Garbage

Yesterday, we went to a place called Garbage City. It's on the outskirts of Cairo and it is where most of the city's Coptic Christians live. Much like the slums you imagine in third world countries, this area was a mix of dilapidated buildings, narrow, muddy roads and smiling faces. Many of the people who live in Garbage City are garbage collectors and sorters. From what I've been told 80% of garbage in Cairo is recycled because of the residents of this neighborhood who are paid to sort through Cairo's trash by hand. 

Discovery #19: Most (if not all) the garbage collectors in Cairo are Christian since it is contrary to Islam for Muslims to do so.

Our first stop in Garbage City was at a Sisters of Charity orphanage. Our group got to hold toddlers and spend some time with the elderly. Personally, I spent time with the babies, who were all playing on a small fenced and carpeted area of the building. There were a few other foreign volunteers there from YWAM and some Egyptians as well.

When I walked into the play area I sat down. Almost immediately, one young girl came and plopped herself down on my lap. She was absolutely adorable and had brown curly hair. She just snuggled up against me and I loved on her. It was so sweet, and within minute she was asleep.

Discovery #20: Many Coptic Christians meet in cave churches!

After spending time at the Sisters of Charity, our group moved up the hill to one of the Coptic cave churches. Garbage City is built at the edge of a stone quarry and the hill we were climbing up bordered tall walls of rock. Carved in the walls were huge, beautiful pieces of artwork made by a Polish artist named Mario (according to Dr. Holt). Most pieces were of Jesus and had scripture verses in Arabic and English carved below them.

At the top of the hill was the cave church. I was shocked at its size and structure. The 5,000+ seats were in amphitheater style in this church that was literally carved in the side of a mountain. The rock wall of the quarry served as a roof over about half the seats. After Dr. Holt explained some of the icons at the altar of the church, we headed to another, smaller cave church to give way to a funeral that was to take place in the larger church.

Our Egyptian guide led us down a small hill and into a cave. Literally. Seats had been carved in the rock and the floor was carpeted but it was fully a cave. Our guide explained to us that this cave was one of many miracles the Copts had witnessed in recent history. He said that when they were originally building this church compound that they found this cave. At some point, there was a fire in the church so the roof of the cave was black. He went on to explain that this helped them gain a permit for the church -- something that is very hard for a new church to get in Egypt.

When the inspectors came to look at the cave church, they saw the black ceiling and told the proprietors that they would grant the permit because this was obviously an old church not a new church. The black ceiling, the inspectors said, was from services involving candles being held year after year :)

Discovery #21: "Some words are the same in every language."

This is what our Egyptian guide told us in the cave church. Though he spoke to us through a translator he said, "This is a very beautiful thing. Repeat after me. Amen."

"Amen," we said.

"Halleljuah."

"Hallelujah," we said.

"Coca-cola."

We all laughed.