Ahead of World Water Day, The Leprosy Mission has published the story of Thibekka and Ajai — a couple in Sri Lanka whose lives were transformed not by medicine alone, but by access to something most of us take entirely for granted: clean water and a functioning toilet.

Thibekka was diagnosed with leprosy years ago. The disease left her with physical disabilities that made daily life a constant struggle. But in many parts of the world, the stigma of leprosy is as disabling as the disease itself. Families affected by leprosy are often excluded from communal water sources, forced to walk long distances for water that may not even be safe, and denied the basic sanitation that protects health and preserves dignity.

With support from The Leprosy Mission, Thibekka and Ajai gained access to a well and a toilet close to their home. The change was immediate and profound. Thibekka no longer had to make exhausting journeys for water. The family's health improved. Their standing in the community began to shift. Neighbours who had kept their distance began to engage. The simple act of having clean water flowing nearby signalled something important: that this family mattered, that their needs were worth meeting, that they were not forgotten.

The Leprosy Mission's work is a reminder that Christian mission is holistic — that the gospel speaks to the whole person, body and soul, and that meeting physical needs is not a distraction from spiritual work but an expression of it. As World Water Day draws attention to the 2 billion people worldwide who still lack access to safe water, Thibekka's story puts a human face on a global injustice — and on the difference that faithful, practical love can make.