Nuru

This is Nuru. At least, that's how I'm guessing you spell his name. The "r" is rolled, so it almost sounds like "Noodle" (which is what some of us called him). :) He lives at the boys' home on the Iris Ministries base where we stayed in Pemba, Mozambique. He's about 7 years old. He loves to sit on your lap, and he's funny. He's always making faces & being silly. One day I came down to the boys' home to just hang out with the boys on their playground.
He was running and jumping all over the place! He kept running over to me, pointing to himself, saying "me! me!" and then when I looked up at him, running away to do a flip off the slide or something. When he'd hit the ground, he'd look up to make sure I was still watching him. That was the moment it hit me that these kids don't have anyone to just watch them play and tell them they're proud of them. Although not a basic physical need, it is still a great need! I really enjoyed my afternoon with the boys, and I tried to clap for them and encourage them as much as possible!

One evening I took Nuru and another boy out for chicken, soda and fries (batatas) at "the chicken shack." The food is really good, but you might wait an hour for your one little drumstick to be served! It was a treat for all three of us.

Another evening I was sitting with Nuru, and he seemed a little down. I was trying to talk to him, but he threw himself on the ground and wouldn't get up. He was throwing a tantrum I guess ?! Behavior like that was confusing for me, and pulled at my heart a little bit, since I had no idea what was wrong or how to help.