Overview

A handsome physician. A devout Mennonite nurse. And an Argentinian activist. Welcome to CALLED... Against the backdrop of World War II, Nazi uprisings, political unrest in Argentina and Paraguay, and the scourge of leprosy left untreated, Dr. John and Clara Schmidt are called to a life of service in their fight against poverty, stigma, and social injustice. But at what cost? Based on true events that span six decades, CALLED is an uplifting and inspirational story of fearless adventure and heroism that celebrates the triumph of the human spirit persevering in the face of fear and rebellious subversion. Some have a story. They had a mission. CALLED is an expansive saga that brings to life the extraordinary contributions of two medical pioneers in the wilds of Paraguay. In their fierce determination to save floundering communities across the country, and to battle the stigma and shame of leprosy, John and Clara faced intractable opposition from many fronts: a medical community that rejected their unorthodox and revolutionary practices, governments that threatened imprisonment, and neighboring villagers who vowed to kill them. Their story provides a living example of fully embracing John's favorite scripture, ""Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God."" Micah 6:8. Readers who enjoyed His Truth is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power of Hope will love CALLED.

Full Product Details

9781737531401

Table of Contents

Reviews

""As a biography and history of the complex South American political machinations of the period, Fiol and O'Connor's narrative about John and Clara's extraordinary accomplishments is replete with riveting details."" -Kirkus Review ""CALLED is a decades-spanning story that is suffused with emotion. The prose is refreshingly tender and honest."" -BookLife Prize ""CALLED tells the amazing story of Dr. John and his wife and Mennonite medical nurse Clara Schmidt and their strong will, determination, and faith to follow God's calling to serve the underserved, especially the leprosy community in the wilds of Paraguay. The historical content of this book is rich with detail and important background information, which I found valuable and enlightening. The evolution of Clara is so beautiful, at first a shy, unassuming Mennonite nurse who blossoms into a strong, fierce wife, mother, friend, and community activist. Clara and John are heroes, but always felt they were just being obedient servants of God. I found this story to be truly amazing and enlightening. I was pleasantly surprised by this read - never expecting to find the depth and important historical content within its pages!"" -Donna Dreeszen, educator, NetGalley reviewer ""I'm impressed by how accurately this book identifies and describes the way a Plautdietsch Mennonite feels, thinks, and does things. This is a history book written as a fascinating adventure story. It's about true love and the whole truth and how simple and also complicated both can be."" -Siegfried Elmer Ratzlaff Voth, Fernheim Colony, Chaco, Paraguay ""CALLED is a book well worth reading. It features a newly minted Mennonite doctor John Schmidt and his wife Clara, who accepted the challenge of treating people with leprosy in Paraguay, an often-forgotten land of intrigue. When they were asked to undertake this daunting task, conventional practice was to provide victims of this dreaded disease with palliative care in an isolated colony. There was no known cure. Dr. Schmidt chose instead to pioneer a new and more humane treatment premised on home care surrounded by family. Before there was time to prove the merits of this innovation, he encountered such strong resistance from North American sponsors that it threatened to shut down his work. In the end, John and Clara's revolutionary model became the standard for leprosy treatment around the world."" -Edgar Stoesz, former associate executive secretary, Mennonite Central Committee, and former chairman, American Leprosy Missions ""This book will keep you moving! From Kansas to Paraguay, from WWII to the present day, from certainties to uncertainty, and from old ideas about ""leper colonies"" to the most enlightened medical and social practices in the treatment of leprosy. As you move, you will also reflect: can love co-exist with childhood beatings, with Platonic passion, with prejudice, with stubborn egos? How much love is sacrificed in the fulfillment of impossible dreams? And how does love always find a way home?"" -Shirley Showalter, PhD, former professor and president, Goshen College; former foundation executive, The Fetzer Institute; and author of Blush: A Mennonite Girl Meets a Glittering World

