ASK 2024 Prayer Diary

ASK

PRAYER DIARY 2024 Prayer Diary

DHANMATI’S STORY

Dhanmati Yadav, a 71-year-old woman from Tarkulla, was diagnosed with leprosy after developing skin patches without sensation upon touch. Despite taking other medications for over a year, her skin condition did not improve. Upon referral to the Butwal Hospital and a skin smear test, she was confirmed to have leprosy. However, after a year of continuous Multi Drug Therapy medication, Dhanmati was completely cured.

Dhanmati’s case is good because, at her age, she did not show any fear or panic when diagnosed with leprosy. Instead, she was determined to follow her medication regimen strictly, with the help of her granddaughterin-law’s reminders. She credits her family’s support and love for her speedy recovery.

Although Dhanmati suffers from joint aches and pain in her knees, she continues to enjoy spending time with the water buffaloes that her family rears in a shed behind their ancestral home. Dhanmati’s family owns four kathas of land, which has been divided among her sons who continue the family’s occupation of agriculture.

Dhanmati’s family members are vigilant about any signs of leprosy and have any skin patches or blisters checked up for signs of the disease whenever possible. The family is also grateful that Dhanmati was diagnosed early and recovered quickly. Her family’s care and affection for her have also helped her to overcome the difficulties of ageing.

Welcome from the International Director

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the ASK Prayer Diary 2024.

This year is a very special one for the Mission as we celebrate our 150-year anniversary.

Through your help, along with the help of faithful supporters who have gone before us, much has been done to see leprosy defeated and lives transformed. But challenges still remain.

Since our founding in 1874, the Mission has relied on the provision of God - He has sustained us throughout; in times of war, economic hardship and pandemics.

I remain positive about the future. With new preventative drug regimens, diagnostic tests, and vaccines being developed, we are seeing zero leprosy transmission become more and more of a reality. I am also delighted to see persons affected by leprosy playing a much larger role in our programmes and partnerships across the globe.

This is how simple every leprosy diagnosis should be: symptoms are spotted early, treatment is received quickly, no disability happens as a consequence, and the family is supportive and shows no stigma.

I trust that you will enjoy reading the ASK Prayer Diary 2024 and learning more about the Mission’s work. Thank you for your support and prayers - it is deeply appreciated.

Warmly in Christ,

Following

Christ, The Leprosy Mission seeks to bring about transformation: breaking the chains of leprosy, empowering people to attain healing, dignity and life in

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.

1 Timothy 2:1 (NLT)

Trusting in the knowledge that God hears and answers prayer, holding to the belief that our work is the Lord’s, and realising that all our human efforts are in vain without God’s blessing and power, we share this ASK Prayer Diary to encourage believers everywhere to pray

WHAT IS LEPROSY?

Leprosy is often considered a disease of the past. In fact, it continues to destroy lives all over the world as one person every two minutes is diagnosed with the disease.

Leprosy is a mildly infectious disease caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae It is most common in places of poverty as overcrowding, poor nutrition, and bad sanitation weaken people’s immune systems, so they are less able to fight the disease.

What does leprosy mean for those affected?

Physically

The first signs of leprosy are pale patches of skin. Leprosy is curable with a treatment known as Multi Drug Therapy (MDT), but if it goes untreated the consequences can be severe.

M.leprae, the bacillus that causes leprosy, also attacks the nerves of the body, meaning people affected by the disease see changes in their bodies.

These changes can mean people affected by leprosy may lose feeling in their hands and feet, which is dangerous as a cut on the foot from walking on rough terrain goes unnoticed, or a boiling pan is picked up without realising the damage that is being done to the skin. These injuries can lead to ulcers and even amputations in extreme cases.

The damage that leprosy does to nerves around the elbows and knees can also lead to muscle paralysis resulting in clawed hands and drop foot. Paralysis of the eye muscles can eventually lead to blindness.

Acute episodes of inflammation called ‘reactions’ happen in up to half the people diagnosed with leprosy. Reactions cause

KEY LEPROSY FACTS:

• Globally, around 200,000 people are diagnosed with leprosy every year

• There are more than 100 laws that explicitly discriminate against people affected by leprosy

• We believe that, if we work together, there will be no new cases of leprosy by 2035

• Leprosy is reported in 127 countries, with 79% of all new cases occurring in India, Brazil, and Indonesia (2019 data)

swelling and pain in skin, nerves and eyes, and patients may need to be hospitalised for months.

Socially

The social consequences of leprosy can be as severe as the physical ones. The stigma surrounding leprosy in many communities means that people affected by the disease face incredible levels of discrimination from their communities, friends, and family.

Children will find they are turned away from their schools and their families. Adults are turned away from jobs and from housing. Far too many people affected by leprosy have no choice but to beg in order to get by.

In the coming pages you will see a glimpse of how we are trying to turn the tide on that discrimination across the world.

by an inspiration to pray for people affected by leprosy, you can do so by

WHERE LEPROSY IS FOUND TODAY

TLM is committed to providing long-term quality care and support in the name of Jesus Christ as long as there are people affected by leprosy who need it.

For a map of the countries where TLM works see page 84

150 Years of The Leprosy Mission: A look at our history and what our future holds

In 2024, The Leprosy Mission is celebrating its 150-year anniversary. We have a huge amount to be grateful for: 15 decades of blessings and countless saints who have gone before us with servant-hearts in every corner of the world. Throughout it all, this has been a Mission cradled in prayer and guided by our Heavenly Father.

Here’s a look at some of the biggest moments on our journey to today.

1869 – A young Irishman sets sail for India to find a career there. While there, he sees for the first time the devastating effects of leprosy and is inspired to take action. There was no known cure for leprosy and the disease wrought havoc on bodies. That young man was Wellesley Bailey, the founder of The Leprosy Mission.

1874 – Wellesley returns to Ireland with his wife, Alice. Together they begin to tell people about the needs of persons affected by leprosy. They established ‘The Mission to Lepers’, which we now call, ‘The Leprosy Mission’. With the help of Charlotte Pim, they promised to raise £30 a year. In the first year, they raise £600.

1880-90s – The Mission gave grants to other missions, so they would care for persons affected by leprosy. Beyond this, the Mission opened its own homes and hospitals.

Wellesley visited Burma to open the first Mission home outside India. At this stage, most of the income came from Ireland, Scotland, and England. Wellesley toured the USA and Canada to raise support there too.

1900-10s – Interest in the work grew and the Baileys travelled to China, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore, visiting projects, raising awareness of leprosy and asking for support. By the time Wellesley retired in 1917, the Mission had 87 programmes in 12 countries with support offices in eight countries. The annual income had risen from £5,000 to £40,000.

1920-30s – The Mission started early experiments with a treatment using chaulmoogra oil: injections were painful and only a few were cured, but this was progress. Once only able to offer refuge and a longterm caring home, TLM began to develop into a medical mission. The Mission added a further aim to its vision statement: to aid in the attempt to eradicate leprosy.

1940-50s - Mission doctors began experimenting with a new drug, dapsone. It became the first effective cure, and sent many patients home symptom free. This revolutionised leprosy work. Dr Paul Brand pioneered life-changing reconstructive surgery to correct leprosy-related disabilities.

1960-70s - In 1965 The Mission to Lepers changed its name to The Leprosy Mission, to avoid the negative connotations of the word ‘leper’. By 1974, The Leprosy Mission’s centenary year, TLM had 30 of its own hospitals and leprosy centres, most of them in India. It also supported 90 different Christian societies and missions working in more than 30 countries.

1980-90s - In 1981, the WHO recommended a new antibiotic treatment for leprosy – MultiDrug Therapy (MDT). People were cured in as little as six months. TLM implemented MTD programmes, involving a major deployment of staff and finance, with dramatic effect. From the late 1980s, under the theme ‘care after cure’, The Leprosy Mission rapidly increased its programme of social, economic and physical rehabilitation.

2000s – Around 200,000 cases of leprosy are diagnosed each year, down from a peak of more than 1 million. Our fight is now to end the transmission of leprosy by 2035. It is an ambitious goal, but the last 150 years has shown us that, with God, ambitious is far from impossible.

The future of The Leprosy Mission

Reaching our 2035 goal

Our goal is to end leprosy transmission by 2035. This 150th anniversary is not just about celebrating all that God has done for the Mission to date. This anniversary is about taking the baton from those who have run the race before us and running the final leg with confidence.

We can have confidence because of the innovations that our scientists are working on right now. There are new, field-friendly diagnostic tests that will allow us to diagnose leprosy far faster than ever before. We have antibiotic regimens that prevent the development and spread of leprosy. There are leprosy vaccines that are in development right now.

With the right resources and investment, we have everything we need to run the last leg of this race and reach our goal of a world without leprosy.

The Leprosy Mission after 2035

Although our goal is to end the transmission of leprosy by 2035, our work will not finish in 11 years’ time. We have a duty to care for people whose lifetimes are only just starting. Over the next decade and more there will sadly be many thousands of children who are diagnosed with leprosy. Some will go on to develop disabilities that they will likely live with for the rest of their lives. For as long as those people need our support, our work as a Mission will not be done.

Thank you

We have had 150 years of support from you and people just like you. It has come through gifts of prayer, of time, of words, and of money. We are grateful for all of it. Whether you have been giving these gifts for decades of just a few months, you are a part of the great history and the great future of this Mission, and its goal of ending leprosy.

What does your world free from leprosy look like?

Sudha Rani (pictured with her grandson Arnab) dreams of a world free from leprosy for her children and grandchildren.

We are sure you share this dream too. You can be the one to make this world a reality for future generations. Together we can see a world where every person affected by leprosy is cured, healed and included.

Through a compassionate gift in your Will, your love can make this a reality.

To find out more about leaving a gift in your Will, please contact one of our offices near you (see pages 82-3)

TLM’S GLOBAL FELLOWSHIP

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

Luke 11:13

This year, The Leprosy Mission celebrates 150 years, having been founded in 1874 by an Irishman called Wellesley Bailey (see p.8 for more). Over those 150 years, The Leprosy Mission has taken many forms, but its most recent form is its most equitable one: the Global Fellowship.

The Leprosy Mission is a Global Fellowship of 28 Member and Affiliate countries across the world. Each of these countries has committed to working together as one to defeat leprosy through:

• Upholding our common purpose and identity

• Contributing to the shared life of the Mission

• Strengthening our global unity

• Being mutually accountable

• Observing financial stewardship

Christ’s love was at the heart of the Mission when it was started by Wellesley Bailey 150 years ago and Christ remains at the heart of The Leprosy Mission’s Global Fellowship today. Our global meetings start and end with prayer, each year we host a Global Day of Prayer in May (see inside back page), and we produce this, the ASK Prayer Diary. Crucially, Christ is woven into the heart of our day-to-day operations.

Wherever you are, whatever your connection to The Leprosy Mission, you are a part of our Global Fellowship.

PRAYER POINTS

MON: This year we give thanks for 150 years of blessings. When Wellesley Bailey started this organisation, there was no cure and the disease was poorly understood. Now we can be the generation that ends this ancient disease. For this, we praise God.

TUE: Our 150th anniversary will be marked in a variety of ways across the world. We pray that each will be a blessing to those who take part, we pray that each will bring glory to God, and we pray that this year will not be seen as a pat on the back, but as a springboard to achieving our ultimate aim: an end to leprosy in our lifetime.

WED: You may have noticed that the ASK Diary looks different this year. The Leprosy Mission has undergone a small brand refresh that aims to make us more attractive online. We pray that this refreshed brand will bring new supporters and more funds for the fight to defeat leprosy.

THU: At the end of this year, we are launching a new Global Strategy, which we hope will drive us towards our goal of zero transmission by 2035. May God bless the process of finalising this strategy and grant us success in implementing the strategy from 2025 on.

FRI: Our Global Fellowship is large, but we want the voices of persons affected by leprosy to be central to what we do. May God guide us and make us intentional in this.

SAT: Each year, the climate crisis has an impact on our work, on persons affected by leprosy, and on our teams. Pray for God’s protection on our work, pray that we as an organisation will find ways to limit the damage we cause to the planet, and pray for radical global solutions to the harm that has been done to God’s creation.

SUN: For those of our teams whose daily lives are marred by conflict and injustice, we pray for peace and justice. We pray for God’s protection on our teams and the people we serve.

Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.

Proverbs 16:3

This year is a new and different era for TLMI Bangladesh (TLMIB). Our work is being guided by a new country strategy and our identity as a locally based organisation. The strategy has a clear direction towards achieving zero transmission, zero disability, and zero discrimination through a resilient and researchfriendly organisation. Our strategy is aligned with the national elimination target of zero leprosy by 2030.

The changes will bring new challenges and opportunities, allowing our newly established Board of Trustees to play a major role. We will commit all these changes into God’s hands and ask for a smooth transition for our people, partners and programmes.

DBLM Hospital

DBLM Hospital is located at Nilphamari, in the northern part of Bangladesh. It is a specialised centre that is committed to leprosy complication management. To maintain its quality services as a centre of excellence, DBLM Hospital will look to apply a short, medium and long-term approach to retain and improve expertise related to leprosy and diversified services.

Mr Salomon Sumon Halder - Executive Director, TLMI-Bangladesh

Dr Benedict Alo D’Rozario – Chair, Advisory Board, TLMI-Bangladesh

PRAYER POINTS PRAYER POINTS

MON: Please commit the Bangladesh team in your prayers as they implement the new Country Strategy. May God grant wisdom and success, so that the strategy will ultimately transform lives and defeat leprosy in Bangladesh.

TUE: In 2024, TLMIB aims to transition from an organisation governed by TLM’s International Board to a locally governed organisation - governed by a Board based in Bangladesh. We ask for God’s wisdom and guidance through this transition period. Please pray that the move will allow us to grow our excellent quality of care for persons affected by leprosy.

WED: The new country strategy began in 2023 and its implementation has required a new organisational structure. Pray for the changes that have already taken place and those that are still to take place.

THU: Pray for God’s guidance for DBLM Hospital as it begins its new five-year phase in 2024, which includes the implementation of a business plan to improve services and maximise local-income generation from non-leprosy patients.

FRI: DBLM Hospital has a Hospital Management Information System to enable better services and data management. We seek God’s grace for a successful adaptation and implementation of this system by all the departments that are involved.

SAT: We ask for God’s grace as we face the challenges and settle issues that have emerged because of the new Government Medical College, which is planned for construction beside DBLM Hospital.

SUN: Thanks to funding from Switzerland, we have been able to implement the Learning-360 Project, which gathers data and information from eight projects across Bangladesh using a new database that we hope to extend to all of our projects in due course. Funding ends in December 2024, so pray for success in our application for a second phase of the project from 20252028.

Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High!

Psalm 50: 14-15

TLM Hungary is giving thanks in 2024 for a history of 50 years! Besides celebrating our past, this milestone will be a special opportunity, too, to raise awareness of leprosy and call more Hungarians to support persons affected by leprosy.

Through donations from generous individuals and churches we are able to support TLM’s work in Bangladesh, DR Congo, India, and Myanmar.

MON: Give thanks for the beginnings of TLM in Hungary and for our founder, Rev Károly Dobos (1902-2004), who was inspired by God in 1974 to make an appeal to Hungarian Christians and churches. Through this request for prayer and support for people affected by leprosy, an overseas mission was started in a closed country under Soviet rule!

TUE: The next chapter in TLM Hungary began in 2005, with the structural foundation of the organisation, registration, and fundraising activities. Give thanks for the vision at the time, the understanding of the times, and for those who saw the possibilities for the future.

WED: Until 2012, TLM Hungary was purely volunteer-led. Give thanks for the legion of men and women who gave voluntarily of their hearts, time, work and dedication in the past. Give thanks for those who continue to do so today in so many roles.

THU: Pray today for the operational team: the Country Leader, for her vision and drive; for the volunteers, contractors and all those contributing in so many ways to the work of TLM Hungary.

FRI: TLM Hungary supports TLM programmes in Bangladesh, DR Congo, India and Myanmar. The respectful partnerships between our countries are founded on mutual love for Christ, which fills our supporters with confidence about the destination of their donations. Give thanks for the good collaboration and spiritual cords across TLM countries.

SAT: Pray for the operations and Board of the new Trust that was founded by TLM Hungary in 2022. This is an additional and different way of fundraising as an NGO in Hungary.

SUN: Being a Member of a 150 year old Christian mission is a privilege. Give thanks and pray for continual blessings. The strength of TLM’s Global Fellowship is based on nurturing engagement, pray that TLM Hungary remains fit for the future so that we will be a useful Member of this global family for as long as we are needed.

THE LEPROSY MISSION SHOP

Every year, World Leprosy Day is celebrated on the last Sunday of January. This year, World Leprosy Day will be celebrated on Sunday 28 January. This annual event is an important opportunity to raise awareness of leprosy in so many crucial contexts.

In leprosy endemic countries our teams organise events that bring together communities, organisations of persons affected by leprosy, government representatives, and other key stakeholders to celebrate persons affected by leprosy and raise awareness of the disease.

In other contexts, World Leprosy Day is an opportunity to raise funds for the fight to defeat leprosy. Churches host collections on World Leprosy Day (or on Leprosy Sundays in the surrounding weeks), individuals generously give what they can, and new people hear about leprosy and sign up to learn more.

World Leprosy Day is a crucial moment in our calendar and we hope you’ll join us in whatever way you can this year.

PRAYER POINTS PRAYER POINTS

MON: We start this week with thanks. Every year, so many organisations, partners, and governments join us to mark the day and raise awareness and we are grateful to them and to God.

TUE: Please pray for all the teams across the world who are making their final preparations for World Leprosy Day. May God bless them and grant them energy and wisdom, particularly if they are feeling stressed.

WED: World Leprosy Day has more impact when the voices of persons affected by leprosy are centre-stage. We pray that will be the case this year and that millions of people worldwide will hear those voices.

THU: Online campaigns are a central part of World Leprosy Day. We pray for all our digital teams and all of their efforts. May millions of people around the world be moved to engage with World Leprosy Day online this year.

FRI: We give thanks for all the churches across the world who will speak about leprosy and raise funds for leprosy work because of World Leprosy Day this year. God bless them all!

SAT: Leprosy is a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) and World NTD Day is on 30 January. We pray for a blessing over this important campaign day and pray that leprosy will find space within this. We pray that the two campaign days will dovetail together well, rather than compete for space.

SUN: Today is the big day! We pray for success in all the activities across the world: in churches, in communities, on radio stations, on social media feeds, in hearts and minds. May today be about leprosy and the people who have experienced it; may their stories be heard in dignity and with pride.

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 10:10

The Leprosy Mission Shop exists to transform the lives of people affected by leprosy through being a profitable Christian trading company, which raises awareness and funds for The Leprosy Mission. We achieve this through our mail order catalogues and theleprosymissionshop.com, both of which allow us to engage supporters to buy products, Gifts for Life, and add donations to their orders.

MON: Please pray for our Chair, Stuart Green, and the other Board Directors, who volunteer their professional skills and experience. Especially pray for Amanda, the CEO, and the Board, in the development of a vision for The Leprosy Mission Shop. As they develop this vision they will be asking, where do we want to be in 5-10 years?

TUE: Tuesdays are when we hold our main staff meeting. Please pray for the committed team of eight staff to thrive in their roles. May they be full of creativity, insight and energy so they can achieve their best for people affected by leprosy.

WED: Please pray for the artisans from whom we buy products. Many are disabled or disadvantaged in other ways. Pray that our customers would love these products and buy them, so the artisans can continue to provide a livelihood for themselves and have dignity through work.

