Overgrootvader Lammert Zijm's first wife was Annetje Witte;
she was Uncle Dick's mother.

I think that's only part of the way we are related to Father Witte.



I met Father Witte in 1955 when he came here from Africa,
where he was a Catholic Missionary in Tanganyika.

Rare photo of the inside of the mission's
Provisional Boys Dormitory
October 1958



The Rectory of the mission, made of rock
and dirt, the roof made of used iron sheets.
The Usa-River Catholic Mission, October 1958



One of Father Witte's farthest parishes
over 20 miles away from the mission.
Tanganyika, October 1958



*I'm copying what he wrote on the back of this picture.*
This is the new Mission Jeep, fresh arrived from the States.
Thanks to it I now say or sing 3 regular Sunday Masses,
each in a different center.
The "block-hut" behind is the provisional dormitory
for 70 boys.
Tanganyika, October 1, 1958



A Very Big Moment
The first marriage in the Usa-River Chapel
Tanganyika 1958

I know there is at least one more picture of him with "his boys" at the mission,
and of course that's the one I can't find.
Yet.

Anecdote Time Father Witte had the most amazing tales to tell, such as walking to one of his parishes with some other parishoners and meeting a group of baboons who didn't want to share the path.  It could have been quite a deadly encounter. He also showed us the scar on his throat where it had been slit...as a warning. MY butt would have been warned and gone. He definitely had our attention!

I actually only spent one afternoon with him.
He was staying with my grandparents, and of course,
visiting everyone.



Aunt Ann, Grandma, Father Witte, Uncle Tice




Father Witte and Uncle Tice

Uncle Tice Van Herwarde,
( Van Heerwaarden in the Netherlands ),
is related through the Dijt and Zijm families, it seems.
This is getting complicated.




Father Witte and Unknown Priest.


I wish I had more information about Father Witte.
I remember him having a great sense of humor,
I remember him laughing,
and he told me to stop calling him "Father",
just call him "Uncle Mike".

I had only about 3 hours with "Uncle Mike",
but he made such a lasting impression.