The Day of Their Farewell
My mentor at Yale University was Prof. Dr. Irvin Modlin. He always gave me the following advice: “Klaus, you have to travel first class through life!” He certainly wasn’t referring to an expensive seat on a plane. No, he advised me to surround myself with the best people—women and men from whom I could learn something, people who would spark my imagination and help me grow. I have often tried to take the famous professor’s words to heart.
One of these individuals was given a farewell service a few hours ago in the hospital chapel. Heike Fieß had previously worked as the chief of staff to the administrative director of the German Bundestag. One day, she came across the book *Walking on Water*. She got in touch and offered to work with us for three months. “No, we need you for at least three years!” My answer was clear and unambiguous. Heike quit her job in Berlin and came to Curahuasi, Peru, in 2023. At Diospi Suyana, she served as deputy administrative director.
It was a great honor for us to work with her. Her employment reference aptly describes how she was an invaluable asset to our team.
To conclude, she led a morning prayer service in the packed hospital chapel. She spoke about the importance of faith in her life and in her family. She spoke about death and eternal life, forgiveness, and new beginnings. The message of her words can be summed up as hope in a real God who sees, hears, and loves us humans.
Dr. Martina John thanked Heike Fieß with kind words, and then silence fell over the large auditorium. The band began to play a song of blessing, and one group after another stood up and sang a verse. It was an emotional farewell, and more than a few people secretly wiped a tear from their eyes.
Now Heike is returning to the German Parliament. “Three years were definitely better than three months!” With these words, she looks back and now looks ahead with confidence.
“Heike, you did a great job!” Over the past three years, I’ve really been traveling through life in first class. /KDJ
