19 Oct Meet Jesse Chan
Jesse is a manager at AT&T Labs, living in Bothell. He’s been attending Volunteer Park Church (VPC) for less than a year and coordinates volunteer opportunities at VPC. We sat down before church to talk about his favorite Thai restaurants and who inspires him spiritually.
You’re a manager at AT&T. What does that mean?
My impressive title—but no one knows what it means—is principal member of technical staff. . . I manage a team of software research for auto-configuring the AT&T network.
And after work, what do you most look forward to?
Just one thing? Oh, I don’t know, there’s so many things! Um, researching future projects that I want to do on my own, going to the gym, going out for food. . .
What kind of food? What’s your favorite?
Thai.
Where’s the best place to get it?
Chantanee, Iyara, Thai Tom, Bai Tong.
What things or experiences do you choose to save/spend money on?
In general, I’m a saver. But you know, guys like their gadgets. I also really like investing. I do a lot of that. I spend a lot of money on my girlfriend too. . .like all of it [laughs]. Just kidding!
How would your girlfriend describe you in three words?
Stable. Organized. Positive.
Organized? Is your house always organized?
No, my house isn’t always organized, but my calendar is. I’m a planner, definitely.
What are you really into right now?
Really into green and alternative energy. Solar power, electric cars, batteries. . . With Puerto Rico, for example, Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla, said he could put PR back on the map with solar batteries. . . I want to support that too. When I get my next place, I want it to be set up for solar energy. I also want an electric car.
Do you have anyone or anything that inspires you spiritually?
My American missionary grandparents.
Missionary grandparents?
They weren’t my real grandparents, they passed away. But long story short, they saved my mom’s life when she was—ten, I think? My mom was supposed to die; she had a [congenital] heart defect, and she was one of the first people who survived a heart operation in Taiwan. [My missionary grandparents] randomly found her because God brought them together.
They [Doyle and Paulene Barnett] met at Southern Adventist University, and they got married when he was twenty, she was eighteen. And while on their honeymoon, they were called by the Church to be missionaries so they left for China immediately—without knowing a word of Mandarin. They ended up serving in the mission field for over 40 years where they met my mom.
What do you like most about Volunteer Park Church?
I think the church has a lot of active people. And I like that the church is doing things, not just in church, but outside of church. Last week, we had outreaches, and there’s bowling tonight. That’s the most important thing, I think. Church is just a tiny bit; it matters what you do after church too.
You can find Jesse on Facebook or on Instagram at @jessechan. If you’d like to learn more about what volunteer opportunities are available at VPC, email jessechan007@gmail.com.
No Comments