MMMs have left their footprints in many parts of the world. As missionaries, our job is to work ourselves out of a job as quickly as possible. As soon as we have established health services we work with local people and other NGOs and when we are assured that the work can continue without us, we move on to places of greater need.

July 2010 marked the end of 50 years of our work in Ethiopia. It was a painful farewell. Like Sister Colette Ryan, above, our Sisters have covered thousands of miles by jeep and by mule, often remaining away from their base mission for a month at a time, living in tents among the people in their villages.

Since we first went to Ethiopia in 1960, thirty-seven MMMs have served in seven of Ethiopia's fourteen provinces and the administrative region which includes Addis Ababa..

Sisters have been involved in Hansen's disease, work with the disabled, with pastoralists, with the struggle to prevent the spread of HIV and care for those infected and affected by it. We were also involved in famine relief work, and in running the health department at the National Catholic Secretariat.

Our years in Ethiopia included some of the hardest times, when the Regime was oppressive and providing health services was extremely difficult. But there were good times too. A careful review of our work during these fifty years was carried out, which detailed twelve lessons we've learned that could be useful elsewhere.

MMM's left many footprints in Northern Nigeria at Gussoro from 1986 to 2008

• Difficult start in establishing preventative heatlth care at Gussoro Northern Nigeria 1986  >>> see here.
• Medical Missionaries of Mary end their mission in Gussoro Nigeria  >>> see here.

MMMs left many footprints among the Massai people at Loolera, Tanzania from 1984 to 2004

• First Steps of Medical Missionaries of Mary among Maasai People at Loolera in Tanzania  >>> see here.
• Building a home among the Maasai People at loolera in Tanzania  >>> see here.
• Building a Health Service among the Maasai People at Loolera in Tanzania  >>> see here.
• Truck bearing two containers overturns en route to Loolera  >>> see here.
• A tractor for Loolera  >>> see here.