Omar the Great

"Smile On" playing games with Omar

Many of the locals seem to be pretty good with kids.  But Omar has been great with our kids.  Interestingly he is the sort of handy-man/dirty tasks/low-man-on-the-totem-pole guy at the clinic where we’re staying.  People are always calling his name and telling him to fetch this or that or do this or that.  But in between tasks he often takes time to stop by where the kids are playing outside and give them “five” or tease them with something silly (usually pretending to take away their sandals).  I was a little surprised to also see him at the church we attended on Sunday, where he sang quite passionately with the youth in one of the choirs.  This culture has a fairly hierarchical structure where those with position and those without position usually accept their roles and assume it will work out best for everybody.  Even despite his small prospects of advancement, Omar amazes me with how he is very giving and willing to help with the surprising amount of English he knows.  And I’m thankful that he is working to befriend our kids and give them a good taste of what friendship can be like with people who look different or are from different situations.