“Please come—a young mother is dying!” cried the young man at the door.
Twenty-three-year-old missionary, Lillian Trasher, grabbed her medical kit and followed him to a dirty hovel. The poverty and stench that greeted her didn’t surprise Lillian. After three months in Assiut, Egypt, she was growing accustomed to the deprivation.
Lillian had no means to save the young woman. Her sickly, scrawny infant mewled with hunger.
“You must keep the baby,” family members insisted. “There is no one here who can care for her.”
So Lillian took the infant back to the mission house. A few days later the director insisted Lillian return the child, explaining, “Her incessant crying keeps everyone awake at night.”
“I can’t take her back,” Lillian protested.
Her only alternative: spend the few rupees she had to rent a little house and purchase a bit of furniture.
But living on her own meant no further support from the mission station. Lillian prayed for God to supply, and begged from her neighbors. Day by day God provided.
Before long, other orphans were brought to Lillian and the Assiut Orphanage came into existence. The year: 1911. Lillian must have smiled to trace the events God had orchestrated, leading to this outcome.
Lillian Trasher
Four years earlier she’d traveled from home in Brunswick, Georgia to Atlanta, to interview for a newspaper job as a sketch artist. On the way she just happened to meet Mattie Perry, an orphanage director from North Carolina.
Mattie described the work and “how they lived by faith, believing each day that God would supply all their needs”[1]. Mattie invited the would-be sketch artist to come work with her. Lillian declined.
But it just so happened the sketch-artist position went to someone else by mistake, after Lillian had supposedly been hired. She decided to work at the orphanage after all.
For five years she handled all sorts of tasks and learned the many facets of orphanage administration. She also attended Bible School, pastored a church for a short time, and even traveled as an evangelist.
In 1910 Lillian became engaged. But, as it happened, ten days before the wedding, she heard a missionary from India speak passionately about his work. Lillian felt strongly God was calling her to mission work–in Africa. Her fiancé, however, felt no such call, and Lillian broke off the engagement.
Next, Lillian just happened to attend a Christian conference where she met a missionary working in Assiut. He invited her to join their team; Lillian accepted.
Assiut, bottom right corner
Her family expressed concern, but older sister Jennie volunteered to go along, just until she was settled. Jennie never left.
By 1915, the two women were caring for fifty orphans and needed more space. Miraculously, a large property was supplied across the river in Abnub for just $250. She and the older children made a kiln and baked their own bricks to construct the needed buildings.
Lillian and her children, 1920
1919 brought political unrest and British authorities required everyone at the orphange to evacuate. The boys were sent to a Presbyterian school in Assiut, the girls to a hospital.
Lillian and Jennie returned to America and spent the year raising funds for the work. When they returned in 1920, Lillian began taking in anyone in need, including widows and the blind. They helped with the work of the orphanage, and by 1923, 300 lived on the compound.
God continued to meet their needs, sometimes in spectacular ways. One time an anonymous donor sent a truckload of foodstuffs. And when Lord Maclay of Scotland visited the orphanage, he gave Lillian $5,000 for her work. Later he sent another $25,000 [2].
As World War II began, the Assiut Orphanage housed seven hundred people. Once again, food and supplies became scarce.
In April of 1941, the American ambassador shared incredible news. A Red Cross ship had been enroute to Greece when that nation fell to the Nazis.
The captain had received orders to dump the supplies and return home. But a soldier on board knew of Lillian and persuaded the captain to unload at Alexandria.
“Believe it or not,” announced the ambassador, “you have a warehouse full of clothing, blankets, and towels, hundreds of kegs of powdered milk, many sacks of rice, and more! It’s all waiting for you”[3]!
By the 1950s, the orphanage included sixteen buildings: dormitories, a hospital wing, chapel, school, nurseries, bakery, sewing rooms, carpentry workshop, gardens, and more. Over a thousand children resided on the grounds [4].
Of course, throughout the years, Lillian and Jennie made sure their charges knew about Jesus. Thousands committed their lives to him [5].
Now, 125 years since its founding, the legacy of Lillian Trasher (and Jennie) lives on in the still-functioning facility. However, in 1961, shortly after Lillian’s death, the name became the Lillian Trasher Orphanage.
