Stronger than Death tells the story of what real missionary work should be. There is more than just religion, there was action, their care, and love of the poor. TO read this story shows me this world has people who are truly good.
Annalena treated TB in places like Kenya and Somalia. she faces down violence every day but never stopped caring for those in need. She knew that religion called for care and love for the needy. Unlike many of the biggest "missionary/pastors", Annalena didn't live in opulence. She lived in poverty pouring all her money into the saving of those with TB. If I say more, I'll tell you the whole story.
Even though Annalena would never like the publication of this book, I agree with the author that this book should be written, her story must be told. By reaching just one person through this book, continues Annalena's work.
The book itself is well written and researched. Background of countries and wars are included and the author spoke with as many people as she could. There is just one negative here: the author inserts herself. It's odd moments that should bolster Annalena but it just seems more like she wanst to be connected to Annalena so badly so she can feel better about herself. There is no need. The author shares this story with dedication, love, and respect and that is a connection that never dies.
I would encourage everyone to read this book. T think about their calling. to challenge the idea of Christianity. I am blessed to have read this story.

This was pretty interesting, actually. It gave a lot of insight into the suffering of the local people and how some of that got changed.

Stronger than Death
How Annalena Tonelli Defied Terror and Tuberculosis in the Horn of Africa

by Rachel Pieh Jones


Plough Publishing

Plough Publishing House

Biographies & Memoirs , Christian

Pub Date 01 Oct 2019


Stronger than death is the remarkable story of Annalena Tonelli, known as Somalia’s Mother Teresa, she unselfishly perhaps even heroically risked her life to help those in Somalia who were suffering from Tuberculosis, knowing that if she ended up with the disease it would ending a painful death.




Annalena fought amid a volatile mix of war, disease and religious fundamentalism in the horn of Africa, not knowing what a difference one woman could make, but determined to make a difference and she truly did, but it was not the disease that ended up killing her, she Was murdered, shot in the head.




Annalena was the only Christian performing routine checks on Tuberculosis patients in a country that did not exist. She wore no outward sign of her Faith. In this part of the world, the disease was looked at as a punishment for being a bad Muslim.


In the 1960’s Annalena Tonelli was a School girl in Forli Italy. Annalena would later decide that she could not fully give herself to helping the poor if she stayed in Italy.


I give Stronger Than Death five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Stronger than Death is Annalena Tonelli's story of living and working along with the sick, hungry, and destitute of Kenya and Somalia in the 1980's. She was a courageous, down-to-earth, and humble Italian woman who left her homeland and family to spend her life assisting the poor and eradicating TB from those countries.

Despite living near Annalena in Somalia, the author commits to know her better through letters, research, and visits with family members, friends, and former medical personnel who knew and worked alongside Annalena. More than one person relived emotional memories of their time with Annalena, referring to her as a 'saint' and the 'Mother Theresa of Somalia.'

Annalena's story is a powerful look at how the love, faith, and humanity of one person can overcome prejudices, fears, and violence in some of the most difficult areas of the world.

I was very moved by this book. The author tells the story of Annalena Tonelli and her 34 years of service to the Somali people. I don't recall having heard about Annalena, maybe of an aid worker who was killed in 2003, but nothing specific.

I think everyone should know what it looks like to really love your neighbor as yourself, which is what Annalena did and in the greatest humility. The story of her time in Africa is beautifully written and gives a glimpse into the life of what I would call a saint, but which Annalena would not. Her work in making a difference in the lives of those suffering and dying from TB is amazing.

The book also gives an insight into the suffering of the Somali people , which appears to still be continuing today.

When you think about helping sick people in a foreign country, you think of missionaries living in foreign homes with lots of resources and they are physically separated from those whom they serve.
Annalena Tonelli grew up in Italy in the 1940’s and 50’s with people who remembered WWII. Her family tried to give her the best of everything, but Annalena was attracted to serving the poor people in her community.
Her life was changed when she traveled to Africa to work with Somali nomads who contracted Tuberculosis and would not admit that they had it, they just had a cough.
Annalena learned that TB could only be cured by giving the patients their medication and watching them take it. She lived as they did, she slept on a mat, wore long skirts and called God Allah so that they would not be offended by her as she was a Catholic.
She loved them all, she held the dying, comforted dying children and washed people who had sores all over and spat up blood, and said she loved them as Jesus did.
She lived in Somalia for most of her life, she dealt with unimaginable sickness, war and death, you will have to read the book to understand her life.