Lillian Trasher: The Greatest Wonder in Egypt

Christian Heroes: Then & Now #22

by Janet Benge, Geoff Benge

When Lillian Trasher founded Egypt's first orphanage, others thought that a lone American woman with no means of support would surely be killed or starve to death. But Lillian - certain of God's guidance - stood by her earlier promise to Him, "If ever I can do anything for You, just let me know - and I'll do it."

In the midst of poverty, war, and deadly epidemics, Lillian faced each day with a heart of trust, modeling the life she hoped her children would someday live in their own homes. During fifty tumultuous years, the Mother of the Nile cared for thousands of desperate children, with unwavering faith that God does indeed look after the orphans (1887-1961).

Genres: Biography, Christian, Nonfiction, History, Audiobook, Biography Memoir, Childrens

189 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2003

About the author

Janet and Geoff Benge are a husband and wife writing team with twenty years of writing experience. They are best known for the books in the two series Christian Heroes: Then & Now series and Heroes of History. Janet is a former elementary school teacher. Geoff holds a degree in history. Together they have a passion to make history come alive for a new generation. Originally from New Zealand, the Benges make their home in the Orlando, Florida, area.

Reviews

[Daniel Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 15 year old Egyptian girl died in Lillian’s presence and the grandmother asked Lillian to take the baby. Soon she had 2 more orphaned infants. She then knew God’s calling for her. She had left America for Egypt at 24 and developed the first orphanage in Egypt. Surviving primarily on donations, it grew to 700 children and widows. Lillian ran the orphanage for 50 years until she died in 1961. She was affectionately known as Momma Nile.

[Anjanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great biography that encouraged me to walk by faith. The book goes perfectly with our ancient egypt homeschool curriculum this semester. I plan to have my 10 year read the book next week.

[Jenel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just want to be a Jesus-girl like Lillian.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the premise of this biography intriguing. All in all -- What a story of faith and miracles! Powerful.

At first I found Lillian's story a little too much. I couldn't believe after praying over getting and married and believing it God's will that she'd then decide it was actually God's will to drop the wedding 2 weeks out. It made me question whether she really loved the guy. She didn't seem that upset. It made me wonder if it was one of those life choices where she would have been blessed either path she took. But we will never know as we can only know the path she did take.

The path she took was a powerful story and you can see how happy and blessed she was. Definitely an uplifting read overall and one I needed after the last book I read.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another incredible story to grow your faith and trust! Similar to George Mueller's story. But this brought to life some aspects of Egypt's history as well.

[Shay Szupinka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a rollercoaster ride for sure! Lillian Trasher was so faithful, and relied on God for everything. It’s amazing to learn at the end of the book that almost all of the orphans later in life had a faithful and successful life just like Lillian. She’s so adventurous too, and one of my favorite parts, was when the town flooded and she needed needed to get across, so she pulled up her dress and began to walk through the water. The donkey driver told her that it was too dangerous and she would get stuck, and sure enough, she stepped and fell right though the mud and water. She would have kept going if she hadn’t fallen, and I just love her ambition. She also dodged so many bullets, (literally and metaphorically), and she always pulled through. This is a great book, and I would definitely recommend reading it!

[JD' · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going 88mph in a Delorean, I would go back in time to the year 1910 and meet Lillian Trasher, a 6-foot blonde girl. She was set to get married to a young pastor, Tom Jordan. But then 10 days before the wedding, Lillian hears a missionary from India, cancels the wedding and goes to Egypt and starts the 1st orphanage. She ends up looking after 1,000 orphans during World War 1 & 2, even dodging bullets to save orphans. When she went to visit America, she had a comp room where the church paid $20 for her to stay. When she learned about that. She was horrified and would not stay in such a luxurious suite. "Do you know how many groceries and medical supplies this will buy for little orphanage children in Egypt? Trasher is my kind of girl!! She never married and died at 75.

[Caterina · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most inspirational true stories/biographies I've ever read . Lillian Trasher embodied the true meaning of being Christian and walking by faith. It's so inspiring that she left behind her family and life as she knew it in the United States to go serve in Egypt in response to God's calling. She founded the first orphanage in Egypt that later housed up to a thousand children and widows, showing how much she cared about serving God , also showcased in the loving way she cared for the children and the sacrifices she made to keep the orphanage running amidst WW1 and WW2.

[Dorothy Vandezande · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a glorious, inspiring story of faith in God and of His provision to care for His children. Lillian started the first Christian orphanage in Egypt with no resources or support, even from the other Christian missionaries in Egypt. She never turned a child away, and she cared for almost 10,000 widows and orphans in her lifetime, trusting in God to provide for their day to day needs. Her words for her remarkable success? "I stayed with the work God gave me to do."