[1] https://oercommons.org/courseware/lesson/60957/student/?section=19
[2] https://christiansforsocialaction.org/resource/heroes-of-the-faith-lillian-trasher/
[4] https://www.cbeinternational.org/resource/story-lillian-trasher/
Other Sources:
Image credits: http://www.look and learn.com; http://www.commons.wikipedia.org; http://www.itoldya420.getarchive.net; http://www.digitalgallery.bgsu.edu; http://www.canva.com.
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I stand amazed at God’s miraculous intervention supplying all her needs with so many “just happens,” and at how Lillian stepped out in faith over and over again!
I do too, Linda! And she was such a young woman when she started out, making such bold choices as she was led by God. Hers is an inspirational story of sterling faith-in-action for sure!
What an amazing story! “Just happened”. LOL. That is what happens when we listen and obey God! Things do fall into place, the right place.
Agreed: all those “just happened” events in Lillian’s life do add up to an amazing story. I love your takeaway from her life: that things do fall into place when we listen and obey God. You know from your own experiences how true that is. (I’m thinking of what you shared in your book, Sacred Surroundings!)
You know God really does know best. I just think I know better sometimes. LOL
Lillian Trasher’s extraordinary commitment to caring for orphans and widows was awe-inspiring. It was so enjoyable reading about all the blessings and miracles that occurred whenever there was a need. 🙂
You’ve prompted another thought, Nancy. The blessings and miracles that touch our own lives certainly bring us joy, but even those that others experience bring almost as much delight. Learning about God’s astonishing deeds is downright fun (pleasurable, pleasing, and exciting–all synonyms of fun)!
I love what Jean said above, Nancy. It’s all about listening and obeying what the Lord is calling us to be and do in this time and place. Lillian’s calling and follow through is a powerful witness to all of us that God will work through us when we invite Him into our lives. It’s staggering to imagine how many people she touched with her love and caring. Blessings!
Amen, Martha, to your observation about her impact, still in effect today! And to think it all began with one decision: to save that one little baby from starvation!
Wow! Just wow! I am always amazed and humbled when I read such stories.
Me too, Manu, me too!
“…just happened…” the endless flow God’s unending love actions toward us. Thanks for sharing Lillian’s inspiring story Nancy.
Keep Looking Up ^ … His Best is Yet to Come!
You’re welcome, Fred. I so enjoyed learning about her as I completed the research–her unwavering faith walk, courage, perseverance, and more. I’m glad you found inspiration from Lillian’s story also!
My jaw dropped as I read this. Nothing ‘just happens’ to those belonging to God. What a whirlwind life Lillian led while on this earth. Thank you for this inspiring and uplifting biography of a true testimony of how Christ works in His children’s lives. I can’t wait to meet her someday!
“A whirlwind life” is a good description of Lillian’s time on earth, Cheri! I had to leave out SO much, of course, to keep the blog post of reasonable length. For example, the morning that truckload of foodstuffs arrived, they had nothing left to feed the children, but she gathered them at their tables anyway and instructed them to thank God for what he WOULD provide. It wasn’t long before the truck pulled up!!
A life that was all in. Lillian didn’t hesitate to do what was necessary to fulfill what God had called her to. I’m so inspired by her commitment. To give up a marriage because her possible husband didn’t agree with her call, to take on a sick orphan when even the mission agency wasn’t helpful are ways to see that she didn’t let negative circumstances get her down. Thanks so much for sharing this, Nancy. It certainly is a reminder that God honors faith and faithfulness.
You’re welcome, Dayle! I too am inspired by Lillian’s courage, commitment, and perseverance.
Lillian Trasher’s life is an amazing testament of her dedication to God at all costs and God’s faithfulness to her in her every need. Thank you for sharing this, Nancy!
You’re welcome, Patty. I wonder if she sang Thomas Chisholm’s hymn, “Great Is They Faithfulness?” She could certainly sing with assurance: “All I have needed Thy hand hath provided!”
What an amazing example of faith and trust in God’s provision. I had never heard this story before. Beautifully crafted. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Kathy. Indeed, Lillian’s story is full of examples of God’s amazing power to guide, protect, and provide. She epitomized what Paul wrote about in 2 Corinthians 9:8–“God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”
Nancy,
When she obeyed, the Lord could do His best in the ordinary and broken life.
Thank you, Gary
Gary Avants Forbear Productions * *garyavants66@gmail.com garyavants66@gmail.com
Amen, Gary. Obedience is key! Our independent streak wants to balk at submission to God, but Lillian demonstrated what a fantastic, satisfying, divine adventure life can be when we follow his lead!