Beyond the Jordan: Dry Places, Misunderstood Peoples, and Imperfect Attempts at Prayer

by Heather M. Surls

Beyond the Jordan is a memoir-in-essays reflecting on a decade of life in Jordan and the Holy Land. Through a blend of nonfiction styles, Heather takes readers on spiritually rich journeys across the region, immersing herself in its heritage, customs, and landscapes. Along the way, she forms deep connections with Jordanian, Palestinian, Syrian, and Iraqi women, offering an intimate look at their lives and stories.



While much of Beyond the Jordan observes the world with curiosity and wonder, it also grapples with the harsh realities of poverty, displacement, and suffering. Through it all, Heather explores how the Middle East has shaped her faith and spiritual life.



In a world where conversations about the Middle East often focus on conflict, Beyond the Jordan offers a different perspective-one that highlights the resilience, generosity, and humanity of its people. With vulnerable and evocative storytelling, Heather invites readers to seek glimpses of God in unexpected places and to embrace his majesty and mystery in their personal deserts.

Genres: Memoir, Islam

288 pages, Paperback

Published July 15, 2025

Reviews

[Johanna Speizer · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an American expat woman who has lived in the Middle East for over a decade, I find so much of my own perspective and feelings in Heather’s vibrant memoir. Her writing is so raw and honest, full of sensory detail and emotion.
If you love Arab culture- read this book.
If you are intrigued by the stories of women who live in this often tense corner of the world- read this book.
If you are grieved by cycles of war and violence- read this book.
If you are clueless about the Middle East- read this book.

“ Never accusations, never snide remarks—just coffee and cookies, which spoke, “Your nation destroyed ours, but you are our guest. You are a person like us, and you are welcome.” I saw wounded spirits able to extend hospitality and kindness, traumatized hearts that still loved. If that’s not beautiful, I don’t know what is. “

[Ruth Ryon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heather’s memoir allows the reader to glimpse life in the Middle East. Her stories of joy and heartache, beauty and grief, and everything in between draw the reader in. Come ready to learn more about Middle Eastern culture and people.

[HisPresence MyHome · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the things I loved most about Heather’s book is that she writes from a place of deep love for the people and places named in this book. She doesn’t write at a distance from the subjects of her stories…. she has lived among many of these people, speaks their language, has shared hundreds of visits and cups of tea or local coffee with them. And yet… you can see throughout her whole book she has done the hard work of researching and reading and learning about these people. She takes this personal experience and research and her love for these people and weaves it all together in “Beyond the Jordan.”

Heather presents you with a very honest picture of the hardships, joys, disappointments, and challenges both locals and expats face living in the Middle East. I enjoyed many chapters of this book, especially the ones about the Bedouin/weaving, Tatreez (Palestinian embroidery), and the Yemenite Jews.

When I read a book I love to discover new books to read through books an author cites and references! Heather provided me with several great ones that I hadn’t been aware of before! However, Heather did reference a quote by both Rachel Held Evans and Richard Rohr, quotes that had impacted her spiritually. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend a Christian reading more from either of these two authors. To put it simply, Rohr does not believe in the divinity of Christ (and many other essential doctrines) and Evans has a very compromised view of scripture. Heather is dear friend of mine and we talked about this. While these two quotes impacted her, she does not theologically endorse either of these authors.

If you are looking to learn more about the Middle East from someone who has head, heart and life knowledge… Heather's book is a great place to start!

[Katie Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond the Jordan is a challengingly rich deep dive into the every-day lives of Middle Eastern women. Heather beautifully portrays their lives & stories (along side her own) with powerful images- feels like a physical taste of Jordanian, Palestinian, Syrian, and Iraqi culture. It’s a beautiful read exploring the complexities of faith, suffering and hope in light of our world today.

[Madi Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes.

Moving depiction of the heartache and desperate hope one holds when loving others in opposition. Jordan left a deep mark on me, having only visited briefly; the people I met and stories I heard changed the way I see, think, live. This book is a powerful extension of the lessons that marked me during this time - “loving through wounding”. The world being so broken and so beautiful, reading “Beyond the Jordan” was like seeing my heart on a page- it helped articulate the truest and most complex hopes and pain. Heather holds the stories of the displaced, of the lonely, of the resilient, of the embittered, of the joyful as intricate treasures and has delivered them to us with a graceful power. She gives voice to the silenced at a time when all need to hear.