[Tyler Celeste Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moving biography of a woman who followed God’s call despite the cost, learned to trust him in the very smallest (and biggest) of things, and gave her life serving the most vulnerable members of society in Egypt.

[Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Miss Trasher, what is the secret of your missionary success? What is the greatest thing you ever did?"

"There isn't any secret. I just stayed. I did not quit. I stayed with the work God gave me to do."

Very inspring.

[Joey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still really liked this book, but I didn’t connect with it as much as I did with the Isobel Kuhn biography. Still a beautiful story and message!

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

We enjoyed the story and hearing of God's provision.

[Amelia Veldman · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was better than other ones I've read. her faith was very inspiring. I just don't really like how these books are written.

[Lea Berryreadinbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I breezed through this one quickly, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Some great stories about a single woman who started an orphanage in Africa.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story of absolute faith in the provisions of God. Lillian Trasher sacrifices much to spend a lifetime running a faith orphanage in Egypt.

[Carrie Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am here for a true missionary story. Always in awe of the grit, tenacity, faith, and perseverance found in these stories. Lillian Trasher was an amazing woman.

[Amber Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This biography was a blessing to our family. Lillian Trasher was the definition of living by faith.

[Katie Sauder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lillian is now my hero! She ran an orphanage in Egypt, which was entirely supported by prayer. She took care of 10,000 children through several wars, serious diseases and died at age 74.

[Roger Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible story of miracles and faithfulness despite very challenging circumstances. Really encouraged by how God provided for Lillian’s needs time and again.

[John Majors · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some friends in Kansas put this in our hands for the drive home from Colorado. We started reading it aloud in the car and couldn't put it down. The hard part was trying to listen to my wife read it through her constantly breaking voice (it's an emotional read!). It's the story of a woman who gave her life to an orphanage in Egypt - and all the ways God provides. Reminds of George Meuller's story. The last few lines of the book stuck with me: (after her 50 years of serving in an Egyptian orphanage...) "not long before she was hospitalized, a news reporter asked Lillian,....'what is the secret of your missionary success? What is the greatest thing you ever did?' 'There isn't any secret,' Lilian answered. 'I just stayed! I did not quit. I stayed with the work God gave me to do.'"

Great book to grab and read aloud to the children. I would have rated it a 5/5, but the writing is so-so at best. But the story is worth it!

[Narita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lillian Trasher’s story reminds me of Proverbs 16:9. “A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. Seventeen years old and filled with the hope and zeal of youth, Lillian wanted to spread her wings and fly! She set out to pursue her dream of becoming a sketch artist for the Georgian Newspaper in Atlanta. While on the train she just “happens” to sit by a woman who ran the Faith Orphanage in North Carolina. As they chatted the woman offered Lillian a job as her assistant. Working in an orphanage, ridiculous! She was going to have a career with the newspaper! She politely listened and promised the woman she would remember her should things change.
After submitting her sketches to the art editor, who assured her there was a very good chance landing her dream job she left to return the next day. Through a series of events that were most unusual she was not hired. Seeing God’s hand in this disappointment, she headed for Faith Orphanage. There she served tirelessly not knowing God was teaching her many lessons and preparing her for His plan.
After 5 years she felt the Lord’s calling to the mission field, in Africa. Having no money and no church to support her was not a deterrent to this faith-filled woman. She trusted God and He furnished all her needs in incredible ways. It wasn’t long after she arrived at the mission house in Egypt; a dying baby was given to her. She was given the choice by the leaders of the mission house to return the baby (whose mother had died) or leave. This is when she learned there were no orphanages in Egypt and the baby would be thrown into the Nile.
With no money and no support once again, she left with the infant. You have to realize this country was a dangerous place for a woman alone. She didn’t even know the language! Once again she trusted God and as always He provided. This was just the beginning of His amazing care and provision for Lillian and the orphanage she established. She had many setbacks and serious problems throughout the years: no food, catastrophes, illness, no clothing for the children. Every time God was faithful to furnish whatever was needed. At the time of her death, she had lovingly cared for 10,000 children and widows. None of which could have been done without her obedience, faith and trust in God. This is an incredible story! Lillian reminded me of a cross between George Muller and Gladys Aylward!
I love Christian biographies. Learning about men and women who have given their lives to serve God is inspiring to me. Although this book is for readers 8 to 12 years of age, I encourage adults to read it too!
Thank you to YWAM Publishing for a providing this book for me to review. The opinions stated are my own.

[Jenny Marcelene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lillian Trasher: The Greatest Wonder in Egypt teaches kids how God cares for and meets the needs of orphans and widows.

