Jean Louis

This kid is a TRIP. I love him like crazy, but he's going to be tough for a while I think. We've been spending the afternoons with him. He REALLY, REALLY wants to like us, and he does, but it's very hard for him. He's not big on physical touch, which is very different from our girls. Well, that's not entirely true, he likes to shake hands or give you a little punch or slap on the arm, but he doesn't want you to do it to him. In fact, he's got cat-like reflexes and will bob and weave so you DON'T touch him. Like many kids with abandonment issues, he doesn't really make eye contact and holds a grudge for a LONG time if you have to correct him. Even so, he's eager to please and seems to learn from his mistakes... which, really, are great qualities. Also, like many children who've lived on the streets, he's got a begging mentality. He's always asking for things and then when you let him use something, he wants to know if he can keep it. Which, in his defense, probably tough waters to navigate because he IS getting a bunch of stuff that he's never had before-- new clothes and shoes and books and toys. Why WOULDN'T he just ask for everything he sees? -- ie. our dishes, a raw egg, Josiah's toys, the desserts I made for Thanksgiving, etc. etc. etc.

He's hilarious. He's always got a smile on his face and is always making people laugh. He's very capable. Though he's never been to school he's intelligent; he learns things quickly. He's got a willing spirit and he's a hard worker. Yesterday after lunch, without being asked, he picked up the broom and swept out our whole compound. The day before that he asked Nick if he could go up into the coconut tree in our yard and cut down the coconuts. Nick, not being the child's MOTHER, said yes. So I wake up to hearing a bunch of WHACKING and Jean Louis is cutting open a couple dozen coconuts with a machete. Yeah, the mother in me didn't love that... but I also have to acknowledge that climbing 30 feet up into a tree and using machetes are regular things that 12 year olds around here do...

Looking forward to him joining us 24/7 on Nov 30th!