THU: Thursdays are our weekly meeting with Elovate, our third-party warehouse in York. Please pray for all the staff there, as they take and fulfil over 50,000 orders a year from our customers. Pray for our Head of Operations and Business Manager, as they work closely with the warehouse to solve logistical challenges.

FRI: Thank God for our generous customers/ supporters. Pray for God’s rich blessing on them, as they “shop for good” to end leprosy.

SAT: Please pray for our Product Managers, as they develop and choose new products, constantly refreshing the ranges of products and finding gifts our customers will love to buy.

SUN: Pray for the Digital Team as they plan email and social media campaigns, that these would be highly effective and attract new donors.

Standing firm in the armour of God

As we look at our world today, values and beliefs are constantly evolving. Many may view The Leprosy Mission’s Christian beliefs and declaration that Jesus is Lord as outdated and unpopular. People may view us as an old organisation, striving to defeat an ancient disease, with what they may perceive as even more unfashionable beliefs. Often the challenges bring pressures that make us feel it is easier to bury our status as Christians away, focusing more on defeating leprosy and bringing about physical transformation. However, transformation of lives cannot occur without Jesus and a desire to see spiritual transformation in ourselves and the people we serve.

Whilst many people find comfort in verses that display God’s love and mercy towards us, I’ve always found the greatest comfort in the image of being equipped and ready for battle. Our fight against leprosy is not only a physical one; there will be tribulations to our spiritual growth and desire for spiritual transformation in those we serve. As I view unsurmountable challenges that I cannot tackle alone, the image in Ephesians 6:13-18 always comes to mind. God has provided us not just with one tool, but many to face these challenges head on. He has given us the belt of truth to guide us to speak boldly and truthfully about Jesus as we work with communities affected by leprosy. We have the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation that gives us assurance that we have an identity in Christ, protecting our hearts and minds against those leading us astray from doing what is right for the people we help. We have shoes to help us stand firmly

planted in our mission. A shield of faith gives confidence of God’s provision for us to help us face the attacks to our faith that may come from our partners or communities we work in.

Finally, we have the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God that holds true in all situations, particularly when we are tempted to make decisions or engage in actions that may appease those around us but tempt us away from our service to God.

And if these are still not enough equipment, God has also given us the power of prayer to ask him for help whenever we feel unable to stand.

Often our work and lives are so busy that we forget to suit up. We think that we can fight with our own strength and we become disenchanted, overwhelmed by the pressures of our work and disillusioned. However, God reminds us to put on our armour daily, to be ready to face spiritual attacks head on, so that in the end we will be left standing firm and victorious alongside those whose lives were spiritually transformed for God through our work. It is an armour worth putting on no matter how unfashionable and unpopular it may appear. I love this image and hope you also find comfort from this in your most challenging times.

Therefore, put on the full amour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground and after you have done everything, to stand.

Ephesians 6: 13

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

Psalm 121

TLM Mozambique works actively to train health workers who help in the process of screening, diagnosing and treating people affected by leprosy. In the area of community development, we aim to make communities self-reliant. In the area of innovation, we have media centres, which are places where community self-care groups meet to discuss and learn about leprosy and other cross-cutting issues. In low resource settings, where TV and internet access are limited, these media centres are places where people can view videos about leprosy, other health topics, and information related to agriculture and anything else

PRAYER POINTS

MON: We want to grow in terms of funding so that we can better serve and support persons affected by leprosy and expand our coverage. Please pray that we will find new and larger sources of funding.

TUE: We want persons affected by leprosy and persons with disabilities to be more active and take the lead in advocating for their rights. Pray that this will happen in 2024.

WED: Please pray for us as we seek to diversify our funding so that we can tackle the needs of persons affected by leprosy through a more holistic approach.

THU: Please pray for our programme in Zambezia, that it will grow and that lives will be transformed and leprosy defeated in this province.

FRI: Give thanks for the media centres that we have set up so far, and pray that the content that we transmit to these centres may be a source of behavioural change that improves the lives of our communities, especially for people affected by leprosy.

SAT: Pray for the safety and security of the region of Cabo Delgado, so that more persons affected by leprosy can have access to better quality services.

SUN: Pray for the advocacy process that aims to involve the government in the leprosy awareness movement in Mozambique. We pray for greater commitment of the government to leprosy work in Mozambique.

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.

TLM seeks to have a strong Global Fellowship and interdependent Members of that Fellowship. The LDP contributes to this purpose by investing in and developing global leaders through a yearlong training programme. Since 2017, 91 individuals have been part of this process, from Country Leaders to middle-management roles. In November 2024, the fifth cohort will finish this global-level programme, which will also signal the end of the LDP in this format.

The future now brings LDP into the heart of TLM’s Member Countries, where it will be known as the LDP-A or, ‘LDP for All’. LDP-A is a programme adapted from the LDP to reach all countries at all levels in their local languages with an approach that is tailored to suit their local needs. The programme is designed to equip staff to become leaders at every level of the organisation. Several Members have begun LDP-A already. It was piloted in DR Congo in 2022 with great success and some Members are running it this year. Leaders at all levels are needed in every TLM Member so that we can achieve a world without leprosy. Through the LDP-A programme, Members will be able to take advantage of opportunities in the present, face the challenges of the future and remain finely attuned to God’s voice and leading.

PRAYER POINTS PRAYER POINTS

MON: This November, a chapter of the LDP closes as the last cohort of the global-level programme completes the course. Thank God for the five previous global workshops, which have trained 91 leaders. Pray for those who are being trained as a part of this final cohort, that they will be steadfast in their commitment to leading well and growing in spiritual maturity.

TUE: Pray for the LDP-A programme (LDP for All), which aims to make the programme accessible to all TLM countries, to meet their unique leadership needs. Pray for the countries running LDP-A this year, that they will seek God’s direction as they tailor the programme to their needs.

WED: Thank God for those who have previously received LDP training and who are now being called upon to lead LDP-A in their countries. Pray that they step into these facilitator and mentoring roles, confident and inspired to make a difference.

THU: Pray for all the external facilitators that made LDP possible, especially remembering past facilitators Stephen Chinnaswamy and Vivek Alberquerque, both of whom have sadly passed away. We pray for their wives, Sandra and Priya, and their children. We pray too for current facilitators, Josephine Kimai, Sang Chanyaputhipong and Chris D’Souza.

FRI: Pray that more TLM countries will consider taking on the LDP-A in their countries, as a form of developing their staff and investing in leadership with Christ at the centre.

SAT: We pray for the team at TLM’s International Office, who facilitate the LDP and LDP-A. We give thanks for how they have shaped the programme and pray for wisdom as they implement LDP-A.

SUN: We pray that TLM’s leaders will always let their work be shaped by Christian compassion. May God’s heart for the most vulnerable be foremost in their thoughts.

REMY’S STORY

Remy is 24 years old and is from DR Congo.

He lives in a small leprosy settlement of just a few houses, built by the government in the 1980s for those affected by leprosy. Remy was born here.

He lives with his parents and two siblings. There are seven brothers and sisters in total, though four live away from home. He’s the second youngest. His father, Fabien, is also affected by leprosy.

Remy finished high school and does various jobs at home – farming cassava, palm oil, and honey. Beekeeping was introduced in this small village in 2011 by TLM, and they are known for selling honey.

It was in 2013 that he got the first symptoms while studying at secondary school.

Since his family were very familiar with leprosy, he was taken straight to the local hospital and diagnosed. “As I was born here, I know the disadvantage of leprosy, and I lost hope. I thought with this, I’ll lose sensitivity and not be able to do anything with my life. I was fearful that it would eventually kill me.” He no longer thinks like this about leprosy, having been educated better.

“After two months my hands became strong again. They’re still strong now.”

“When I started taking MDT (multi drug therapy, the antibiotics that cure leprosy) my skin went darker and dried up. But after two months my hands became strong again. They’re still strong now.”

TLM provided Remy and his father Fabien with beekeeping equipment, in particular the protective jacket, hat and gloves. There are 29 hives in total in the community. Fabien was trained by TLM in beekeeping in 2017. They sell the honey for $5 a litre.

FUNDRAISING

Papua New Guinea

The Leprosy Mission’s team in PNG works in both urban and rural communities. The team reaches these communities through air, land and sea. In order to reach people affected by leprosy, the team travel hours to reach remote villages. They spend days in communities to ensure that people affected by leprosy are detected, referred and treated with accessible treatment.

TLM-PNG works very closely with the PNG Government’s key ministries, other NGOs, and churches. Together they address leprosy and raise awareness of healthy living standards.

Bougainville

TLM New Zealand works in partnership with the Autonomous Bougainville Government and the NZ Aid Programme to implement the Bougainville Healthy Communities Programme (BHCP).

Covering 95 percent of Bougainville’s population, this exemplary preventative health model improves health, hygiene, and governance practices in a communitybased and owned programme. The Leprosy Coordinator ensures a continued focus on detecting, diagnosing, and treating leprosy, despite challenging terrain and limited health infrastructure.

SENIOR TEAMS

Papua New Guinea

Natalie Smith - Country Leader

Larsen Neayambe - Senior Programme Manager

Dorothy Owen - Human Resources and Admin & Logistics Coordinator

Bougainville

Janice Badui- Senior Trainer

Neil Toura - HR and Admin Manager

John Koi - Monitoring and Training Manager

Jasleen Kler - TLMNZ International Programmes Manager

PRAYER POINTS

Bougainville

MON: 2024 is the first year of the new programme cycle (2024-2028) of BHCP.

Thank God for the new funding cycle from New Zealand Aid Programme. Pray the team can embrace the changes within the newly designed programme and that we can continue to achieve positive health outcomes in Bougainville.

TUE: The new phase of BHCP is planning to trial PEP (preventing leprosy through antibiotics) in Bougainville. Pray that this new PEP project will be rolled out in Bougainville with the help of health volunteers and leprosy experts.

WED: Thank God for BHCP’s senior management team, who provide guidance and support to the programme. Pray for good health and protection over them as they often travel to remote locations. Also, pray that they will be able to nurture the Programme’s relationship with the relevant government departments.

Papua New Guinea

THU: Please pray for the Preventative Health & Community Empowerment Programme (PHACE) programme team, who are working in some of the most remote places. Pray for the 45 communities in which the PHACE programme team are working to eliminate leprosy.

FRI: Pray for TLM-PNG’s Mud Crab farm projects, which are working closely with the National Fisheries of Papua New Guinea. Let’s pray for the main farmers, who are faithfully working in order to sustain themselves and their families.

SAT: TLM-PNG is working closely with the PNG Ministry of Health, health facilities, the Department of Provincial and Local Level Government, National Fisheries, and several banking institutions. These are high-level stakeholders, so please pray that we continue positive dialogue and partnerships that lead us to eliminate leprosy and encourage healthy living.

SUN: Prayer for the Senior Management Team, who are providing support to the field-based activities and please give thanks for TLM New Zealand’s continuous support.

The Lord spoke to Moses: “Tell the Israelites to take an offering for me; from every person whose heart makes him willing you are to receive my offering.

“The people are bringing much more than is needed for the service of the work which the Lord commanded us to do.”

Exodus 25:1-2 and 36:5

Akey theme of TLM’s Fundraising Conference in 2023 was ‘love in a tough climate’. The aim? To acknowledge the financial pressure on our supporters, discuss ways to show them the love they deserve from us, and address how tough fundraising had become. These sessions could have been depressing, but instead they were inspiring and full of hope. Why? Because of the examples of the ways in which TLM shows love and care for our supporters. Because our fundraisers are innovating to combat the economic climate. We face challenging times, but the good news is that fundraising is biblical! The above verses from Exodus represent an amazingly successful fundraising campaign. In TLM, we are privileged to fundraise ‘for the service of the work which the Lord has commanded us to do’. This is what our hope and confidence is founded on. Our role is to stay faithful to the Lord’s command for TLM and pray we’ll be blessed with ‘people bringing much more than is needed’ to defeat leprosy and transform lives.

PRAYER POINTS PRAYER POINTS

MON: Thank God for our generous and loyal supporters and pray for His provision of new supporters who will be inspired to defeat leprosy in their lifetime. Pray we will always show our donors Christ-like love, and give them ways to donate that inspire them as individuals.

TUE: Praise God for His faithful provision of funds and resources over the last 150 years, and pray for more, so that we will not only meet, but exceed the ambitious targets of our Global Fellowship strategy.

WED: Pray for innovation and that we will open our hearts and minds to new ways of raising funds and resources. Pray that we will explore and test the recommendations and new ideas from our organisational Fundraising Conference and other events.

THU: Thank God that many governments, institutions, trusts and foundations are committed to giving funds to the poor and marginalised. Pray that these funding sources remain open, and that we find ways of better aligning TLM’s goals to the aims of these organisations, so that many more lives of people affected by leprosy will be transformed by these funds.

FRI: Give thanks that people affected by leprosy generously share their stories and images with us to generate funds and support for others. May God help us to optimise this generosity by better sharing these treasured resources across our Global Fellowship, as this will help TLM save time and money and remit more monies to defeating leprosy.

SAT/SUN: Thank you, Lord, that TLM is founded on prayer and for the partnerships we have with churches. We pray for all those who will be speaking in churches this weekend and that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, many hearts will be stirred to give generously. We also pray for many more opportunities to partner with churches of all denominations.

TIMOR-LESTE

A man with leprosy came to Jesus and begged on his knees, ‘If you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Jesus was filled with compassion and reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately the leprosy left him.

Mark 1:40-42

As the largest, and perhaps the longestrunning leprosy-focussed NGO in India, The Leprosy Mission Trust India (TLMTI) attends to hundreds and thousands of patients every year, trains thousands of young people in different trades, conducts rigorous research on clinical, social, and other aspects of leprosy, and provides training on leprosy. Staying true to its motto—healing, inclusion and dignity of people affected by leprosy, other NTDs and disabilities— TLMTI is heavily invested in generating sustainable livelihoods and empowering underserved communities, especially the ones affected by leprosy.

With God’s guidance, TLMTI has been able to hold the hands of people affected by leprosy during their ailing and uncertain times, not just with treatment, but also with different interventions that make them financially independent. By God’s grace, we continue to reach out to more and more people to reduce leprosy cases and incidences of discrimination.

PRAYER POINTS PRAYER POINTS

MON: Pray for all the new initiatives that TLMTI is pursuing, like the TLM Institute for Health Care and Research, which is starting Physiotherapy and Nursing colleges.

TUE: Pray for all the short-term courses that TLMTI is planning to launch in collaboration with the National Skills Development Corporation in various TLMTI units, which requires investment and teaching staff.

WED: Pray for the new skill development centre that TLMTI is planning in Noida, for which we are seeking affiliation and funding from the National Skills Development Corporation and associated bodies.

THU: Pray that new supporters come forward to fund TLMTI projects and that resources will be available to meet our programme needs.

FRI: Pray that TLMTI can recruit and train specialist doctors so that our centres are able to serve patients better.

SAT: Pray for the staff, that they can comply with frequently changing Indian statutes.

SUN: Pray for the Audit & Risk Management team, that they will continue to evolve and adjust to newer audit techniques to match the changing external environment and associated challenges.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

In 2020, The Leprosy Mission Timor-Leste registered as Misaun Lepra Timor-Leste (ML-TL), a national not for profit organisation. Misaun Lepra Timor-Leste continues to strive to improve leprosy services for the community through its Improved Leprosy Services Project and its Preventative Health and Community Empowerment Project (PHACE).

Misaun Lepra Timor-Leste transitioned from being governed by The Leprosy Mission’s International Board in June 2022 and now has a locally based Board who have full responsibility for the oversight and governance of the organisation.

MON: Pray for Misaun Lepra TimorLeste’s Board. Pray for them as they build relationships with the government and other local and international partners. May this process be a smooth one.

TUE: Thank God for the new Misaun Lepra strategic plan 2023-2027. Pray for God’s guidance for the Chair and Board members and for the teams who will carry out this work. We pray that our targets within the strategic plan will be met.

WED: Pray for the PHACE project, funded by the New Zealand Government through TLM New Zealand. Pray for God’s wisdom for the team as they implement the project in the community.

THU: Pray for the start of the Ending Leprosy Transmission Project in Oecusse, a highly endemic municipality. Pray for the new team in Oecusse; having a new office established there could lead to the sort of impact that will attract the attention of the government and other donors. We pray this may lead to new partnerships on the border with Indonesia.

FRI: Thank God for the two associations of persons affected by leprosy that have been established in Timor-Leste, AELTL and ATLETIL. Pray for their advocacy work, that this will reach more people and ultimately educate people about the early treatment of leprosy and how to prevent disability. We pray that they will raise awareness about the rights of people affected by leprosy.

SAT: Pray for the Executive Director and the staff of Misaun Lepra. We pray for their commitment and that they will be able to bring about change for those who are in need in Timor-Leste. We pray for the health of the team and their families, who always support leprosy work in Timor-Leste.

SUN: Pray for the people we support through our projects. May God’s love and compassion flow through us as we serve them. May God touch their lives, bring healing, and provide the resources they need. May our projects be a source of hope, transformation, and empowerment.

THE NETHERLANDS

At the time of writing (October 2023), things in Sudan are very uncertain. There have been three months of conflict between forces within the military and there are limited signs of this changing. By the time you read this, we can pray that this may have changed, but we cannot know.

During peacetime, our operations in Sudan were based around the Aburoff clinic in Khartoum state, where we treat people affected by leprosy. This work includes seeing patients for the first time, diagnosing them, and starting them on their treatment. This also includes support for patients who need follow-up for complications caused by late diagnosis, such as reactions, wounds, and other complications. Sadly, there are many patients who struggle to access healthcare elsewhere in the country because of a lack of services and stigma surrounding leprosy and they are referred to our clinics in Khartoum instead.

The conflict is so severe that it has put our operations to a complete halt. It is no longer possible for us to reach patients and the clinic has been closed since hostilities began.

PRAYER POINTS

MON: We pray for peace. We pray that any peace in Sudan is lasting and leads to security for all Sudanese people.

TUE: We pray for people who need treatment for leprosy in Sudan. Supplies of multi drug therapy (the antibiotics that cure leprosy) in Sudan stopped when the conflict started. Stopping treatment like this can lead to complications and preventable impairments. Please pray for all these patients. Please pray they will receive the treatment they need soon.

WED: Leprosy reaction is a complication of leprosy that shows itself through acute inflammation and can result in impairments to the eyes, hands and feet. It is the most common cause of disability in leprosy. When in reaction, patients are very ill and need urgent medical care. Due to the conflict in Sudan, it is hard for patients to come to health clinics for assessment and treatment. Pray for safe routes for them to come to the health centres.

THU: Please pray for our team in Sudan, some of whom have escaped Khartoum and fled to other countries and others have sheltered in the city. May God protect them and their families, wherever they are.

FRI: Today we pray for people in Khartoum, particularly our teams and persons affected by leprosy. It is very hard to come by food and other daily essentials in the city. We pray they will be able to find what they need to get through each day.

SAT: We pray for the people who have been displaced because of the conflict. We pray for peace in the hearts of people who have said goodbye to their homes and who do not know where their next steps take them. May God keep them safe, may they find medicine when they need it, may their children find education, and may they one day find home again.

SUN: We pray that, in whatever the postconflict future may look like in Sudan, the nation will receive the support it needs from other countries to rebuild and that the country will leave no one behind in its efforts to create that brighter future.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9

The Leprosy Mission Netherlands (Leprazending Nederland) was founded in the 1980s to support The Leprosy Mission International with funds, prayer and human resources. The office is in Apeldoorn and there are fourteen members of staff, six Board members, ten volunteers, and a number of ambassadors. TLM Netherlands also supports a Dutch cross-cultural worker: Geeske Zijp in Chad.

