John

John is from Tulsa, Oklahoma (Jenks High School ’99), and received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Oklahoma State University in 2005. He served in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps from 2005-2010, and was stationed in Vicenza, Italy; Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois; and Joint Base Balad, Iraq. During his time in the Veterinary Corps, John conducted a number of missions throughout Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. As a result of this work, his heart was drawn to the possibility of working in developing countries. John married Kristen, whom he met at the Church of Christ University Center in Stillwater, Oklahoma, in 2008. When he left the Veterinary Corps in 2010, John used the G.I. Bill to pursue a Master of Arts in Historical Theology and a Master of Arts in Biblical Exegesis from Wheaton College in Illinois. He joined the Orthodox Church on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, September 14, 2010. John currently works as a postdoc at Iowa State University on a project writing educational materials addressing antimicrobial resistance in swine for international audiences, and is completing his thesis for a PhD in Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine. 

Kristen

Kristen grew up in Stillwater, Oklahoma where she attended cosmetology school and began working as a hairstylist. In 2006, she moved to Chicago to apprentice at a prestigious salon, eventually becoming a national educator for Kerastase and having the honor of working New York Fashion Week. In 2010, Kristen took her first trip to Haiti where she began to feel her heart being pulled towards overseas work; her second trip just over a year later confirmed that desire. Kristen joined the Orthodox Church on Holy Saturday of 2012. Shortly thereafter Kristen and John decided to direct their prayers and their thoughts towards Ethiopia. Kristen homeschools Charlie, Easton, and Judah, and strives to keep Titus (and the others, for that matter) from destroying the house at the same time.

Charles Maximus

Charlie was born in Ames, Iowa in July of 2014. He is in second grade, and loves to read, to play chess, and to play piano.

Easton Elias

Easton was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma in August of 2015, and was adopted by John and Kristen in May of 2019. Easton is in kindergarten, and enjoys building things, jiu-jitsu, and anything with sugar in it.

Judah Severus

Judah was born in Ames in July of 2017. He is in pre-K and loves all aspects of warrior culture, weapons, and cuddling.

Titus Ulysses

Titus was born in Tulsa in June of 2019. Titus enjoys being Superman, playing with cars, and learning (and using) age-inappropriate words shockingly quickly and obstinately.