When Nathan Heintze first joined a medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic in 2024, he didn’t expect it to change the direction of his life. But what began as a simple step of obedience has become a calling, a way to serve God and others with both heart and hands.

“I was inspired by Ryan and Margaret Anderson and their passion for missions,” Nathan said. “They often reminded us that the Great Commission isn’t just a verse for a few, but a command for all believers.”

With years of experience in hospital supply chain management, Nathan knew he could contribute to a medical team in practical ways. When he learned that Baptist Medical Missions International (BMMI) needed not only doctors and nurses but also people to greet patients, organize supplies, and assist with logistics, he sensed that God was opening the door.

This year’s trip was Nathan’s second time serving with BMMI in the Dominican Republic. “I knew I was going back to see local pastors and families I’d grown to love,” he shared. “I also knew the conditions our Dominican friends faced daily, and the needs of the Haitian refugees living among them.”

Preparation for the trip was rooted in prayer. Each day leading up to departure, Nathan prayed for the team’s safety, for the pastors they would partner with, and for the communities they would serve. “We wanted to be ready for whatever the Lord had planned,” he said.

The team conducted medical clinics in two areas, Loyola and Alcarrizos. In Loyola, they set up in Pastor John’s church, a three-story building tucked into a busy urban neighborhood. In Alcarrizos, a church member opened his entire home to become a temporary clinic, even removing all his furniture so the team could serve comfortably.

The clinics offered wellness exams, distributed parasite medication and vitamins, and fitted patients with eyeglasses and sunglasses. “Many of the people we saw lacked access to even the most basic medicines,” Nathan explained. “It reminded us how privileged we are to have clean water and pharmacies back home.”

But physical care was only part of the mission. “One of the most powerful aspects of a BMMI trip is how it allows local pastors to connect with their communities,” Nathan said. “Many patients hear the gospel for the first time in these clinics.”

Among Nathan’s most treasured memories are the home visits–times when the team brought care directly to those unable to reach the clinic. He recalled three elderly women whose stories have stayed with him.

During a trip in 2024, Nathan and several teammates visited a woman with a broken leg who had recently lost her husband. After her checkup, a team member asked about her relationship with God. “She said she wanted to know the Lord,” Nathan remembered. “Right there, she accepted Christ.”

This year, the team encountered similar moments, offering prayer, encouragement, and medical help to patients who welcomed both physical and spiritual healing. “Those visits remind me that God’s presence meets people right where they are,” Nathan said.

Serving alongside Dominican pastors, translators, and medical professionals made a lasting impression. “When we left, I felt like part of an international family,” Nathan said. “Everyone including pastors, translators, doctors, children’s workers played a vital role. It’s exactly what Romans 12 teaches: we are one body with many members.”

Witnessing the challenges of daily life in the Dominican Republic–unsafe water, inadequate housing, and scarce medical supplies–was both heartbreaking and motivating. “It was difficult to see, especially knowing that many Haitian refugees there are without homes,” Nathan said. “But it also strengthened my resolve to serve.”

He admitted that he once had no interest in international missions. “Now, I feel a calling to go as often as I can,” he said. “It’s a blessing to serve, even in small ways.” The experience also stretched him personally, helping him overcome his fear of flying, lead devotionals, and find joy in unexpected tasks like counting medicine or playing with children.

After years in Conway, Arkansas, where his faith and calling were shaped through the ministry of Antioch Conway, Nathan recently moved to Celina, Texas, as part of a church planting team sent out from Antioch. The new congregation is working to build relationships in a growing community that includes many families from different cultural backgrounds.

Nathan says his mission experiences have prepared him for this next step. “Serving cross-culturally in the Dominican Republic helped me see how to connect with people whose backgrounds are different from mine,” he explained. “Every person is loved by God, and that truth crosses every boundary.”

When asked what he would tell someone considering a medical mission trip, Nathan didn’t hesitate: “Pray first. If God calls you to go, don’t delay. Say yes, and trust Him to handle the rest.”

He paused before adding, “You’ll be stretched. You’ll see things that break your heart. But you’ll also experience the joy of serving others and the presence of God in a way that changes you forever.”