It had been over a decade since my last trip with Global Health Outreach (GHO). My first experience was in Nicaragua back in 2012, and after that, life had taken over. Over the years, I had grown cold and distant—callous, really. I was stuck in a funk that I couldn’t seem to shake, and deep down, I knew I needed to do something drastic to break free from it. That’s when this trip came along, but getting there was no easy task.
The devil did everything he could to keep me from going. I wrestled with doubt and fear, and at one point, I even canceled. But my daughter, Kellie Zentz, wouldn’t let me give up so easily. She looked me straight in the eye and told me I couldn’t back out—I had to go. Her words struck a chord deep within me, and I knew she was right. So, I swallowed my fear, I got ahold of Ron to tell him I was back on board.
I’ll be honest—I had no idea what I was going to do once I got there. I don’t have a medical background, and I figured if nothing else, I could always help Kellie in the pharmacy. But God had bigger plans. The moment my foot hit the clinic floor, the Lord put me to work. I ended up alongside Ron, the team director, and Jared, the co-director, using my logistics skills to set up the pharmacy, the triage area, and various other sections of the clinic. I was in my element, and before I knew it, I was completely immersed.
The week flew by. We were nonstop, serving patients and families from the local area. If I heard the numbers correctly, we had over 2,000 people come through the clinic. I spent most of my time working in triage, guiding patients from one area to another—whether it was to the doctors, the eye clinic, the dental station, or physical therapy. And let me tell you, I loved every minute of it. This was the best job! Moving through all the departments gave me a chance to see the clinic from every angle, meet the patients and their families, and build relationships with everyone on the team—doctors, nurses, translators, volunteers, and even local medical students. I was right where I was supposed to be.
As the days went by, something inside me began to change. That cold, hardened heart of mine started to melt. My emotions, which I had buried for so long, came rushing to the surface—sometimes in the middle of the clinic and other times during our evening devotionals. God was working on me, breaking through those walls I had built over the years.
By the end of the week, I wasn’t the same person who had stepped off that plane. My heart was softened, my spirit was renewed, and I felt a closeness to God that I hadn’t experienced in a long time. This trip wasn’t just about serving others—it was about God reclaiming my heart. And I am forever grateful that Kellie reminded me that I couldn’t cancel. She was right—I had to go.
Now, I’m looking ahead to what’s next. I’ve already set my sights on next year’s trip to Ecuador, but this time, I’m hoping I won’t be going alone. I’m working on getting my wife on board to join me. I’ve seen firsthand how life-changing these trips can be, and I know she would love it just as much as I do. I can’t think of a better experience than serving alongside her in this incredible ministry.
Since I’m semi-retired, I’ve also been thinking about how I can do even more. My heart is telling me that one trip a year isn’t enough. I’d love to go on two of these trips a year—not for me, but to put my gifts to work and help others. God has given me the skills and the heart for this kind of work, and I feel called to use them to make a difference wherever I can.
Looking back, I see how God used this trip not only to impact the lives of the people we served in Ecuador but also to change me from the inside out. And now, I’m ready to keep saying yes—to go wherever The Lord calls, to serve however He leads, and to keep letting Him work on my heart, one mission at a time.
The devil did everything he could to keep me from going. I wrestled with doubt and fear, and at one point, I even canceled. But my daughter, Kellie Zentz, wouldn’t let me give up so easily. She looked me straight in the eye and told me I couldn’t back out—I had to go. Her words struck a chord deep within me, and I knew she was right. So, I swallowed my fear, I got ahold of Ron to tell him I was back on board.
I’ll be honest—I had no idea what I was going to do once I got there. I don’t have a medical background, and I figured if nothing else, I could always help Kellie in the pharmacy. But God had bigger plans. The moment my foot hit the clinic floor, the Lord put me to work. I ended up alongside Ron, the team director, and Jared, the co-director, using my logistics skills to set up the pharmacy, the triage area, and various other sections of the clinic. I was in my element, and before I knew it, I was completely immersed.
The week flew by. We were nonstop, serving patients and families from the local area. If I heard the numbers correctly, we had over 2,000 people come through the clinic. I spent most of my time working in triage, guiding patients from one area to another—whether it was to the doctors, the eye clinic, the dental station, or physical therapy. And let me tell you, I loved every minute of it. This was the best job! Moving through all the departments gave me a chance to see the clinic from every angle, meet the patients and their families, and build relationships with everyone on the team—doctors, nurses, translators, volunteers, and even local medical students. I was right where I was supposed to be.
As the days went by, something inside me began to change. That cold, hardened heart of mine started to melt. My emotions, which I had buried for so long, came rushing to the surface—sometimes in the middle of the clinic and other times during our evening devotionals. God was working on me, breaking through those walls I had built over the years.
By the end of the week, I wasn’t the same person who had stepped off that plane. My heart was softened, my spirit was renewed, and I felt a closeness to God that I hadn’t experienced in a long time. This trip wasn’t just about serving others—it was about God reclaiming my heart. And I am forever grateful that Kellie reminded me that I couldn’t cancel. She was right—I had to go.
Now, I’m looking ahead to what’s next. I’ve already set my sights on next year’s trip to Ecuador, but this time, I’m hoping I won’t be going alone. I’m working on getting my wife on board to join me. I’ve seen firsthand how life-changing these trips can be, and I know she would love it just as much as I do. I can’t think of a better experience than serving alongside her in this incredible ministry.
Since I’m semi-retired, I’ve also been thinking about how I can do even more. My heart is telling me that one trip a year isn’t enough. I’d love to go on two of these trips a year—not for me, but to put my gifts to work and help others. God has given me the skills and the heart for this kind of work, and I feel called to use them to make a difference wherever I can.
Looking back, I see how God used this trip not only to impact the lives of the people we served in Ecuador but also to change me from the inside out. And now, I’m ready to keep saying yes—to go wherever The Lord calls, to serve however He leads, and to keep letting Him work on my heart, one mission at a time.