What animals live in Jordan?

Jordan is home to some really interesting creatures! In the desert areas, you can spot Arabian sand gazelles darting across the dunes, and if you look carefully at rocky ledges, you might catch a glimpse of an ibex — a wild goat with curved horns that can climb steep cliffs like it's nothing. The Dana Biosphere Reserve shelters wolves, striped hyenas, and even the rare sand cat. The skies over Jordan are busy too. Since Jordan sits right on a major bird migration route between Africa and Europe, millions of birds — eagles, storks, and pelicans among them — pass through every year. Down in the Red Sea at the port of Aqaba, the warm waters are full of colorful fish and sea turtles. Jordan may be mostly desert, but God packed it with life in all kinds of surprising places.

What do kids eat in Jordan?

Kids in Jordan often eat flatbread called khubz at almost every meal — it is soft, round, and great for scooping up food. A favorite dip is hummus, which is made from mashed chickpeas and olive oil, and it tastes rich and smooth. Falafel, little fried balls made from ground chickpeas and herbs, are popular for breakfast and lunch. For a bigger meal, many Jordanian families enjoy mansaf, which is slow-cooked lamb served over rice with a tangy dried-yogurt sauce poured on top — it is the national dish and usually eaten at celebrations. Sweet treats like knafeh, a warm pastry made with stretchy cheese and soaked in sugary syrup, are a real delight. Dates and fresh fruit like figs and pomegranates also show up on Jordanian tables, since the land there has been growing them for thousands of years — right back to Bible times.

How do people say hello in Jordan?

In Jordan, the most common greeting is 'Marhaba' (mar-HA-ba), which means 'hello' in Arabic. But if you want to greet someone the way most Jordanians do, you say 'As-salamu alaykum' (as-sah-LAH-moo ah-LAY-koom), which means 'Peace be upon you.' The other person then replies 'Wa alaykum as-salam,' meaning 'And upon you, peace.' Jordanians are known for being very warm and welcoming to guests. Greetings there are not quick — people often shake hands, ask how your family is doing, and take time to really welcome you. Herman always says that learning to say hello in someone's own language is one of the best ways to show them respect, and missionaries in Jordan often learn Arabic greetings as one of their very first steps in building friendships and sharing the good news about Jesus.

What sports or games do kids play in Jordan?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Kids in Jordan go absolutely wild for football — what Americans call soccer. You'll find boys and girls kicking a ball around in dusty courtyards, on rooftops, and in narrow alleyways in cities like Amman and Aqaba. The national team is called the Nashama, which means 'brave ones,' and kids dream of playing like their heroes. Rusty wants you to know about some traditional games too! A favorite is a marbles-style game played in the dirt, and kids also love a tag game called 'Dhabba.' Basketball has been growing fast in Jordan as well — the country has even hosted big regional tournaments. And in the evenings, families gather to play card and board games together, which is a big part of how Jordanian kids spend time with the people they love.

What's the weather like in Jordan?

Jordan is a country with big differences in weather depending on where you stand! The western hills and the capital city Amman get cool winters with some rain and even snow sometimes, while summers are warm and dry. Most of Jordan, though, is desert — and deserts can be scorching hot in summer and surprisingly cold at night. The Jordan River valley is one of the lowest places on earth, and it stays warm almost all year. The famous Dead Sea is right there in that valley — so salty that you float without even trying! Jordanians are used to drinking very little rain each year, so water is something they are always careful about. It is a land of sun, sand, and ancient stone, just like in many Bible stories you may have read.

Tell me a fun fact about Jordan.

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Jordan is home to the Dead Sea, a lake so salty that you can float on top of the water without even trying to swim. The salt makes the water much denser than your body, so it just pushes you right up to the surface. Rusty wants to add this: the Dead Sea sits at the lowest point on the surface of the entire earth — about 1,400 feet below sea level. People have been traveling to this region for thousands of years, and the Bible mentions it too. The land of Jordan is packed with real places where real Bible history happened, which makes walking around there feel like stepping into the pages of Scripture.

