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You are looking at a touching image with an incredible story. The picture shows a small child comforting and feeding a baby. Both are orphans, yet well cared for and loved. These children, while orphans are not abondoned.
The incredible story begins in 1873, and centers around Horatio and Anna Spafford. The Spaffords were living comfortably in Chicago, when they decided to visit Europe. Horatio had some last minute business to attend to, so he sent his wife and children on. On the way to Europe, their ship, the S. S. Ville De Havre, was struck by another ship and was sunk. Horatio's four children died in the accident. His wife was found floating on some wood, unconscious, but still alive. She arrived in Wales 9 days later, and sent a fateful telegraph to her husband, which read, "Saved Alone, What Shall I do?".
Upon receiving the tragic news, Horatio immediately departed to join his wife. On the voyage across the ocean, the Ship Captain came to Horatio's cabin, and notified him that they were now passing over the spot where his children had lost their lives. Receiving this solumn announcement, and while over the precise spot that the children drowned, Horatio took out a pen, and wrote the immortal Hymn, "It is Well with My Soul".
Horatio and Anna then decided to serve God in the Holy City of Jeruselam. This was before Israel was a Nation. Horatio stated that "Jerusalem is where my Lord lived, suffered and conquered and I wish to learn how to live, suffer and especially to conquer". While in Jeruselam, they built the American Colony. They cared for the sick and ministered to the needs of the poor of the Holy City. They also set up the Anna Spafford Baby Home, an orphanage providing loving care for the children of the area. The image above shows the enduring legacy of the Spaffords. Their facility was still providing for children some 50 years after their tragic loss. It is a story of hope and triumph, and how one man was able to turn tragedy into triumph.
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