Picture this: you're boarding a plane from Denver, heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nerves, not knowing your life is about to flip upside down. That's how Marjory Henderson's story begins in As Living Stones: My Five Years in Saudi Arabia. What started as a job move for her husband thrust her family into a world of five daily prayer calls, Islamic traditions woven into every moment, and landscapes that couldn't be more different from home.
Landing in Riyadh after layovers in New York, Rome, and Beirut left Marjory exhausted, but that was just the start. The brown dunes replaced Colorado's greenery, and suddenly, Islam wasn't just news headlines—it was life. As an American mom raising kids in this environment, she navigated everything from veiled encounters to the rhythm of Ramadan, all while holding onto her Christian faith.
It's not all rosy; Marjory doesn't sugarcoat the struggles. Isolation hit hard, cultural misunderstandings sparked tension, and simple things like grocery shopping felt like decoding a foreign language. But these trials forged something unbreakable. Her motto, 'I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength' (Philippians 4:13), became real as faith deepened through pain and joy alike.
What makes this memoir stand out is the intimate glimpses: sharing meals with neighbors, watching sunsets over the desert, forming bonds that crossed borders. It's a testament to how adversity can strengthen family ties and reveal God's presence in unexpected places. Readers get practical insights too—tips on adapting as an expat, reflecting on religious differences without judgment.
If you've ever pondered expat life in the Middle East, questioned faith in tough spots, or just love real stories of human grit, this book pulls you in. Curl up with it on a quiet evening; let Marjory's voice transport you halfway across the world. You'll close the cover with a fuller heart, inspired by how one family's Saudi chapter became a story of living stones—unshakable through it all.
