A Lottery of Grace

[HagiaSophia]

Woman who gives abandoned newborns a decent burial wins $27 million jackpot

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Associated Press
Steven, left, and Debi Cifelli look at each other after winning the the California SuperLotto Plus jackpot, worth $27 million in Calimesa.
LOS ANGELES – All too often, the ring of Debi Faris-Cifelli’s cell phone means there is another abandoned newborn at the morgue, another forsaken child for her to name and bury in a shoebox-size coffin under a white cross in the California desert.

Last week, though, Faris-Cifelli – who has had to rely on donations, grants and fund-raisers to give babies a decent burial – got a very different call.

She had won the California lottery.

…
signonsandiego.com/news/state/20041207-1209-lotterymiracle.html

 

[shannon_e]

God Bless her ministry.

I don’t want to be a party-pooper but I pray that she won’t succumb to the inevitable trials and temptations that the money will bring with it.

Peace.

 

[NightRider]

What a beautiful story this is! Thank you so much for posting it. I am especially moved by this woman’s ministry because in 1955 when I was born I was abandoned by my mother on my first day of life. She left me in a cardboard box wrapped in a towel on a doorstep. Luckily for me I was immediately transported to the Dominican nuns in a local Catholic hospital and prayed over profusely and I lived. Otherwise, I could have been like one of the poor babies this good woman provides a proper burial for.

This woman truly did receive a lottery of Grace, and so did the souls of all the wee babies she will provide for again. God bless her!

 

[Emmy]

I am glad this woman won the lottery, she is an angel
doing this king of work…

Emmy

 

[AmyS]

shannon e:

God Bless her ministry.

I don’t want to be a party-pooper but I pray that she won’t succumb to the inevitable trials and temptations that the money will bring with it.

Peace.

Actually I have met and spoke to her more than once… My impression is she is a good hearted women, with great intention… She will do good things with this money… This isn’t just a cause to her it is her life.

 

[shannon_e]

AmyS:

Actually I have met and spoke to her more than once… My impression is she is a good hearted women, with great intention… She will do good things with this money… This isn’t just a cause to her it is her life.

That’s wonderful to hear She has to be a strong woman too, to do what she does…
God Bless Her.

Peace.

 

[Fitz]

I have read her story before, and I am pleased and stunned about her winning the lottery. I think this is just providential. It is not really an accident. She will do good things with this money.

 

[in_his_name]

I agree this was not an accident. More of a blessing.

 

[ChinaDad]

Woman who gives abandoned newborns a decent burial wins $27 million jackpot

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Last week, though, Faris-Cifelli – who has had to rely on donations, grants and fund-raisers to give babies a decent burial – got a very different call.

She had won the California lottery.

“Maybe it’s the children saying, ‘Thank you’ for taking care of them when nobody else would,” Faris-Cifelli said, bubbling with laughter. “It’s a gift and one for which we feel an awesome responsibility.”

When someone finds a dead baby in a three-county area around Los Angeles, the morgue knows to call Faris-Cifelli. Faris-Cifelli goes into the autopsy room alone, where she wraps each infant in a homemade quilt, cradles it and prays over it. She gives each baby a first name that is engraved on the cross. At the gravesite, she releases dozens of doves under the shade of a mulberry tree.

Garden of Angels: www.gardenofangels.org

[signonsandiego.com/news/state/20041207-1209-lotterymiracle.html](http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20041207-1209-lotterymiracle.html)

A HUGE one for the good guys…or good gal in this instance. :clapping: :clapping: :clapping: :tiphat: :clapping: :clapping: :clapping: