An interview with Prof.Dr. Reinhard Dörner, Professor of experimental nuclear physics at the University of Frankfurt/Main on March 9th, 2005
Diospi Suyana spoke with the nuclear physicist Prof. Dr. Reinhard Dörner
DS: Professor Dörner, you commute between Frankfurt, Berkeley /California and other universities. What does the life of a nuclear physicist have to do with with Diospi Suyana?
RD.: To be a scientist in one of the richest countries on earth at this time is an incredible privilege. When you have been blessed with such undeserved happiness, the scandal of injustice, inequality and poverty in our world hurts all the more. Diospi Suyana is a small but admirable attempt to improve the scandalous condition of our world in some small way.
DS: There are as many charitable projects in the world as there are stars in the sky. What criteria are the basis for your support?
RD.: The success of a project depends on the people behind it. I have known Klaus-Dieter and Martina John since we were at school. They meet every condition to make a long-term success of this incredible Diospi Suyana plan. They have the necessary training, a lot of experience, perseverance for many, many years and the will and readiness to commit themselves personally, which I find admirable. You just have to get behind the two of them!
DS: There is a lack of money everywhere. There are a lot of both state and church projects that could be carried out in Germany, if the necessary finance were available. Wouldn´t it be better to support a charitable project in Germany?
RD.: Let me answer with another question. Isn´t it time in Germany to levy taxes at such a level that the State could make necessary social provision for all. In a rich country such as Germany, social justice is the State´s main responsibility. I dread the thought of “American conditions” where the State is withdrawing from the responsibility for social provision and shifting it onto private charities.
DS: If commitment to the so-called third world is so important, what opportunities do you see in your own profession to exert a positive influence on the fate of the developing countries?
RD.: Only very indirect ones. I am a scientist and university professor with all my heart. Training has always been important and international. Historically, education and scientific progress have been among the most important motivating forces in the improvement of people´s standard of living and will continue to be so.
DS: In the Quecha language Diospi Suyana means “We trust in God!” Does God have a part in your own life?
RD.: I am a Christian, even if it is difficult for me to say that I am, in view of existing Christianity in its fundamentalist form in, say, the USA or Rome. Nevertheless, a clear YES. I have a childlike trust in God and in prayer, even if I can´t explain it rationally.
DS: Physics is based on exact observations and calculations. Faith is altogether different. Isn´t it difficult for a scientist to deal with the supernatural and inexplicable?
RD.: I think that the supernatural that we are confronted with in “telling the future” or “astrology” is pretense. But I hesitate to lump every religious faith with such nonsense. So I don´t really like your choice of words and the contrast in your question. In the doubt between faith and rationality, there is no good reason to decide against common sense; but there is a reason to hope that this is an apparent alternative.
DS: You have a wife and daughter. Could you imagine a holiday in Peru?
RD.: That would be very exciting!
DS: Thank you for the interview!
Interview with Anette Bauscher, Head of Communications and Fundraising at Diospi Suyana on November 10, 2004
In its ordinary meeting on October 30, 2004 Diospi Suyana signed on Ms. Anette Bauscher from Solms as its fund-raiser, with effect from January 1, 2005. Diospi Suyana spoke with Ms. Bauscher:
DS: Ms. Bauscher, what is meant by this expression “fundraiser”? The man in the street will be scratching his head at the word.
A.B.: That´s true. I don´t like it very much either. It sounds a bit like “ulterior motives”, particularly to people who are not familiar with it. Unfortunately there isn´t a German word for it. “Fund” is money, means, resources and “raise” is to procure, to obtain, to cause to increase”. My job is just procuring donations or rather “teaching people the joy of giving” as one American fundraiser put it.
DS: You worked at ERF (Gospel Radio/TV) in Wetzlar for almost 10 years. The ERF is a huge established charity. Diospi Suyana on the other hand has only become known in Germany this year. What has caused you to make the change. Did a sense of adventure get a hold of you?
A.B.: Who knows? I am a bit of an adventurer. I don´t worry about security; after all, that isn´t what God asked us to do. He is our “security”. I find the varied pioneer work very exciting, even if it is uncomfortable and there is the risk of losing sight of the main goal with all the small but important jobs to be done. And although I do have a “steady” side, there is a side to me that needs change, so that things don´t get boring. It is also important to me not just to keep things ticking over but to move ahead. Standing still is fatal and is really going backwards. And that is what I liked about the founders of Diospi Suyana; they want to achieve something, believe that their project is God´s project and that He will help them. I find the novelty and originality of the project really exciting, fully reliant on God. As far as ERF is concerned – it is still very important to me. ERF will always be something special to me. But I think after the 10 years I gave to it, it´s time to take on a new challenge.
