Sema Leatherworks

Yesterday we had the joy of spending the morning with three vocational pastors, ChaCha, Phillip and Patrick, who work as leather craftsmen four days out of the week. Their workshop exists on the gorgeous, and almost magical, grounds of Kings College in Nairobi. When we arrived, we were greeted with warm handshakes and huge smiles as has been our constant experience here in Kenya. Having visited once before, we knew the men usually begin their days with worship, Bible study and prayer before entering into work, so we wanted to be respectful by giving them space. And even while we had come just to “observe” and film the happenings of their workspace, chairs were pulled up for us to be a part of the circle, to be included in their intimate time of prayer and songs. (We are quickly learning that Africans have no place for the fly-on-the-wall visitors; if you are present, you are simply absorbed into the group as though you had been there for years.) It was so humbling to have Pastor Chacha pray over us—our family, our journey and our filmmaking—in such a sincere way. As the men worked, we enjoyed conversation with them about the differences between Kenyan and American culture. We left our time together completely inspired to know such genuine men of God, working so similarly to Paul’s tent making, in order to provide for their families while they live out God’s calling over them to pastor churches. †

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