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.