DS: You are taking a certain risk. Do you do high-risk sports like bungee-jumping or paragliding?
A.B.: I did try paragliding on my last holiday. It was a great, unforgettable experience that I´d love to repeat. Apart from that I love horses. What I love about them is that they are sometimes impetuous and unpredictable. On the whole I think they are the most noble and fascinating of all of God´s creatures. I ride regularly, swim and visit friends in my leisure time. And soon I´ll be playing with a puppy, I´m looking forward to him.
DS: Have you ever been to South America?
A.B.: Yes, I visited my aunt in Brazil in 1997 who was a missionary there for 35 years. DS: Should you ever take a look at the situation of the mountain Indians in Peru, you are sure to be offered a guinea pig to eat; does the thought make your mouth water ?
A.B.: Help, anything but that! I´d rather become a vegetarian. I´m afraid I would have to politely decline……
DS: What do you think makes Diospi Suyana attractive to potential sponsors?
A.B.: For one thing, that DS is so closely involved with the people. And not only medically, as people too. A lot of people appreciate the fact that DS isn´t trying to “re-educate” the Indians but to support and further their own culture. There are enough examples in history of foreigners wanting to evangelize with their “good intentions” but succeeding in doing the opposite.
DS: What do you think the chances are of the Diospi Suyana hospital being financed long-term at least partially by donations?
A.B.: In human terms, the chances are poor in view of the present economic situation. The people are unsure and are hanging onto their money, think of themselves first and their futures, which is understandable. But with God nothing is impossible. He has shown that he wants Diospi Suyana. And so He will provide the people who will make the project their own and support it financially. Don´t forget that everyone is blessed by giving. God promises us that in Malachi 3:10. He likes to be proved in this!
DS: Yes, in Germany there is a real atmosphere of crisis. Luther said that if the world were to end tomorrow he would still plant an apple tree today. What sign of hope would you erect?
A.B.: Diospi Suyana
DS: Diospi Suyana means “We trust in God”. What does this motto mean to you?
A.B.: God challenges us to live out our faith. The motto reminds me of this every day and encourages me to do so. This isn´t always in my nature.
DS: Now we really know a lot more about you. Thank you for the interview.
Interview with Axel Lantzsch, managing director of STOSS-MEDICA medical technology on September 17, 2004
Diospi Suyana asked Axel Lantzsch, managing director of Stoss-Medica medical technology, for his opinion of the planned missionary hospital.
DS: Mr. Lantzsch, when did you hear about Diopi Suyana for the first time?
Lantzsch: One of my co-workers visited the missionary hospital in Shell, Ecuador in 2002 where Drs. Martina and Klaus John were working at the time. That was the first contact. At the beginning of 2004 we read about the ambitious project in Peru in a news letter from this hospital. In March 2004 my family and I attended an information presentation about Diospi Suyana in Wiesbaden and met the John family in person. Since then we have tried to help Diospi Suyana.
DS: Your very considerable support is in the form of coordinating the search for equipment. How much money has DS made for you so far?
Lantzsch: The very precise sum of € 0. And I assume that future cooperation with DS will raise similarly exorbitant sums! Joking aside, the purpose of company and management involvement is not covering costs or making a profit. As a company and as human beings we have a responsibility for others. We are trying to meet this responsibility.
DS: If there isn´t a penny profit in it, why are you actively involved in building a clinic 10,000 kilometers away in the Peruvian mountains?
Lantzsch: Every human being should have access to the medical care needed in the event of sickness or accident. Medical care in this region is totally inadequate at present. Diospi Suyana will change that. The Diospi Suyana structure keeps administrative costs to a minimum so that the people of the Peruvian mountains will be the ones to benefit fully from everything donated, whether it be money, service or equipment. Not only the goal but also the people at Diospi Suyana have won my support. They work with admirable dedication, their Christian convictions and extensive expert knowledge. It is simply a joy to support such a project under these circumstances.
DS: Have you supported similar projects in the past?
Lantzsch: Yes. For 10 years we supported the “A Drop of Milk” project headed up by Christel Jeschke, which contributed greatly to improvements in the medical care situation in Southern Morocco. When the “A Drop of Milk” project ended, we worked with A.I.S.T. in Wiesbaden, which supports children´s hospitals in the Ukraine.
DS: What do your business associates think of your involvement with Diospi Suyana?