If you are at all broken by what is happening in Palestine, read this book. If you are at all upset by Israel’s distress, read this book. If you have a refugee neighbor, read this book. If you feel confused about the truth in a time of many loud voices, read this book. If you are tired of loving when you disagree with your loved ones, read this book. If you are seeking hope in a dry place, read this book.

*Warning, I’m not a crier but absolutely wept with this one.*

[JennicaAyelet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have followed and admired this author's writing in online spaces for years, so I was excited to hold this physical book. It is a good size and weight. It is tightly bound but falls open easily. The cover is beautiful, and the decorative text and interior illustrations are fun.

This book is a collection of essays, broken into four sections with a poem to start each section. The author introduces the reader to a diverse set of Middle Eastern people she knows. She invites the reader to listen to their stories, telling them clearly with some commentary but no judgment. The author shares these stories honestly and respectfully; she avoids romanticizing, oversharing, demonizing, and glorifying these people or their varied experiences. The journalistic quality of these essays really shines through. The reader will meet a Bedouin shepherd, Syrian refugees, a Yemeni Jew, an olive farmer, a bread baker, a museum curator, many neighbors, and more.

The author also tells a bit of her own story, wrestling with conflicting, sometimes uncomfortable worldview perspectives held both by herself and by others. She shows her personal wrestling with God but always returns to defiant trust in Him and His character.

Throughout the essays, the author draws out the connections between humdrum events and supernatural realities using concrete imagery and ancient texts. A beautiful book written with beautiful words, these stories will stick with readers and encourage them to seek and find these connections in their own lives.

[Sarah Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I got Beyond the Jordan, I was excited to quickly dive in, but soon realized it called for going slow and savoring it. There is so much in these pages to sit under and contemplate. Heather tells vivid stories but, more-so, speaks to the heart to reflect on the rich depths of shared humanity.

This book has so many layers: lovely poetic prose, poignant narratives, vivid landscape sketches, thoughtful insights on culture amidst conflict, heavy questions that must be asked, but also Heather’s own spiritual journey and wrestling, her own questions and doubts, and her reaching after roots of faith, all of which she shares with striking vulnerability.

This gave me a glimpse of the Middle East that I don’t see on the news or even in protests—the lives and families and rich traditions and the weights of living of real people. And honestly, far from giving neat, tidy answers or prescribing solutions, it brought me into the questioning and into the weight of it all in a powerful way to evoke empathy.

Heather speaks as a gentle and humble observer but also as a truth seeker, pursuing the ways her own life can reflect faith and hope and peace and justice in the midst of the heartbreaking turmoil that is the essence of so many personal experiences, without negating her own journey in the midst of them.

If you enjoy some of my favorite authors like Annie Dillard, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Robert Macfarlane—authors who keenly observe nature and life and richly weave that together with the human experience as they prod at the human heart—this is a must read. I don’t say this lightly, but Heather truly writes in the vein of some of these greats.

[Jennifer Sheridan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond the Jordan is a magic carpet transporting the reader not only into a geographic region but also into the hearts and minds of precious people. Heather allows the reader to walk alongside her through both the challenging and uplifting moments of her time there. Highly recommended.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished Heather Surls' book a couple weeks ago and have been mulling on it ever since. Her pictures of the Middle East are poignant and catching. Through her words you feel like you can see humanity. Here are stories wrestling with complexities of humanity and suffering. Ive been waiting to find a book that just shows you the people and land of the Middle East and this book is a rare jewel. It is definitely on my top reads for this year and I cannot wait to re-read it.

[Lydia Forbes · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've ever wondered "What's it really like in the Middle East?" this book is for you. It's not a fast, easy read. I had to slow down and mull over some passages. But in this little book, you get to meet real people and hear the stories of Arab women from their own mouths, a rare opportunity. Heather doesn't waste her personal experience of life in both Israel/Palestine and Jordan, on either side of the Arab-Israeli conflict. She represents her friends' perspectives on both sides faithfully. But I also appreciated that she gave gentle, respectful correction to harmful or one-sided opinions (both her own and those on either side of the conflict).

