had to be something small I could do. My sister in law and I host a cookie exchange party each year at Christmas time. We decided this year we’d try a Nuru donation center. We provided information and about Nuru and a link to their website with our invitations and chatted with friends about our desire to do more. That night we set up a special table for Nuru and made sure to point it out along with refreshments, a place to leave gifts for a gift exchange, and our cookies tables as guests arrived. It was that simple. After a fabulous night, where I enjoyed the energy of some incredible women and mothers, I was excited to see how much we would collectively be able to donate. I felt like a kid on Christmas morning as I opened the box and realized we’d raised around $150. It’s a small amount compared to what is needed to end world poverty, but I think that if every person thought of another person, similar to them, in a more desperate part of the world and got creative with contributing in someway, it could go a long way – and possibly end world poverty.
I often am amazed by my friends and their abilities as parents. They are so patient and so in tune with their child’s needs. This “Mommy Posse” (as I like to call them) have helped me through many of my moments of doubt and stress I’ve experienced as a mother. But on this night, I was never prouder because on this night, our “Mommy Posse” stretched our efforts worldwide! I pray not only that our efforts will help another mother and her children in a poverty stricken country, but that it will inspire other mothers here, in a land that is blessed with more than our needed share of resources, to do the same.</blockquote>
Have cool Nuru story to share? Send it to stories@nuruinternational.org and it may just make it on our blog.