In the Heart of Tanzania A Missionary Writes about His Work and Experiences in Tanzania

It is a fascinating story of a missionary in the exotic yet at timesdangerous country of Tanzania. The author, in over 300 pages,describes his experiences of 12 years of work and life inAfrica. The book comprises descriptions of many aspects ofdaily life of the local people and encounters with nature,sometimes charming, others rather dangerous. Mainly, it is adocument how the author tried to fulfill his missionary andSalvatorian vocation. (From the periodical ''Salwator'' published by Salvatorian Fathers in Cracow, Poland)

Dear Father Joseph, Thank you for giving me the honor of reading themanuscript of your missionary works in Africa. I knew missionariesperformed many various functions in addition to ''God's teaching''; youopened 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. Thebook fascinated both my family and megreatly. It can be read at just one sitting. It definitelybrought us closer to the life of missionaries. It presented thehardship of the lives which people in Africa lead: the extremeconditions you have to deal with on an everyday basis, such asclimatic challenges, the lack of water, and many other problems.How important is the role of missionaries! You have to be notonly priests, but also teachers and doctors; you have to know alittle 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 writingthe book. It was indeed a great and a greatly demandingadventure. I read the book at one sitting during the Labor Dayweekend. It seemed to me that I knew a little bit about themissionary life from the oral reports given by my priest colleaguesworking in missions, from reading magazines and supporting missionsthrough ''Echo'' from Africa. However, only after reading the book could Irealize that ''I know that I know nothing,'' or rather, Ihad known nothing up to now about everyday missionary life and itschallenges and hardships. In fact, what you experienced seems to bebeyond the limits of human strength. That constant fight to conqueryourself, sicknesses, attacks of malaria, to face hostile nature,snakes, heat, sweat, and wild animals. One more time, I wish toexpress my deepest admiration. In addition, the book is written in abeautiful, 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 itright after I got it, and since then, I have been returning to it like adrunk to a pub. I simply adore what you have written. Of course, ithas certain emotional undertones for me. Some of the facts I rememberfrom your tales, others from your letters. I had the pleasure ofmeeting in person your friends Francis andAndrew. It is really a wonderfulsource for younger missionaries. It strikes with the precision ofnarration and indubitable realism. It also contains a certain dosage ofhumor, however, accompanied by deep reflection and wisdom.(Mrs. Halina Sala, a painter and a college professorat School of Pedagogy in Cracow, Poland)

I read the book with great interest. It lasted for about twomonths, since I deliberately ''took this book in doses'' - as you do withmedicines - to achieve a better effect. Even though I had heard manytales about Tanzania, your book is something more, I must say. For meit was and still is an inspiration for profound thoughts, an opportunityfor me to rethink deeply the matters of the church, ministry, andpriesthood. (Rev. Joseph Tarnowka, SDS, a parish priest in Liechtenstein)