Tram's journal 2025 "it's complicated"

Our whirlwind trip to Morocco, Egypt, and Israel was like drinking from a firehose – so much coming at me all at once with not much time to absorb it. The sights, sounds, the driving, among other things, has become like a colorful pinwheel in my mind as I try to process everything that I experienced.


Casablanca, Morocco, was relaxing and chill; a perfect way to start. Our three days there were spent mostly at a nearby restaurant within walking distance, meeting with dear friends invited by Brother S to tell us their stories. Over classic Moroccan dishes like Tagine, Dr. Pat and I listened and asked questions as Brother S translated their French and Arabic for us.

Cairo, Egypt, is a city on a scale I’ve never experienced before. It seems like the entire city is block after block of 10- to 20-story buildings, with lower levels occupied by retail or business spaces, and upper levels of apartments. Some areas felt like driving through canyons, with the buildings looming haphazardly over the streets -- some of them unpaved. The streets are filled with cars, tuk tuks, vans, bicycles, motorcycles, and trucks, all driven by mostly competent maniacs who have never taken a driving test. Pedestrians nonchalantly take their lives into their hands anytime they cross a street.


Pastor Jack drove us all around Cairo (yes, he fits the description above!) and we got to meet so many friends of the ministry. It was both unsettling and encouraging at the same time because I knew some of their histories and the difficulties they’ve faced, but meeting them in person brought it right to the forefront. The risks they take to follow Jesus vs. the joy we saw on their faces highlighted the complicated choices they must make every day.


Finally, Israel is the epitome of “It’s complicated” for me. I must admit, before working at Living Stones, my knowledge of the Persecuted Church and the ancient conflicts in Israel was severely limited. After visiting there with our team and speaking with Palestinian Christians, it dawned on me that there are layers and layers of history and anguish among all the peoples involved. I will never truly understand it all.


And that’s ok, because as a child of the King, I can see the world through a different lens. It may look complicated to me, but through the Kingdom lens, I can trust that God is working through it all. My uncomplicated job is to love God and love others. My Brothers and Sisters in Christ are living in extremely complicated, difficult situations, and where one part of the body hurts, we all hurt. That drives me to pray more than I ever have for Persecuted Believers – my own family – across the world.

May you be moved to pray as if it was your close family (it is!) that is being persecuted, and trust in our good God who knows and understands ALL of it.