TLM Netherlands’ vision is to see leprosy and rehabilitation services strengthened and to enable transformation in the lives of people affected by leprosy in India, Bangladesh, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Nepal and Chad. In order to make that possible, TLM Netherlands seeks support from individual donors, churches and trust funds, and organises events to get people involved with the vision and mission of TLM.

PRAYER POINTS PRAYER POINTS

MON: We thank God for our many loyal supporters and also for new supporters. We pray for their motivation and engagement in our mission to eradicate leprosy and serve people affected by leprosy. We pray for God’s blessing over them, as well as those we support.

TUE: We thank God for our wonderful and incredibly motivated volunteers and ambassadors. We are thankful for their time and commitment in working towards zero leprosy. They are vital to our mission and we are grateful for them.

WED: Please pray for the wellbeing and safety of Geeske Zijp and her team in Chad, as they continue their work with people affected by leprosy despite many challenges. Pray for God’s blessing and protection over them.

THU: Please pray for our staff as they work to raise money for, and awareness of, leprosy in the world today. Pray that we may be ambitious and guided by God in everything that we do, so that our work may bear fruit and be a blessing to those affected by leprosy.

FRI: We thank God for our Board members, for their enthusiasm, energy and for their time and commitment. Please pray for wisdom as they fulfil their supervisory role.

SAT: We are thankful for the work we do, and feel blessed that God has given us this task. This year we will decide on a new five-year strategy, in alignment with the new TLM Global Strategy. Please pray for strategic insight and clear choices so that we are able to make a significant difference towards our mission.

SUN: Please pray with us that we will continue to find joy and balance in the tasks set before us. We pray that the Holy Spirit will work through us, so that we may find new ways to involve and engage other people in our mission.

Mr Henno Couprie - TLM Country Leader

Mr Cor van Leeuwen - Team Leader, Administration & Back Office

Mrs Heidi Hoogvliet - Team Leader, Partners, Programmes & Project Funding

Mr Mark van den Berg - Team Leader, Fundraising & Communications

Mr Arnoud de Jong - Chair of Trustees

Do unto others

There have been a few Bible passages that have marked my journey as a follower of Christ. One of the main ones is the one called the Golden Rule.

“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12

I have tried to put this verse into practice. I know that I have failed quite often because of selfishness, lack of patience, and other personal failures.

I do think that quite often I have failed because of ignorance. I did to people what I thought was good for them. I did what I thought was what I would have liked to have been done to me. My intentions were good. The problem was that I did not understand that the reality of some people was fundamentally different to mine. Therefore, whatever I would have wanted to be done to me was totally different to what they really wanted.

How would I have them do to me if I were in their position? The truth is that, in many cases, I don’t know. I don’t have the faintest clue. I’m not a poor woman, living in rural India, affected by leprosy, disability, poverty, with lack of education, proper housing, healthcare, and the list goes on and on.

I’m a middle class, educated man, with no disability and I have basically never lacked anything. I have had the experience of being diagnosed with leprosy and I have heard the testimonies of many persons affected. However, the reality of every person is different.

So, how do I go about treating people with love, respect and dignity and compassion when I don’t know anything about them?

It turns out it’s quite simple, yet not quick and easy. It’s about listening to them. Taking the time to learn what is really going on, what their issues are, what the real needs are and which of them are the most urgent.

As I said, this process is not quick and easy. It takes time and effort. Sometimes we need translation. Sometimes the technology is faulty. Very often the calls take longer than expected. Unexpected questions and issues come up. It may even get uncomfortable because we are talking about issues that really matter with people who experience extreme hardship every day.

I truly believe that this is what Jesus meant. Jesus showed us how to treat people. His approach was unique with every single person (as it continues to be with every single one of us). Jesus takes the time and the effort to understand us, walk with us, comfort us, love us, forgive us, and guide us to a better life.

A little over two years ago my journey as a follower of Christ and the journey of TLM intersected. In my work as the Global Advocacy Lead, I have the unique opportunity of listening to persons affected by leprosy and I give my best to make their voices count where it matters. I appreciate your prayers on this journey.

In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.

Matthew 7:12

NEPAL: Countrywide

Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes

Isaiah 54:2

TLM Nigeria (TLMN) works in collaboration with the Government of Nigeria to support the control of leprosy, Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), and the consequences of these diseases on affected populations in Nigeria.

TLM Nigeria ministers to over 33,850 people living with leprosy and disabilities in various communities spread across 24 States in Nigeria. Nigeria consistently records more than 2,000 new cases of leprosy a year, including children. (New child cases tell us that there is still active transmission of leprosy in Nigeria.)

TLM Nigeria supports the Federal, State, and Local Governments through various interventions in the following areas: leprosy, NTDs, tuberculosis, disabilities, stigma, dermatology, mental health, research, gender mainstreaming, and communications. We also raise funds for our important work while finding new ways to learn more about leprosy through research.

SENIOR STAFF

Dr Sunday Udo - Country Leader

Mr Pius Ogbu Sunday - Head of Programmes & Operations

Mr Obinna Anagboso - Head of Finance

Mr Terver Anyor - Head of Resource Mobilisation

Mrs Orowo Stephen - Head of Human Resource and Administration

PRAYER POINTS PRAYER POINTS

MON: Give thanks to God for the work that TLM Nigeria has been able to accomplish so far in leprosy affected communities in Nigeria, as they strive for more success in their efforts toward achieving zero leprosy in Nigeria.

TUE: 2024 is the fourth year of TLM Nigeria’s 2021–2025 Country Strategy, which is geared towards the collaborative effort of reducing the burden of leprosy in Nigeria. Pray that God will provide the needed resources and networks for the successful implementation of the strategy.

WED: TLM Nigeria implements various projects across several States of Nigeria. Pray that, through these projects, persons and communities affected by leprosy and disabilities would be positively impacted and truly transformed to live life in all its fullness.

THU: TLM Nigeria is made up of dedicated Board members and hardworking and inspired staff. Pray for the TLM Nigeria team, that they will be strengthened, and that grace will abound for them, so they can do even more than their capacity.

FRI: Pray for TLM Nigeria’s resource mobilisation team, that God will give them grace, wisdom, and favour as they continue to explore new partnerships and funding opportunities.

SAT: Many communities in Nigeria have experienced security challenges in the recent past. Pray that, as TLM Nigeria’s staff and volunteers visit the communities, God will continue to protect, and keep them safe from wicked and unreasonable people.

SUN: Nigeria is going through a great deal of economic distress, leading to an increased cost of living for everyone. Pray that God will give Nigeria’s leaders the wisdom to implement the right policies for the good of the people.

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:31

The Leprosy Mission Nepal has been operating in Nepal since 1957. We work in partnership with the Government of Nepal to provide specialist tertiary care and technical support for leprosy activities.

Leprosy Defeated: All our projects are working towards zero transmission, zero disability and zero discrimination with support from the government, our partners and, most importantly, people on the ground. Our field officers and supervisors are doing the hard work at every stage. Our projects include active case finding, multi-drug therapy (MDT, the cure for leprosy) follow up, contact tracing, and training for government health workers. We also work to defeat leprosy stigma and care for those whose mental health and wellbeing is affected by leprosy.

Lives Transformed: Our Community Based Inclusive Development (CBID) projects focus on sustainable livelihoods, education support, creating disability confident employers’ movements, inclusive job portals, and wellbeing, where we attempt to continue the healing process after being released from treatment. We want to create a good life for our clients after leprosy.

MON: Please pray for all TLM Nepal’s projects, as we carry out activities that aim to transform individuals and communities with TLM’s values: Humility, Compassion, Integrity, Justice and Inclusion.

TUE: Please pray for Mr Shovakhar Kandel, Country Director, and his team, as well as TLM Nepal Board Chairman, Mr Ashok Adhikari. They have a huge responsibility in leading the organisation. Pray that God will give them wisdom to make the right decisions for the organisation, decisions which will glorify our Lord.

WED: Please pray for clients and the people working to defeat leprosy in Nepal. Please pray that we can retain leprosy expertise so that we can continue the work to defeat leprosy.

THU: Pray for the students under our Tertiary Student Education Project. Please pray that this project can give the children the skills and confidence they need to secure jobs after graduation. Please pray that the sponsored children may understand the importance of education so that they do not become dropouts.

FRI: It is very important to have mental health integration in all the community work of TLM Nepal. Please pray that this crucial component is addressed in all our activities, so that our beneficiaries can determine how to handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.

SAT/SUN: Some of the projects are coming to an end this year. Please pray that God will provide resources through different channels for the continuation of some of the major projects.

SENIOR TEAM

Mr Shovakhar Kandel - Country Director

Dr Jemish Acharya – Head of Programmes and Learning

Mr Abidan Parajulee – Head of Operations & Finance

Ms Geeta Gyawali – Human Resource Manager

Dr Indra Napit – Project Director, RIGHT Project

Mr Yam Nath Yogi – Project Director, Dignity Project

Mr Bishnu Dhungana – Senior Project Manager, IMPACT

Project

Chanchaga, where he currently receives ulcer care.

Mr Ashok Adhikari – Chairman of TLM Nepal Executive Board

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.

Proverbs 25:2

The Leprosy Mission has a long and wellrespected history of world-class research spanning over 70 years. Our three key research programmes are based in Bangladesh, India and Nepal and we have an emerging research programme in Nigeria. We are proud of our two research laboratories at Anandaban Hospital, Nepal and Delhi, India. Both of these labs collaborate with other laboratories and research institutions across the world.

Our research priorities are:

1. Understanding and preventing transmission

2. Diagnostic tools - to detect leprosy earlier

3. Improving care for leprosy reactions and neuritis

4. Improving the prevention and management of secondary impairments

5. Mental health and stigma

TLM INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH COMMITTEE

Warwick Britton (Chair) - Australia

Paul Saunderson - Norway

Diana Lockwood - UK

Pushpendra Singh – India

David Blok – Netherlands

PRAYER POINTS PRAYER POINTS

MON: Our teams in India and Nepal have found environmental sources of Mycobacterium leprae in the water, the soil and in amoeba in leprosy affected communities. Pray for them as they seek to discover the significance of this for leprosy transmission.

TUE: Our teams in Bangladesh, India and Nepal are working on diagnostic tools to help us detect leprosy earlier. Pray that we find enough contacts of leprosy patients to test the tools on. Thank God for the generosity of the donors who have given to support this work.

WED: The PEP++ study in Bangladesh is testing a new drug regimen for preventing the spread of leprosy among contacts of new leprosy cases. The project experienced many delays in 2023 - pray that the project will continue without hitches in 2024.

THU: Research informs practice - A recently completed NIHR-funded study in India developed self-care guidelines that are being used by programmes in other countries too. Pray for all our research findings to be translated into improved practice.

FRI: Finding researchers who want to work in leprosy is a challenge. Thank God for the young researchers who have joined our teams in Asia and Africa in 2023, and ask God to help us find good scientists for the remaining vacancies.

SAT: Last year, we started building a new laboratory at Anandaban Hospital, Nepal. Pray that it will be completed soon and for a smooth move from the old building to the new. Pray that we find the funds to improve the infrastructure in our other research centres too.

SUN: We can only do the research that we do because of our national and international partners. Thank God for the universities and research organisations that partner with us.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9

TLM Finland is a small team, run by voluntary Board members, with a group of supporters assisting us in mailings and in presenting our work in public events and visits to churches.

We strive to raise awareness of leprosy and the needs of people affected by the disease, as many in Finland believe that the disease has disappeared from the world.

We raise funds to change the lives of people affected by leprosy. We do this by approaching congregations yearly, asking for their support in the form of prayer and church collections, especially in connection with World Leprosy Day.

We keep contact with our supporters by newsletters and a periodical magazine, published both in Finnish and Swedish. We also translate the ASK Prayer Diary into Finnish and send it every month to a group of supporters.

We cooperate with other TLM teams in the Nordic countries, sharing information with the aim of being more effective in our work to help those affected by leprosy and to defeat the disease.

MON: At our annual meeting in 2023, two long-term Board members retired. We thank God for their many years of dedication to TLM Finland. May God bless them as they continue to support our work in other ways.

TUE: Give thanks to God for our new Chair, Ritva Pohti, who continues her long career as the National Leader of TLM Finland. Give thanks also for two new Board members who bring their expertise and experience to our cause. May God guide them and the whole Board so that they will find new, fruitful ways to reach the Finnish public.

WED: Give thanks for the volunteers who give their time and talents to enrich our work. Pray for new, enthusiastic people to engage in the work for people affected by leprosy.

THU: Give thanks for the many faithful donors and supporters in Finland, both individuals and churches, who have supported us year after year. Please pray that we find ways to reach new, dedicated supporters to join our work.

FRI: We have recently launched a revised website. Please pray that it will win the attention of the wider public and attract many new potential supporters, donors, and volunteers who want to join our work.

SAT: Please pray that God will bless our contribution to leprosy work so that it will bring along a change in the lives of the individuals and communities to which it is targeted.

SUN: Give thanks to God for TLM’s Global Fellowship, its Member Countries and all the volunteers, and staff, whatever their duties and wherever they live. Pray that they will feel valued and work in close fellowship with the Lord. Pray also for safety for those traveling in their work.

KEY STAFF

Ms Ritva Pohti – Chair of the Board, National Director

Ms Marja Aho – Vice Chair

Ms Merja Luukkanen – Secretary

KRISHNA’S STORY

Krishna Kumar Mahat is a prosthetics and orthotics technician who has been working at Anandaban Hospital for the past four years.

He says, “I love my job. The satisfaction I get from working here is unparalleled to anything I have experienced in my life.” He adds, “The overall processes of preparing prosthetic limbs is like art.”

Krishna and the other three staff in the department are responsible for making prosthetic limbs for the patients of Anandaban Hospital. They make all kinds of prosthetics from hands, and legs to specially designed shoes for patients. However, the setup, equipment and techniques used in the lab are still traditional and they use the manual technique of preparation for the prosthetics. They hand-make all the prosthetics and it is very time-consuming and requires a lot of physical labour. It has many limitations but they can also tend to each patient’s unique needs because they make everything from scratch.

“The time and effort we put in suddenly feels worth it when we see the patients walking wearing our prosthetics. Their smiles are the major inspiration for us to keep working,”

Krishna says that over time he and his team have developed a great sense of teamwork. He says as the work demands so much patience and discipline and at times can be very stressful, these

“The time and effort we put in suddenly feels worth it when we see the patients walking wearing our prosthetics. ”

experiences have bonded them to form a great team and good rapport among one another.

Krishna and his other colleagues visit the wards to meet the patients who have had surgery and talk to them to make them feel comfortable. Generally, after the surgery is done it takes about three months for the patients to heal. Then after three months when the swelling has subsided and the wounds have healed, they can start helping the patient with the fitting of the prosthetics. Krishna generally monitors such patients and will get updates from the nurses about their conditions. When the time is right he will take measurements and explain to the patients how he will be designing the prosthetics. He talks softly and lovingly with the patients and tries to console them and help them believe that they will be able to walk and do everything they used to do with their new prosthetics.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

Stigma and discrimination against people affected by leprosy create a disabling environment for them, affecting their socioeconomic conditions and their self-esteem. The Leprosy Mission Trust India (TLMTI) identifies, counsels, and supports such individuals so that they can become skilled individuals and develop their own livelihood opportunities. TLMTI customises their interventions according to local needs, focusing on different age groups, genders, and locations.

Besides working towards financial independence, these community projects empower communities to become change agents so that they can raise awareness of leprosy, gender equality, human rights, and inclusion. They build the capacity of SelfHelp Groups, Organisations of Persons with Disabilities, and disaster risk reduction groups. The projects give emphasis to building skills amongst girls and women affected by leprosy.

PRAYER POINTS PRAYER POINTS

MON: Pray that students affected by leprosy who receive educational support and mentoring support will continue with their education. Pray that they develop their full potential and become future leprosy champions.

TUE: Pray that the collectives of people affected by leprosy and other disabilities receive the support they need and that they can become advocates for inclusive development. Pray that they become sustainable models for others in the community.

WED: Pray for the strengthening of the partnerships that we have developed with the government and other local organisations. Pray that this leads to greater awareness, early identification of leprosy cases, and referrals of suspected leprosy cases. Pray that undiagnosed cases of leprosy are detected and referred for treatment.

THU: Pray for God’s protection on all the staff of the community empowerment programme. Pray that they can use what they have learnt through their training effectively. Also, pray for their safety when travelling to difficult-to-reach areas.

FRI: Pray for the communities where programmes are implemented, that they may understand the benefits of inclusive development and extend their full support in including families affected by leprosy in their communities.

SAT: Pray for champions affected by leprosy, that they may become strong advocates and that they may raise their voices to address the stigma and discrimination experienced by those affected by leprosy.

SUN: Pray that the community programmes are effective in bringing about holistic development in the lives of people affected by leprosy so that they are able to experience and enjoy healing, inclusion, and dignity.

TNational

Control Programme, Regional Leprosy Control Departments, CSL Danja Hospital, IDEA-Niger (an association of persons affected by leprosy), and Organisation pour le Développement Inclusif (ODI-Niger).

Our key activities include:

Leprosy services raising awareness of leprosy, active case finding, training and supervision of health workers

Community Development providing grants and micro credit for income-generating activities such as agriculture and business, a housing project for homeless people affected by leprosy, provision of drinkable water, building of ventilated latrines and promoting hygiene to prevent water borne diseases

Support to CSL Danja Hospital: building the capacity of their multi-disciplinary team so they can prevent disability, provide ulcer care and restore hope, dignity and function

Support to IDEA-Niger: through training in advocacy, empowerment and creating community awareness

MON: In 2022, we started a new project called NEMA, which focuses on active case-finding of leprosy in the Maradi region (Nema means ‘looking for’ in the Hausa language). Pray that through the activities of Project NEMA there will be good collaboration with the population so that the search for leprosy cases will be effective and efficient and lives will be transformed.

TUE: Praise God for all the partners who are involved in the implementation of our activities in Niger. This includes CSL Danja Hospital, SIM (an international mission organisation), IDEA-Niger, the Ministry of Health, ODI, and Raoul Follereau. Pray for ongoing good collaboration and understanding between TLM Niger and these partners.

WED: Insecurity remains a big challenge in Niger, especially following the coup in 2023. We pray for God to bring lasting peace to this country. We pray especially for the vulnerable and the poorest communities in Niger, who face the worst consequences of the instability. May God protect them.

THU: Praise God for the recruitment of Dr Raissa Lompo, the new Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, who joined the team in 2022. Pray that the Lord will grant her wisdom and strength, as well as the physical and mental health she needs to do her work.

FRI: Praise God for The Leprosy Mission’s team in Niger and the commitment of each person to the work. Pray that the love of Christ that unites us will continue to grow among us and, beyond that, with all the people we interact with. Pray that we will continue to be good stewards of the resources of TLM.

Iro Sani - Board Chair

Bunmi Oluloto – Country Leader

Ichaya Garba – Head of Finance and Administration

Abdou Yohanna – Head of Programmes and Research

Raissa Lompo - Monitoring & Evaluation Officer

Saratou Barage – Programme Manager, Leprosy Control

Sani Hassan – Project Officer

Abigail Lawali - Office Assistant

SAT: Pray that The Leprosy Mission Niger will continue to grow our capacity across programmes, research, finance management, and HR management so that we can meet the expectations of our donors and partners.

SUN: Pray for wisdom and unity among the TLM Niger Board members. Thank God for their support and commitment to The Leprosy Mission’s work in Niger.