What is school like for kids in Jordan?

In Jordan, most kids go to school six days a week — yes, even Saturday! School is taught in Arabic, and students study subjects like math, science, history, and religion. The school year runs from September to June, and kids wear uniforms just like in many countries around the world. Jordan actually has one of the higher rates of kids attending school in the Middle East, which means many children there can read and write. Some families in Jordan are refugees from nearby countries like Syria, and special schools have been set up to help those kids learn too. Here is something to think about: many of those students can read and study — but most have never read a Bible or heard clearly that Jesus came to save them. That is one reason missionaries and local Christians work hard to share that good news with young people in Jordan.

Who are the unreached people in Jordan?

Great question! Jordan is a country in the Middle East, and most of its people are Arab Muslims. That means the majority of Jordanians have never heard the true good news about Jesus — that He died for their sins and rose again so they could be forgiven and know God personally. People who haven't had a real chance to hear that message are called 'unreached,' and there are millions of them in Jordan. Some of the specific unreached groups in Jordan include Bedouin Arabs, who are nomadic desert people with a rich ancient culture, as well as Palestinian Arabs and Circassians who have lived there for generations. There are also Iraqi refugees who fled war and are now living in Jordan — many of them have heard very little about Jesus. Fewer than one out of every hundred people in Jordan follows Christ, so the need for messengers of the gospel there is very real.

How can I pray for the people of Jordan?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding right beside me! Jordan is a country where most people follow Islam, and many have never had a real chance to hear about Jesus as their Savior. That means prayer is one of the most important things you can do for the people there. Here are some good things to bring to God: Ask Him to help Jordanian people hear the gospel and trust Jesus with their hearts. Pray for the small but faithful Christian churches in Jordan to grow strong and bold. Ask God to protect missionaries and local believers who share their faith, because it can be risky to follow Jesus in Jordan. And pray that more Jordanian men and women would become leaders who tell their own neighbors about Jesus — that would be a wonderful thing to see!

What is a holiday or celebration in Jordan?

One of the biggest celebrations in Jordan is Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan — a month when Muslims fast from food and water during daylight hours. When Eid arrives, families put on new clothes, share sweet foods like date-filled cookies called ma'amoul, visit relatives, and give gifts to children. The streets fill with people and the smell of good food! Most people in Jordan are Muslim, so these celebrations are tied to Islamic traditions. What's interesting for us as explorers is that there are also some Christians living in Jordan — a small but real group. They celebrate Christmas and Easter, remembering the birth and resurrection of Jesus. Pray that Jordanian families celebrating any holiday might one day hear the true good news that Jesus is the Savior of the world.

What language do people speak in Jordan?

Great question! The main language in Jordan is Arabic — specifically a dialect called Levantine Arabic, which is the everyday speech people use at home, in markets, and with friends. Modern Standard Arabic is used in schools, newspapers, and official settings, so Jordanians often move between the two. English is also taught in many Jordanian schools, so you might hear it in cities like Amman, especially in shops or hotels. The Arabic alphabet looks very different from English — it has 28 letters and is written from right to left, which takes some getting used to! The Bible has been translated into Arabic, which means many Jordanians can read God's Word in their own language — that is a real gift.

What's a famous place to visit in Jordan?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! One of the most famous places in Jordan is a ancient city called Petra. It was carved right into rose-red cliffs by a people called the Nabataeans thousands of years ago — whole temples and tombs cut straight into the rock face. Explorers and historians have been amazed by it for centuries. Rusty wants to add that Petra sits in a desert canyon, and you enter it through a long narrow crack in the rock called the Siq — it's so narrow in places that you can almost touch both walls at once. The Bible mentions the Nabataeans and the lands around them, and this whole region was traveled by traders, armies, and even early followers of Jesus spreading the gospel across the ancient world. Jordan is a place where history practically walks up and shakes your hand.

Jordan — Kids Missions Explorer

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.

Jordan

Things you should know about Jordan

Wildlife you might meet

What’s on the table

Did you know?

Life in Jordan

Missions in Jordan

Pray for Jordan