This book is not just interviews, but also personal reflection which I found very applicable. The chapters on her time spent with Bedouin women (both nomadic and settled) were fascinating. Her insights into how to live in dual callings well (wife/mother AND journalist) are universal in our technology-dominated lives. And her vivid descriptions of the plants, flowers, and foods in both Jordan and Israel were a treat for the senses. Yes, you can smell the goats as she follows the Bedouin shepherd!

Not everyone will agree with the application of scripture (she quotes both the Bible and the Koran frequently). But it is still a helpful and valuable book for anyone who wants to learn about the real people behind all the headlines.

[Imani · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is broken up into four parts. All intertwined with poetry, memoir, history, and scripture. Heather shared her journey so beautifully albeit in some ways that show this as her first completed work but part four is true triumph. She takes complicated and everyday elements from reconciliation to making tea and creates a story of the faithful life of one. It inspires but also challenges. "You are courageous because you choose to believe in the face of all you've seen" I hope to be courageous.

Side note: I am not versed in essay writing. I felt like the work was slow at parts or unorganized but part four was so masterfully written. It was evocative and heartbreaking. It was rich storytelling and beautiful memoir writing.

[Kiersti Giron · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful and timely book! Heather Surls’s memoir drew me in from the cover and very first pages, bringing tears to my eyes even with the introduction. I found myself marking pages with quotes that hit me especially deeply, something I rarely do even with books I love. The heart of Heather’s memoir pulses life and humanity into our often stereotyped and misunderstood perception of Muslim and Arab peoples in the Christian West, especially women—she brings people and places to life so vividly with her evocative prose that I found myself dreaming in the world of this book at night. Heather shows us, so skillfully and clearly, that we are all human—that despite divides of politics and culture, our hearts ache and bleed the same the world over, from America to Iraq to Syria to Palestine to Jordan, and that the world is rarely as simple as we think. This book might be especially helpful to someone just beginning to explore the Israeli/Palestinian divide, and that it may not be as monochromatic as often portrayed in our news outlets or faith communities. As someone who began following Heather because of our shared experience of caring deeply for Muslim friends or—for me—family, I expected Heather’s book to breathe life and complexity into these realities, and it does so, beautifully.

But what caught me off guard was how Heather’s story spoke to my own in ways I didn’t expect. Our lived experiences are in many ways very different, yet she put words to struggles I’ve known but haven’t been able to express—ones that might seem minor, in light of the world’s catastrophes, but nevertheless have wrung my heart at times, whether the struggle to balance my identities as a mother and a writer, or the ache of caring so much about the pain of others, the metaphor of each person’s face as a constantly circulating slide projector feeling particularly apt. Small parts of the book, perhaps, but they left me feeling understood and related to in a way I that touched me deeply.

Beyond the Jordan comes to us for such a time as this, a beautifully written and powerful book, whether for book clubs or individual pondering. Highly recommended!

[Lisa Richey · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Beyond the Jordan" will help you wrestle with some of the questions you likely have asked as our news feeds regularly reminds us of this region of the world. How are people surviving one crisis upon another? Why does this desert land occupy so much of our interest? Is a peaceful future possible? History, both recent and ancient, attests to more of the same turmoil. And for three major religions of the world, the plot twist of a future that promises God's eternal presence with his people in the land.

Heather, while being raised in a conservative American Evangelical context, has had 20 years of living on and off in the Middle East (currently in Amman, Jordan), to refine her faith and cultural context's perspectives through the fires of hearing the stories of wars' trauma first hand, loving strangers in even strangers places for our Western trained minds and hearts, and experiencing the soul rendering both daily living and making sense of yourself and the world around you require.

A shared upbringing and faith journey are not required to appreciate this book. Curiously and compassion are; a desire to listen to the stories of people whom the headlines and history books report and record. Heather is a journalist at heart, weaving both her own journey alongside the stories she has had the privilege of receiving, with all the hopes, dreams, horrors, and sorrows they hold.