Lantzsch: We make use of our business contacts to publicise Diospi Suyana. We want to convince our business partners that it is important that they also support the building of a hospital in Curahuasi. Some of our business associates have already helped with generous donations of money or equipment. It is my aim to build up a network in our sector that can contribute to the success of the project long-term.
DS: Diospi Suyana is a project of committed Christians from various church backgrounds. Are you a religious man?
Lantzsch: I am a Christian
DS: In spring 2006, the hospital will be dedicated. Woud you like to be there to witness the event with your family?
Lantzsch: Of course, it would be great to be there for the completion of the project. On the other hand, Diospi Suyana could put the money that we would spend on the trip to good use.
DS: Thank you for the interview.
Interview with Jörg and Birgit Bardy on August 5th, 2004
Jörg (45) and Birgit (39) Bardy live in Lüdenscheid. Jörg works as a physiotherapist there at the clinic in Hellersen. Birgit is a general practitioner and is at present studying to be a consultant in internal medicine.
DS: In these economically difficult times, you both have steady jobs. However, you are both involved in the Diospi Suyana project to build and run a missionary hospital for the mountain Indians of Peru. When did you first hear of Diospi Suyana?
Birgit: On a trip to Ecuador in December 2002, we met the John family in the small town of Shell. They were working there as missionary doctors and bubbled over with enthusiasm as they shared their plans with us.
Jörg: Then we also met Markus Rolli in Shell, a Swiss national with a lot of experience of South America, who was considering working with Diospi Suyana. We have had Diospi Suyana on our minds since that point.
DS: Did you ever think Diospi Suyana fever would get a hold of you?
Birgit: I did.
Jörg: Me too.
Birgit: I even prayed that it would be on Jörg´s heart
DS: There are many good projects that deserve support – why are you so committed to Diospi Suyana?
Birgit: We believe that this project makes sense and that God is behind it. Also, as we mentioned, we met the Johns.
DS: Are you interested in the Indios?
Birgit: Diospi Suyana wants to help the mountain Indios in particular. 13 years ago on my first trip to Ecuador, I came to appreciate this very pleasant ethnic group. The people are really friendly and reserved.
Jörg: Before I was married, I traveled a lot. But I must say that the weeks I spent in Ecuador were really something special. South American culture is incredibly rich.
DS: You are seriously considering emigrating there. What do your friends and colleagues think of that?
Birgit: They think it is great and are very supportive. My mother would even like to come out to Peru to work in the kitchen.
Jörg: Some of my colleagues think our plans are very bold. Still, they intend to come by, as does my wife´s boss. They particularly have difficulty understanding that we won´t have a steady salary. We will be paid from donations made by friends.
DS: Which action have you been able to take to further the work of Diospi Suyana?
Jörg: Quite a few things. It has been our goal to introduce our friends and acquaintances to the project and for them to become active supporters. So we organized three presentations in Lüdenscheid: the first one was in our free evangelical church, the second in a Lions Club, thanks to contacts made by my wife´s boss; thirdly, with the help of Prof. Giebel, I was able to hold an information event at the clinic in Hellersen, which almost 50 doctors attended.
Birgit: We were astounded at the great interest of the press in Diospi Suyana. Thanks to several contacts, there were 5 long articles in the city newspaper. As a result many of the people of Lüdenscheid joined as sponsoring members.
DS: Profession, friends, a nice apartment, you have everything – so why are you thinking of giving it all up?
Jörg: Because we have always wanted to give a part of our lives to serve in the third world.
Birgit: For years I have wanted to serve the poor as a doctor in a developing country.
DS: Is it the pure desire for adventure, boredom or your beliefs that make you go ahead with this?
Birgit: I have come to realize that God´s love is the most important thing we can have in life. I think it is also the deciding factor in our happiness. As I understand the Bible, God wants us to help the poor. We have a good standard of living in Germany. So my answer to that question would be my beliefs.
Jörg: It isn´t boredom or adventure. My wife and I live as believing Christians. We have been given certain gifts and want to put them to use to achieve something important. I think we also want to be examples and to live out our faith before others.
DS: Who is Jesus Christ to you?
Birgit: God revealed Himself in Jesus Christ and reconciled us to Himself through his death of the cross. This is my life´s foundation.
Jörg: I grew up a Catholic and went through communion and confirmation. At some point I set out to examine other faiths, including Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam. At the end of my journey I reached the conclusion that the Christian faith offers the answers to my questions.
DS: Why?
Jörg: This is where a God of love meets me. And
I can come to God with all my problems just as I am.
DS: Thank you for the interview.