WORLD LEPROSY DAY 2014 – CHILDREN’S MATERIALS (AGED 12 TO 16)
INTRODUCTION:
Leprosy is a disease of poverty. Leprosy not only makes people sick and can cause problems and deformities with their hands, feet and faces, but it also is seen as a curse to those who catch it. People with leprosy are often bullied and rejected by the people around them – they might not be allowed to go to school or work. We don’t find leprosy here in the UK, it is only found in very poor countries and only affects the poorest of the poor.
The Leprosy Mission not only cures people of their leprosy and helps them get back on their feet, but works hard to break the chains of poverty so that leprosy is not a disease of the future.
John 10:10 says I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.We want to see leprosy, and all the bad things that go hand in hand with it, gone. We want those already affected by leprosy to have the choices that come with living full and satisfying lives.
You know your group best so feel free to pick and choose whichever activities will suit them best. For more information on leprosy, check out our background info sheet.
GAMES:
Choose one or more of the following games (depending on time and suitability to the group)
PictionaryUsing pen/pencil and paper the young people take it in turns to draw clues for theothers to guess. Once someone has correctly guessed what their picture clue is, the next person has a go at drawing a new picture. It works best with a pre-preparedlist of words/phrases/objects to be drawn (full life, love, school, elephant, house, work, spoon etc) rather than leaving it to the young person tomake something up on the spot.
Full life means, among other things, that we have choices and resources. When our choices and resources are limited, however, it makes life more difficult. In using only paper and one colour of ink or a pencil communicationbecomes more challenging for the young people. They are left relying on their gift of drawing (if they have one). Life with leprosy is challenging, poverty; physical disability and stigma restrict a person’s choices and opportunities for life.
Chain Stories
The rules consist of one person saying a sentence in the style of a story and then moving onto the next person, who continues the story. This continues, until a designated end point (eg once/twice round the group)where the story reaches its conclusion.
For this to work, everyone must agree on a few basic guidelines like not using names of people present and keeping it kind and respectful.
Variations:
Constant Characters: Characters may only be removed by the participant who created that character - this stops people removing your character before they've had a chance to do anything interesting, but remember that too many characters battling for attention never looks good.
Control Freak: Characters and locations may only be changed by the player who initiated the story - this leads to a more structured story, but it's dull and can lead to rebellion among the ranks.
Set words:Certain words or phrases agreed beforehand must be used in the story at some point. Eg.disaster, life in all its fullness, choices, hope,leprosy.
In order to make the story work, the participants need to make choices to either work with the storyline as it is developing or to change it completely. The decisions that we make change the outcome of our lives. When we have access to education, healthcare, decent housing and amenities (like clean water) we have greater choice over the story of our own lives.
Dots and BoxesThe traditional game starts with an empty grid of dots. Players then take turns, adding a single horizontal or vertical line between two un-joined adjacent dots. A player who completes the fourth side of a 1×1 box earns one point and takes another turn. (The points are typically recorded by placing in the box an identifying mark of the player, such as an initial). The game ends when no more lines can be placed. The winner of the game is the player with the most points.
Our variation will help young people to understand that with limited choices we are unable to take advantage of the opportunities others have, allowing them to live full lives.
The game in our variation is like the one above except one player can only use vertical lines whereas the other player can use both horizontal and vertical lines. The player restricted to vertical lines has a much limited chance of winning the game!
BIBLE STORY:
Looking at the issues surrounding how our resources affect choices and our ability to have life in all its fullness can be difficult. But in John 10: 10 we see that in Jesus we have everything we need. In following him we are guaranteed fullness of life which is brought to us today by the gift of the Holy Spirit who resources us in order that we can do the will of God.
However as the passage states there are thieves and robbers who take from us that which enables us to have full lives. We have access to decent homes, clean water, good food, good education and healthcare. All these things mean we can choose what we like to eat and we can even choose what we want to do when we leave school. So long as we work hard and study the subjects we need to, we have the opportunity to do anything we dream of. Because of this ability to make choices, we can live full and happy lives - unless something comes along and steals our resources and, therefore, our choices. People affected by leprosy have few choices because poverty and illness have stolen their ability to live full lives.
What can we learn from our story? Help the group to explore this passage, these questions may provide a starting point…
What do you think thieves and robbers might represent?
Who are the sheep?
What is the fold?
How do you recognise Jesus voice?
What is the purpose of the thief?
What is the purpose of Jesus?
What does a rich full life look like?
What would be the purpose of the followers of Jesus and how might they accomplish this purpose?
Introduce Mohammad’s story to the group…
Mohammad’s story
Mohammad is 17-years-old but first noticed the signs of leprosy many years ago, when he was around aged 10. He had patches of skin that were lighter in colour to his normal skin colour which were also numb so he couldn’t feel people touch him where he had patches. Unfortunately people thought he had a different disease so he wasn’t given treatment. A couple of years later, his symptoms had got worse and leprosy caused him to have clawed hands and a drag his feet on the ground when he walked.
He said: “When I found out I had leprosy I was very sad. My clawed hands meant I couldn’t write anymore, so I had to leave school. My friends stayed away from me and I couldn't play cricket, which I love.”
Mohammad’s family heard about The Leprosy Mission’s hospital in Shahdara, on the outskirts of Delhi in India, but they had to travel hundreds of milesfrom their home in Bihar. At The Leprosy Mission’s Shahdara Hospital, he had surgery on both hands meaning he can now grip a pen again. He has also had surgery on his left foot so that it no longer drags on the ground. He is awaiting similar surgery on his right leg as well as surgery to both of his eyes that will help protect his eyesight.