[Carmen Imes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the honor of reading an early manuscript to provide an endorsement for this book. Heather has long been one of my favorite writers. I'm so delighted to commend her debut book!

This book is a treasure. Heather has hunted in the most far-flung corners of the Middle East for the gems of others' stories. A friend of Arab and Jew, tent-dwelling refugees from bombed out cities, and citified Bedouins raised in tents, Heather has loved much and learned much by opening her arms wide to the residents of the Middle East: Syrians, Iraqis, Jordanians, Israelis, Palestinians. Her curiosity brings their stories into the light along with her own.

All who love the lands of the Bible and wonder how the prophecies of old will ever come true are invited to sit with Heather and listen and learn and pray and wait for bitter waters to turn sweet. Beyond the Jordan is a spiritual memoir, a journalistic adventure, a love letter to the Middle East, a tribute to resilience, and a prophetic invitation to nurture hope.

With all the unrest in the Middle East, Heather takes us past the headlines and into the heart of the people who call that place home. A true gift!

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finally have a book to recommend to people who want to catch a glimpse of my life in Jordan, a book that looks beyond the tourist sights like Petra or the stereotypes people have of the Arab world. I nodded in agreement as she described "looking east toward Iraq...this colorless city...cinderblock buildings sprouting satellite dishes and water tanks, some face with chiseled stone, others with stucco, everything cubic and sun-dried," and I smiled as she mentioned almonds and olives, staples in markets here. She describes drivers flinging trash out car windows and kites flying high above Amman's Citadel. Most of all she invites readers to join her as she gets to know the beautiful people in this land - Bedouin shepherds and Syrian refugees, a teacher who gives her the Arabic name Hajar (Hagar) and a Palestinian woman who is an expert in traditional tatreez (embroidery). Beneath all of these descriptions and stories, most important are her meditations and prayers as she strives to understand this painful, complicated region.

Highly recommended!

[Julie Gustafson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite kind of book : one that takes me outside myself, fully immerses me in another world and helps me to see through different eyes.

Read this book if you would like:
-vivid descriptions of life and people in the Middle East that make you feel as if you are experiencing them personally
- thoughtful and nuanced firsthand perspectives of complicated and still unfolding conflict (such as Israel /Palestine/Gaza)
- A reminder that beauty blooms in unexpected and difficult places

I expected to encounter all these in the book. But I was unexpectedly impacted by other topics that were included too: mental health challenges and the toll of being surrounded by difficult stories. The tension of motherhood and ambition for something more. The impact of evangelical subculture. I'm always grateful when a book is able to put a finger on something I've felt /experienced but haven't been able to articulate yet!

I love how this book is honest and doesn't shy away from hard questions, but fights for hope on every page. It's truly a book I'll read again and will continue to process!

[April Barcalow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been thrilled to be part of the launch team for this book, but I have to be honest: I was of two minds about it. On the one hand, I wanted to read through it and share all about it on social media. On the other, I wanted to take my time and just linger in the pages and let the words wash over me.

Heather Surls has a way of painting an evocative picture, of drawing us into both culture and theology--not to mention nature--with a voice that's lyrical and almost poetic. In some ways, her tone reminds me of Ann Voskamp, with the same knack for both noticing and reflecting. In other ways, her voice is uniquely fresh and expansive, opening our eyes to a wider world.

One of my favorite lines, one that resonates deeply, actually comes near the beginning of the book as Heather reflects on the way she views the world and God's hand in it.

"Maybe this is who I am: a person who expects God to visit."

Maybe that's who I am, too. ❤️

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that's difficult to put down once you start reading it. The author's vivid sensory descriptions pull you in, and then the sacredness of the subject matter keeps you. I recommend this book to everyone who has spent time in the Middle East because she accurately puts words to our shared experience of grappling with the complexity of the region and appreciating the beauty of its people. This is especially true as she describes the difficulty of setting relational boundaries, finding resilience, and following Christ's call to "hold space for the enemy" as human beings while also holding them accountable for the damage they cause. I also recommend this book to anyone who's never been to the Middle East because her explanations and stories are accessible and relatable, building empathy for lives and ideologies that are often misunderstood by Westerners. If the Middle East-past, present, or future-is at all of interest to you, this is a must read.

