Based on true events that span six decades, Called is an expansive historical novel 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 Smith faced intractable opposition from multiple fronts: a medical community that rejected their unorthodox and revolutionary practices, governments that threatened imprisonment, and neighboring villagers who vowed to kill them.

Against the backdrop of World War II, Nazi uprisings, and political unrest, Called is an epic tale of fearless adventure and heroism that celebrates the triumph of the human spirit persevering in the face of fear, rebellious subversion, and terrorism.

"As the son of John Schmidt, a pacifist who was determined to make this world a better place in obedience to God's calling, I find this book to be an honest depiction of who he really was. I was intrigued by the colorful thread depicting the calling of an Argentine contemporary attempting to change her world by force and violence." -Dr. Wesley Schmidt, son of John and Clara, and medical director of Km. 81 1975-1978