"""As a biography and history of the complex South American political machinations of the period, Fiol and O'Connor's narrative about John and Clara's extraordinary accomplishments is replete with riveting details."" -Kirkus Review ""CALLED is a decades-spanning story that is suffused with emotion. The prose is refreshingly tender and honest."" -BookLife Prize ""CALLED tells the amazing story of Dr. John and his wife and Mennonite medical nurse Clara Schmidt and their strong will, determination, and faith to follow God's calling to serve the underserved, especially the leprosy community in the wilds of Paraguay. The historical content of this book is rich with detail and important background information, which I found valuable and enlightening. The evolution of Clara is so beautiful, at first a shy, unassuming Mennonite nurse who blossoms into a strong, fierce wife, mother, friend, and community activist. Clara and John are heroes, but always felt they were just being obedient servants of God. I found this story to be truly amazing and enlightening. I was pleasantly surprised by this read - never expecting to find the depth and important historical content within its pages!"" -Donna Dreeszen, educator, NetGalley reviewer ""I'm impressed by how accurately this book identifies and describes the way a Plautdietsch Mennonite feels, thinks, and does things. This is a history book written as a fascinating adventure story. It's about true love and the whole truth and how simple and also complicated both can be."" -Siegfried Elmer Ratzlaff Voth, Fernheim Colony, Chaco, Paraguay ""CALLED is a book well worth reading. It features a newly minted Mennonite doctor John Schmidt and his wife Clara, who accepted the challenge of treating people with leprosy in Paraguay, an often-forgotten land of intrigue. When they were asked to undertake this daunting task, conventional practice was to provide victims of this dreaded disease with palliative care in an isolated colony. There was no known cure. Dr. Schmidt chose instead to pioneer a new and more humane treatment premised on home care surrounded by family. Before there was time to prove the merits of this innovation, he encountered such strong resistance from North American sponsors that it threatened to shut down his work. In the end, John and Clara's revolutionary model became the standard for leprosy treatment around the world."" -Edgar Stoesz, former associate executive secretary, Mennonite Central Committee, and former chairman, American Leprosy Missions ""This book will keep you moving! From Kansas to Paraguay, from WWII to the present day, from certainties to uncertainty, and from old ideas about ""leper colonies"" to the most enlightened medical and social practices in the treatment of leprosy. As you move, you will also reflect: can love co-exist with childhood beatings, with Platonic passion, with prejudice, with stubborn egos? How much love is sacrificed in the fulfillment of impossible dreams? And how does love always find a way home?"" -Shirley Showalter, PhD, former professor and president, Goshen College; former foundation executive, The Fetzer Institute; and author of Blush: A Mennonite Girl Meets a Glittering World"

As a biography and history of the complex South American political machinations of the period, Fiol and O'Connor's narrative about John and Clara's extraordinary accomplishments is replete with riveting details. -Kirkus Review CALLED is a decades-spanning story that is suffused with emotion. The prose is refreshingly tender and honest. -BookLife Prize CALLED tells the amazing story of Dr. John and his wife and Mennonite medical nurse Clara Schmidt and their strong will, determination, and faith to follow God's calling to serve the underserved, especially the leprosy community in the wilds of Paraguay. The historical content of this book is rich with detail and important background information, which I found valuable and enlightening. The evolution of Clara is so beautiful, at first a shy, unassuming Mennonite nurse who blossoms into a strong, fierce wife, mother, friend, and community activist. Clara and John are heroes, but always felt they were just being obedient servants of God. I found this story to be truly amazing and enlightening. I was pleasantly surprised by this read - never expecting to find the depth and important historical content within its pages! -Donna Dreeszen, educator, NetGalley reviewer I'm impressed by how accurately this book identifies and describes the way a Plautdietsch Mennonite feels, thinks, and does things. This is a history book written as a fascinating adventure story. It's about true love and the whole truth and how simple and also complicated both can be. -Siegfried Elmer Ratzlaff Voth, Fernheim Colony, Chaco, Paraguay CALLED is a book well worth reading. It features a newly minted Mennonite doctor John Schmidt and his wife Clara, who accepted the challenge of treating people with leprosy in Paraguay, an often-forgotten land of intrigue. When they were asked to undertake this daunting task, conventional practice was to provide victims of this dreaded disease with palliative care in an isolated colony. There was no known cure. Dr. Schmidt chose instead to pioneer a new and more humane treatment premised on home care surrounded by family. Before there was time to prove the merits of this innovation, he encountered such strong resistance from North American sponsors that it threatened to shut down his work. In the end, John and Clara's revolutionary model became the standard for leprosy treatment around the world. -Edgar Stoesz, former associate executive secretary, Mennonite Central Committee, and former chairman, American Leprosy Missions This book will keep you moving! From Kansas to Paraguay, from WWII to the present day, from certainties to uncertainty, and from old ideas about leper colonies to the most enlightened medical and social practices in the treatment of leprosy. As you move, you will also reflect: can love co-exist with childhood beatings, with Platonic passion, with prejudice, with stubborn egos? How much love is sacrificed in the fulfillment of impossible dreams? And how does love always find a way home? -Shirley Showalter, PhD, former professor and president, Goshen College; former foundation executive, The Fetzer Institute; and author of Blush: A Mennonite Girl Meets a Glittering World

Author Information

Marlena Fiol, PhD, is a globally recognized author, scholar, and speaker. She is a spiritual seeker whose work explores the depths of who we are and what's possible in our lives. Her significant body of publications on the topic, coupled with her own raw identity-changing experiences, makes her uniquely qualified to write about personal transformational change. She holds a PhD in Strategic Management from the University of Illinois and has taught on the faculties of New York University and the University of Colorado. Marlena is the author of Nothing Bad Between Us: A Mennonite Missionary's Daughter Finds Healing in Her Brokenness and, together with Ed O'Connor, Separately Together and Reclaiming Your Future. Learn more at marlenafiol.com. Ed O'Connor, PhD, is an acclaimed author and scholar. He is an inspirational speaker who has devoted himself to supporting others in identifying and removing the barriers to realizing their dreams. He considers every piece of writing an opportunity to share his insights with others, as well as learn more about his own transformational journey. He holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School and a PhD from the University of Akron and has taught on the faculties of the Universities of Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, and Colorado, as well as the Georgia Institute of Technology. Together with Marlena, Ed is the author of Separately Together and Reclaiming Your Future.

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