the sum of our parts is great

Yesterday I walked through a city of garbage. I peered into houses laden with the waste of others and watched skillful hands separate this rubbish: the by-products of a modern society. Through dusty streets 30 foreigners became spectacles for the eager eyes of children. They call this place “Garbage City”; but for thousands it is known as a much more innocuous name—home. Enveloped by the smoggy air of Cairo, this part of town contains a large population of Orthodox Christians. The hum of street vendors and the raucous roar of car horns accompanied our walk to the destination of our excursions—the cave churches. Here I heard stories of faith—faith that literally moved mountains, healed the lame and caused the blind to see. Within this garbage, beautiful churches were found and even more were built. With faith like a mustard seed, this community continued to expand and provide for its inhabitants. Yesterday I walked through a city of garbage. I peered into my own wasted heart and found very little that resembled a mustard seed.