Arabian Oryx
This white antelope with long straight horns nearly vanished from the wild but was brought back through careful breeding programs and now roams the Wadi Rum desert reserve in Jordan.
Flag of Jordan
Field Report
Jordan is a small country in the Middle East, wedged between Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Syria, with a tiny stretch of coast on the Red Sea at its southern tip. Most of the land is dry desert and rocky hills, but it holds some of the most famous ancient ruins and biblical sites in the world. About ten million people live there, and almost all of them speak Arabic and follow Islam, which means most Jordanians have never had a close friend who follows Jesus.
From the Field Notebook
Arabian Oryx
This white antelope with long straight horns nearly vanished from the wild but was brought back through careful breeding programs and now roams the Wadi Rum desert reserve in Jordan.
Sinai Agama Lizard
The male of this striking lizard turns a vivid electric blue during mating season, making it one of the most colorful reptiles in the rocky hills of Jordan.
Sand Cat
Perfectly built for desert life, the sand cat has fur-covered paw pads that protect it from scorching ground and allow it to walk silently across Jordan's sandy wadis at night.
Mansaf
Jordan's national dish is a generous platter of tender lamb cooked in dried fermented yogurt sauce and served over rice and flatbread, traditionally eaten by hand at celebrations and family gatherings.
Falafel
These crispy fried balls of ground chickpeas and herbs are eaten at breakfast or stuffed into flatbread for a quick street meal that Jordanians of all ages enjoy every day.
Knafeh
A warm dessert of shredded wheat pastry layered over soft white cheese and soaked in rose-water syrup, knafeh is sold in shops across Jordan and has a sweet, stretchy, slightly salty taste all at once.
The Dead Sea, which sits on Jordan's western border, is so salty that you float on top of it without any effort — it is nearly ten times saltier than the ocean.
The ancient city of Petra was carved entirely into rose-red sandstone cliffs by a people called the Nabataeans more than two thousand years ago, and most of it is still buried underground waiting to be discovered.
Jordan is one of the most water-scarce countries on Earth, ranking among the top three driest nations in the world — an average Jordanian uses far less water per day than an average American.
The Jordan River, which forms part of the country's western border, is the same river where John the Baptist baptized Jesus, and pilgrims still visit that site today.
Wadi Rum, a vast valley of sandstone mountains and red sand in southern Jordan, looks so much like Mars that several movies set on Mars have been filmed there.
Daily Life
78
Years life expectancy
95%
Can read and write
99%
Kids go to school
Missions Field Report
Jordan is home to 26 distinct people groups — 20 of them haven’t yet heard about Jesus.
Nearly all Jordan's people follow Islam (95.8%). Less than 1% of people in Jordan are Evangelical Christians.
What People Believe
Unreached People Groups
These are communities of people who haven’t had the chance to hear about Jesus yet. They need missionaries — and they need kids like you to pray for them.
Prayer Journal
Tick each one as you pray. God hears every word.
Arab, Jordanian
4,694,000 people
Arab, Palestinian
3,202,000 people
Arab, Bedouin
1,560,000 people
Arab, North Iraqi
465,000 people
Kabardian
169,000 people