Strengths:
- Lillian's story is filled with the importance of trusting God.
- Readers can watch how God prepared Lillian to open an orphanage in Egypt through her obedience to go where God led her and willingness to learn from others.
- Readers are encouraged at the amazing ways God provided for Lillian and her ever growing orphanage over the years.
- Shares a moment of doubt Lillian had later in her ministry and how the Lord used the orphans she faithfully discipled to encourage her to keep trusting God to meet their needs.
- Shows how naturally Lillian weaved teaching the Bible and prayer to widows and orphans into daily life while still meeting real needs and how Lillian modeled a life of faith to thousands of children.
- Lillian's life emphasizes the value of perseverance to do what the Lord asks come what may and how God blesses that obedience.

Additional Notes:
- The radical obedience of Lillian almost feels reckless at times, but God met her every step along the way.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing woman of faith. Passing on a dream job and a perfect man, she followed God’s leading to work in a North Carolina orphanage, and later run her own orphanage in Egypt. taking babies into her home in Assiout, Egypt with no means of support, save her unwavering faith that God would provide all of her needs, she walked by faith for over 50 years in a foreign land. Living day by day, trusting God to provide for the needs of nearly a thousand children and widows in her care, she became known as the Mother of the Nile.
I wonder if she ever thought of her Heavenly Father, or Jesus her Savior, as her husband in the tremendous stress of her enormous responsibilities. She gave up the security of having her dream job/career to support herself, and she gave up the love and companionship of marriage to a man who loved God. Yet she lived a full life of service and adventure and faithfulness … with God as companion, provider, security, and goodness.

[Will Norrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this biography on Lillian Thrasher. I love this series and have read 15+ titles in the Christian Heroes: Then & Now set.
I will say this book focused a lot on the financial aspect of the work (as one might expect in a “faith mission”), but did not emphasize as much about Thrasher’s personal faith. I would have like to have known more about her prayer life/life in the Spirit and less about the specific costs of food staples in Egypt in 1920. Still, I feel that this book was a good introduction to Sister Thrasher’s fifty years of living by faith. I did not know much about faith missions (apart from George Müller’s work), and this book has stirred me to dig further.

The final quotation on the last page was worth the whole journey through 74 years of her life. Be blessed.

When asked the secret of her missionary success, Thrasher replied, “I just stayed! I did not quit. I stayed with the work God gave me to do.”

[Anne Rightler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing story of what God can do when we surrender our lives completely to Him. I'd never heard of Lillian Trasher but she lived a life surrendered to God and saw many miracles of deliverance in her ministry to the orphans and widows of Egypt. I am looking forward to meeting her in Heaven! The answers to her prayers of faith are inspiring. Rebecca Gallagher did a wonderful job of narrating this story, which made for an interesting listening experience. I will be looking for more biographical books in the Christian Heroes: Then & Now Series. I listened to a library copy of the audiobook and the opinions are my own.

[Laurie Hetherington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book in the Christian heroes series. The intended audience is teens and tweens, and as such it is written to their reading level. Do not pick up the book expecting to read writing as lofty as George McDonald or Jane Austen.

Read any book from this series, and you will not be disappointed with what you will learn. Extraordinary stories of ordinary men and women who accomplished much in their lives.

Lillian Trasher was no exception. Moving to Egypt to start the first orphanage when she was a young single American woman. She gave up a great deal but she received the joy of caring for more than 10,000 orphans in her lifetime.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating and inspiring true story about Lillian Trasher, a woman who lived true to her faith and was able to see God in action. She felt called to open an orphanage in Egypt around the turn of the century, and despite monumental hardships she used her faith as a power, and she was able to provide shelter, food, clothing, and education for more than 700 orphans and widows at a time. She was a living example of an Egyptian fable shared in the book: A boy digs wells of water with his hands as he journeys through the desert. Those who come behind have an easier journey because they have water to keep them refreshed and flowers to appreciate along the trail.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an amazing book. Lillian's faith is so inspiring and seeing God care and provide for her was so encouraging, but also how he also loved the orphans and the widow of Egypt by provided such a remarkable woman to be there for them was so uplifting and inspiring. I highly recommend. It is a very quick read as it is written for younger people, but is packed full of nuggets for older people too.

[Alaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the first few chapters I saw Lillian as impulsive and one that changes courses quickly. Yet the more I read the more and more I was amazed at her ability to trust God. Her faith that God will provide for the orphaned was amazing. The dedication she spent in Egypt saving thousands of lives was amazing to read about. What a legacy and example to follow. When God calls it might seem impulsive to others yet God rarely works in frames built by man's rational.