A Piece of Mud

Jacksonville native Lillian Trasher (1887-1961) began working in a North Carolina orphanage after one term in a Bible college. At the orphanage, she heard a missionary from India speak of her work there. Lilly knew that God was calling her to help people. Ten days before her wedding in May 1910, she broke off her wedding engagement to serve as a missionary to Africa.

In 1911, she arrived in Assyut, Egypt, and took in an infant whose mother had died. She rented a small house to care for the baby and the first donation she received was 35 cents given by a local telegraph boy. Within five years she was caring for 50 children. The locals called her "The Child Saver."

By the time of her death in 1961, the Lillian Trasher Orphanage had grown to some 1200 children. During her lifetime, Lillian Trasher cared for 25,000 Egyptian children. A primary school, dormitories, a chapel, and sports facilities were built on the orphanage grounds. She loved the children who came into her care, but she never forgot that it was Christ in her giving her the capacity to love them. She said, "When Jesus healed the blind man in John chapter 9 by putting clay on his eyes, it wasn't the mud that healed, but the power behind the mud. God can use me or any other piece of mud."

God, whose everlasting arms support the universe: We thank you for moving the heart of Lillian Trasher to heroic hospitality on behalf of orphaned children in great need, and we pray that we also may find our hearts awakened and our compassion stirred to care for your little ones, through the example of our Savior Jesus Christ and by the energy of your Holy Spirit, who broods over the world like a mother over her children; for they live and reign with you, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.