Debbie Kao, Alva Tsai, Jing Ying Yu, and Chu Chu Garrard - Chinese 101

Chinese 101 where we will learn about Chinese culture, holidays, food and a few words.

Chu Chu was raised in China and she is the only child in her family. She earned a bachelor's degree in economics in Beijing. In her junior year of college, she met Steve Sessions, a business professor from Denver who is a member of the Church. In 2010 she came to the United States for her master's degree in public administration at USC. Upon her arrival in Los Angeles, she was introduced to the Church by Steve. She started to investigate the Church at the Institute of Religion at USC and was baptized six months later in the Los Angeles Stake center by one of the missionaries that taught her in Mandarin. In 2012 she received her endowment in the Los Angeles Temple. In 2013 Chu Chu met her husband Ricky Garrard through mutual friends and got engaged after dating for two months. They were sealed in the Los Angeles Temple in April 2014 and started their life together in Arcadia. They welcomed their daughter Lily in 2022 after a long journey in pursuit of building their family and Lily has been the biggest gift and blessing in their life. Chu used to work in Higher Education Administration and she has many hobbies but right now the one she has been having time to do is cooking only. She cooks three meals a day. Chu has served in the Relief Society, Young Women and Primary organizations. She is grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it has brought so much light and joy into her life" 

 

Jingying Yu was born in China.  She loves her parents and grandparents who taught her good values and to be a good person.  She is a mom of an almost 6 year old, super energetic son, smart and kind son, Nelson.  Nelson is named after President Nelson and Nelson Mark Day who baptized her while he and his wife Pat Day were serving the Lord on a mission in San Diego.  Pat Day gave her tremendous love only a mother can give.  The Days became her family and they are deeply connected by the Love of the Lord. Jingying is a high school teacher in Glendora High School.  She loves working with the youth although it is quite challenging.  The Lord is using the teaching profession as an important tool to increase her capacity to love and to give.   

 

Debbie Kao attends the Mountain View Ward. "I was born and raised in Taiwan

and immigrated to the U.S. in 1983. My husband and I met in 1990 through mutual friends. He introduced me to the church, and I was baptized five months after we met. We were sealed in the L.A. temple in 1991 and are blessed with two beautiful daughters. When our first daughter arrived, I decided to become a stay-at-home mom. Before that, I had worked for a law firm for 12 years. While both our daughters were in high school, I returned to work. Since then, I have continued to help families in the local school district through my position as a translator. I am grateful for the gospel and the many blessings in my life. Through the years, it has been a humbling experience to have served in various church callings at the branch, ward, and stake levels. l am incredibly thankful for the opportunities to serve and meet many wonderful sisters in the stake because of my current calling.  In my free time, I enjoy music, traveling, being with family and friends, and doing temple and family history work for my ancestors!"

Alva Tsai attends the Mountain View Ward. She will be on the Chinese 101 panel. I was married in Nanjing, China in 1995 and immigrated to the United States in 1996. Los Angeles was my first stop, and I have been living here ever since. In the same year, three months before I gave birth to my daughter, I was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 2016, my daughter served her mission in Minnesota, where she currently lives with her lovely, humble, upright husband. They just had their first child, my extremely cute granddaughter. In 2007, with the help of God, I received a degree in graphic design. Although my job was not related to my degree, I liked working at an engineering firm as a drafter for 8 years, and now I have my favorite job as a property manager. I have served in my ward's Primary, Sunday School, Young Women, and Relief Society. I love my current calling as a Ward Primary president. I like art, cooking, music, dancing, and I include exercise in my daily routine. I love the gospel and serving with a passion. They have helped me become a confident woman through the decades.