Zack's Tales

Zack’s Tales
Meet Laurel Jean’s Associate, Audrey Gunter, Introduced by Audrey’s Guide Dog, Zack.

Zack’s Tales ($12.00) “Zack’s Tales - Travels of a Guide Dog”
Copyright 2004 by Audrey Gunter, ISBN 1-59457-671-8

This is Me, Zack, The world's best guide dog.

Hi. My name is Zack and I’m the very best guide dog in the whole wide world. If you don’t believe me, just ask my mom. She tells me that all the time.

My mom, Audrey Gunter, and I are from South Carolina, and we help my Aunt Laurel Jean in her ministry. My mom was born in SC, and I came from Florida.

Mom and I were matched at Southeastern Guide Dog School in 2002. It took me 26 days to get her to finally trust me. Then, I went back to live with her in South Carolina. While we were at School, Mom met a lady named Mary Kay, who introduced her to Jesus. After we got back to South Carolina, Mom and I started going to Creekside Advent Christian Church. One Sunday, Mom asked me to take her to the altar, and a week later, she was baptized. Boy, did I want to get into that water with her!

One day, Mom received a call from Mary Kay, the lady who introduced her to Jesus while we were still at Guide Dog School. She told Mom about the Christian Blind Institute, an affiliate of Lutheran Blind Mission in St. Louis, MO.

It was at a retreat, sponsored by Lutheran Blind Mission, that Mom and I met Laurel Jean in 2005. Laurel Jean presented a concert and an afternoon workshop for those of us who attended the conference. After learning about Laurel Jean and her ministry, Mom was led to ask her to be part of the First Southern Regional Top Dog Workshop, held in Charleston, South Carolina in January 2006. Laurel Jean agreed. She came to our town of Charleston, to present music for The Blessing of the Guides, and to provide a concert for guests at the then Howard Johnson Riverfront. She also presented concert ministry at area churches.

Mom and I hung out with Aunt Laurel Jean when we could, and learned more about her ministry. Here she is, rehearsing, before one of her presentations.

While Mom and I picked up guests from the airport, we also asked Fran Herne (then Supervisor for the City of Charleston Parks and Recreation) to take Laurel Jean on a tour of the city. Aunt Laurel was determined to walk across the Arthur Ravenal Bridge, the longest cable- stayed bridge in North America! She is really good with her long, white cane, and was going to walk across the bridge by herself. But, her associate Joan, and Fran, after seeing her determination, decided to walk too, in spite of their fear of heights. Here are Laurel Jean and Fran, at the center of the bridge!

Laurel withFran Herne on the Arthur Ravenal Bridge

Here we all are, in Laurel Jean’s Ramsey, IL reception area, with her black Lab Zettie, and Aunt Joan's beautiful pet, Kaley.

Here are the three of us, standing under the Angel Oak Tree.

Laurel with Audrey and Zack under the Angel Oak

After the workshop, Mom prayed and was led to learn more about Laurel Jean’s ministry. Aunt Laurel invited us to come to Illinois for a couple of weeks, which we did in March of 2006. We accompanied Aunt Joan and Aunt Laurel to several of Aunt Laurel Jean’s engagements. While we were in Illinois, Aunt laurel prayed for snow and snow it did! I have never seen so much white stuff before. We had a really good time walking in the snow in Aunt Laurel’s backyard.

Laurel, Audrey and Zack on the Snowy Bridge

After Mom and I got back to Charleston, Mom talked to our pastor, and did lots of praying. She felt that God was putting a calling on her heart to volunteer in Laurel Jean’s ministry. My mom is retired from the Medical University of South Carolina where she served as director of The Department of Transportation, and since we were matched, we have been active volunteers in our church and community. Still, Mom said that she felt God was leading her to do something more for Him. We didn’t know that Aunt Joan and Aunt Laurel had been praying for extra help in the ministry for quite some time.

We came back to Illinois in May, with the blessing of Creekside Church, and have been helping Aunt Laurel Jean since then. We never know where God is going to use us. One day, Mom was actually talking on her cell phone in a cornfield!

As 2006 drew to a close, Mom began to help from a distance to plan the 2007 Top Dog Workshop. She told me that we would have to go back to Charleston for a little while, and we would see Aunt Laurel and Aunt Joan in Savannah, GA, where the next workshop would be held in January of 2007.

In Savannah, Laurel Jean officiated for the Blessing, moderated a special panel discussion of Guide Dog Users, and provided dinner music for the banquet.

After the workshop, Aunt Joan and Aunt Laurel Jean took Mom and me back to Charleston, SC. Mom said that we had some work to do there, before we could come back to Illinois.

We stopped at Edisto Beach and had a picnic that Sunday afternoon. This was a special treat for all of us!

Aunt Laurel went into the water, and Mom let her take me swimming! Here are the three of us, on the beach.

Aunt Joan really enjoyed feeding the gulls on the beach.

As we got ready to leave, Aunt Laurel happened to be standing right by a motorcycle. She didn’t even know it! This picture is just too cool.

I was hoping that Aunt Laurel would take me motorcycling, too, but Mom said that we had to go home. Aunt Laurel and Aunt Joan stayed with Mom and me for a couple of days before they went back to Illinois. Aunt Laurel was too busy to play ball with me. She had to fix some computers, and talk with the nice folks at the Association For The Blind in Charleston, SC.

Since 2007, Mom and I continue to travel across the country with Aunt Laurel Jean and serve in her Ministry. Aunt Laurel has even opened an extension of her Ministry in our hometown of Charleston, SC, with a Children's Chaplaincy for blind kids. (Oh boy! Kids!) Whether we’re on the road or in the office, I like helping my Mom work with Aunt Laurel Jean. Sometimes, Aunt Laurel even plays ball with me. I didn’t used to like white canes very much, but Laurel Jean’s cane really comes in handy when my football is stuck under the furniture.

Speaking of stories, have you read my book yet? I wrote it, with a little help from Mom. It is called “Zack’s Tales-Travels of a Guide Dog”. Purchase your own print copy (complete with my personal “pawdograph”) right here on Laurel Jean’s Web site. When you purchase the book from Laurel Jean’s Web site, all proceeds go to Laurel Jean’s ministry.

Zack’s Tales ($12.00) “Zack’s Tales—Travels of a Guide Dog”
Copyright 2004 by Audrey Gunter, ISBN 1-59457-671-8

If you would rather have an audio version, please see the nice folks at Guide Dog Users, Inc., where all proceeds from those purchases go directly to GDUI.

We sure stay busy working with Aunt Laurel Jean. Maybe someday we can come to visit your church or community. For more information about booking Laurel Jean, feel free to talk to my mom. Heck, you can even speak with Laurel Jean personally by phone or Email.

Until next time, as Aunt Laurel Jean says, God bless you and keep His song in your heart.

See you soon, Zack the Guide Dog Zacks Genuine Pawdograph

1 Corinthians 11:1 "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."

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1407 D Trailmore Dr., Charleston, SC 29407
843-608-6890 or 618-423-9783 (Central IL)
E-mail: info@laureljean.com