[Kami Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heather is a good friend of mine—but more than that, she's a great writer and thinker with deep connection and lived experience in the Middle East. She's also my colleague in our work as editors for Anthrow Circus (anthrowcircus.com), so I've edited her pieces for Anthrow Circus and know the quality of her work. On top of all that, I've walked alongside her as she has birthed this book. I'll write more once I've read Beyond the Jordan, but I know much of what is inside already and feel comfortable commending it to you today—book launch day. Heather's is an important voice particularly for people open to getting beyond the black and white, polarized thinking about this complex region. Such thinking often misses the people and history that are foundational to what's at stake in the Middle East.

[Tina Jimin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A timely book for today where the Israel-Palestinian conflict is ever divisive. The book doesn’t try to solve or take any particular position, but offers human stories beneath the headlines, giving the reader a picture of the lives of women refugees, uprooted by years of displacement and privation. Heather’s humility and compassion help her form intimate friendships across different faiths and cultures, relating their stories. Her keen observations to her own questions of motherhood and faith make her journey real and relatable. A wonderfully written book that offers hope and beauty through imperfect but perfect faith in the One who makes all things new.

[Jamie Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond the Jordan felt like a chapter torn from the author’s journal, a window into her soul. Heather can’t help but carry the suffering of the many dear souls she comes into contact with, and she does not shy away but seeks them out. She loves fiercely and The Middle East is not a vague area on the map or nations on the news but individual faces and stories. Every page is filled with longing for peace and an end to the suffering which can only be found in Christ. Longing for the day when all will be made new.

[Stephanie Olivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heather is such a great story teller. Short chapters you can put down and pick back up. A few pages at a time of heartbreak, love, hope, or healing. She tells the human story through the backdrop of the Middle East. The stories, though unfamiliar to our culture, are so relatable and so human, that you go with her fully and experience a day as a goat shepherd in the desert, or a weaver in a Bedouin tent, the struggles of family life and the hopes of humanity. Such a great read.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surls takes the reader alongside for glimpses of living near Jerusalem and then in Jordan and introduces people she met. Each chapter has it's own theme or focus like thobe embroidery or particular places. I loved hearing about interviews she conducted with people I never would have met in those locations like a Bedouin shepherd or the owner of thobe museum. Surls is a Christian from the US who wants to be respectful of the people in each country she visits. Highly recommend.

[Monica Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heather Surls draws you in to a foreign world and makes you feel at home. This book enables you to grow in compassion and nuance as you consider the distant world of the Middle East with all its complications. Through seasons of pain and confusion, faith in God is pervasive throughout and leaves the reader feeling hopeful and contemplative.

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't say I usually enjoy memoirs, but I enjoyed this one. Heather unites women across cultures here. In her words, I felt seen, but I also SAW women far from me, women whose worlds look very different from mine, but whose hearts were knit together the same as mine.

My favorite parts of this book were Heather's prayers, which were messy but oh so real and flowed out of her like water.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish everyone in the US church would read this book right now. I'm going to share it with as many people around me as I can, imploring them to hear their sister's heart and find in her words the beat of Jesus' own. Personally, I have struggled with prayer during the recent years of conflict, confusion, and horror. Heather encourages me in the dry, imperfect place.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do you rate a memoir? In a Middle East rack by fear, pride, and violence, I found Heather's honest and vulnerable voice to be one of beauty and maybe even healing. Several times, it felt as if I had been transported to the spiritual realm of hope and restoration. Thank you for living this story and writing about it, Heather.

[Elizabeth Hartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is written in such a personal way, the reader may as well be having a cup of tea with the author. She speaks with kind authority on many different topics relating to the Middle East, some of which are very difficult or saddening. These stories will touch your heart and maybe in some ways, heal you in areas you didn't know were broken.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond the Jordan is an invitation. The author’s charming depictions coax you to experience Bedouin hospitality as you sip hot, sweetened tea in a woven tent, to adventure with a goat across a rocky slope, and to marvel at intricate embroidery developed by a people over centuries. As she struggles with questions of God’s faithfulness among a people plagued by violence, bitterness, and war, the author subtly invites you to consider what Christ’s love looks like for the nations.