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

Indonesia ranks third in the world for the number of leprosy cases. The Leprosy Mission does not have staff in Indonesia, but works through our partner, Yayasan NLR Indonesia, on three projects on the island of Java. This happens thanks to funds from TLM offices in Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Belgium.

The PEPCOM (Post Exposure Prophylaxis in Community) project (funded by New Zealand) supports the work of the local health facilities in Indramayu, by intensifying case finding, improving leprosy control, providing rifampicin (a preventive antibiotic) to household and social contacts of someone newly diagnosed with leprosy, and strengthening community involvement and empowerment.

Two projects, Leprosy Friendly Villages and the Urban Leprosy Project (both funded by Australia), work towards zero transmission. The Leprosy Friendly Villages project in Kuningan, in rural West Java, works to reduce stigma and discrimination to establish villages who are supportive of leprosy diagnosis and management work. The Urban Leprosy project in Bekasi, works in urban, informal settlements, in a district near Jakarta to increase leprosy diagnosis and management skills in the public and private health sectors.

PRAYER POINTS PRAYER POINTS

MON: Give thanks and praise for the successful completion of the first phase of the PEPCOM project at the end of 2023.

The NLR Indonesia team has worked effectively with local health teams and communities to implement a programme of preventative antibiotics which will reduce leprosy transmission.

TUE: Pray for ongoing success and progress as the PEPCOM project is extended for a further five years (thanks to funding from New Zealand) to further build on intensive contact tracing and community engagement. The aim is that there will be no children with leprosy by 2035.

WED: Pray for the Yayasan NLR Indonesia staff team, Asken, Valen, Dr Teki, Dr Asti, Dr Udeng, Yasmin, Lia, Pajri, Robi, Paulan and Toman as they establish relationships with the district governments. Pray that the governments will be motivated to collaborate with the team to establish sustainable leprosy control programmes.

THU: Pray that village leaders and key influential people will be open to working with our project staff to change the stigma and discriminatory beliefs against people affected by leprosy in their villages.

FRI: Pray that public and private medical staff will be willing to learn and implement what they have learnt from our teams to increase the quality of leprosy diagnosis and treatment in the urban areas of Indonesia.

SAT/SUN: Give thanks for our partnership with our ILEP partner, NLR. Their work is instrumental to defeating leprosy in Indonesia. We pray a blessing on their teams in Indonesia and across the world.

The Leprosy Mission’s International Office is a team of a little over 20 people who work to serve our national offices across the world by leading, inspiring, facilitating, and enabling them to defeat leprosy and transform lives.

The International Office provides global support to TLM Members across the world in the areas of HR, finance, programmes, monitoring and evaluation, safeguarding, communications, advocacy, research, fundraising, innovation, and IT.

We are based in Brentford in London; however, we have remote team members across the world, in Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia. Even across these distances, the team meets daily to pray together and listen to the Lord.

The International Board of Trustees, who provide leadership and direction for The Leprosy Mission globally, governs the International team and also Member Countries without a locally based Board.

MON: In 2023, new colleagues joined our team. Some of these new team members are primarily based overseas, so we ask you to pray for them all as they settle in to life at The Leprosy Mission, that they will feel an integral part of what we do.

TUE: The International Office is facilitating the development of our new global strategy. This document will guide our work in the years to come, so we pray that God will be present throughout this process and clothe it with His heavenly wisdom.

WED: Every Wednesday, we gather in the morning for a team meeting, which is followed by a time of prayer. Pray for God’s blessing over that time today and all the other Wednesdays this year, that our words will be wise and this time well spent.

THU: At the end of this year, all of The Leprosy Mission’s national teams will be together in New Delhi to celebrate 150 years of TLM and to take part in important meetings in the life of the Mission. Our team will be responsible for organising many elements of these meetings and so we ask for God’s blessing on this.

FRI: International travel is a regular part of our work and we ask God to keep us safe throughout our travels. We remain conscious of how our travel affects the planet, so we pray that all of our trips prove fruitful and contribute towards our goal of zero leprosy.

SAT: Safeguarding prevention and case management at the global level, as well as capacity building of our teams across the world, is an important part of what the International Office offers Members. Please pray for protection, direction, and wisdom as we work towards a safer environment for all.

SENIOR TEAM

Brent Morgan – International Director

Clara Volpi – Head of Operations Support

Jannine Ebenso – Head of Quality Assurance

Jo-Anne Thomson – Head of Fundraising Development

Damaris Villanueva – Head of People & Safeguarding

Gladstone Worthington – Head of Finance

Colin Osborne – Chair of Trustees

SUN: Lastly, the International Office is responsible for producing the ASK Prayer Diary. Work starts on ASK around June of each year, so please pray for the team as they undertake this. May preparations for ASK 2025 run smoothly and may the finished product be a blessing.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Matthew 7: 7-8

Under the impetus of Dr Pierre Toureille and Rev Silvano Perotti, TLM Belgium was established in 1972 as a Belgian bilingual charity.

Although the Protestant evangelical communities in Belgium account for less than 2 percent of the population, TLM Belgium manages to be active with volunteers only, to reach both the Dutch-speaking communities in Flanders and Brussels, and the French-speaking community in Brussels and Wallonia.

TLM Belgium is very grateful that one of its Board members has over 10 years of handson experience as the assistant-director of the largest leprosy hospital in DR Congo back in the 1980s and 1990s.

TLM Belgium produces several publications with great support from TLM’s International Office and other TLM countries, including TLM France, TLM Netherlands and TLM Switzerland. We endeavour to reach new supporters and find new active and dedicated volunteers by increasing the number of church visits to make the work of TLM better known in Belgium.

PRAYER POINTS

MON: Give thanks to the Lord that we can work with so many countries to help persons affected by leprosy to be healed and live a life in dignity, whether through medical care, advocacy, guidance, or education.

TUE: Pray for more active and dedicated volunteers to help raise awareness of leprosy. We pray these volunteers can provide support for new and effective ways of fundraising so that our supporters can become and remain more interested in leprosy work and be generous with their donations.

WED: Pray for active and dedicated volunteers who can provide digital support for the website and social media.

THU: Several Board members of TLM Belgium have been serving TLM Belgium for decades and many of them are over 65. Pray that, God willing, active and dedicated new members may join and add more dynamism and digital expertise to the team of TLM Belgium.

FRI: Give thanks for the amazing dedication and expertise of the treasurer of TLM Belgium. Mrs Renée SimonsHugaerts has been serving in this duty for well over thirty years now. Pray that the Lord will continue to bless her with continued good health.

SAT: Several donors prefer to donate more by receiving an annual tax certificate for their donations of the past year, enabling them to recover 45 percent of their total annual donations through their income tax declaration. Give thanks for our continued good cooperation with Protestant Solidarity, who provide such tax certificates.

TLM BELGIUM BOARD

Chair - Francis Van De Walle

Vice-Chair - Marijke Sajet

Country Leader - Paulin Songolea Bakalania

Treasurer - Renée Simons-Hugaerts

Secretary - Norbert Ngila Bampunga

Trustee - Irène Masika Katselewa

Trustee - Rev. Tünde Boelens-Csákány

SUN: Give thanks and praise the Lord for the many faithful supporters, donors, volunteers, members and Board members of TLM Belgium. Pray for good health for each of them, as some may feel weakened by health issues or old age.

BANGLADESH: Community Based Rehabilitation Programme & Advocacy

T

he community based rehabilitation programme aims to improve quality of life for people affected by leprosy. Projects under this programme work with members of self-help groups (SHGs) so that these groups can function sustainably and support their members with their livelihoods through income generating activities. The groups also serve an advocacy function, acting as a powerful lobby to ensure social and legal rights.

TLMI Bangladesh supports 1,744 SHGs and 120 Federations (umbrella organisations for the SHGs) across the country. One of the aims of this work is to improve the leadership and advocacy of persons affected by leprosy within the groups. ALO is Bangladesh’s leading organisation of persons affected by leprosy and they provide leadership and support for these SHGs, as well. All of these connections also look to create sustainable links with the government’s safety net, training, and grants programmes.

Advocacy and partnerships are crucial for mainstreaming leprosy policy and establishing sustainable organisations of persons affected by leprosy. Our advocacy focuses on bringing changes to the health system, social inclusion, and ensuring rights for persons affected by leprosy. We collaborate with 10 local NGOs, tea gardens, and Bangladeshi educational institutions, who help us with research and support. Our advocacy initiatives aim to ensure effective implementation of the government’s leprosy strategy across the country.

PRAYER POINTS

MON: Praise the Lord that 22 churches have been supporting child development through the Child Education Project.

TUE: Pray for the North-West Bangladesh Ultra Poverty Initiative Project, which works with persons with disability and persons affected by leprosy and lymphatic filariasis to improve their livelihoods through community based vocational training. We pray the project will continue to transform the lives of some of Bangladesh’s most vulnerable people.

WED: The Hagar Project is working with women affected by leprosy and other destitute women to reintegrate them into their own community. We pray that we will have the funds we need to ensure a quality and safe stay for all women who stay at the Hagar Centre.

THU: TLMI Bangladesh has contributed to the government’s national leprosy strategy. Please pray for initiatives to implement this strategy, specifically for more resources for active case finding, capacity building and research.

FRI: We pray for divine wisdom and discernment as we engage in advocacy work through the AEP Project to bring about positive change for people affected by leprosy and their communities.

SAT: Pray that our projects can help communities to become more resilient and that the self-help groups we support will become sustainable enough to overcome the challenges of the years ahead.

SUN: Thank God that five local NGOs are committed to work in partnership with us in the Chattogram Hill Tracts.

SENIOR STAFF

Mr Noel Manna Day - Finance Manager, Community Programme

Mr Ambor Chism - Project Manager, NUPIP

Mrs Kalpona Kispotta - Project Manager, Hagar

Mrs Lovely Probhati Mrong - Project Manager, Dhaka CBR Project

Zoom

Mrs Masuma Parvin - Project Manager, AEP Project

If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

When we speak about our global voice, we are speaking about our work to hold governments and decision-makers accountable to their commitments to end leprosy and uphold the rights of those affected by the disease. This is something we do in partnership with organisations of persons affected by leprosy at the international, national, and local level.

Self-advocates are a central part of our advocacy work. We train people who have lived experience of leprosy to speak on behalf of themselves and their communities and work with them to access opportunities for their voices to be heard within corridors of power.

This self-advocacy happens regularly at the local level and increasingly at the national level, as well. In recent years we have also been growing opportunities for leading self-advocates to speak at international events.

Global voice also means ensuring that the voices of persons affected by leprosy are heard within The Leprosy Mission as decisions are made and strategies formulated to guide our work.

PRAYER POINTS PRAYER POINTS

MON: May the voices of persons affected by leprosy always find space to be heard within The Leprosy Mission. May our leaders listen with grace and may decisions be made based on the needs and wishes of the people we serve.

TUE: We pray for our partnership with organisations of persons affected by leprosy. We pray that these partnerships will go from strength to strength in the years to come and that these partnerships will ultimately bless the grassroots communities we all aim to serve.

WED: We give thanks for the opportunities that we have to speak at major international events, like the UN’s disability conference. Last year, Ana Ivonia (pictured), a young woman from Timor Leste, spoke at the conference in New York and received a huge round of applause from the gathered delegates. May these speaking opportunities raise the profile of leprosy and prepare the ground for fruitful partnerships with governments and other partners.

THU: We give thanks for all the governments that work with us so productively; may these partnerships continue to bring transformation to communities and an end to leprosy.

FRI: May God be with those who speak up on behalf of their communities. It takes courage to speak truth to power and it is not always without risk.

SAT: We cannot achieve an end to leprosy transmission and true healing and dignity for all persons affected by leprosy if we do not have the ongoing engagement and commitment of governments. Please pray for those of our teams who engage with governments, that God will guide their words.

SUN: Across the world, there are laws that discriminate explicitly against people who have been diagnosed with leprosy. Each of these laws is an injustice and we pray for those teams who are working to repeal them – may their efforts find success.

The Leprosy Mission in Denmark is amid an exciting time, where we focus on strengthening our own organisational capacity and that of our implementing partner countries to facilitate the transition from project to project funding to more stable long-term public programme funding.

The strategic and analytical approach to this process is strengthening our co-operation with implementing partners, further improving our reputation amongst institutional donors and promoting a stronger affiliation with the Global Fellowship.

The mission, vision, and values of The Leprosy Mission’s Global Fellowship, together with transparent project ratification processes, clear policies, and generous support from TLM International staff members is strongly supporting TLM Denmark’s strategic objectives.

We will focus our project support on early diagnosis and treatment, female leadership, vocational training, resilient communities, and empowerment of people affected by leprosy to advocate for their rights and live dignified lives.

MON: Pray that our support to the Vocational Training Centre in Faizabad, India will equip young women and men affected by leprosy and disability to enter the labour market, becoming respected and self-sufficient contributors to sustainable economic growth.

TUE: Pray that our support to the women’s crisis centre in Hagar, Bangladesh will secure the protection of women affected by leprosy from domestic violence and discrimination and promote justice.

WED: Pray that our cross-cutting focus on strengthening female leadership in the projects we support with partners in implementing countries will lead to increased equality and respect between men and women.

THU: Pray that our decade-long support (alongside other TLM countries) for DBLM Hospital in Nilphamari, Bangladesh will ensure relevant and updated health services for people affected by leprosy. Pray that the hospital will continue to be positioned as a research centre of excellence.

FRI: Pray that our concerted efforts to develop our own organisational capacity and that of our partnerships with implementing countries will facilitate longterm public funding.

SAT: Pray that The Leprosy Mission’s Nordic Hub will develop even more efficient collaborations across our Nordic countries and become a role model for similar regional endeavours between TLM countries.

SUN: Pray that God will guide The Leprosy Mission’s Fellowship in the development and implementation of a new Global Strategy to support our way towards zero leprosy, zero disability and zero discrimination.

Chairman of the Board: Jørgen Andersen Country Leader: Hans-Jørgen Knudsen

God is faithful

Ana Ivonia was one of the stars of 2023. A young woman from a small town in TimorLeste, she travelled across the world to New York so she could stand in front of world leaders and diplomats at the United Nations.

With gritty determination and through bitter tears, she told them of the pain of leprosy discrimination and the desire of millions of persons affected by leprosy to see their rights achieved through the UN’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability. This is her story of illness, discrimination, determination, success – and how Christ has been with her throughout.

Iwas born in 2000 in the Municipality of Baucau in Timor-Leste. I’m the fourth child of two brothers and four sisters. My parents are Moises Vital and Aurelia Filipe and they raised me in a loving environment. However, in 2019, The Leprosy Mission and the government’s National Leprosy Programme diagnosed me with leprosy.

Upon confirmation of my condition, I faced a lot of discrimination from my neighbours solely due to my leprosy diagnosis. Unfortunately, there were misconceptions surrounding leprosy, with people considering it a severe and divine punishment.

Despite these challenges, I diligently followed the recommended treatment that the doctors prescribed. The treatment required me to take medication for one year, during which time I experienced strong reactions, including changes to my skin and damage to my hands.

Fortunately, with the support and care of doctors from The Leprosy Mission Timor-Leste and the health workers at Baucau Health Centre, I successfully recovered from my poor

health. My parents played a crucial role in my journey to recovery, providing unwavering support throughout the process.

Following my recovery, I received an opportunity to join The Leprosy Mission TimorLeste’s administrative services team as a volunteer. Now I support an association of individuals affected by leprosy.

During my time working with TLM, I was granted the opportunity to pursue a degree in Public Health at Universidade da Paz. This chance to further my education was a significant milestone in my life, allowing me to contribute to the well-being of my community and those affected by leprosy.

In June 2023, I received another incredible opportunity. The United Nations selected me to represent women affected by leprosy at their annual disability rights conference (the CRPD Conference) at their Headquarters in New York. This opportunity filled me with immense joy and gratitude.

Confident in my abilities, I was determined to represent the voices of individuals affected by leprosy and persons with disabilities in Timor-Leste, advocating for their rights at the conference. At the conference I told my story and called for persons affected by leprosy to be included in the wider disability movement. My speech received a huge round of applause from the delegates.

My journey showcases my resilience in overcoming adversity and my dedication to making a positive impact in the lives of those affected by leprosy and disabilities. In all of this, I am grateful to God and I feel this is summed up by 1 Corinthians 10:13.

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

1 Corinthians 10:13

Read Ivonia’s speech at the UN and watch as she delivers that to world leaders

And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

Exodus 14:13-14

TLM Myanmar works to achieve zero leprosy transmission and ensure people with disabilities and persons affected by leprosy can participate in and influence Myanmar’s society. Work takes place in Yangon, Taungoo, Mandalay, Sittwe, and Pakokku. Our leprosy activities are possible through strong partnerships with people across Myanmar.

Our work takes lots of forms. We aim to improve leprosy knowledge and capacity. We want to ensure cases are detected earlier, empower people to advocate for themselves, and reduce barriers in society. We provide assistive devices that are difficult to find within the local healthcare system, coordinate with different donors and stakeholders, and improve referral mechanisms to specialist hospitals.

We partner with the Mawlamyine Christian Leprosy Hospital to deliver quality medical care and rehabilitation services. We also partner with the Christian Leprosy Mission Eastern Shan and churches so that we can reach remote regions and support more people affected by leprosy through their networks.

Dr Zaw Moe Aung – TLM Country Leader

Ms Naw Tin Tin Mar – Head of Programmes

Ms Kalayar Tun – Finance Manager

Ms Naw Say Say Phaw – Human Resource Manager

Dr Hla Hla Aye – TLM Myanmar Board Chair

PRAYER POINTS PRAYER POINTS

MON: Pray for the political situation in Myanmar. Pray for the release of political prisoners and an end to the conflict. Pray that Internally Displaced persons can return to their homes to live peacefully. Pray for order, justice, and peace.

TUE: Pray for TLM Myanmar staff, as they commit to serving the community. Pray for their safety while they provide services in hard-to-reach areas, that they will be protected from violence and harm amidst the country’s political instability. Pray that leprosy experts will remain committed to reaching out to places where the need is great and that we will find ways to reach those places.

WED: Please pray for our partners at Mawlamyine Christian Leprosy Hospital, particularly those who are responsible for reforming the governance and management structures there. Their aim is that these reforms will make them a stronger, more community-based medical centre. We pray that these aims will be achieved.

THU: TLM Myanmar’s work focuses on improving access to quality leprosy and disability services through three orthopaedic and disability rehabilitation centres in Taungoo, Sittwe and Pakokku. Please pray for the provision of prostheses and orthopaedic shoes for these workshops.

FRI: TLM Myanmar is partnering with an increasing number of mainstream organisations so that their teams can receive training on how to be inclusive of disability in their day to day work. Please pray that this will ensure leprosy and disability inclusion into their services.

SAT: The country office team is planning to move to a new office space in Sanchaung Township in Yangon after 15 years in its current office. Give thanks for the landlady who has served us like family over so many years and pray for a smooth transition to the new space.

SUN: Please pray for MAPAL (Myanmar Association of Persons Affected by Leprosy). May God raise up the members of MAPAL so they can speak up for their rights. May God bless their work to make that possible.

Leprosy primarily affects countries in Asia, Africa, and South America. The Leprosy Mission is working in a number of the countries in Asia and Africa where leprosy is most commonly found (see p.84 for a map of where we work). This week we are praying for those countries where leprosy remains a serious issue but that you will not hear about throughout the rest of the ASK Prayer Diary, because The Leprosy Mission is not working there directly.

