On June 27, 2025, at the age of 97, Tikva Morrissey, the once-dying baby that was adopted by Lydia Prince, went to be with the Lord. Until the end, Tikva had a sound mind, full of faith. "I'm hoping to live to a hundred", she had frequently stated, "but if God wants to take me home, I am ready to join all my family members in glory."
Now, she is Home.
A Living Hope
Tikva (born December 4, 1927) lived in Queensland, Australia, in an elderly home, where she had regular visitors and frequently autographed any Appointment in Jerusalem books they would bring. Ever since Lydia Prince’s riveting story ‘Appointment in Jerusalem’ was published, people have wondered what happened to Tikva, the once-dying baby.
This is Tikva's testimony which she shared recently with DPM—and her message for you.
Tikva, the Baby in the Wicker Suitcase
My name is Tikva, meaning “hope”. I have always loved my name because it reminds me of God’s faithfulness and His plans for me. I was born into a Jewish family in Petah Tikva, a suburb of Tel Aviv.
My family name is Cohen, which means we descend from the Kohanim, the priests in the synagogue, from the tribe of Levi. One day, my father, Chaim Cohen, came to Lydia’s home. He knocked on the door and asked, “Are you Miss Christensen?”
When she confirmed, he told her, “My wife and I have a baby daughter who is dying. Her twin sister has already died. We have prayed, and God showed us what to do. Will you take her?”
Lydia agreed to pray about it, and later that day, she came to my parents' home and took me in. She had no crib and no baby clothes, so she made a bed for me in her wicker trunk. She lined it with her underclothes and covered me with a soft woolen sweater her mother had sent her from Denmark for Christmas. Then, she took a bottle of olive oil, anointed me with it, and prayed.
House of Prayer
I was the first child my mother took in, and over time, she adopted eight daughters, including me. Throughout her life, she cared for over a hundred children, providing a loving home for those who needed it most. Some stayed for a short while because their mothers were sick or in the hospital, but the eight of us became her daughters permanently. Our home was called the House of Prayer, and we experienced God’s provision firsthand.
Our lives were filled with prayer. Every morning, before we went to school, my mother would pray with us. She also gave us a tablespoon of cod liver oil to keep us healthy, even though we hated it! We lived in a beautiful house in Jerusalem, and despite the turmoil around us, God always provided and protected us.
I remember many times when my mother had no money in the bank and no food to feed us. We would kneel together and pray, asking God for His provision. In the morning, we would open the door to find a basket of food waiting for us. God never failed us. He always provided.
At the age of seven, I told my mother that I wanted to be baptized in water. She asked me why, and I said, “I believe in Jesus. He lives in my heart, and I want to obey His commandments. It says, ‘Believe and be baptized.’” When I was baptized, I was also filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. That moment marked a new level of commitment in my walk with God.
Protected by God
As I grew up, I experienced God’s protection in miraculous ways. During times of unrest in Jerusalem, there were frequent shootings between Arabs and Jews. One day, I visited my friend Daphne, whose father was a pastor. As I arrived, shooting broke out. The phones were down, and I couldn’t call my family. The pastor, John Foster, gathered us to pray for protection. I had to make my way home through the dangerous streets, and as I ran, bullets were flying everywhere. But God kept me safe.
Another time, my sister and I went to the post office to collect our mail. We planned to take the bus home, but it was full, and the conductor refused to let us on. Instead, we decided to walk. Later, we learned that the bus had been bombed, and many passengers had died."
A Man in the House
Derek Prince came into Tikva’s life while he was serving in the British Army in Jerusalem. He had heard about Lydia and her daughters and was told, “If you want to receive a blessing, visit the children’s home.” He began visiting them regularly, and one day, Lydia gathered the girls together and said, “You all know Derek? Well, he has asked me to marry him.” Tikva continues,
“We were shocked. We had only ever known a home full of girls and our mother. We told her, “You can’t get married! We will take care of you.”
But she lovingly explained that one day, we would all grow up and leave, and she did not want to be alone. In time, we accepted Derek as our father, and we grew to love him deeply.
Derek was a humble man. I remember seeing him scrubbing the kitchen floor on his hands and knees. He also cared for us practically. He would polish our shoes every night, and when we woke up, they were so shiny we could see our reflections in them. Having him as a father was a blessing.
