Zao's Tales

John was born in the state of Indiana, but soon moved to Northern Michigan. There he spent a large portion of his childhood at a 120-acre Christian camp. In these wide spaces he spent his summer days wandering the woods, swimming in the lake, catching frogs and snakes for fun, shooting at the archery range and pretending to be Robin Hood, riding dune carts as much as he was allowed, and playing with the new friends he made weekly.

As he grew, his parents moved again and shortly thereafter he started his first “real” job as a strawberry picker. Since his first job (which only lasted one summer), he has held jobs in many other lines of work: a grocery clerk, a sawmill worker, a landscaper, a waiter, and a cook in an industrial kitchen.

One year after college he and his wife, who was expecting their first child, moved halfway around the world to be missionaries in Ghana, West Africa. This has been his life’s calling ever since.

During his time in the tropical sun he has discovered and re-discovered many things. Guitar playing, reading great books, and learning how not to sweat in the 100+ degree weather are just a few of them. One of the greatest treasures he’s found, though, is sharing stories with his beautiful wife and four girls.