Faith outside the comfort zone

by Jan Dixon
Special to The Leaven

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — When Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica this fall, leaving widespread flooding and damage in its wake, one local Catholic school graduate knew he needed to help. 

Guided by his faith and moved by the stories of families in need, Mike Zingg, a 2020 alumnus of  St. Thomas Aquinas High School (STA) in Overland Park, quickly volunteered to partner with Heart to Heart International, a nonprofit providing medical aid and relief supplies in disaster-stricken regions. 

“I just remember what we were taught at STA — to see what’s in front of you and to take the next step,” he said. “This was one way I could live that out.”

The team, composed of young adults and medical volunteers, are currently in Jamaica to help  distribute essential supplies, support medical clinics and assist families rebuilding their lives after the storm. For Zingg, this mission represents both a call to serve and a chance to put his Catholic education into action. 

Founded in 1992, Heart to Heart International (HHI) has a goal to deliver critical medical aid to  communities in crisis, from natural disasters to humanitarian emergencies. After Hurricane Melissa battered Jamaica in late October, the organization mobilized teams to provide  medicine, clean water and hygiene kits to those affected. 

J.P. Fisher, HHI director of disaster response, said that the western part of the country is devastated. Health facilities, churches and homes are destroyed. 

“A typical day involves going into the communities to assess damage and needs. We then coordinate with other humanitarian organizations to meet needs,” he said. 

Zingg works alongside the HHI team and fills in where needed. For him, the trip is more than an act of service — it’s a way of living out the Gospel call to love one’s neighbor. He credits his  years at STA for shaping that outlook.

“It started with participation in the Catholic Charities food drives,” he said. And it wasn’t just something done to earn service hours. Rather, it was woven into everything —  retreats, classes, even how students treated each other.

“That is what made me want to take my faith out into the world,” he said. 

As owner of Zingg Photography, he’s done concert photo, culinary and sports photography, as well as special events, reality shows, portraiture and real estate. These experiences have opened up a robust skill set, allowing him to be ready to react and produce top quality content at a moment’s notice. He worked with Fresh Water International in Africa this past summer and  considers it a life-changing event. But Jamaica is his first time seeing a real disaster. 

So, in addition to assisting in the relief efforts, Zingg is using his photography skills to capture the faces and stories of resilience he encounters.

“Photography has always been my way of telling stories that words can’t,” he explained. “We often wake up not knowing what each day will bring in Jamaica, and being able to adapt in the moment and create a story from nothing sometimes is what drives my success here.” 

His images help others see the dignity, hope, and faith of the people being helped — as well as the  ones helping. His work behind the camera is documenting both physical rebuilding and the acts of compassion that bring healing after disaster. 

HHI teams will continue working in Jamaica to provide clean water, emergency medicine and  support for local clinics and families rebuilding their lives. To learn more or contribute to  ongoing relief efforts, visit the website at: hearttoheart.org.