Young Klaus-Dieter John read the last page of another “jungle doctor” book by Dr. Paul White—his favorite series. The adventures, based on the missionary doctor’s experiences in Africa, never failed to capture Klaus’s imagination and heart.
The boy sighed. How great would it be to live in the jungle and help people as a medical missionary.
That dream stayed with Klaus through high school in his hometown of Weisbaden, Germany. As graduation neared in the late 1970s, he felt certain God wanted him to become a doctor and serve in a third world country.
Another person in his school carried the same dream, a pretty girl named Martina. Soon Klaus and Tina were a couple.
The next decade included university, medical school, and marriage. Further training took the Johns to England, Johannesburg, and finally America. Klaus studied at Harvard, and then completed his surgical residency at Yale.
Meanwhile, Tina earned board certification in pediatrics, in Germany and America.
God used a backpacking trip through Peru in 1991 to draw their hearts toward the Quechua people, descendants of the Incas. These Indians live on high plateaus and in deep valleys of the Andes Mountains, impoverished and illiterate.
At that time, just four doctors served 40,000 people. The Johns knew immediately: this was where God wanted them to serve.
First they volunteered for five years at a well-established mission hospital in Ecuador. During that time Klaus and Tina founded the Diospi Suyana organization to alleviate the suffering of Peruvian Indians.
In Quechua, the words mean, “We trust in God.”
But they desired to do much more. “What if,” the couple dreamed, “we could establish a hospital for the Quechua people near Machu Picchu—not just a bare-bones clinic but a true hospital with everything necessary to provide excellent care?”
Just saying the words out loud highlighted the implausibility of their desire. How could they raise the millions of dollars necessary? And even if they could build such a facility, how would they keep it staffed and equipped?
But God propelled them forward.
In 2004 the Johns began seeking financial support for their vision, first in Germany and then in other countries. A trickle of donations at first grew to a steady flow. Several companies even committed to provide equipment and materials.
Also during this time, Klaus and Tina moved their family of five into a mud home in the village of Curahuasi, a village strategically located between three Peruvian cities.
By May 2005, the Johns were participating in a miracle: the ground-breaking for Diospi Suyana Hospital—a project that would cover eight-plus acres of land, and cost $100,000 each month to construct [1].
The couple was determined not to incur debt. God would either supply the needed funds or construction would be discontinued.
Supply he did—through more than 50,000 individual donors who’ve contributed to the hospital’s ministry [2].
As the complex took shape, fifteen miles of computer cable were set in the walls, as well as “countless miles of pipes for suction, compressed air, and oxygen” [3].
The dedication of the facilities took place in August, 2007. By 2017, 300,000 Peruvian patients had received care at Diospi Suyana—patients who only pay 20% of the cost of their care—at most; the other 80% is paid by generous donors.
Each day begins with a worship service. Thousands of Peruvians have heard about Jesus and been told of his gift of eternal life. For those who accept that gift, one of the hospital pastors visits their home and connects them to a local church [4].
The ministry has expanded over the years to include dental and eye clinics, Kids’ Clubs, a school for six hundred children, and a radio station [5].
Many miraculous provisions have contributed to the flourishing of Diospi Suyana.
For example, in January 2006, while Klaus was in Germany on a speaking tour, he met with a good friend. Klaus mentioned they needed a civil engineer to oversee the hospital construction, but the person had to be willing to serve without pay.
“I know someone who might be interested,” declared the friend and he made a phone call, setting an appointment for later that day with the engineer Udo Klemenz.
Meanwhile, when the phone rang at the Klemenz’ home, Udo and his wife were in the midst of praying about their plans for the future.
At the meeting that afternoon, Klaus made his proposal. The couple gasped in surprise for this near-instantaneous answer to their prayer.
“Come to Peru for as long as you can stay,” Klaus invited.
Udo and his wife soon traveled to Curahausi—and stayed for eight years [6].
Klaus affirms often, “God has become visible in my life” [7]. (Emphasis added.)
Indeed, he has.
[1] https://cvm.swisshealthweb.ch/fileadmin/assets/CVM/2018/cvm.2018.00564/cvm-2018-00564.pdf
[2] https://cbn.com/news/news/hospital-built-faith-proof-me-god-real
[3] https://cvm.swisshealthweb.ch/fileadmin/assets/CVM/2018/cvm.2018.00564/cvm-2018-00564.pdf
[4] https://cbn.com/news/news/hospital-built-faith-proof-me-god-real
[5] https://www.diospi-suyana.de/diospi-suyana-2-2/?lang=en#
[6] https://cvm.swisshealthweb.ch/fileadmin/assets/CVM/2018/cvm.2018.00564/cvm-2018-00564.pdf
[7] https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2014/3-october/features/interviews/interview-klaus-dieter-john-founding-director-diospi-suyana-hospital
Photo credits: http://www.pixabay.com (2); http://www.canva.com; http://www.heartlight.org; http://www.travelingteacheronline.com, H. McElwee; http://www.pxhere.com.
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From the Inside Out 