KIT Blog

By NATALIE SMITH Country Leader, The Leprosy Mission Papua New Guinea

Thank you for your support in so many ways. What a year it has been!  So much activity!

The Leprosy Mission Papua New Guinea’s Annual Country Learning is taking place December 3-5 when staff and volunteers will come together to reflect on each of the projects — what has worked well and ways we can improve. 

Please pray our meeting and fellowship will help us focus on how we can best help those affected by leprosy in PNG to transform their lives.

After the Christmas holiday period we will be preparing for local World Leprosy Day celebrations and will be sending two of our members to help mark the occasion with all of you!  Please let me introduce you to Winnie and John:

Winnifred (Winnie) has been working with me at The Leprosy Mission PNG since we moved the office to Port Moresby. She is an amazing support and works with 13 communities in the National Capital District (Port Moresby). She has a background in community facilitation and works with these communities to improve their health and leprosy awareness, and also to get them involved in our Sustainable Livelihood Development project (funded by The Leprosy Mission New Zealand and The New Zealand Government).

John has been volunteering with The Leprosy Mission PNG over nearly two years. There are many people affected by leprosy in his home village. He helps support his family as well as working with other people affected by leprosy in the area. You may remember Eddie, John’s brother – he was a fisherman struggling with leprosy reaction and ulcers. Eddie has now received assistance through The Leprosy Mission and has started a crab farm.  John’s niece Claire (Eddie’s daughter) is also affected by leprosy [Claire’s story is featured in the ASK 2019 Diary pg. 67).

We all dream of a PNG without leprosy. Thanks to your prayers and financial support, we are able to start accessing remote areas of PNG where leprosy is most endemic. Working together towards ending leprosy transmission by 2035.

Please pray for The Leprosy Mission team.  Pray we can find and treat people affected by leprosy here.  Please also pray for Winnie and John as they prepare to visit to Australia and speak at World Leprosy Sunday events and for traveling mercies during their trip. 

Thank you. May God bless you richly this coming year.

To find out where Winnie and John will be visiting in Australia, FREECALL 1800 LEPROSY (1800 537 767) or go to: www.leprosymission.org.au/events