Women of Faith- Lillian Trasher

By Alethea

Many people today focus on the impact that men have had in the Christian Culture. Sometimes we forget that there are women who have done amazing things with the help of God. Some of these have stood in the shadows of their husbands, and others have gone off on their own. Women of the Faith is a monthly column that shares the stories of these strong women. These articles are written by our oldest daughter. Today's Woman of Faith is Lillian Trasher.

Mother of the Nile

Also known as the ‘Mother of the Nile’, Lillian Trasher cared for thousands of children and widows in Egypt. When she realized God was calling her to Egypt, Lillian’s sister Jennie also packed up her belongings and came along. Jennie wanted to make sure her little sister was taken care of and settled in. Before Lillian knew she was called to Egypt, she wanted to work for a newspaper company as an artist. There was a misunderstanding about who took that job, and she then knew God was calling her somewhere in Africa.

She started working at an orphanage in America and heard about a Christian conference. On her way to the conference, Lillian stayed with a woman, who had other missionaries staying with her. One man and his wife staying there were missionaries in Egypt. He doubted she would make it long with no means of support. He invited her over to see their work in Egypt, and the next year she worked with them. She and Jennie started with one orphan girl in Egypt, who was followed by many others.

Lillian's Life before Egypt

While Lillian worked in the orphanage in America she fell in love with a man named Tom. They were madly in love, and after their engagement, Lillian realized that she was called to Africa. She told Tom, who said he’d wait a few years for her, but Lillian knew she would be gone more than a few years. Knowing she would spend years in Africa, Lillian broke off their engagement. She knew that God was calling her to Africa and she must have faith in Him.

Lillian knew God had a plan for her. She had no means of support, but her faith was in Him who has rule over the seas and who is in charge of the wind in the air. The Lord provides food for birds, and he certainly provided for Lillian.

Stepping Out in Faith

Lillian founded Egypt’s first orphanage. She had faith. There were a few times when she did not because she was too tired. But I hope brothers and sisters in the faith, that no matter what happens, you put your hope in Christ Jesus. Lillian helped widows, children and homeless. No one except God knows the exact number she helped, but we do know it was close to 10,000. Most of the time, there was no food for tomorrow, but somehow God provided. One of these people was a father and daughter from Scotland who became very good friends with Lillian.

Perseverance

Lillian never turned down a child. At one point while Lillian was working in Egypt, there was a cholera epidemic. When it reached the orphanage one of Lillian’s helpers came to tell her that a father and his two sons, who were four and six, had walked four days to the orphanage after their mother had died. Lillian said to her helper that she could not take them in. She stood there thinking. If a Christian orphanage wouldn’t take them in, who would? Lillian then realized that if there was no room in God’s home, where would there be room? She ran to the front gate. Come in, come in, she said. A few days later one of the boys got sick with cholera. Lillian prayed she did the right thing. The boy died, but the other brother survived. And no one else died in the orphanage because of cholera.

Another story was when Lillian was visiting the United States, she stayed in a hotel. But in her room, she looked at the back of the door and saw the people who were paying for her, were paying eighteen dollars! She didn’t want to stay in a room that cost so much because she said that cost as much as it was to feed her babies. So then she stayed in people’s homes.

The last story I would like to tell you is one that happened in the orphanage. Lillian told the children she had to send them away. One by one the children dropped to their knees, wept, and started praying. Lillian did the same until she stood and said she would not send them away; they were family.

Dark Times

Lillian pushed though; even in her darkest hours. Most of the time there was no food. Can you imagine that? You're a mom, and your child comes and says, “Mom! What are we having for lunch tomorrow?” You might have it all planned out for what you’re gonna eat for the next three weeks, but not Lillian. She might have responded, I don’t know but the Lord will provide. She put her complete trust in Him. No one can survive without God, and we need to hold up our faith in our daily lives, and our everything.

Lillian Trasher is a good example of what a faith-filled person should be like. God uses all types of people for his glory. So how will God use you today? Amid famines, wars, death, and cholera, Lillian pushed on. She trusted God and He provided. And because she put her faith in The Lord, He never failed her.

Why Does This Matter

Now the question that would be in a sensible person’s mind: “Why does this matter?” When you have other things to do, why does it matter if you read about someone who lived 60-something years ago? Now I have 3 reasons why you should "waste" your time reading about Lillian Trasher.

Faith

She put her faith in God alone. And He never failed her. If we put our faith in Him, we will never fall either. Now, you might be thinking: “what about all the persecuted Christians?” Well, that itself is a whole other topic. Now, you might not go to Egypt and start an orphanage, but you can have faith in the same God Lillian put her faith in. If you put your faith in this God you will never fall. Now back to the persecuted Christians. They put their hope in God the LORD and He never failed them-even in death. Death. God never fails us even in death. Think about it, if you're a Christian-a true believer of God, you are saved. Even death can not part us from our amazing, wonderful, justice, merciful, holy, holy, holy God. Lillian is now dead. But she is with the LORD. We will die someday but if you truly believe and put your faith in God (like Lillian) you will go to Heaven to be with God and your holy, holy, holy Savior-Jesus The King.

Anyway…back to Lillian. As I said before in Lillian's orphanage there was almost always no food for the next day. No food! What would you do if there was no food for the next day? Probably go to the store. But what if you didn't have any money to go to the store? Drop on your knees and pray? What incredible faith Lillian gives us an example of.

A Test and Troubles

She put her trust in Him. Lillian has many experiences in her life when she has to trust God. One as I mentioned one was when she was madly in love with Tom. She had to choose. God's calling, or a man? Now let's look at the fact that Tom said he would wait for her. He would wait. That's how much he loved her. If you love someone you'll do what you think is best for them. Like a father displays love by disciplining his children. Lillian displayed love by letting Tom go. And because she did, Lillian (and Jennie) saved around 10,000 lives.

Lillian was also tested by her love for Tom. She had to choose between God and a man. She chose a life of discomfort, labor, and hardship for God. I have to remind myself about the Christians in India and China just to get the courage to wipe a butt. She had to make tough decisions during epidemics. Every night she read a Bible passage. Imagine how horse her voice would have been. And yet, she went at this for years. Her work for God.

Why Does This Matter for Us Today?

Why read this story? Well as I said before, faith. Even something as simple as "Well I need a book to read," I recommend missionary books. This is a good story. It might encourage you to keep going. She had a wonderful job. Reading missionary stories, shows me that the world is bigger than my city. That God is bigger than our country. These stories of women help me to preserve when things are tough.