by Sr. Margaret Anne Meyer, MMM                                USA                   03.01.2026

Since Kilimanjaro Airport was near to the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro it was decided that I would do a private retreat with the Contemplative Sisters who had a convent in that area, before returning to Dareda. It was an exceptionally enjoyable time in my life, having had the joy of my mother’s visit for three weeks and now being able to pray in such beautiful surroundings. I was very thankful to God for all His blessings.

Upon returning to Dareda, I saw many children who were admitted with burns. Because of cold nights, a kerosene lamp would be near their bed and somehow it would fall into bed. Many children required repeated skin grafts. This was an ordeal for the child and for the doctor. The Flying Doctors taught us how to make the most of a small graft by trying to thin it out like a fish net. This worked. Sometimes the burned area was very extensive, and I asked one mother if I could take some of her skin for her child. It worked the first time but not the second. One child developed tetanus three weeks after he was burned. He survived it all. It was touch and go for a long time. Some children did very well for three weeks and then died suddenly. I asked Mr. Michael Woods, who was the chief surgeon and founder of AMFREF, the Flying Doctor Service, why did this happen? He replied, the burn had caused a lack of plasma proteins, and this resulted in liver failure from lack of protein. We tried to give protein supplements from then on. It really did help.

Martin Woods, the brother of the surgeon, Michael Woods, and his wife had come to set up a workshop to train some local young men in carpentry, mechanics, and some electrical work. Martin was very skilled and produced a solar system barrel that could give one a very warm shower using a hose. I agreed to experiment with the process. Martin wore his bathing suit, and I held the hose. It is the closest I ever got to being John the Baptist. It worked! All were delighted.
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Soon Christmas came and the Church was beautifully decorated. Bishop Winters had brought Conamara marble for the pillars and the old cathedral was very impressive structure located at the foothills of the rift valley escarpment. Great pains had been taken to twist coloured papers in chains of circles up and down the pillars and across the aisles. These were interspersed with sprays of bougainvillea flowers of various hues. The nurses dressed to present a Nativity scene, complete with a Christ-like baby figure to be placed in the decorated crib. The choir chanted a K’IRAQ song, Mother. It was so touching. People came from all over for Midnight Mass. We had to get our seat at 11pm and afterwards from 2-3am enjoyed some refreshments with an English couple. Olivio and his mother came the next day. It was a joy to see them again.
A big sprig of evergreen was our lovely tinsel decorated tree. We opened some presents and went to bed at 3 AM rejoicing in the love and peace of the Lord and of each other.