When We Could Not See the Moon: Our Daughter Locked Away in a Foreign Jail
A family cast in darkness. A daughter in an unimaginable situation. And the guiding light of faith that carried them through.
When Jon and Tracy Willems' daughter Hanna ventured across the world for what was supposed to be an exciting year of working abroad in Egypt, things quickly took an unexpected turn, and the family found themselves in the middle of a waking nightmare.
Falsely apprehended at customs for suspected drug trafficking, Hanna was placed in an Egyptian jail under unthinkable conditions with no tether to the outside world. As Jon and Tracy struggled to put together the pieces of where their daughter had gone and what horrible fate might await her, Hanna sat thousands of miles away in a crowded and filthy cell. So began Jon and Tracy's fight for their daughter's freedom. But they were not alone.
What could have easily been a story of a family's hardship and terror is instead a story of God's grace during their most trying days. At its core, When We Could Not See the Moon is about a family cast in darkness amid the unimaginable situation Hanna found herself in. It's a story of how faith united people across the world and worked through them to provide a guiding light throughout the journey.
Though names, locations, and other key elements have been changed or fictionalized to protect those who worked so fiercely to bring Hanna home, the Willems' story is otherwise entirely based in fact. Encompassing the perspectives of parents Jon and Tracy Willems, sister Taylor, and Hanna herself, this harrowing true story captures all the defining characteristics of humanity: despair, distrust, and suffering but also faith, hope, compassion, and community. Dynamic and engaging with excerpts from the journal Hanna kept throughout this unbelievable series of events, When We Could Not See the Moon will speak to parents, people of faith, warriors for justice--and anyone who finds themselves lost in the dark, desperately searching for the light.
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The real Jon and Tracy live in Idaho, USA. They steadfastly continue to pursue their faith while embracing travel across the world. While both are retired from their respective careers, they remain professionally engaged and enjoy the freedom of controlling their own calendar. The names and locations in this book have been changed to shield and support their daughters in their ongoing healing process from this experience and protect the privacy of all involved.
Savannah Spidalieri is an author, ghostwriter, and publishing director living in central Virginia with her husband and daughter. Savannah studied creative writing and publishing and printing arts at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, and went on to co-found Haunted Waters Press, a publisher of short fiction and poetry. Still working on her own solo debut novel, Savannah enjoys ghostwriting and collaborating with authors who have powerful stories to tell and need someone to help bring them to the page. "When We Could Not See the Moon is a testament to the strength of faith and family in the face of adversity. As Jon and Tracy recount the ordeal of their daughter Hanna's imprisonment in Egypt, their trust in God's love and providence shines through. Guided by the truth that 'in all things God works for the good of those who love Him' (Romans 8:28), the Willems family harnessed their faith to find the courage and resilience needed to bring Hanna home. From the timing of Hanna's judge issuing her release on bail to the compassion of her cellmate Inara whose kindness reflected God's light in the darkest of places, this true story reminds us that God is always by our side. Jon and Tracy's vulnerable reflections drive home the power of faith--not as a magic shield against hardship but as a foundation from which we can weather any storm, knowing we are held in the arms of a loving God. When We Could Not See the Moon will reaffirm your belief in miracles and inspire you to trust more deeply in God's plan."
--Shaan Sharma, actor playing "Shmuel" on The Chosen
"When We Could Not See the Moon starts as any normal day and builds to a maximum crescendo. It truly demonstrates the necessity of justice, the exigency of human dignity, the purpose of family, and the power of prayer."
--Lawrence Wasden, former Idaho attorney general
"This is a must-read for any parent or anyone who has ever wanted to travel beyond the borders of the United States. When We Could Not See the Moon is a riveting story that combines friendship and faith with so many twists and turns that any reader will rethink their perspective when situations are beyond their control."
--Maryanna Young, CEO of Aloha Publishing
"What a story! Once I got started, I could not stop reading the book. One of the great epiphanies to parents is that they will always be parents to their children no matter what their stage in life. This is a story of trusting God every minute of every hour of every day of a painfully long ordeal. The faith and hope exhibited throughout this difficult jailing is infectious."
--Dennis Johnson, retired president and CEO of a US national insurance company
"This gripping true account of a young international traveler being un justly accused, arrested, and imprisoned will keep the reader in suspense as the story unfolds from multiple perspectives. This book is an encouraging reminder that compassionate humanity isn't limited by ethnicity, religion, language, or status; we are all part of a bigger story. God will often work outside our expectations and bring the most diverse people together to accomplish His divine purposes and change us in the process."
--Pastor Keith Waggoner, Grace Bible Church
