Facing Terror: The True Story of How an American Couple Paid the Ultimate Price Because of Their Love of Muslim People

A story of love, courage, and survival. Carrie McDonnall was the only survivor of five in March, 2004, in Iraq although shattered with 22 bullet wounds and untold amounts of shrapnel. She tells the story of the love and loss of her husband David. Married less than a year and risking their lives to help the citizens of Iraq in their suffering, Carrie, David and three other American Missionaries were surrounded in a busy city and shop at point blank range. It was a miracle Carrie survived and this is truly an inspiring, exciting and heartwarming story.

As one who has lived many years in seven different Middle Eastern countries (including Jordan and Lebanon) and who is a Christian but not a missionary, I can greatly recommend Carrie's book for more than its wonderful love story between Carrie and David. Her descriptions of life in that area are real. By that I mean she describes wonderfully and accurately experiences many of us have lived. Her descriptions are an excellent way to get a "feel" for that part of the world that one cannot get from the general media and current events. I found myself nodding in recognition continually and wanting to run out for more books to send to friends, saying "This is what I have been trying to tell you for so many years!" I too have met her briefly and heard her speak. My friends in Jordan knew her and David well. The greater love story to hear is her love for Christ and her willingness to be used for His purposes. I will watch with interest to see what else He has for this remarkable young woman.

An international relief worker and missionary since 1999, Carrie McDonnall fell in love with the Middle East and married a man with the same passion, David, in 2002. On March 15, 2004, the couple, along with three other aid workers, spent the day surveying the needs at a refugee camp in northern Iraq. On their way back into the safe zone in Kurdish-held territory, militants ambushed their truck and Carrie would be the only one to survive. FACING TERROR, written by Carrie with help from popular author Kristin Billerbeck, recounts the harrowing events of the day that would forever change her life. But far from being a cautionary tale, FACING TERROR is a call to serve Christ wherever one lives and is, at its core, a love story --- a story of love between a man and a woman, and a story of the love those two people shared for the Arab world. David and Carrie met in Bethlehem on New Year's Day 2000. Despite the location, it was a rather inauspicious start to their romance. Introduced by fellow "journeymen," Carrie spent the time mistakenly calling David "Nathan" and thought little about him when the holiday was over. But when they were re-introduced several months later at a sports camp for local youth, she took more notice. "There was a spark within him that just lit up the dark sky. He was genuinely warm and friendly, he was a wonderful storyteller, and he was funny. I hoped this wasn't the last time we'd met, and although I can't say my romantic pursuits were obvious, I didn't want this man just to walk out of my life," she writes. During that stage of their ministries, Carrie was living out of a converted shipping container in Israel's West Bank and David was traveling all over Africa and the Middle East. They exchanged emails and the relationship deepened through what would become sometimes-daily missives. At the same time, both had a deepening sense of love for and calling to the Muslim people of the Middle East. "David asked what I would do after I finished my term of service in Israel. I told him that I would return home to attend seminary and then come back to the region to work among Arab-speaking Muslims. He then asked how I came to that decision. I explained that it was nothing I had decided --- the Lord had just put a passion for these people within me and anything different would mean being disobedient to Him." She continues, "He seemed surprised to find a girl who wanted to live in such a strict culture and shared with me the experiences he had seen the girls on his team go through. David then told me of his love for Sudan and some of his adventures. He said that he too felt called back to this area, but didn't know exactly where --- just that it was with Arab-speaking Muslims." The couple spent two years getting to know each other, and FACING TERROR follows what each of them were doing in their individual ministries as they grew closer and closer to one another. Of primary concern for both of them was that their desire for each oth

This book gives a very heartwarming and interesting insight to what people that happen to be missionaries have seen and experienced in a world most of us will never have an opportunity to visit. All we hear is the media's version of what is going on in third world countries. This book gives us an everyday feel for what is truly going on and the happiness and goodness that occurs as well. My heart goes out to Carrie and her and David's family and the trauma and tradgedy that she has experienced and will continue to experience for a very long time. Thank you for sharing your world with us and may God continue to bless you!

This moving book allows the reader to experience the lives of devoted missionaries, their lives in the Middle East, and their love of the Arab Muslims that eventually cost Carrie McDonnall her health and the life of her husband and 3 other fellow workers. It is well written and riveting. I've already given a copy to three people and have to keep replenishing my own copy. I appreciate Carrie's bold challenge to the church today to share the Gospel message and have bold love for others. The song the LORD gave her during recovery and the vision of Jesus and His call was especially inspiring and challenging.