by Sr. Margaret Anne Meyer, MMM                           USA                               11.04.2026

In January 1983, I went on leave for 2 years. It was time to celebrate my 25th Jubilee of Profession which was held in City Island, New York, with many friends, relatives, and MMMS from Boston. I thank God for all His many graces and blessings during those years, and it was great excitement for me to be home with so many loved ones.

It was also a chance to help in Clinchco, VA. Sr. Marguerite Killion was alone while Sister Bernadette Kenny was studying to be a nurse practitioner. I loved being with her there, and with the people. I learned a lot about rural life in America and how devastated they were with the laying off jobs in the coal mining industry and the land devastation it caused. I also learned to love bluegrass music.
I joined the summer Mission Appeals. Sister Andrew Phillips added extra highlights by taking me to visit many of her friends in California and even let me roam around the streets of Hollywood, observing the handprints of famous actors and the hoof prints of famous cowboy horses!

Global Spirituality was the name of the Sabbatical Program chosen. It was held in Cincinnati, Ohio, and proved to be greatly beneficial in how religious life was progressing after Vatican 2. We all had a lot of fun, as well.

The last three months were spent with my brother, Dr. Albert Meyer, and his family in Georgia where I did medical updating in Thomasville Hospital. This included a trip to the veterinary doctor because sometimes I was asked to tend cows, pigs, dogs, and cats.

I also had time to visit with my brother Dave and his family, and my sister Gerry and her family. My mother was also at most of the visits, and I felt deep gratitude at the opportunity to renew my closeness to my family, my MMM Sisters and renewal in the medical and spiritual life to take on another twenty-five years with God’s help.

A lay doctor had replaced me for two years. He was very much loved. The hospital was becoming busier, and I was happy to find that when I returned in January 1985 that there would be three doctors sharing the work.

On the return trip to Tanzania, I remember flying South and noting that soon we would be turning east. Within minutes the plane did just that and MT. Meru appeared directly in front of Mt Kilimanjaro. It had been a long journey. I left NY on Friday evening, spent Saturday night in a hotel in Amsterdam and arrived in Kilimanjaro on Sunday morning. This was the last time hotel accommodation was provided by KLM airline. From then on, a continuous flight with waiting periods in the next country was the order of the day.

Sisters from Arusha met me at the airport. I was glad to see them and after some rest the 9-hour journey to Makiungu was undertaken. Again, upon arrival there was more rejoicing to be home and able to care for the sick.
Also, there were additions to the Community. Sr. Mary Donato was midwifery tutor, Sr. Breeda Ryan was our new hospital administrator. Sr. Catherine O Grady had done a course in anesthetics, and we were glad of her anesthetic skills.

In June 1985, a Public Health seminar was held in Dodoma. Many of our MMM Sisters attended from various hospitals. Sr. Aine Lucey came from Kabanga. Unfortunately, she was out walking one afternoon, and a thief knocked her flat on her back. She fractured a vertebra and was airlifted back to Kabanga. It was very traumatic to all of us. Sister Aine suffered a lot of pain.
The seminar was very well presented and inspired us to try and train village leaders who would try to raise the village’s health standards. This method has been improved on and has been found valuable in aiding us in caring for large groups of people. That is another story.