5 Questions With...Jean Chen
Peter Brown
1. How did you first get involved with Friendship Presbyterian? A friend of mine knew I was looking for a church. She brought me to FPC through a game-night at the T.G.I.F. community group. I've stayed in FPC since then. (T.G.I.F. game night! Yeah!)
2. What do you do Monday through Saturday? I work in an accounting firm during the weekdays (Monday-Friday). On Saturday, I like to go to the beach or meet some friends, try something new or do something that we are all interested in.
3. What is something people might be surprised to know about you? I am from Kaohsiung. For people not from Taiwan, let me give a bit of background to this. Kaohsiung is in southern Taiwan, so people in Taipei used to have a stereotype toward people from Kaohsiung as all having a beautiful tanned skin color. However, it seems that I'm not tanned enough! I did not notice this kind of stereotype until I had lived in New Taipei City for 3 years. The funniest part is, I believe I am actually pretty tanned because I do not really care about my facial skin color and seldom pay attention to it in the mirror. Only when I get a tan line or sunburn on my face!
Also, I am an accountant! People who know me as being so energetic and sometimes a bit hyper and careless often react with surprise when I tell them I work in an accounting firm. An accounting firm is a workplace that sounds pretty serious, where you need to sit still for a long time and pay a lot of attention to numbers. And I was not born with a personality that is naturally super-careful with numbers and details (I am trained to be careful and aware of details). Sometimes, I, myself, am surprised that I am an accountant. Yeah! :D
4. What do you find most challenging about being a Christian today? Having faith every single day, through ups and downs. Recently, I have been dealing with some relationship conflict in my office. We got along pretty well before, but something happened between us and I am not sure why, or how. I do not know what changed. At such times, it can be hard for me to keep faith in Jesus. I sometimes let the anger take over. At first, I thought I could fix the relationship, but the harder I try, the worse it turned out. I was often frustrated and even felt hurt. On those stressed-out days, my anger often led me to want to react and hurt others, instead of seeking to love and forgive. I believe I am still in the process of making the right choice, of not giving in to feelings of anger and confusion. I care for my colleagues, and hope that, eventually, I can help bring them to Christ.
5. What is one of your favorite books of the Bible? Romans. This book guided me to understand what faith means to me. I always enjoy studying this book in small groups. Also, Ecclesiastes. It reminds me that everything is meaningless without God, and how grateful I am to have God as my Father.