A Dangerous Threat
One evening, my sister, Johanna, had just come home from her piano lesson when she saw a large lorry outside, surrounded by Arab legion soldiers. Understanding Arabic, she overheard their terrible plan: they intended to come into our home that night and kill all the children. She ran upstairs, pale with fear, and told our mother.
Instead of panicking, my mother gathered us together and said, "Now girls, we are going to pray that God will protect us. Do not be afraid. If God is with us, who can be against us?"
Following my mother’s instructions, we dressed in as many clothes as possible—but she reminded us, "Do not forget your Bibles." Then, quietly, we marched through the streets of Jerusalem at night, leaving everything behind.
One of God's miracles happened even before our escape. We had a dog named Toby, but just a week or two earlier, he had been run over by a British truck. Though we were heartbroken, we later realized God’s wisdom in this. Had Toby been with us, he would have barked, giving away our escape. But because he was gone, we could move in silence.
We walked carefully until we reached an American mission called Shemariah. We hoped they would take us in, but the building was surrounded by barbed wire, placed there by the British to prevent entry. After some time, the commanding officer permitted for us to enter, safe for the night.
However, the next morning, the mission received a warning: "If you keep those girls there, we will blow up the building." Knowing it was unsafe to stay, we moved on, seeking refuge in an English mission run by a woman named Miss Redford. Though the space was small, she welcomed us, and we were safe once more.
A week later, another miracle unfolded. The Americans at Shemariah decided to return to the United States, and they offered their house to my parents. God had provided for us! We moved into a beautiful house with 22 rooms, plenty of space for us children to play and grow.
A New Journey Begins
In 1948, when Israel became a nation, we were there. At that time, believers like us—Hebrew Christians, now known as Messianic Jews—were in a difficult position. The Jewish community rejected us for believing in Jesus, and the Muslims rejected us because we were Jewish. There was nowhere for us to turn. So, an opportunity arose for some of us to leave, and my three younger sisters and I were able to go. We traveled on a troop ship called the Georgic, but God provided even in this—placing us in good accommodations with the officers, instead of down in the lower part of the ship.
The journey to England took about eight days, and I was terribly seasick the whole way! But when we arrived, God continued to guide our steps. My two younger sisters went to stay with our grandparents in Somerset, while I found a place in the Midlands, where I started training to become a registered nurse. I had accommodation in the hospital where I was working. Being 21 years of age at that time, I had never lived away from home before. But God took care of me. He placed me in the right job, where I could continue serving and caring for others, just as I had done at home.
God’s Provision in England
A few months later, in August, Derek, Lydia, and the other siblings arrived in England. They opened their home in Kensington, and from there, started a church in Westbourne Grove, called the “Upper Room.”
“Every Sunday, after our morning service and lunch, we would go to Hyde Park, to the famous Speaker’s Corner. There, people would preach, and we would sing hymns and share our testimonies. Then we would go around inviting people to church, and you would be surprised how many came! Many gave their lives to Jesus. It was a truly wonderful time.”
In April 1951, a young Welshman who was discharged from the army started coming to the Upper Room church. His name was John Morrissey, a born-again believer, and after a short while, John took Tikva to meet his parents. In August 1951 the two got married.
Five years later, Tikva and John emigrated to Australia. Peninah, Tikva’s sister, lived in the Sydney area and had encouraged them to come. Both Tikva and her husbund found employment in a hospital, Tikva as a Nurse, and John in medical records. They continued serving God joyfully, by ministering to the people they met and through running a youth group together.
A Life of Trust in God
Looking back on her life, Tikva’s heart is filled with gratitude and awe.
“I can only say that I am so glad I belong to Jesus, and Jesus belongs to me. Through it all, I saw firsthand how God cares for His children. When we trust Him, He always makes a way. He provided safety, shelter, and hope when everything seemed uncertain. He protected me during times of war, provided for our family when we had nothing, and blessed me with a wonderful husband and two children who also love the Lord.
Recently, while praying, a verse came to my heart: "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." —Jeremiah 33:3. I believe that promise is for someone today.
If you trust in the Lord, He will never fail you. No matter what your troubles are, Jesus will see you through. I have seen it time and time again—He is never too early, never too late, but always right on time. I promise you, He is faithful.
For more inspiration and encouragement, read the full story in Appointment in Jerusalem.
Or watch the video below, where Derek Prince shares his memories on meeting Lydia and her girls.
