Book Review

Mama Gawistchi
by Louise Faust with Darlene Strand (2004, CJ Graphics)
A review by Luanne Skrenes

Louise Faust lives in Iron Mountain, Michigan. A nurse with only two years of experience, she accompanied her husband, Pastor Harold (Hal) Faust, to the mission fields of the Barabaig people in Tanzania from 1949-1976. Her story is one of faith, family and courage. At the age of 26, Louise left the comfort and familiarity of her home and country to serve as a missionary with Hal. It was here, in northern Tanzania, the Fausts and their young toddler son lived among tribal people who believed in witchcraft and medicine men. It was in this mission field where they served God while raising Mark, and where Ann, Linda, Steve and David were born and raised.

Louise Faust is a prolific, eloquent letter writer. Rather than journaling while in Africa, she requested the recipients save her letters. Louise had an unfulfilled dream of someday publishing a book. Unknown to her at the time, writing a book is exactly what she was doing with her correspondence. Louise was legendary in her ability to run fast responding to the needs of her patients. So fast was she that her nickname soon became “Mama Gawistchi” or ‘she who runs fast.’ Her stories become the basis for this 624-page book, a compilation of her letters and articles.

Having been to Tanzania twice myself and experiencing some of the same places 50 years later, Louise’s writings swept me away to Africa! Louise and Hal began their ministry with a people whose tribal language was not yet written. Louise delivered babies, diagnosed and treated diseases, taught public health and sewing classes while distributing food during the droughts. Not only did Louise bring healing to the body, she used every opportunity to spread the Gospel and to teach the Word of God. It was through her clinics and ‘home health visits’ these native African people grew to love and trust the Fausts and the message they brought. During this time, Pastor Hal was busy preaching and building community by serving as an administrator and judge, while translating Luther’s catechism and liturgy of the Church into the Barabaig tribal language.

Life in Africa produces visions such as living among the wild animals and perhaps having a rhinoceros chase your car, or seeing lions on the prowl in your backyard. This book is full of such experiences of the Fausts. However, the stories that are now etched in my mind are those of Louise and Hal patiently working with, and finally baptizing, the head medicine man (witch doctor), and the stories of bringing up a tribal member to attend seminary to replace them in their mission of weaving the Word of God into the lives of these tribal people. The stories are about the solid faith of the Fausts, who rarely questioned their call to Africa, and who fervently relied upon the prayers of friends and family in the States.

A familiar African ebony carving is called the ‘generations statue’ which is beautifully done of people standing on each other’s shoulders depicting how we all stand on the shoulders of the generation before us. That is exactly the image of Pastor Hal and Louise Faust and other missionary families who served in Africa for over 100 years. Upon their shoulders, Africans have built the modern Christian church in Tanzania, a church that is growing and full of God’s Spirit!

(Copies of Mama Gawistchi are available at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Iron Mountain, Michigan.)