Mohammad is now looking forward to the future and would like to continue his studies once his treatment has finished. He is particularly looking forward to taking computer classes and playing cricket again. He hopes to be able to study at The Leprosy Mission’s Vocational Training Centre in Faizabad.
Mohammad’s life has obviously been affected by the robbers of ill health and poverty.
Ask the young people to write a list of differences between their own lives and that of Mohammad. Alternatively you might want to do this as a group exercise on a flip chart. Follow any natural discussion that comes from this. How might they as followers of Jesus enable people like Mohammed to live a fuller life?
Explain that people affected by leprosy are stuck with no hope of living a full life if they do not get the help they need.
The Leprosy Mission provides the medicine to cure people of leprosy. It also carries outsurgery to help people to use their hands and feet again, meaning they can hold objects like pencils, spoons and cricket bats! There is even an operation to help people blink and therefore prevent blindness when leprosy has affected their eyes.
The Leprosy Mission pays for young people like Mohammad to go to school or train to do a skilled job once they have been made well. This enables them to have more choices leading to a full life.
CRAFTS:
Choose one or more of the following (depending on time and suitability to the group)
Stained glass biscuits
Life is so much richer with a little colour. How about making some stained glass biscuits while talking about what life in all its fullness would look like. You will need biscuit dough, boiled sweets and access to an oven. There are some good recipes out there… such as:
or
If you don’t have a lot of time, preparing the dough before you get to church would help.
Chatterbox stories
You might like to make an origami chatterbox to help the young people to tell a story of how The Leprosy Mission gives choices back to people like Mohammad.
(See sheet)
Full life rainbows!
Try this fun and easy craft idea to explore what helps our lives to be full of rainbow promise, rather than being like dull clouds. (See sheet)
Design a T-shirt
Using cheap white T-shirts and fabric pens, get the young people to design a T-shirt that expresses what life in all its fullness looks like.
MUSIC:
If your group enjoys singing, the following songs would be apt:
Father I place into your hands
When I needed a neighbour
Jesus hands were kind hands
Make me a channel of your peace
Life is a wonderful thing
Brother, sister let me serve you
You never let go
Mighty to save
PRAYERS:
Candle prayers
We have thought about the way leprosy affects the life of people like Mohammed. Imagine what it must feel like to be abandoned by your friends and to be unable to do the things you once loved.
Candles symbolise the light of Christ. In this prayer they symbolise the light of Christ being taken into the dark places that people find themselves in.
You will need a tea light in a jar for each person.
Black pieces of paper
Chalk
On each piece of paper write, using chalk, the words associated with things that trouble your group and others in the world. For example, bullying, sickness, war, leprosy and loneliness.
Then invite the young people to place their lit candle on a piece of paper bringing Christ’s light and hope to that dark place.
You can perhaps do this in silence or by saying a simple prayer like Shine Jesus Shine in this dark place, Amen.
Jigsaw Prayer
This prayer idea would work best if the puzzle pieces were handed out the week before, but will also work if done on the day.
You will need:
A large floor puzzle with enough pieces for each member of your group (the emphasis is on the large pieces).
Craft/Collage materials
Pens of different colours perhaps even metallic.
Ask each person to decorate their puzzle piece to reflect the generosity of God in their lives. Make certain the edges are left free of materials as the pieces will be fitted together during the prayer time.
Pray in any way that fits your group best or you may want to thank God reflecting on the rich/full lives illustrated in the puzzle. Ask God to bring his richness to others who have less full lives. Pray for people like Mohammed and for The Leprosy Mission as we enable people affected by leprosy to live fuller lives.
Life prayer wall
Hang four large strips of plain paper (wallpaper may be best) with the following headings in large print:
Love (telling God how great he is)
Intercede (prayers for others)
Fanks! (thank you prayers)
Error (sorry prayers)
These words obviously spell life. Ask the young people to write words, phrases, prayers or pictures on each sheet to reflect the heading. (Fanks is obviously thanks but we felt poetic licence was allowed!)
Suggested prayer
Lord of life and choice, thank you for the richness that you give to our lives.
Thank you for the wonderful variety that you bless us with.
Thank you for our schools; for our families and friends.
Thank you for the doctors, nurses and hospitals that are so close to us.
Thank you for your provision of all things to make our lives full of blessing.
Lord of life and choice, we bring before you the people of the world who are troubled by want.
Help people who have little choice in their lives;
Help people who feel lonely.
Help people who do not have access to education, health centres, clean water or proper housing.
Provide for those who are caught in a place that will not help them grow to be what you created them to be.
Lord of life and choice, thank you for The Leprosy Mission.
Help all who work with The Mission to seek out those affected by leprosy.
Help them to bring healing and health, hope and choice to those who are in need.
Root them in your love so that they may share your love with all.
Continue to guide them as they seek to bring opportunities to people who have none.
Lord you came to bring full life to all, thank you.Amen.
THE LEPROSY MISSION:
Today The Leprosy Mission is working hard to bring opportunities that enrich the lives of people diagnosed with leprosy today. The Mission can cure them of this disease and raise their standard of living in many different ways.
It costs us £30 to educate a child India. Perhaps your group could think of some fun ways to raise just £30 to give a child the opportunity to live life to the full through the hope and potential that an education brings.
Here are some ideas which you might want to try:
- Make stained glass biscuits to sell after church or to your friends and family.
- Organise a Pictionary challenge night where groups pay to play.
- Create a giant dots and boxes game where people pay to put three lines in any place on the grid; tempt them by a small prize like chocolate matchsticks as they look like lines.
- Put on a variety concert with your friends
- Be creative and come up with your own fundraising idea. What gifts and talents do you have that can be used to help someone who is affected by leprosy?
1