Lillian Trasher
Encyclopedia
Lillian Hunt Trasher (27 September 1887–17 December 1961) was a Christian missionary to Asyut
, Egypt
, as well as the founder of the first orphanage in Egypt. She is famed as the “Nile Mother” of Egypt.
Trasher was born in Florida
, and grew up in Georgia. She followed Roman catholiscism as a young girl. In her teens, through Bible reading and Bible studies at a friend's house, she chose to make a personal commitment of her life to Jesus Christ.
While still in her late teens, Trasher attended Bible college for one term, and then worked at an orphanage in North Carolina
. She received the infilling of the Holy Spirit
at a second Bible school in South Carolina
, and pastored a Pentecostal church. For a brief period, she traveled with an evangelist, but later returned to work again at the orphanage.
Trasher was only ten days away from her wedding date when she broke her engagement to Tom Jordan. She felt called to Africa
, he didn't, and in that same year of 1910 she defied her family's wishes and sailed to Africa with less than 100 dollars in her pocket. Her sister Jennie accompanied her, and was a valuable companion through decades of work overseas.
Arriving in Assiout, Egypt
(some 230 miles south of Cairo) after a period of a few months, a man came to the mission house she was in and told everyone that there was a dying woman nearby that needed to be seen, Lillian and an older woman whose name was Sela went to the woman. shortly after the company arrived the woman died, and there, in the arms of an elderly woman was a malnourished baby, clinging to life. the woman said a sentence in Arabic and they tanslator who accompanied miss. Trasher conveyed to her that the old woman was planning to cast the baby into the great nile river after they left. At the thought of this Lillian could not leave this baby with her grandmother. Lillian named the baby girl Fareida, this is the beginning to Lillian's dream to start an orphanage, and by the turn of 1918 her orphanage family had grown to fifty children and eight widows. When she returned to the States for a brief time in 1919 she saw the financial and prayer support to be found in the Assemblies of God, Trasher joined the very missions-minded new organization.
Lillian Trasher worked 50 years—from 1911 to 1961—without a furlough.
By the time of her death in 1961, the Lillian Trasher Orphanage had grown to some 1200 children. Today, the institution is entirely the responsibility of the Assemblies of God of Egypt, with 85% of its daily needs being met by donations from the Presbyterian churches of Egypt, the Soul Salvation Society, and other Egyptian church bodies.
"Mama" Lillian lies buried on her Orphanage's cemetery . in accordance to Egyptian law she was buried the same day that she died.
on December 19.
Asyut
Asyut is the capital of the modern Asyut Governorate in Egypt; the ancient city of the same name is situated nearby. The modern city is located at , while the ancient city is at .- Etymology :...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, as well as the founder of the first orphanage in Egypt. She is famed as the “Nile Mother” of Egypt.
Trasher was born in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, and grew up in Georgia. She followed Roman catholiscism as a young girl. In her teens, through Bible reading and Bible studies at a friend's house, she chose to make a personal commitment of her life to Jesus Christ.
While still in her late teens, Trasher attended Bible college for one term, and then worked at an orphanage in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. She received the infilling of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
at a second Bible school in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, and pastored a Pentecostal church. For a brief period, she traveled with an evangelist, but later returned to work again at the orphanage.
Trasher was only ten days away from her wedding date when she broke her engagement to Tom Jordan. She felt called to Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, he didn't, and in that same year of 1910 she defied her family's wishes and sailed to Africa with less than 100 dollars in her pocket. Her sister Jennie accompanied her, and was a valuable companion through decades of work overseas.
Arriving in Assiout, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
(some 230 miles south of Cairo) after a period of a few months, a man came to the mission house she was in and told everyone that there was a dying woman nearby that needed to be seen, Lillian and an older woman whose name was Sela went to the woman. shortly after the company arrived the woman died, and there, in the arms of an elderly woman was a malnourished baby, clinging to life. the woman said a sentence in Arabic and they tanslator who accompanied miss. Trasher conveyed to her that the old woman was planning to cast the baby into the great nile river after they left. At the thought of this Lillian could not leave this baby with her grandmother. Lillian named the baby girl Fareida, this is the beginning to Lillian's dream to start an orphanage, and by the turn of 1918 her orphanage family had grown to fifty children and eight widows. When she returned to the States for a brief time in 1919 she saw the financial and prayer support to be found in the Assemblies of God, Trasher joined the very missions-minded new organization.
Lillian Trasher worked 50 years—from 1911 to 1961—without a furlough.
By the time of her death in 1961, the Lillian Trasher Orphanage had grown to some 1200 children. Today, the institution is entirely the responsibility of the Assemblies of God of Egypt, with 85% of its daily needs being met by donations from the Presbyterian churches of Egypt, the Soul Salvation Society, and other Egyptian church bodies.
"Mama" Lillian lies buried on her Orphanage's cemetery . in accordance to Egyptian law she was buried the same day that she died.
Veneration
Trasher is honored with a feast day on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church (USA)Calendar of saints (Episcopal Church in the United States of America)
The veneration of saints in the Episcopal Church is a continuation of an ancient tradition from the early Church which honors important people of the Christian faith. The usage of the term "saint" is similar to Roman Catholic and Orthodox traditions. Those in the Anglo-Catholic tradition may...
on December 19.