The World Health Organization (WHO) lists 23 countries that it has designated ‘priority countries’ for leprosy. The Leprosy Mission is present in 12 of those countries, while our ILEP partners (p.62) work to defeat leprosy in the remaining 11.

Those 11 countries are Angola, Brazil, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Madagascar, Micronesia, The Philippines, Somalia, South Sudan, and Tanzania. Of these countries, Brazil has the most cases, accounting for the second largest number in the world (roughly 27,000 cases per year, according to pre-pandemic data).

Join us as we pray for these countries, the people affected by leprosy who are fighting for their rights, and for our partners who are working to end leprosy.

MON: We start our week praying for the national Hansen’s Disease programme in Brazil, where leprosy is known as Hansen’s Disease. May this programme succeed in bringing an end to transmission. We pray for MORHAN (Movimento de Reintegração das Pessoas Atingidas pela Hanseníase), the organisation of persons affected by Hansen’s Disease in Brazil. May God guide their leaders and open doors to success.

TUE: Father, we pray for organisations of persons affected by leprosy in countries across the world, but particularly in the leprosy priority countries, where the burden of leprosy is so high. May the leaders of these organisations find wisdom and strength to speak truth to power and to continue to grow their operations.

WED: Of the 11 priority countries where TLM does not have a presence, seven are in the Africa region. Several face the challenge of being Fragile States, tackling poor infrastructure due to many years of conflict and political instability. Pray for the national programmes in these African countries and the WHO and ILEP staff that support them.

THU: We pray for teams that are working to defeat leprosy across South America. May they work well together and find strong regional collaborations. We pray for leprosy transmission to decline on that continent.

FRI: Today we pray for the World Health Organization’s Global Leprosy Programme and the team at WHO South–East Asia that oversees it. We pray this team will receive the resources they need to do their work and they will receive the cooperation they need from governments across the world.

SAT: The Leprosy Mission used to support activities in South Sudan, but was forced to stop due to insecurity. Pray for peace in South Sudan, Sudan and many other leprosyaffected countries where conflict hampers the efforts of the national leprosy programme.

SUN: For many years, The Leprosy Mission supported the Community Health and Education Programme (CHEP) in Tanzania. Pray for the Diocese of Dodoma as they continue with their work to defeat leprosy in Tanzania.

ETHIOPIA

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; loving devotion and faithfulness go before you.

Psalm 89:14

The TLM France team primarily focuses on a Christian audience. We firmly believe that churches are particularly receptive to the cause of people affected by leprosy. Our objective is to inform and mobilise the French public effectively so that they will contribute to the elimination of this disease.

Comprising two part-time staff members and dedicated volunteers, our team’s main priority is to optimise our communications channels, including our website (missionlepre.org) and social media platforms.

However, we have noticed that there are now fewer invitations to speak in churches than previously. Despite this, we persevere in our efforts to raise awareness about the plight of people affected by leprosy. We participate in exhibitions to share our work and goals and gather funds to support our initiatives.

PRAYER POINTS

MON: Let us pray for France, which remains even more divided after the riots during the summer of 2023.

TUE: In this period, when many people can be distracted by various temptations, let us pray that they discover the taste of commitment to noble causes, such as that of The Leprosy Mission.

WED: Let us pray that younger generations take an interest in the work of TLM and are willing to help us spread the message on behalf of those affected by leprosy.

THU: Thank you, Lord, for the excellent collaboration within TLM’s newly established Francophone Hub, which is comprised of teams from Belgium, France, Sweden, and now Switzerland.

FRI: Please pray for the staff, Board members, and volunteers of TLM France as they visit churches to present the work of TLM. Pray that these visits are successful and attract new support.

SAT/SUN: Let us pray for the fruitful participation of TLM France in various events and that they lead to interesting connections.

Président - Théo Reiss

Directeur - Pascal Machefer

Secrétaire - Carine Fotso

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

The Leprosy Mission International Ethiopia partners with the Ethiopian government, the Ethiopian National Association of Persons Affected by Leprosy (ENAPAL), the Ethiopian Centre for Disability Development (ECDD) and other NGOs. Together we are working on a comprehensive model of leprosy control through strengthening health systems and community ownership. This includes increasing resilience in women and men with impairments, as well as those from other marginalised groups. We have increased our lobby and advocacy efforts so that persons affected by leprosy and persons with disability will have their voices heard and there will be better inclusion in Ethiopia.

PRAYER POINTS

MON: Pray for the successful implementation of TLMI Ethiopia’s five-year Country Strategy (2023-2027)

TUE: Pray for the project that we are running in Ethiopia to have a tangible impact on leprosy prevention through early case detection, new case finding activities, and increasing dignity for person affected by leprosy.

WED: Pray for our network of partnerships with our key stakeholders, particularly in the government and amongst other NGOs. May these partnerships be strengthened and ultimately be a blessing to the communities we serve.

THU: Pray that we will be able to secure the funds we need to implement the work that is included within the multiyear strategic plan.

FRI: Please pray for God’s assistance as we endeavour to encourage Ethiopian decision-makers, particularly the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Social Affairs, to make leprosy initiatives a priority.

SAT/SUN: Please pray for persons affected by leprosy who are receiving treatment at the rehabilitation centres and hospitals. We pray for swift recoveries.

Mrs Beletshachew Tadesse - Country Representative

Mr Berihun Legesse - Admin and Finance officer

Mr Fiseha Endale - Programme Manager

Mr Solomon Getahun - Programme Coordinator

Mrs Abebesh Lemma - Admin and Finance Assistant

Mr Natnael Mesfin - Project Coordinator

Mr Gudeta Ayele – Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning Officer

Mr Gizachew Tebikew - Zonal Project Coordinator

ASHOK’S STORY

Ashok is from Kottai village. He was diagnosed with leprosy in 2005 in a government hospital before being referred to The Leprosy Mission’s hospital in Vadathorasalur. He began his treatment and started to get better.

After his treatment, he was offered a place to study at the Vocational Training Centre (VTC) nearby. He was interested in automobile mechanics training and so that’s the course he chose. He says, “I joined because I was provided an opportunity and it was the best decision I had ever made. The VTC changed my life.” He adds, “The teachers at the VTC first helped me to have a positive mindset and attitude. Then they provided me with proper training and education. This combination has helped me.” He says the facilities, from the medical support to the hostel, from the food to the teachers, were all amazing. They taught him life skills alongside his course. He says, “I have very fond memories of that place and I am truly grateful.” He graduated in 2011 and got a job very quickly.

He is working as a lorry driver in a good company with a good salary. His hours are 8am to 6pm. He says, “If I didn’t have the opportunity to train through TLM I would likely have ended up in construction work as a daily labourer. It’s because of TLM that my life is so different, and I am very happy.”

He says, “At the TLM hospital I had treatment for another two years. I’m now

“Don’t feel bad about yourself. If anyone mocks you because of your disease, don’t worry about them. Go on, take your treatment. It is curable, this disease.”

cured but there is a recurrent wound on my foot. If it becomes untreatable at home, I can get treatment at the hospital.”

But he says his foot doesn’t affect his work or his personal life. He added, “Don’t feel bad about yourself. If anyone mocks you because of your disease, don’t worry about them. Go on, take your treatment. It is curable, this disease. Be happy, don’t worry about other people and what they think of you.” He says his goal is to spread the word about the VTC to others who are affected by leprosy so that they can get a second chance in life, as he did.

SRI LANKA

We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.

The Leprosy Mission Great Britain family is spread far and wide across England, Scotland, Wales, The Channel Islands and The Isle of Man. We support ten countries across Africa and Asia, working together to design, implement and fund projects which transform communities affected by leprosy.

Christ is at the centre of everything we do. We meet every morning to seek God’s leading in our work. We also pray for people affected by leprosy and our wider family of faithful supporters, volunteers and colleagues overseas.

Peter Waddup - CEO

Sian Arulanantham - Head of Programmes and Policy

Arminda O’Reilly - Head of HR

Louise Timmins - Head of Fundraising and Communications

PRAYER POINTS PRAYER POINTS

MON: Give thanks that Christ is at the centre of our work. Pray that He continues to draw close to the team, inspiring, guiding and opening doors. Praise Him that He is Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides and pray that we never forget to exalt His name.

TUE: Pray for our small Supporter Relations team, as they take telephone calls from supporters. May God give them His words as they pray for people in times of personal need. Pray that the Lord will use them to honour supporters who give so faithfully to help people affected by leprosy.

WED: Pray for our Policy Officer as she works to influence decision-makers to increase the prioritisation of leprosy in government programmes. Pray that the UK Government reinstates its commitment to spending 0.7% of our national income on aid.

THU: Pray that, together with field partners, we design projects that meet the needs of people affected by leprosy. May God provide wisdom so that we present funding applications in a compelling way, approach the correct donors, and ultimately receive the funding we need to defeat leprosy and transform lives.

FRI: Pray that everything we do points people to Jesus. May staff be protected as they serve as Jesus’ hands and feet, and have opportunities to share His love. We pray that many would come to know the Living God.

SAT: Pray for research work across the globe. Ask that God will lead us to develop an early diagnostic test for leprosy that will be a successful tool in ending transmission of this disease.

SUN: Give thanks for the love and compassion of supporters. This amazing group of faithful people make the work of The Leprosy Mission happen through prayer and giving. Despite the cost of living crisis, their commitment to people affected by leprosy is unfaltering. Please pray that God blesses them as they bless others.

Despite turmoil in recent years, TLM has continued to serve persons affected by leprosy in Sri Lanka. TLM is supporting an exciting new project which combines the efforts of the government with our partner organisations: the Alliance Development Trust (ADT), Kaveri Kala Manram (KKM) and the Leprosy Association of Sri Lanka. Together they are working to increase the early detection of new cases of leprosy and improve services to people affected by leprosy. Church leaders support this by mobilising Christians and other faith communities to join these efforts through promoting inclusion, raising awareness, and helping to identify new cases.

In addition, TLM is supporting people affected by leprosy to support themselves through the work of the Leprosy Association with peer counselling and livelihood development. They offer support with ensuring community members know how to obtain the benefits and rights they are owed by the government and look to bless the wider community through their seed banks, leprosy awareness raising, and training on improved nutrition at low cost.

TLM is also supporting KKM to help people affected by leprosy respond to the increasing threats from climate change and disasters.

MON: There are very high numbers of children being diagnosed with leprosy in Sri Lanka. Pray that we can find these cases early, so they can be cured and have a future without disability.

TUE: Pray for continued good relationships with district and regional Ministry of Health officers. Together we develop district and regional Leprosy Action Plans to improve early detection of leprosy cases and secure better treatment.

WED: Pray for the continued growth of the Leprosy People’s Association of Sri Lanka as it works to assist both its members as well as the wider community in improving their inner wellbeing and food security.

THU: Thank God for the faithful service of church leaders, who have mobilised their congregations as well as leaders from other faiths to raise awareness of leprosy, reduce stigma, give practical support, and find new cases of leprosy.

FRI: People affected by leprosy in Sri Lanka who are mostly farmers or fishermen are being hit hard by climate change. Pray for new initiatives to support them to adapt to the changing seasonal patterns and increased disasters they now face.

SAT: Pray for the success of a new project that brings together many stakeholders including Government officers, people affected by leprosy, TLM and its partners KKM and ADT to detect the many hidden leprosy cases across the country.

SUN: Thank God for the increased - albeit fragile - political and economic stability. Pray that the cries of the people of Sri Lanka for justice and a wise and honest Government would be met and political stability would be restored for the long term.

ADT

Godfrey Yogarajah - CEO Raghu Balachandran - Director, Relief & Development

KKM

Rev Santhanapillai – President

Rev TS Joshua - Executive Director

Leprosy Association of Sri Lanka

Mr Amarasinga – President

Shahana Inparasa – Director

OUR CHRIST-CENTRED APPROACH 5–11 AUG

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

Luke 4:18

Integral mission encompasses every aspect of human life and our connections with others, the environment, and God. God created humans as complete beings, intricately linked to their surroundings. However, modern development history has compartmentalised life, blinding us to the interconnections among different aspects. Although recognising needs in various areas is beneficial, it is essential to understand their interdependence.

Careful reading of scriptures reveals God’s concern for nature, animals, and humans, emphasising their vital coexistence for human survival.

In the book of Luke, Jesus’ mission statement emphasises bringing hope and healing to the poor, prisoners, and the oppressed. This holistic approach is relevant when addressing the needs of people affected by leprosy, as medical care alone may not suffice. Jesus’ actions, including healing, restoration, and caring for others, reinforce his mission statement, guiding us to follow the highest standards of life as we compassionately care for those around us.

PRAYER POINTS

MON: Please pray for our Spiritual Ministry Working Group, who guide the spiritual life of the Mission. Pray that they will continue taking proactive steps to carry forward the spiritual legacy of TLM as an organisation that is rooted in prayer.

TUE: We operate in diverse cultures and settings, which can sometimes make it challenging to demonstrate the Christian faith and beliefs that inspire us to work for the Lord. Please pray for the staff members working in such settings. Pray that they find courage and motivation to remain steadfast in their faith, continuing to manifest the love of Christ through their actions.

WED: Please pray for the Country Leaders of our teams worldwide, as they travel around their countries, meeting with staff and government and non-government partners. Pray that they exhibit Christ-like character in all their conversations.

THU: Please pray for the Integral Mission lead staff in each of our country teams, that they may be empowered and equipped to effectively lead spiritualrelated activities. These activities are vital in helping staff members stay connected to their faith while carrying out their work.

FRI: Let us give thanks for TLM’s Global Day of Prayer, when TLM staff and supporters across the world participate in a day of prayer for a world without leprosy. Please give thanks for the activities that took place this year in May and pray that this meaningful endeavour continues in the future as well.

THARSHIKA’S STORY

Tharshika was 12 when she was diagnosed with leprosy. Now she works for our partners in Sri Lanka, KKM and this is her story.

While growing up, there wasn’t much awareness of leprosy, this resulted in little understanding of leprosy. Especially the importance of taking MDT (multi drug therapy, the antibiotics that cure leprosy).

Unfortunately, Tharshika neglected her medication and developed foot drop, which affected her walking.

In Sri Lanka, those with a disability are often discriminated against. Tharshika experienced discrimination from her community because of her physical disability.

Mr James Pender

Mr Brent Morgan

Ms Lorna Murray

Ms Mahima Bantawa

Mr Lok Thapa

Mr Chrianjivi Sharma

Mr Raphaël Mulamba

Ms Kathleen Gavin

SAT: Please pray for persons affected by leprosy, many of whom endure psychosocial trauma because of leprosy. Pray that they find strength to cope with these challenging times and discover reliable friends and peers with whom they can share their experiences.

SUN: Please pray for our frontline workers and staff members, that they may be equipped in understanding our clients within a broader context of holistic healing.

Due to her experience, she became dedicated to supporting and caring for children affected by leprosy and works for our partners in Sri Lanka, KKM. She invites others to see her as an example of what can happen if they don’t take the medication. When she was diagnosed, TLM helped her through the ‘Catch them young’ programme. It was then organised for her to go to India to get surgery for her foot drop. Without the support provided by TLM, she wouldn’t have been able to get the surgery, she wouldn’t be able to work and therefore she says she would have no life. She is very grateful for the TLM supporters, because of them she has received a great transformation.

“I pray that Jesus would bless the supporters of TLM. I hope they continue to show support so that more children can be reached before it’s too late. I hope through supporters we would be able to organise more awareness raising programmes through the community.”

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Proverbs 31:8-9

TThe Advocacy & Communications team works in tandem with the organisational goals, especially achieving zero disease, zero disability and zero discrimination. To that end, the team partners with other units and projects within TLM, as well as external stakeholders, to develop and implement Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaigns and contribute to building awareness of leprosy in endemic areas and among underserved communities.

The team works closely with the state and Central governments to push for the repealing of discriminatory laws. They work hard to make duty bearers and the general community aware of how stigma and discrimination create barriers in achieving a leprosy-free India.

The team represents TLM at domestic and international events and contributes thought leadership to discourses and literature on leprosy and other disabilities. It also undertakes training programmes on the social aspects of leprosy for individuals and organisations in order to create an enabling environment for persons affected by leprosy.

PRAYER POINTS

MON: Pray that God will give wisdom and guidance to the team as it works on repealing discriminatory laws. Help them to know the right words to say, the right people to talk to, and the right strategies to use.

TUE: May God bless the team as it works closely with the Government of India to create enabling policies. We pray that God will give an ear to those in power and help them build relationships that will be mutually beneficial.

WED: We pray that God will bless our efforts in connecting with the President and the Prime Minister on The Leprosy Mission’s 150th celebration event in New Delhi. We pray that you will open their hearts to hear the message of The Leprosy Mission and use this opportunity to raise awareness of the challenges faced by people affected by leprosy.

THU: Lord, we pray that you will bless the Advocacy & Communications team as they work to find strategic partners across all our programmes. We pray that you will bring people together who share our vision and who are willing to collaborate with us to bring change in the lives of people affected by leprosy and other disabilities.

FRI: We pray for blessings on the team as they work to build the capacity of champions and staff. We pray that God would give them the skills and knowledge they need to be effective advocates and communicators.

SAT: We pray that God will open doors for us to receive the financial and other resources we need to make a difference in the lives of people affected by leprosy.

SUN: Lord, we pray that you will bless our team as it works to create visibility for the organisation at a much bigger level. We pray that you will open doors for us to share our message with a wider audience so that they join us in the fight against leprosy.

AUSTRALIA

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Psalm 27:13-14

T

The Leprosy Mission Australia (TLMA) remains committed to making leprosy a thing of the past. In difficult financial times, support from donors, shoppers, volunteers, churches, and staff continues to allow our projects to flourish. Knowing that God is good, we ‘take heart and wait for the Lord.’ The Lord does not let us down, but instead motivates and leads His people to support people affected by leprosy.

Through fundraising, advocacy, and prayer, The Leprosy Mission Australia supports projects as far away from Australia’s shores as Nigeria and as close as Timor-Leste, partnering with organisations and community groups to bring about lasting change and make leprosy a thing of the past.

PRAYER POINTS

MON: Pray for Australian supporters who continue to support the work of The Leprosy Mission Australia through these difficult times. Give thanks for God’s faithfulness in inspiring and moving supporters to show compassion to those affected by leprosy, discrimination, and disability.

TUE: Give thanks and pray for our volunteers, Support Groups, and Auxiliaries whose responsibility it is to raise awareness and funds for our projects. Pray for renewed energy, new members, and new opportunities.

WED: Pray for effective communication with supporters through appeals, magazines, newsletters, social media, events, phone calls and emails. Pray that these communications will encourage strong responses to give, advocate, and pray for the work of The Leprosy Mission.

THU: Pray for Thanksgiving Thursdays in the office. Each team shares moments of celebration and thankfulness in the work that we are doing, and in our lives. Give thanks to God for His faithfulness in all things.

FRI: Give thanks for our Board and National Council members and the various committees which faithfully help guide and shape the direction of TLMA. Pray for wisdom and insight in this season.

SAT/SUN: Give thanks that more churches are reaching out to support people and communities affected by leprosy. Pray that these churches will look to make a greater impact for the Kingdom of God through the work of The Leprosy Mission.

CEO – Dr Greg Clarke

Geraldine Toh – Chief Financial Officer

Andrew Newmarch – International Programs Manager

Paul Andrews – Fundraising and Communications Manager

Supa Thejan – Social Enterprise Manager

Nikita Sarah - Head of Advocacy & Communications

Nerida Collard – Operations & HR Manager

No disease has ever been - nor ever will be - eliminated by the work of a single organisation. If we are to achieve a world without leprosy, we need to work in partnership with organisations across the world.

