How did you first get involved with Ladner Christian Reformed Church?

Ed: We started attending Living Water Chinese Christian Church near the end of 2018 for about a year. Then, we began attending Ladner Christian Reformed Church.

Suzanne: We have lived on 54A Street since 2014. I knew there was a church near our house, but I never thought of going inside. On􏰊e day, I d􏰉on’t􏰊􏰍􏰎 know why but I stopped by 􏰌LCRC and asked about Living Water Chinese Christian Church. The next Sunday, I joined the worship. We have decided to stay with Ladner Christian Reformed Church.

Tell us about your family.

Ed: I came to Canada on my own, living at first in Nanaimo to complete my education in 2003. I moved to Burnaby in 2009 for work and then we moved Ladner in 2014. We like Lad􏰊e􏰒􏰍􏰋 􏰓􏰐ie􏰎 a􏰎􏰔􏰉􏰋􏰑he􏰒e. B􏰉􏰎h 􏰉􏰐􏰒 da􏰐gh􏰎e􏰒􏰋 􏰏e􏰒e b􏰉􏰒􏰊 while we have been living in Ladner. I became Canadian last year.

I am from Hong Kong and Suzanne is from the northern part of mainland China. We were miles and mountains away, and God brought us together in Vancouver! We met at a Bell dealership where I was her supervisor during her internship. I can speak both Mandarin and Cantonese, and Suzanne speaks Mandarin and can understand Cantonese. So, problem solved!

Suzanne: I immigrated on my own from Taiyuan, China in 2007. I attended Simon Fraser University and became a 􏰒ea􏰕􏰎􏰉􏰒􏰍􏰋 a􏰋􏰋i􏰋􏰎a􏰊􏰎 a􏰊d 􏰒e􏰊􏰎a􏰕 􏰑􏰒􏰉􏰑e􏰒􏰎􏰌 􏰔a􏰊age􏰒 f􏰉􏰒 a 􏰎i􏰔e. There are four people in our family: Edgar, Serena (4 years old), Sylvia (almost 8 months old) and me. We also have two dogs named Tigar and Foxie.

What do you do Monday through Saturday?

Ed: I have a BBA degree in Finance. I have been working in retail sales for almost ten years. For the past five years, I have been the Assistant Branch Manager for Hertz Car Rental in Vancouver. A lot of people don't like the fast pace of such a job, but I enjoy it. I like serving our customers and resolving their problems.

Suzanne: Due to COVID-19, I am staying at home with our daughters. Hopefully, in September, everything is back to normal and I can finish my practicum in Early Childhood Education from Sprott Shaw College.

Our family days are Saturdays and Sundays.

What is something people may be surprised to learn about you?

Ed: I went to a Catholic school in Hong Kong for 12 years. I learned English there but did not really get to practice it until I moved to BC.

Suzanne: I was born in a city famous for its ancient Buddhist culture. I never thought about Jesus. I was introduced to Jesus for the first time when my landlady brought me to her family's church in Vancouver. It was very difficult for me to understand what they were talking about. Then I met a friend who is a Christian. He told me about Jesus and brought me to a Chinese church in Vancouver. Even there I was not interested. This friend knows that I am now a Christian and he is delighted.

What do you find most challenging about being a Christian today?

Ed: We are living in a country with multiple cultures. With so many different people from different places and with different religions, it can be difficult for one to believe in the true God of the Bible.

It is difficult for our daughters to grow in their knowledge of God in this pandemic. To them, it seems "unreal" as we lack the physical connection with the church. Also, people can view the worship services online at any time, and the good habit of Sunday morning worship may be lost.

Suzanne: It is difficult to convince others that God really exists even though we cannot physically see him.

You are quite new to our church but you are already involved! Tell us about that.

Ed: Three of us were baptized in 2018 while at Living Water Chinese Church. Since then, our connection to Ladner CRC is stronger day by day. Now, we are just waiting for Sylvia's turn to be baptized.

Suzanne: I feel blessed when I go to church, and it is a really good thing to worship with others every Sunday. Serena is also excited about going to the church, meeting her friends, and getting to know God through attending Sunday school.

What is one of your favourite Scripture passages?

Ed: “All things work together for good” (Romans 8:28).

Suzanne: Matthew 25:14-30 (the parable of the talents). That is my favorite passage because God has given each person a wide variety of gifts, and he expects us to employ those gifts in his service. It is not acceptable to merely put those gifts on a shelf and ignore them.