Getting to Know Kristie Truell
While we have been able to become acquainted with Pastor Jason through his preaching and writing, we thought it would be fun to get to know Kristie, Pastor Jason's wife. Covid-19 prevents us from chatting with her at church, so here's the next best way to find out more about her!
I am originally from Boones Mill in Franklin County, Virginia, USA. If you have ever watched the movie What About Bob?, you will have seen Smith Mountain Lake in Franklin County where I spent a lot of time boating and swimming in my youth. I am the oldest of three children and have a younger sister and brother who both still live in Virginia. This is part of the Bible Belt, so I grew up going to church and youth group, but not in a Christian home exactly. I became a Christian through youth group and summer church camps.
At the University of Virginia, I was originally studying pre-med and took chemistry classes to satisfy those requirements. I discovered that I enjoyed studying chemistry and was also good at it, so I continued in that field. I found that learning about the intricacies of God’s creation led to deeper worship of “the one who upholds the universe by the word of his power.” Jason and I lived in the same dorm building during our first year at university. We started dating that year and married just after graduation.
Shortly after our wedding, we moved to Taiwan. We lived in Taichung for three years where we studied Mandarin Chinese full- time at the Chinese Language Center of Tunghai University. Later we moved to Taipei where Jason completed his MDiv at Chinese Evangelical Seminary and then worked at Friendship Presbyterian Church. We lived in Taipei for six years. In both Taichung and Taipei, the biggest challenge of city life was getting used to always relying on public transportation. Having your own vehicle gives you a lot more independence and convenience!
We attended a lovely Baptist church in Taichung that was very active and generous at including us in their fellowship groups and worship, particularly given our poor language skills at the time.
Ellie, our oldest, was born while we were living in Taichung. Abram, John, and Gabby were born after we moved to Taipei. Our apartment was very busy and loud, particularly our tiny (~400 sq ft) dorm apartment at the seminary! Living in small spaces certainly helps with organization and thinking very carefully about possessions. We had wonderful friends in Taipei, and the children and I knew all the different parks around the city. Our favourite was a wading pool near the seminary that we visited as often as possible during the hot summers.
And then, in 2015, God brought us to Richmond! After our time in Taiwan came to an unexpected end, Jason found a position as the pastor for the English congregation of a Chinese church in Richmond. Now God has brought us to Ladner CRC and seems to be providing continued opportunities for Chinese ministry. It is exciting to see what God has in store for the future!
BC truly is beautiful British Columbia! Jason and I both love the outdoors, especially hiking, camping, and skiing. One of the more difficult things about living in a Taiwanese city was not having much access to nature. Now we are thrilled to be able to camp in the summers and ski through the winters. I like taking long walks on the dyke in all weather. I love being outdoors and am thankful every day for all the natural beauty and fresh air we have here.
Last year I had the amazing opportunity to teach chemistry at Richmond Christian Secondary School. It was a great experience and I loved the students. I enjoy being around younger people; trying to understand their perspectives teaches me a great deal. I am hoping to pursue a career in education; I will apply to a B.Ed. program this year and God willing be able to start studying next fall.
My faith gives me hope and peace, knowing that God’s promises are trustworthy because of who he is. One aspect of living as an immigrant, which I have done for 15 years now, is having less control and a bit of uncertainty about how long you will be living in a place. Knowing that my future is secure in Jesus, and being able to trust in the one who holds it and guides it gives me immeasurable comfort.