On this page we are focussing on partners such as the Leprosy Research Initiative, which is a partnership of leprosy NGOs who are committed to increasing funding for leprosy research. We want to highlight EU-CORD, a European network of Christian relief and development organisations. Also on our hearts this week is the NTD NGO Network (NNN), which is a network for NGOs that focus on Neglected Tropical Diseases. Then there is The Leprosy Mission Southern Africa, who work to defeat leprosy in South Africa.

Our spotlight this week, however, is American Leprosy Missions (ALM). American Leprosy Missions is the oldest and largest Christian organisation in the USA dedicated to breaking down barriers to health and restoring hope for people suffering from the pain and stigma of NTDs like leprosy. Since its founding in 1906, American Leprosy Missions has provided holistic healing to more than four million people around the world, including through medical treatment, health worker training, disease mapping, community development, health system strengthening and research.

PRAYER POINTS PRAYER POINTS

Prayers for American Leprosy Missions

MON: Pray for strength and hope for church leaders in DR Congo, who are training to find and support people affected by diseases like leprosy. They are providing critical emotional and spiritual care, as well as connecting people to medical help.

TUE: Pray for the women leaders of our community projects in India and Nepal. These women educate their neighbours about diseases like leprosy, refer them for care, and help communities advocate for government resources to improve water quality, sanitation and hygiene conditions.

WED: Pray for the Phase 1b/2a trial of the first leprosy-specific vaccine, LepVax; the clinical trial is beginning in Brazil. For the next two years, our partner, Fiocruz, will implement the trial to determine the vaccine’s effectiveness.

Prayers for our other partners

THU: Pray for the Leprosy Research Initiative’s teams as they review the applications for the 2025 funding call and decide which ones to fund. They usually receive 70+ applications each year and can fund fewer than 10.

FRI: We lift in prayer the work of EU-CORD. Grant them the courage and wisdom to fulfil their shared vision as Christian organisations united in the dream of a transformed, just, and equal world. Guide them to be beacons of hope.

SAT: For NNN, we pray for the place of leprosy within this much wider world of NTDs (a group of diseases that affect 1.7bn people globally). We pray for increasing global and political prominence for these neglected diseases.

SUN: For TLM Southern Africa, please give thanks for the progress the team made in 2023 to integrate leprosy work into the National Health system in South Africa.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits .

Psalm 103:2

TTLM DR Congo has partnered with the National Leprosy Programme for more than 50 years and implements projects in seven provinces in the following areas:

• Undertaking mental health research

• Finding and treating new cases of leprosy

• Promoting human rights for persons with disability

• Of fering livelihood support for people affected by leprosy and Lymphatic Filariasis

• Facilitating inclusion for families of people with disability who have been affected by natural disasters through our emergency project in Kalehe

• Piloting an integrated approach for Neglected Tropical Disease control in Maniema-Kasongo and Lusangi

• Mobilising churches in provinces targeted by TLM so they can identify new cases of leprosy and refer them for treatment

• Empowering people affected by leprosy and disability with vocational skills

• Providing safe drinking water to remote and rural areas for people affected by leprosy

TLM Congo is seeking to strengthen its partnership with local churches as places of strategic influence. They can help us to position leprosy as a priority in the health and development sector.

MON: Pray for security across the country, that God may grant lasting peace, safety and stability and protect the Congolese people and TLM staff from violence and natural disasters in a country where staff have to travel in unstable areas.

TUE: The National Leprosy Programme has challenges in mobilising adequate resources for leprosy control, resources which are vital for achieving zero leprosy transmission. Pray for God’s wisdom for Yvonne, the country leader. Pray she will guide the team towards a leprosy response which is sustainable, through increased investment in fundraising and partnerships with local churches and advocacy.

WED: Pray that God will enable our supporting countries to continue to support us as we implement our work to support communities.

THU: DR Congo is a large and hard to navigate country. Churches in DRC play a vital role in health care and development work in DRC, particularly in remote places. Pray that training of church leaders will enhance the capacity of local churches to reach people affected by leprosy in remote and underserved areas.

FRI: Pray for partners who will support work to detect leprosy reaction, treatment for leprosy complications and help us to scale up our self-care and mental health work.

SAT: Pray that OPALCO, an organisation of persons affected by leprosy, will become a strong organisation capable to fight discrimination, achieve human rights, and promote inclusion.

SUN: Praise God for the new Country Leader, and new staff in Kongo Central, as well as the engagement of church leaders and political authorities in addressing leprosyrelated challenges.

SENIOR STAFF

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

TLM Northern Ireland has a small and passionate team of six who work alongside over 200 volunteers. Our aim and heart is to see the voices of those affected by leprosy amplified across Northern Ireland, where many believe leprosy is a thing of the past. We strive to raise funds to support projects and those affected in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Ethiopia. Through fundraising, advocating and developing partnerships, we seek to play our part in ending leprosy once and for all. To do this, we seek to nurture relationships with our existing supporters, churches, trusts and grant funders, as well as develop new partnerships and acquire new donors. Our main areas of engagement, both online and in person, are through speaking opportunities in churches as well as fundraising appeals and updates to our supporters. We aim to see growth in these areas and seek new opportunities to share our message in strategic areas of influence.

Joanne Briggs – TLMNI Country Leader

Joy Jamieson – Office & Finance Manager

Hazel Coulter – Database Administrator

Rebecca Parnell – Church Partnerships Officer

Pam Gaston – Programme Funding Officer

Stephen McCartney – Supporter Engagement Officer

Fiona Davidson – Board Chairperson

PRAYER POINTS PRAYER POINTS

MON: Praise God for the amazing kindness of our supporters. Despite times of economic hardship, they have remained faithful and have not forgotten those affected by leprosy.

TUE: This year marks the 150-year anniversary of TLM. The Mission was founded on the island of Ireland. Pray this will be an opportunity to celebrate God’s faithfulness over the years with our supporters. Pray that more people will be spurred to action to help make leprosy a thing of the past.

WED: Praise God for our many partnerships with local churches. Thank God for their faithfulness in giving and prayer. Pray for new church partnerships as we seek to extend our reach and amplify the voice of those affected. Also, pray for more volunteers to help make this reach go even further.

THU: Give thanks for the wisdom and Godly leadership of our Board of Trustees. Thank God for answering our prayers as we have welcomed two new Trustees to the Board. Pray for guidance and discernment as we seek to continue to recruit additional trustees and also a new Board Chair.

FRI: Pray for our staff team as we continue to serve those affected by leprosy in the best way we can. Pray for wisdom and guidance as we think of creative ways to acquire new donors and reach new audiences across all areas of engagement. Pray for encouragement, perseverance, and unity in spirit and actions.

SAT/SUN: Please pray for those affected by leprosy in the projects we support. Pray that even from a distance they will feel the support, care and love shown from the TLMNI team and supporters.

Spain

TLM Spain works to raise money for people affected by leprosy in Nigeria. For years, they have engaged with donors and churches, encouraging them to share in their compassion for persons affected by leprosy. They have no full time staff and work solely through volunteers. Their wonderful supporters have continued to show their love and support towards persons affected by leprosy throughout the difficult years of the pandemic and the economic challenges that have followed.

South Korea

Elderly people affected by leprosy and people with disabilities in Korea need a lot of help with their care and livelihoods. TLM Korea’s Jesus Hospital and nursing home for the elderly help not only elderly people affected by leprosy who are not benefiting from the public assistance system, but also poor and low-income elderly and disabled people to become self-reliant.

South Korea

MON: Pray for the stabilisation of the social and psychological situation in South Korea, which is confused by low economic growth and an ageing population.

TUE: Pray for all the work of TLM Korea, that leprosy work and care for elderly and disabled persons, will operate smoothly. Pray that all the operations of TLM Korea will continue to work well.

WED: Give thanks to the Lord that the Board of TLM Korea is managing our work very well. Pray for continued blessings and guidance for them.

Spain

THU: We pray for José Manuel Carballo, one of the volunteers in Spain. We pray for his family and his work with his church, where he is a church elder. May God open the door at the right time for him to travel to Nigeria and see the work and find direction on his service overall.

FRI: We pray for Vivian and Samuel Calderon, two volunteers for TLM Spain. We offer thanks for their business, which although it has struggled through the recent turbulent years, is starting to show signs of recovery. Pray for their financial health so they can fulfil their desire to use funds from their business to support workers in the mission field. Pray too for their family, their marriage and for their daughters, Noa and Sara.

SENIOR TEAMS

South Korea

Ki Hyo Bae - Chairman of TLM Korea

Nan Hee Kim - Medical Director

Allun Cho – Administrative Assistant

Spain (all volunteers)

José Manuel Carballo

Vivian and Samuel Calderon

Miguel Torralba

Jose Real

SAT: Today we pray for Miguel Torralba, a volunteer who is carrying out his thesis on leprosy in Spain at the Fontilles Alicante Sanatorium. Pray for the success of his thesis and for his work as a doctor, as he continues to care for his patients. Pray too for his family and his church.

SUN: Today we pray for Jose Real, another volunteer at TLM Spain. We pray for the health of his wife, for his children and grandchildren. We also pray for all his responsibilities in the church, for health and constantly renewed strength.

International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Organisations

ILEP is a consortium of international organisations, including The Leprosy Mission, with a shared desire to see a world free from leprosy, and an acknowledgment that none of us can achieve this on our own. Through the programmes of its member associations, ILEP spans more than 60 countries and 1,000 project locations worldwide. Most of the global expertise in leprosy resides in ILEP’s members and their in-country partners.

Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy

GPZL is a global coalition committed to ending leprosy. Our members represent most of the worldwide stakeholders involved in leprosy, including individuals and organisations (such as TLM) who share our triple-zero vision: zero transmission of leprosy, zero disability, and zero discrimination.

PRAYER POINTS

GPZL

MON: Pray for unity and a sense of shared purpose as the Leadership Team works on more focused objectives for the coming years.

TUE: Thank God for the work done to date towards future low-cost diagnostic tests for leprosy, and pray for the GPZL diagnostics working group as it encourages and motivates diagnostics developers and funders towards that end.

WED: The Leadership Team currently includes representatives of organisations of persons affected by leprosy in Brazil, Colombia and Nepal. Thank God for the flourishing and increasing confidence of people’s organisations in many countries.

ILEP

THU: In the past two years, ILEP member associations have embarked on a series of collaborative projects with potentially global impact. Thank God for the progress made and pray for an ongoing enthusiasm to work together on gamechanging innovations.

FRI: The ILEP Advisory Panel is a group of seven people from six countries who bring a depth of insight through personal, lived experience of leprosy. Please pray for the impact of their work as they link with organisations of persons affected by leprosy in various countries, encouraging them to raise their voice especially on issues of discrimination and human rights.

SAT/SUN: ILEP members have mainly worked in countries with high rates of leprosy, but countries that are closer to zero transmission of leprosy are increasingly calling for ILEP’s support in the ‘last mile’. Please pray for ILEP and its members as they decide how to meet this opportunity.

INDIA: Healthcare and Research

Let us not become weary in doing good, we will reap a harvest at the proper time, if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9

The Leprosy Mission Trust India (TLMTI)

—through 15 hospitals and two clinics across nine states—provides specialised leprosy services, including the diagnosis and management of leprosy and its complications, with all the units offering reconstructive surgery, physiotherapy, protective footwear, and counselling services. The hospitals offer allied services, including dermatology, ophthalmology, general medicine, general surgery, diabetes care, dental, obstetrics and gynaecology. The hospitals also provide advanced disability management services through a range of orthotic, prosthetic, and surgical interventions. Through diverse research efforts, TLMTI aims at advancing our understanding of leprosy, improving diagnostic and treatment approaches, enhancing disability management, and promoting social initiatives that allow for a holistic approach to combating the impact of leprosy on individuals and communities. The Stanley Browne Lab plays a vital role by conducting drug resistance studies and developing diagnostic tools for leprosy. They also contribute evidence on the environmental aspects of leprosy.

PRAYER POINTS

MON: Praise God for the commitment and dedication of the hospital staff who provide services to the patients and communities we serve. Many of the staff work under challenging conditions, but they never give up, as they know their calling is from God.

TUE: Leprosy requires special expertise and passion. Pray that God will raise a generation of both clinical and non-clinical staff so that the leprosy services continue till the last patient is cured of this disease.

WED: Providing health care services has become challenging, with changing regulations and requirements. Pray that we will have enough resources to meet those needs and that the good work will continue in all our hospitals.

THU: We thank God for the communities, well-wishers, our partners, our mentors and also people in authority who provide support for our programmes.

FRI: We lift up the patients, families, and individuals who will be affected by the outcomes of our research. May their wellbeing and dignity be at the forefront of our considerations.

SAT: We pray for empowered hospital and field staff to carry out meaningful studies with an environment of collaboration and mentorship, enabling them to conduct highquality and impactful research.

SUN: May there be breakthroughs in leprosy treatment, prevention, and care leading to significant guideline and policy changes through our research. Pray that the research staff become more confident to disseminate their findings in national and global platforms.

ILEP

President - Brent Morgan

CEO - Geoff Warne

Administrator - Monty Mukhier

GPZL

Leadership Team Chair - Bill Simmons

Vice Chair - Takahiro Nanri

Dr Joydeepa Darlong - Head of Knowledge Management

Dr Famkima Darlong - Head of Healthcare

GOBINDO’S STORY

Gobindo is from Shalmara in Bangladesh. He lives with his parents and brother and has completed his diploma in electrical engineering. He started feeling pains in his leg and used painkillers but the pain continued for two to three months. On his way into town one day, he felt severe pain in his leg and couldn’t put on his sandals. As the pain increased with time, he went to the doctors. After the examination, the doctor informed him he had problems with his nerves.

After discussing the results with his father, he went through many treatments in Rangpur from various doctors. It was only when Gobindo visited a doctor from Canada that he was diagnosed with leprosy.

Gobindo couldn’t accept the fact he had leprosy. He was afraid to tell people around him – most especially his family. Only his father knew that he was receiving treatment from TLM’s DBLM hospital.

“I have spent a lot of money on treating this disease. So it has had an impact on my family. My mother died when I was a child. My stepmother loves me like my own mother. Sometimes I get depressed when I think about the disease. I don’t know if I can fully recover. A few days ago, when I talked with the doctors, I told them that I feel pain in my legs in the morning. But I am not worried as I am getting full support from my family.”

“Before I was diagnosed with this disease, I never realised that this hospital is so important. People from all over Bangladesh come here for treatment.”

“I think this hospital is very crucial for people like us. Before I was diagnosed with this disease, I never realised that this hospital is so important. People from all over Bangladesh come here for treatment. They come from Khulna Chattogram, Bandar Ban, and many other locations. That’s why I think a hospital like this is very important.”

SWITZERLAND

Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes!

Samuel 12:16

Through the support of several thousand Swiss supporters, the team in Switzerland supports work to defeat leprosy in Bangladesh, DR Congo, India, Nepal, and Niger.

To give you insight into their work, here are some reflections from members of the team.

“Every time I visit people affected by leprosy, I feel a deep gratitude for the privilege of serving the mission and these people. They open their hearts to share their story and welcome me in their homes.”

“It is always a pleasure and enriching, meeting the people from other TLM countries and seeing the good and hard work done by everybody.”

“A programmes workshop, with people from Switzerland, other countries, and different organisations was a good example of how collaboration across different Christian organisations can work. We developed a common plan about how we want to see change happening. Journeying together in this way is a highlight for me: Together we are stronger and can achieve more.”

“A young student wanted to donate part of her pocket money. She came across our work online via ZEWO (standards for Swiss charities) and then took out a sponsorship. She has been doing this for two years now.”

PRAYER POINTS

MON: We are grateful for our Board. We give thanks for their voluntary commitment, the will to lead our work and the courage to break new ground. Pray for continued wisdom and strength.

TUE: We are a small team and most of us work part-time. Pray for wisdom and strength. Pray that we can continue to work well together, set the right priorities, and remain open to new things.

WED: Swiss donors support people affected by leprosy through the work of TLM in Bangladesh, DR Congo, India, Nepal and Niger. We have seen a decline in faithful donors due to age. Please pray for the successful implementation of our new Fundraising and Communication Strategy. Pray that we can transport the message of people affected by leprosy to the public in Switzerland and that we can gain new donors to support our work.

THU: We present the work of the Mission through many churches and groups during the year. Please pray that people will be touched by the needs of people affected by leprosy and start giving.

FRI: We are exploring a fresh way to get new people interested in our work by sharing our personal testimonies. Markus, our Country Leader, is developing his story to be shared more widely. Pray for good progress.

SAT: Institutional Fundraising is important for us. Please pray that Swiss foundations and institutions will continue to support projects.

SUN: We are developing the new phase of our programmes for 2025-28 and trust that our new application submitted to the Swiss Government gets approved. Pray that the Swiss Development Agency accepts the proposal and funding can be secured for our programmes and projects. Pray that the increased level of coordination is managed well by our staff in Switzerland and globally.

NEPAL: Anandaban Hospital & Mycobacterial Research Lab and Training Centre

My grace is all you need, for my power is the greatest when you are weak.

2 Corinthians 12:9

Anandaban Hospital, located in southern Lalitpur (on the outskirts of Kathmandu), receives a large number of leprosy referrals from all over Nepal and from over the border in India. It’s outpatient department is renowned for quality orthopaedic and dermatology services, which serve the general community of southern Lalitpur and beyond.

The Mycobacterial Research Laboratories are situated in the grounds of the hospital and provide clinical laboratory services, as well as conducting important leprosy research in collaboration with national and international research partners. We are in the process of building a new building to house the laboratories.

The Training and Technical Support Centre is equipped with a residential training facility. The centre provides extensive training in leprosy and other Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD), building the capacity of Nepal’s Government health staff, national and international medical students, doctors, and community level volunteers. TLM Nepal also supports the Nepali Government’s national leprosy elimination programme through case validation, joint supervision, and monitoring of its programmes.

PRAYER POINTS

MON: Anandaban Hospital is accredited by the World Health Organization as a site that can confirm whether a patient has suffered a relapse of leprosy, despite completing their treatment. However, at the time of writing, the hospital has not yet received this registration from the Ministry of Health in Nepal. Please pray that we will be able to register the hospital without any hindrance and continue to meet the government requirements for this registration.

TUE: Please pray for persons affected by leprosy, who often face social stigma in Nepal. Pray that they can integrate into their communities and their children can go to schools without being stigmatised. Pray that communities will not discriminate against them.

WED: Please pray for our ongoing research projects and for our research staff. Pray that God will provide the funding necessary to complete the building of our new laboratories centre and to replace the equipment we need to continue our globally significant research programmes.

THU: Anandaban Training Unit continues to provide support to Nepal’s government by training health workers to diagnose and treat leprosy. Pray for strong coordination with the Government of Nepal and for the sustainability of our training programmes.

FRI: In 2023, we finished building the new Trauma Centre and recruited new consultants and other staff. Please give thanks for organisations and individuals who contributed to this project. Pray for successful implementation of the Trauma Centre.

Markus Freudiger – Country Leader

Helen Woldu – Leader for French Switzerland

Esther Kuny – Finance

Nadja Klarer –Fundraising and Communication

Lotti Appenzeller – Programmes

Christine Schneeberger – Administration

Jan Kuny – Chairman

Dr Mahesh Shah - Medical Director

Dr Pradip Sapkota - Medical Superintendent

Mr Sher Gurung - Hospital Administrator

Sr Mahima Bantawa - Nursing Superintendent

Mr Rajkumar Paudel - Training Manager, Training and Technical Support

Dr Jivan Shakya – Head of Mycobacterial Research Lab

SAT/SUN: The Self-Care Unit building, where patients learn how to care for themselves, was damaged by the 2015 earthquake and is unsafe. We are planning to demolish the existing building and construct a new one on the same site. Please pray the new construction will finish in time and patients can receive the services they need.

