by Sr. Noeleen Mooney, MMM                                Ireland                                  25.03.2026

My first missionary experience was to Kabanga, in Western Tanzania. Having arrived in the country, it took me five days of overland travel by bus, train, lorry and Land Rover to reach my destination. Coming from a small island country, I was sure I would never get out again!
My work was in the hospital laboratory. One day an Indian couple came, and they asked me my name.

“We saw your mother’s photograph in the local newspaper”, they said. I couldn’t believe them, but it turned out that it was true!
President Julius Nyerere of Tanzania was visiting Ireland. His trip included a visit to the Irish Rope factory in Newbridge, Co. Kildare. Tanzania supplied sisal for the rope manufactured there at the time.

My mother decided she wanted to see him for eye! She set off by bus from Naas. When she arrived, she met an acquaintance who brought her to be introduced, being the mother of a missionary in Tanzania. Mum told me afterwards that he asked her three questions. “Where was I working?” “What was I doing?” and “Was I happy?”

On her return home, she told my Dad that she had met the President. He was naturally quite sceptical!

I remembered that one of our sisters was working in Dar es Salaam, where the newspaper was published. She very kindly got me a copy of the photograph which, of course, is now a treasured possession!