In the Heart of Tanzania

It is a fascinating story of a missionary in the exotic yet at times dangerous country of Tanzania. The author, in over 300 pages, describes his experiences of 12 years of work and life in Africa. The book comprises descriptions of many aspects of daily life of the local people and encounters with nature, sometimes charming, others rather dangerous. Mainly, it is a document how the author tried to fulfill his missionary and Salvatorian vocation. (From the periodical "Salwator" published by Salvatorian Fathers in Cracow, Poland) Dear Father Joseph, Thank you for giving me the honor of reading the manuscript of your missionary works in Africa. I knew missionaries performed many various functions in addition to "God's teaching"; you opened up my eyes as to the extent of a missionary's involvement. Truly, you were sent by God to do his work. (Mrs. Trudy Witkoski from Houston, TX) Dear Fr. Joseph, I would like to thank you for writing down these remembrances. The book fascinated both my family and me greatly. It can be read at just one sitting. It definitely brought us closer to the life of missionaries. It presented the hardship of the lives which people in Africa lead: the extreme conditions you have to deal with on an everyday basis, such as climatic challenges, the lack of water, and many other problems. How important is the role of missionaries! You have to be not only priests, but also teachers and doctors; you have to know a little of everything from every field of work. For example, how helpful your knowledge of mechanics turned out to be. (Mrs. Maria Kopec from Myslowice, Poland) Thank you from the bottom of my heart and God bless you for writing the book. It was indeed a great and a greatly demanding adventure. I read the book at one sitting during the Labor Day weekend. It seemed to me that I knew a little bit about the missionary life from the oral reports given by my priest colleagues working in missions, from reading magazines and supporting missions through "Echo" from Africa. However, only after reading the book could I realize that "I know that I know nothing," or rather, I had known nothing up to now about everyday missionary life and its challenges and hardships. In fact, what you experienced seems to be beyond the limits of human strength. That constant fight to conquer yourself, sicknesses, attacks of malaria, to face hostile nature, snakes, heat, sweat, and wild animals. One more time, I wish to express my deepest admiration. In addition, the book is written in a beautiful, vivid, narrative language. (Rev. Emil Altmajer from New York, NY) You ask if I have read the book? In fact, I absorbed it. I read it right after I got it, and since then, I have been returning to it like a drunk to a pub. I simply adore what you have written. Of course, it has certain emotional undertones for me. Some of the facts I remember from your tales, others from your letters. I had the pleasure of meeting in person your friends Francis and Andrew. It is really a wonderful source for younger missionaries. It strikes with the precision of narration and indubitable realism. It also contains a certain dosage of humor, however, accompanied by deep reflection and wisdom. (Mrs. Halina Sala, a painter and a college professor at School of Pedagogy in Cracow, Poland) I read the book with great interest. It lasted for about two months, since I deliberately "took this book in doses" - as you do with medicines - to achieve a better effect. Even though I had heard many tales about Tanzania, your book is something more, I must say. For me it was and still is an inspiration for profound thoughts, an opportunity for me to rethink deeply the matters of the church, ministry, and priesthood. (Rev. Joseph Tarnowka, SDS, a parish priest in Liechtenstein)