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.

1 Peter 3:8

TLM New Zealand is humbled by and thankful for the love and compassion of their loyal supporters. They uphold the Mission’s work financially and prayerfully, they give their time so freely to volunteer at the office, and they speak at churches and community groups. More than 12,000 New Zealanders actively support the work of the Mission, and we aim to engage more New Zealanders to realise our global goal of zero leprosy transmission by 2035.

The commitment of our supporters enables lives to be transformed, giving hope to countless families affected by leprosy in Bangladesh, PNG and Bougainville, DR Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nepal and Timor Leste.

TLM New Zealand also partners with The New Zealand Aid Programme (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade), the Autonomous Bougainville Government, NLR, and grassroots organisations in our implementing countries.

Together, we are curing, caring for, and restoring people affected by leprosy to fullness of life.

PRAYER POINTS PRAYER POINTS

MON: Pray for the continued engagement with New Zealanders on the journey towards our 2035 goal. In faith, as a global organisation, we have committed to bringing an end to the transmission of leprosy by 2035.

TUE: Pray that we can increase the impact of leprosy work and support innovation that can accelerate progress and impact. With your support, The Leprosy Mission NZ is able to work in some of the poorest and most remote areas in the world.

WED: Praise God for the ability to reconnect young people who have a heart for mission to our Youth Advocate Scholarship (YAS) Programme 2024. We praise God that these young advocates have taken a leap of faith and have set their hearts on making a difference to serve people affected by leprosy.

THU: Praise God for new open doors, through which we have partnered with the NZ Government to start a new project in Timor Leste. This new project is called the Preventative Health and Community Empowerment (PHACE) Programme. We praise God for the smooth rollout of the project and pray it will improve the lives of people affected by leprosy.

FRI: Praise God for the many churches around New Zealand who raise awareness of the Mission’s work and support people affected by leprosy. Pray that we can engage new churches from all denominations and that they will be moved to support the Mission’s work in defeating leprosy and transforming lives.

SAT/SUN: We give thanks for our faithful supporters, who support the Mission’s work prayerfully and financially. May God bless them richly as they continue to bring hope and lasting impact to people affected by leprosy.

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2

Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart Galatians 6:9

TLM Norway consists of five volunteers, who mainly raise funds for TLM India and TLM Nigeria. TLM Norway is the newest Member of TLM’s Global Fellowship, having joined in 2021. TLM Norway was restarted after a 12-year break, and we are glad to be maintaining Norway’s legacy of leprosy care, following in the steps of the Norwegian physician, Gerhard Armauer Hansen, who first identified Mycobacterium leprae in 1873.

This last year we have had our first, large advertisement, gained our first regular donors, and been able to send out four issues of our new magazine, with the help from TLM Sweden, the Nordic Hub Network and TLM International.

MON: We thank God for TLM International and The Nordic Hub Network for all the kind and necessary help they provide for us and pray that they will succeed in bringing even more unity and cooperation.

TUE: We thank God for bringing together so many different people from so many parts of the world in the fight to defeat leprosy. We thank God for help from other countries in The Leprosy Mission’s Fellowship. Please pray for more eagerness in helping each other.

WED: We thank God for our first project in India. Please pray for more regular donors and the possibility to support new projects. Pray blessing and healing for the patients treated at The Leprosy Mission Trust India’s hospitals.

THU: We thank God for our new Board member, Monica Askjer. Please pray for God’s wisdom and pray for more members to share the workload.

FRI: Please pray that we can fulfil all the criteria needed to apply for funding from the Norwegian government.

SAT: We thank God for gifts of orthopaedic equipment for the rehabilitation of patients with leprosy. Please pray that we will be able to transport them to India and Nigeria as soon as possible. Give thanks for the donors.

SUN: We thank God for our salvation, for all help, and every good gift. We thank Him for every blessing, and pray that we will be a blessing. Pray that we will be led by and filled with the Holy Spirit. May we have wisdom to continue to fulfil His plan and purpose.

Glenn Larsen - Chair

Esther Akinyele - Secretary

Wenche Larsen - Treasurer

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Luke 6:38

Our supporters express love through giftgiving and sustainable shopping. Proceeds from their purchases support people affected by leprosy, disability, and disadvantage. When you choose a Gift of Love donation, you are improving the living standards of someone in need.

These gifts support overseas project participants by funding an element of the project. Gifts like protective shoes, scholarships, vocational training, and even toilets! Love is the greatest gift.

A unique offering to shoppers of all ages, the product range spans across Australia and the world! Artisans earn dignified incomes under fair-trade practices. The Shop adheres to the Modern Slavery Act. Procedures, policies, and regular reviews watch for and protect against slavery and child labour in the supply chain. There is zero tolerance for misconduct. Inspired by Jesus, and His love for all the children of the world, staff work to ensure child rights. All are precious in their sight.

PRAYER POINTS

MON: The Shop sources many products from artisans affected by leprosy and disability. Praise God that these artisans can support themselves and their families through this income. May they be blessed.

TUE: Pray for holy inspiration for those creating the products and for the wholesale buyers selecting the products. May they be guided by the Spirit of God to make and buy quality items. Pray these will have wide appeal for shoppers to maximise sales and proceeds.

WED: The Shop is in partnership with many Australian producers. Please pray these partnerships will continue to be fruitful for all parties.

THU: The Shop supports The Leprosy Mission Trust India’s Vocational Training Centre in Vadathorasular. Pray for students and teachers as they work to create sustainable and environmentally friendly products, practices, and livelihoods.

FRI: The Shop works with external partners including a warehouse, call centre, and a selection of mail houses. Pray their staff know they are serving people affected by leprosy and disability and spread the word to others.

SAT: Volunteers sell products to their friends and community at events and stalls. Give thanks for the contribution they are making to help people affected by leprosy.

SUN: Churches and Christian groups sell products at events and stalls. Please pray they will be abundant in their effort, and that God will be glorified.

Supa Thejan – Social Enterprise Manager

Louise Egan – Buyer/Product Developer

Jocelyn Lee – Inventory and Logistics Coordinator

Crystal Nguyen – Marketing Co-ordinator Social Enterprise

Shristi Tandukar – Supply Chain Assistant

BANGLADESH: Leprosy Control & Research

Leprosy control

TLMI Bangladesh’s leprosy control initiatives strive to achieve the objectives of zero transmission and zero disability. This work focuses on early-stage diagnosis, disability prevention, quality treatment, management of complications and ensuring comprehensive hospital care.

TLMI-B plays a crucial role in identifying approximately 60 percent of new leprosy cases in Bangladesh each year and also supports the government in strengthening health systems, retaining leprosy expertise, and raising awareness of leprosy.

Research

Research is a key, strategic part of our work to end leprosy. A research strategy for Bangladesh is in place to guide our present and future research interventions on the basis of solid experience. We have specific projects that look to increase local research capacity. In addition, TLMI-B has a country wide research programme, which aims to support current and future research initiatives, including research into new regimens for preventative antibiotics, better treatments for leprosy reactions, and field-friendly diagnostic tests .

PRAYER POINTS

MON: Pray for a successful advocacy initiative so that persons affected by leprosy complications will be allowed admission at Chattogram Medical College Hospital and receive tertiary care (medicine and surgery).

TUE: Please pray that children with disability will get support from schoolmates, teachers and their community so that they can continue their education.

WED: The Proyash (which translates as ‘ambition’) Health Systems Strengthening Project hopes to achieve significant changes in the government health system during 2024. We pray for good cooperation from the government, which will be key for success.

THU: In 2023, we faced long delays in importing drugs for the clinical trials we are conducting in Bangladesh. This includes importing rifampicin for the PEP++ study. Please pray that we will not face barriers to importing drugs and other research supplies in 2024.

FRI: Developing a tool to help us diagnose leprosy earlier and quicker is a research priority. The 2B or not 2B project– a partnership with TLM Nepal and Leiden University Medical Centre - started in 2023 to develop such a test. Pray for success at every step of the way.

SAT: Pray that TLMI Bangladesh will have the necessary funding and support to make significant progress towards zero transmission across the country.

SUN: TLMI Bangladesh needs to recruit new leprosy control staff who will work alongside government health staff. These new staff need training as soon as possible, so that they fully understand leprosy and its complications. Pray for recruitment and training of new staff.

Senior Research Staff

Dr Abu Sufian Chowdhury - Research Coordinator, TLM

Bangladesh

Dr Rishad Choudhury Robin – Senior Research Technical Lead

Dr Abhijit Saha – Project Manager PEP++

Senior Leprosy Control Programme staff

Mr Jeorge Biswas - Project Manager, Proyash and MEPD

Mr Parach Chakma - Project Manager, Chattogram Hill Tracts

Mr Sultan Md. Elias - Project Manager, Chattogram Leprosy Management Project

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.

Matthew 25: 35-36

TLM Chad supports leprosy control and disability prevention in two provinces of the Republic of Chad: Guéra and Salamat. This happens in close collaboration with Fondation Raoul Follereau and the National Leprosy Control Programme.

TLM Chad also supports training and case detection activities towards the east of the country in collaboration with its partners.

Through its different projects, TLM Chad aims to contribute to zero transmission of leprosy, zero disability and zero discrimination against persons affected by leprosy, persons with disability, and other vulnerable people who have been excluded by society. This work is carried out by government as well as TLM staff.

Awareness is one of the key components of the work of TLM Chad. As much as possible, community workers are involved in raising awareness of the early signs of leprosy and disability. In its holistic approach, TLM Chad seeks to address the medical, social and economic needs of people affected by leprosy and disability.

PRAYER POINTS PRAYER POINTS

MON: Pray for peace and justice within the country; tribal issues and violence often disturb this. Pray also for the Sudanese refugees that have crossed the Chadian border and have lost all they have: parents, children, homes and work.

TUE: Pray for the health of the TLM team, their partners, and their families, who often suffer from malaria and typhoid, as well as other health issues.

WED: Pray for the coordination team of the National Leprosy Control Programme, who often have difficulty running the programme in an effective way.

THU: Pray for the Chadian health staff, who are often discouraged and demotivated in their role. Pray that they may develop new strength for their work with people with health problems and that persons affected by leprosy will receive the attention they need.

FRI: Many of our patients suffer from leprosy reaction during or after their treatment, which causes both pain and disability. Pray for early detection of reaction and speedy and full recovery as far as this is possible

SAT: In a society with big differences between the rich and the poor, many persons with disability are leading a difficult life. Pray for God’s blessings on the efforts of the TLM team to find solutions and return people to fullness of life.

SUN: Pray for the TLM countries that support Chad (the Netherlands, Germany, France and Belgium) and the TLM International Office team, all of whom are faithfully encouraging the team in Chad.

CHAD TEAM

Bunmi Oluloto - Country Leader

Geeske Zijp - Programme Manager

Marc Djibrine Victor - Administration and Finance Officer

Djibrine Arabi - Human Resource Officer

Abdel Djelil Hassane - Driver

Hissein Dagache - Chairman of the TLM-Support Committee

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2

Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart Galatians 6:9

The Leprosy Mission has been active in Sweden since the mid-1970s and in 1985, TLM Sweden was established as a national organisation.

Based in Kumla, The Leprosy Mission Sweden works to raise awareness of leprosy and to give support to people affected with leprosy and disabilities. Through fundraising among individuals, organisations, corporations and churches, TLM Sweden works to fulfil its vision.

A monthly Ask/Thanks/Feedback Magazine, with challenges and reports from our projects, is sent all over the country. A number of presenters and preachers give information and raise money in churches across the country. Information on leprosy is given to Christian groups, churches and schools.

Through membership of The Swedish Mission Council, money from the Swedish government is available to different projects. TLM Sweden also has contact with their neighbouring Nordic countries for different areas of collaborative working through TLM’s Nordic Hub.

TLM Sweden supports work in India, Nigeria and DR Congo.

MON: Thank God for our TLM partners in Asia and Africa. Give thanks for the fantastic work they are doing.

TUE: Give thanks for the faithful support of our donors. Pray for new donors and for the success of activities and campaigns that aim to reach new supporters.

WED: Thank God for good cooperation between TLM Sweden and the Swedish government through the Swedish Mission Council. Pray for continued and increased funding and support.

THU: Pray for well-developed and strong cooperation between the TLM organisations in the Nordic Hub.

FRI: Thank God for the Board of TLM Sweden and for the members’ willingness to lead our work. Pray for wisdom in leadership and courage for new steps and initiatives.

SAT: Pray for the staff team of TLM Sweden, for God’s guidance and wisdom in the work. Pray for the right priorities and openness to new initiatives. Pray for inspiration, teamwork and energy.

SUN: Pray for increased support and partnership with churches, organisations and corporations. Thank God for the work of the presenters and preachers all over the country. Pray for new inspiration and open doors.

SWEDISH TEAM

Johan Bäckrud - Country Leader

Thandekile Moyo - Programme Coordinator

Biniam Fikadu – Fundraising, Corporate Relations

Ulrica Sternmo Wittler – Administration, Finance

Shelley Lado - Finance

Allan Ekstedt - Chairman of the Board and Nordic Hub Coordinator

And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship.

Exodus 31: 3-5

The Leprosy Mission Trust India (TLMTI) conducts institution-based and communitybased vocational education programmes to equip individuals affected by leprosy with work skills. Six vocational training centres (VTCs) enrol students from households affected by leprosy and other disabilities and marginalised communities. Along with job-oriented technical skills, the VTCs provide holistic development of students through life skills, employability skills, and disability prevention and management programmes.

Besides providing residential training facilities to help students learn and grow in an enabling environment, each VTC supports its students in getting job placements. All TLMTI’s VTCs have strong alumni associations. Through this, the VTCs maintain regular contact with their graduates even after they are employed and support them to grow professionally. The VTCs also advocate for inclusive employment in fair labour conditions.

PRAYER POINTS

MON: Pray for excellent collaboration with industries across a selection of trades so that we can provide in-plant practical training for students. Pray for the capacity building of instructors.

TUE: Pray that the vocational education programme will be able to reach out to youth affected by leprosy and other disabilities in need of skills training and employment.

WED: Pray for the students who are undergoing training in the Vocational Training Centres. Pray that they may acquire the technical and life skills they need to find employment.

THU: Pray for the growth of the alumni associations of the VTCs. Pray that these associations may enable graduates to remain in touch with their colleagues and support each other.

FRI: Pray for good collaboration with local communities in finding trainees for the Community Based Vocational Training programme. Pray that we will source the logistical support that we need, including space for training, accommodation for instructors, and access to loans and grants.

SAT: Pray that the Vocational Education Programme can effectively raise awareness of the work potential and right to employment of people affected by leprosy and persons with disability among potential employers. Pray that graduates gain employment in organisations that encourage inclusive work cultures and fair labour.

SUN: Pray that more individuals, companies, and institutions come forward to support The Leprosy Mission in this lifechanging initiative.

ORGANISATIONS OF PERSONS AFFECTED BY LEPROSY

PRAYER POINTS

In recent years, Organisations of Persons Affected by Leprosy (OPLs) have grown into one of our most important allies in the fight to defeat leprosy. These organisations have been founded by persons affected by leprosy to represent the needs of their members and to serve their communities.

For a number of years, these organisations had been building their reputations. Then, through the darkest days of the pandemic, many of these organisations built huge respect in their communities by stepping in to provide support to those who had none. Since those days, they have gone from strength to strength and their importance to international NGOs as partners who have far-reaching, trusting connections within communities has become undeniable. If we are to defeat leprosy and bring transformation into the lives of those affected by the disease, OPLs will be central to that by bringing their unique perspectives, ideas, and contributions. The Leprosy Mission works closely with these organisations across the countries we work in, but there are also strong organisations in countries such as Brazil, Senegal, Ghana, Colombia, and elsewhere.

MON: Please pray for the leaders of these OPLs. May God guide their decisions, particularly as many are often working with very limited resources.

TUE: Please pray for the next generation of leaders within these OPLs. We pray they will find their way confidently into positions of influence and will bring fresh perspectives to their organisations.

WED: Every three years there is an International Leprosy Congress. At the 2019 and 2022 Congresses, there was a Global Forum of OPLs. We pray that a similar event will be organised for the 2025 Congress, and that many OPLs will be able to attend and contribute to fruitful discussions.

THU: We pray for The Leprosy Mission’s collaboration with these organisations, that we will work together productively and that these partnerships will ultimately lead to transformation in the communities we all seek to serve.

FRI: Because the OPLs are often quite newly formed and under-resourced, their partnerships with more established and better-resourced NGOs run the risk of having power imbalances. We pray that our colleagues throughout the NGO sector will be conscious of these power imbalances and will work to counteract them.

SAT: We pray that under-represented groups will continue to find representation within OPLs. We pray particularly for women, young people, older persons, people from the poorest communities, and from remote communities. So many OPLs represent these groups excellently and we praise God for that.

SUN: When persons affected by leprosy seek representation at international forums, language can become a barrier, particularly for those who do not speak English. We pray for creative solutions to overcome these challenges and patience from all parties. May we always remember how often Christ heard the quietest voice in a crowd before he heard the loudest.

SENIOR STAFF

CHURCHES FIGHTING LEPROSY

TLM Germany is a small association that operates mainly in the south of Germany and is very much founded on personal contacts. We maintain partnerships with different churches and communities and have a large circle of supporters thanks to them.

The six-member Board accompanies and shapes the work of the office, which employs two part-time employees. The desire to be able to contribute even more to the vision of zero leprosy transmission by 2035 through a larger donation volume has grown in recent years. In implementing this wish, the office receives support from the Fundraising Advisory Board and Members of The Leprosy Mission’s Global Fellowship.

Dr Johannes Schäfer – Chair of the Board

Bettina Merz – Country Leader

Andrea Zielinski – Assistant

PRAYER POINTS PRAYER POINTS

MON: Good God, thank you for allowing us to start the new week with you. Thank you for connecting us across national and continental borders and for being the reason for our work. Guide us so that we can be a blessing to others.

TUE: Heavenly Father, thank you for using us and for bringing your love and light into the world through us. Show us the way, help us to recognise it and give us confidence to walk in it.

WED: Good God, thank you for every single person who feels part of The Leprosy Mission and is committed to a world of zero leprosy. Thank you for our colleagues in our project countries, who, despite sometimes facing the most adverse circumstances, do their work with so much heart and love and do not let themselves be discouraged.

THU: Gracious Father, you know about the challenges of smaller fundraising countries within TLM. Growth must be wanted, prepared for and well managed. Give us fruitful ideas, people who will support us as we grow and the strength to overcome challenges.

FRI: Good Father, you know about our diversity and difference. They make this world colourful, interesting and great, but they can also be exhausting and lead to misunderstandings. Make us gracious and loving in our dealings with each other, help us to avoid misunderstandings. Give us respect even in difficult times, willingness to discuss, and openness.

SAT: Good God, thank you for all our faithful donors who regularly and generously help people affected by leprosy through our various projects in India, Chad and Niger.

SUN: Good God, bless this work with all its diversity and colourfulness, with all its challenges, with all its cultural richness, with all its beauty and difficulties.

Churches across the world play an integral role in the fight to defeat leprosy. Following the example set by Jesus 2,000 years ago, they offer open hands of friendship, dignity, and healing in a world that too often offers little other than neglect.

Continuing that proud, Christ-like tradition, churches in leprosy-endemic countries are frequently there for persons affected by leprosy where governments have failed. They offer health services and referrals. They are advocates and stand alongside persons affected by leprosy in solidarity when the surrounding community responds with fear and stigma.

In countries where leprosy is not endemic, many churches remain committed to Christ’s example, even though leprosy can feel far removed. These churches invite people to speak about leprosy in their services, hold collections and host fundraising events. Their congregations give regularly and generously to the work to defeat leprosy. These churches, like Christ did, do not neglect people who have experienced leprosy, a disease that is today classified as a neglected disease.

MON: We give thanks for all the times that churches step in to care for persons affected by leprosy and other vulnerable people when the state has failed. We pray that this will not always be necessary and that states will come to fulfil their responsibilities to protect their citizens’ rights to basic needs such as health and education.

TUE: We give thanks for the example Christ set while he walked this Earth; he was a relentless champion of those that society thought of last and least. We give thanks for the legacy this has left amongst so many churches and the countless lives this has transformed since. We pray this legacy will go from strength to strength in the church and influence a similar change within wider society.

WED: On Christmas Day, we give thanks for Jesus, for the baby that was born and grew into a man who set an example that has lasted for millennia. We give thanks for the churches that follow this example today and for every penny they donate to the fight to defeat leprosy. None of this is taken for granted and all of it goes towards the Kingdom of God and defeating leprosy.

THU: Today we pray for the speakers who travel to churches to speak about leprosy. Give thanks for their efforts, pray for safe travels, and pray that God will bless their words.

FRI: We pray for churches across TLM’s countries that are not in places of safety, whether that is because of conflict or persecution. We pray for God’s peace and protection upon them.

SAT: Pray that each and every Member of our Global Fellowship will better engage the local church to take even greater ownership of this God-given mission, increasing and deepening our church partnerships.

SUN: As we close this week, we pray thanks for every church that fights leprosy and we pray for more churches to be inspired by this great work of being the generation that finishes what Jesus started.

GIVING THANKS FOR 150 YEARS OF THE LEPROSY MISSION

Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Psalm 150

As we end 2024, we use these final two days of the year to reflect on not just this year, but on 150 years of God’s faithfulness towards The Leprosy Mission. Throughout wars, pandemics, economic crashes, and untold numbers of personal, local, and national crises, God has remained faithful.

In his earthly life, Jesus made a point of reaching out through the noise and clamour of the crowds to hear and heal people affected by leprosy. We believe that this Mission has survived 150 years because God is forever committed to caring for those that society wants to neglect and has placed persons affected by leprosy on the hearts of Christians the world over for generations.

We are grateful to the one and a half centuries of saints that have gone before us. To the supporters, staff, volunteers, and partners who have seen us to this point. Even more than that, we are grateful to be the generation holding the baton on the final leg of the race towards a world where no one is diagnosed with leprosy again.

PRAYER POINTS

MON: As we celebrate 150 years of The Leprosy Mission we join in with the song of Psalm 150. We Praise the Lord! Join us in praise for every life transformed over 150 years of work and every life we can transform in the years to come. Praise the Lord!

TUE: Our final prayer for this 150th year is one of hope. We pray for the innovations that will steer us towards a world without leprosy. We pray for diagnostic tests, for new preventative antibiotic regimens, for vaccines, and greater awareness in endemic countries. We pray for injections of funding from governments and major donors who are inspired to finally eliminate a disease that has plagued humanity for over 4,000 years.

We pray that we will be the generation that ends leprosy transmission.

MARYAM’S STORY

Maryam Seidu is 24. Her family is affected by leprosy. Her parents both had leprosy but are cured now. They came to Yangoji in the 1990s when she was just a baby. Her father has permanent disabilities from leprosy, and is the assistant chief of the Alheri Special Village, Yangoji, Nigeria.

Maryam went to primary school in Alheri Village, but after primary school, she was not given the opportunity to continue her education, and so does not have any marketable skills.

She was married at the age of 18 to a man in the village, and they now have three children (two girls aged 18 months and six-years-old, and a boy aged three). Her husband is a mechanic, but he does not make much money and struggles to support their family. He left the village a few months ago to look for work in the city and she only hears from him occasionally. She and her children are dependent on her parents for sustenance. All of this makes her feel really low.

Maryam would like to be able to take care of her kids and help out her parents too. If given the opportunity she would like to start a small business selling foodstuffs (rice, beans, cooking oil etc.). TLM Nigeria has registered her for livelihood assistance and she is waiting to receive a grant to start her off.

During the last mental health screening exercise, Maryam was found to be showing

signs of depression. She has been referred to a specialist and will visit the hospital.

Maryam has been selected to be a peercounsellor at The Leprosy Mission Nigeria’s Open Minds project. The project is working to improve the mental health of children and young people in Nigeria.

She has found the peer educator training to be very helpful. It has helped her to reframe and adjust her attitude towards her challenges and has also affected the way she relates with her children. She now also talks to other young mothers in the community about life, marriage, and raising children.

The love and compassion of Christ

A reflection on Christ’s pattern of healing ministry in Mark 1

Covid-19, Ebola, leprosy, violence and war. All have brought physical injury, emotional distress, death, and brokenness in our midst today. We are witnessing how the individuals, families, communities, and nations affected are in need of daily healing. We learn in the Gospel of Mark about the purpose of Christ’s mission from the pattern of his healing ministry (Mark 1:35-39), when Jesus makes prayer a priority whenever people present their problems to him.

Jesus deliberately chose to fulfil the role of servant in the face of any problem by giving priority to prayer. Through prayer, he surrenders to God the Father and gives Him all the glory for what He is able to accomplish. Throughout his life of ministry, we find Jesus praying, teaching, healing, feeding, washing feet, comforting and loving. These acts are an integral part of his proclamation of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14; Luke 11:20). He always touched people around him who were heart broken and he never turned away anyone who needed his healing touch, such as in Mark 1:29-34, where he healed many and in the incidence of Mark 1: 40-42, where he healed someone affected by leprosy and in Mark 2:12, where he healed a paralysed man. He did not cure only the outward symptoms of disease, but he also cast out demons (Mark 1:34). His healing is directed not only towards a selected few, he had the deepest desire that all humankind will be reached as in Mark 1:38-39. Jesus was concerned about human brokenness when people needed food, in sickness, and in death. He knew that the brokenness of people deeply affected their adequate purpose in life and prevented them from having abundant

life (John 10:10). In the face of human needs and suffering of any kind, he was motivated primarily by love and compassion.

What gives value to the healing ministry of Christ is not my title or my function. It is the concern for love and compassion. My prayer is that my life and service to TLM and to humanity will be fulfilled out of pure unconditional love and as an ultimate expression of the compassion of Christ. It is my obedience to the pattern of Christ’s healing ministry which furnishes the way in which I am to exercise ministry where I live, where I work and with the people I relate to daily.

It is heart breaking for me to see how leprosy continues to break the lives of many people in my country and around the world. Late leprosy diagnosis is leading to disability. Due to fear and stigma, families are separated, relationships are broken. Access to information on leprosy is still limited and care is inadequate, especially in remote areas. In the face of this brokenness, I am encouraged that Jesus leads the way on how to build healing communities. We are called to reflect the glory of God by being like Jesus, who was among his disciples not as one who sits at the table but as one who serves with love and compassion. In following Jesus, I pray that God may grant us the skills to inspire and raise more people who can champion Christ’s healing ministry by touching the lives of those who are affected by leprosy with love and compassion.

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 10:10

COUNTRY CONTACT DETAILS

International Office

80 Windmill Road

Brentford

Middlesex TW8 0QH

UK

Tel: +44 (0)20 8326 6767

Email:

reception@leprosymission.org

Website: leprosymission.org

TLM Shop

Goldhay Way

Orton Goldhay

Peterborough PE2 5GZ

UK

Tel: +44 (0) 1733 239252

Email: enquiries@tlmtrading.com

Website: theleprosymissionshop.

org Australia

The Leprosy Mission Australia

37 Ellingworth Parade Box Hill, Victoria Australia 3128

Tel: +61 3 9890 0577

Email: hello@leprosymission.

org.au

Website: leprosymission.org.au

The Leprosy Mission Australia

Shop PO Box 293, Box Hill VIC 3128

Australia

Email: shop@leprosymission.

org.au

Website: shop.leprosymission.

org.au

Bangladesh

The Leprosy Mission InternationalBangladesh House-488A, Road-32

Mohakhali New DOHS

Dhaka-1206

Tel: +88(2)222281620, 222282058, 222296395

Email: DCO@TLMBangladesh.org

Website: tlmbangladesh.org

Belgium

VZW TLM Belgium, p/a Wolterslaan 42

BE-9040 Gent (Belgium)

Tel: +32 474 471 856

Email: tlm.belgium@gmail.com

Website: tlmbelgium.org

Chad

Mission Evangélique Contre la Lèpre (MECL)

Am Timan/Salamat

S/c CET voyages

B.P.456 N’Djaména - TCHAD

Email: geeske.zijp@gmail.com

Denmark

Enghavevej 16, 8543 Hornslet

Email: hjk@spedalsk.dk

Tel: +45 91560748

Website: spedalsk.dk

DRC

The Leprosy Mission Congo 283, Avenue Kato

Commune de Lingwala, Kinshasa

B.P. 14.347 Kinshasa 1

Ethiopia

PO Box 30480

Addis Ababa

Ethiopia

Tel: +0911 611178

Email: beletshachewt@ tlmethiopia.org

Finland

Suomen Lepralähetys – Finlands

Lepramission ry

Uotinmäentie 9 B 12, 00970 Helsinki

Tel: +358 449708615

email: rkpohti@gmail.com

Website: lepralahetys.fi

France

Mission Lèpre France 3 Square de Megève

95380 LOUVRES

Tel: 07 83 85 74 95

Email: contact@missionlepre.org

Website: missionlepre.org

Germany

Lepra-Mission e.V.

In der Halde 1

D-75365 Calw

Email: lepramission@gmail.com

Website: lepramission.de

Great Britain

The Leprosy Mission Great Britain

Goldhay Way

Orton Goldhay

Peterborough

PE2 5GZ

Tel: 01733 370505

Email: post@tlmew.org.uk

Website: leprosymission.org.uk

Hungary

Lepramisszió - Magyarország

1151 Budapest

Alag u.3.

Tel: +36-30 6384736

Email: info@lepramisszio.hu

Website: lepramisszio.hu

India

The Leprosy Mission Trust India

CNI Bhavan

16, Pandit Pant Marg

New Delhi – 110 001

Tel: +91 (0) 11 4353 3300

Email: info@leprosymission.in

Website: leprosymission.in

Mozambique

138, Pemba

Cabo Delgado Province

Mozambique

Tel: +258 873771770

Email: pedros@tlmmoz.org

Myanmar

12/K, Pyithu Lane

7th Mile, Pyay Road

Mayangone Township

Yangon, Myanmar

Tel: +95 1 666851

Email: zmaung@tlmmyanmar.org

Nepal

TLM Country Office

Satdobato-Chapagaun Road

Talchikhel

Lalitpur

Nepal

Postal address: P.O. Box 151

Kathmandu, Nepal

Tel: +977-1-5151371

Netherlands

Visiting address:

Leprazending (TLM-NL)

Arnhemseweg 1

7331 BA Apeldoorn

Postal address:

Leprazending (TLM-NL)

Postbox 902

7301 BD Apeldoorn

Tel: +31 55 76 00 500

Email: info@leprazending.nl

Website: www.leprazending.nl

New Zealand

PO Box 96262, Balmoral, Auckland 1342, New Zealand,

Tel: 0800862873 +64 9 630 2818

Email: enquiries@leprosymission. org.nz

Website: leprosymission.org.nz

Niger

TLM-Niger Office

Rue KK - 02

Koira Kano

BP844, Niamey

Niger Republic

Email: bunmio@tlmniger.org

Nigeria

14-16 Kings Drive, Fort Royal Homes Estate, Lugbe, P.M.B 494

Area 10, Garki

F.C.T, Abuja

Nigeria

Tel: +234 09122731679

Email: officetlmn@gmail.com,

Northern Ireland

TLM Northern Ireland

Lagan House

2a Queens Road

Lisburn

BT27 4TZ

Northern Ireland

Tel: +44 (0) 28 9262 9500

Email: info@tlm-ni.org

Website: tlm-ni.org

Norway

Slagenveien 80 c

3117 Tønsberg

Norway

Tel: +47 91111056

Email: lepramisjonen@gmail.com

Website: lepramisjonen.org

Papua New Guinea

The Leprosy Mission - Papua New Guinea (TLM-PNG)

Unit 7, Wapil Crest Apartments

Section 20, Lot 15, Budoa Ave

East Boroko.

PO Box 3041, Boroko, 111, National Capital District (NCD), Papua New Guinea

Tel: +675 7377 9974 or 7412 2825

Email: tlmpng2016@gmail.com

South Korea

31 Duryugongwon-ro 28gil

Dalseo-gu

Daegu

Rep.of Korea (42670)

Tel: +82 53 623 1001

Sweden

Lepramissionen

Mastgatan 2D

SE-692 71 Kumla

Sweden

Tel: +4619583790

Email: info@lepramissionen.se

Website: lepramissionen.se

Switzerland

German speaking office:

Lepra-Mission Schweiz

Bernstrasse 15A

3360 Herzogenbuchsee

Switzerland

Tel: +41 62 961 83 84

Email: info@lepramission.ch

Website: lepramission.ch

French speaking office: Mission Lèpre Suisse

Route de Denges 38 1027 Lonay

Switzerland

Tel: +41 21 801 50 81

Email: info@missionlepre.ch

Website: missionlepre.ch

Timor Leste

Misaun Lepra Timor-Leste (ML-TL)

Turleu-Tibar, PO BOX 84

Liquica – Timor-Leste

Tel: +670 3310456 / 77977559

WHERE WE WORK

The Leprosy Mission believes that strength comes from unity, working together towards a common goal. We work hand-in-hand with governments and with local communities, with partner NGOs, local churches, WHO, Christian partners and many others to bring about the defeat of leprosy and transformation in the lives of people affected. Together we provide treatment and care for anyone living with the effects of leprosy in 16 countries across Asia, Africa and the Pacific. This would not be possible without the support of hundreds of thousands of people around the world that have responded to this call.

Norway

Sweden

Finland

Great Britain

Denmark

N. Ireland

Belgium

France

Spain

Netherlands

Germany

Hungary

Switzerland

South Korea

Nepal

Chad Niger

Sudan Ethiopia

Bangladesh

Myanmar

India

Sri Lanka

Nigeria

DR Congo

Mozambique

Papua

New

Guinea

Indonesia

Timor Leste

Australia

New Zealand

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

Prayer

One of the most powerful gifts you can give us is prayer. By using this diary, you’ve done that, so thank you.

Giving

Our work receives substantial funding from individual donors – just like you –with 36 percent of our funding coming from people giving out of their own pockets, through regular giving and one-off donations.

The money you give today can help to end leprosy and transform lives across the world.

Volunteering

Our army of volunteers across the world is having a huge impact and there are lots of volunteering opportunities in many of the countries that we work in.

Leaving a legacy

Around 15 percent of our income comes through people who leave a legacy in their Will.

Your legacy can be a world free from leprosy, where every person affected by leprosy is cured, healed, and included.

Shop

Find out how to give, volunteer, or leave a legacy today by finding the website and contact details of The Leprosy Mission in your country. Find their details on pages 82-83.

GLOSSARY TERMS

THE LEPROSY MISSION’S GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER

Wed 8 May 2024

The Leprosy Mission is hosting a worldwide day of prayer.

Prayer has always been essential to what we do and so we are bringing our staff, supporters, volunteers, and partners together to unite in prayer for a world without leprosy.

Find out how you can get involved by contacting The Leprosy Mission in your country (see p.82).

ADT Alliance Development Trust

AELTL Asosiaun Ema Afeta Lepra Timor-Leste (an organisation of persons affected by leprosy in Timor-Leste)

ATLETIL Asosiaun Transforma Lepra TimorLeste (an organisation of persons affected by leprosy in Timor-Leste)

AEP Activating and Engaging the Government of Bangladesh and people through Partnership (an advocacy project in Bangladesh)

ALM American Leprosy Missions

ALO The Association of Persons Affected by Leprosy in Bangladesh

BHCP Bougainville Healthy Communities Programme

CBID Community Based Inclusive Development

CBR Community-Based Rehabilitation

CRPD Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (a major UN human rights treaty)

CSL Danja Centre de Santé Léproserie – a TLM Healthcentre partner in Niger

DBLM Danish-Bangladesh Leprosy Mission Hospital Hospital

GPZL Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy

HEED HEED Handicrafts was established Handicrafts in 1978 with the aim of creating jobs and employment for the poor and marginalised people

IDEA International Association for Integration, Dignity and Economic Advancement - an International Organisation of Persons Affected by Leprosy

IEC Information, Education, and Communication

ILEP International Federation of AntiLeprosy Associations

IMPACT Integrated mobilisation of people project for active community transformation – a TLM project in Nepal

KKM Kaveri Kala Manram – our partners in Sri Lanka

LCP Leprosy Control Programme

LDP Leadership Development Programme

LDP-A LDP-A is a programme adapted from the LDP to reach all countries at all levels in their local languages with an approach that is tailored to suit their local needs

MDT Multi Drug Therapy – a combination of antibiotics that cures leprosy

MEPD Supported and Empowerment of People Living with Disabilities – a TLM project in Bangladesh

ML-TL Misaun Lepra Timor-Leste (the name of TLM in Tetum, the language of Timor-Leste)

NGO Non Governmental Organisation

NIHR National Institute for Health and Care Research (the British government’s major funder of clinical, public health, social care and translational research)

NLR until No Leprosy Remains (previously Netherlands Leprosy Relief) – a Dutch leprosy NGO

NNN NTD NGO Network

NTD Neglected Tropical Disease (leprosy is an NTD)

NUPIP North West Bangladesh Ultra Poverty Initiative Project – a TLM project in Bangladesh

NZ Aid New Zealand Aid ProgrammeProgramme the New Zealand Government’s international aid and development agency

ODI Niger Organisation pour le Développement Inclusif – our partners in Niger

OPALCO Organisation of People Affected by Leprosy in Congo

OPLs Organisations of Persons Affected by Leprosy

PEP Post-Exposure Prophylaxis – a preventative treatment that reduces the risk of developing leprosy after exposure to the disease

PEP++ Chemoprophylaxis that is rifampicin plus one or more other drugs

PEPCOM Post Exposure Prophylaxis in Community (a project to prevent leprosy in Indonesia)

RIGHT project Research and Innovation for Global Health Transformation – a funding call by the UK’s National Institute of Health and Care Research

PHACE PNG Negotiated Partnership’s Preventative Health and Community Empowerment programme – a TLM programme

PNG Papua New Guinea

SHG Self-Help Group

TLM The Leprosy Mission

TLMTI The Leprosy Mission Trust India

VTC Vocational Training Centre

WHO World Health Organization

The Leprosy Mission Prayer

Almighty Father, the giver of life and health, look mercifully on those who suffer from leprosy. Stretch out your hand to touch and heal them as Jesus did during his earthly life.

Grant wisdom and insight to those who are seeking the prevention and cure of the disease. Give skill and sympathy to those who minister to the patients. Reunite the separated with their family and friends.

And inspire your people with the task set before The Leprosy Mission, that it may never lack the staff or the means to carry on its healing work, in accordance with your will, and to the glory of your holy name.

We ask this for the sake of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.

Amen

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