INTERVIEWEE: Tommy Lo
INTERVIEWER: Ions
Ions: How old were u when you came to the United States?
Tommy: i came to United States about 3 weeks after my
11th birthday. At that time, my dad was living in
southern Virginia, about one hour south of Richmond.
So my family lived down in Virginia for about half a
year before we moved to Boston.
Ions: What was the first school you ever attended upon arriving to the United States?
Tommy: The first school I ever attended when I moved to
the States is an elementary school called Lakeview
Elementary School in Colonial Heights, VA. I was
enrolled to the 5th grade since that's the grade I was
attening back in Hong Kong. I must say that that half
a year in Lakeview has shaped me and vice versa. It
was from that school I became really interested in
geography and I enjoyed learning English. My teachers
and my classmates were great to me, unlike my
experience here in Boston. And since I was the first
Chinese ever attened the school, the school learned
how to teach effectively to new Asian students without
much knowledge of English. The reason I said that is
because my teachers told me (we corresponded for the
first ten years after my family moved to Boston) that
there were several Vietnamese students enrolled to the
school after I have left and it was much easier for
them to know what to do to teach them. I made such an
impact that my gym teacher actually made my class
played soccer (football the the rest of the world)
ever though my classmates never played before.
Ions: What or who led you to church?
Tommy: I believe it was the start of my junior year at
Boston Latin School. Four friends of mine whom we had
entered BLS together at our freshman year asked me to
hang out with them at this fellowship thingee on
Saturday afternoons. At that time, I don't really have
much close friends because after school, I would have
to go to my family's restaurant to work until late
evening. So when they said that their friends hang out
together on a Saturday afternoon, I would jump at the
chance as long as I know I can get back to the
restaurant before it gets busy. The fellowship turned
out to be Joshua III at BCEC.
Ions: How long have you been a Christian?
Tommy: I acknowledged being someone who does bad things
no matter how hard I tried to do good (what we call
sins,) asked God to forgive me of my sins, and
accepted Jesus Christ to be my Lord and personal
Savior during the summer of my junior and senior year
at a Joshua III summer retreat. I remembered the
speaker had asked the audience if we knew where we
were going after we died from this world. And if we
don't believe in Jesus, we would be separated from God
throughout eternity. But we don't have to be separated
from God because He has sent His one and only Son to
died on the cross and rose after three days to take
our place in our punishment of eternal separation with
God because of our sins. So by confessing my sins and
accepting Jesus, I'm guaranteed to spend eternity with
God in this place the Bible called Heaven. John 3:16
and Romans 8:38-39 are two of the verses that are very
special to me because they are God's promises to me
and to everyone who believes in Jesus.
Ions: Have you ever doubted the existence of God?
Tommy: Actually, ever since I was growing up in
elementary school in Hong Kong, I don't think I
doubted the existance of God. I just didn't know who
this majestic Creator is until my junior year. The
reason I said I don't doubt the existance of God is
because I have always been fascinated by how the world
came to be. Even though I was taught that the world
came to be through evolution and there was no
definitive answer to how the world or the universe
began in the first place, I have always believed that
the world and universe can't exist by chance and that
there must be a Creator who created all. Just like
when I put a bunch of legos on the floor, the legos
would not automatically make itself into a house or
car or anything unless I put them together.
Ions: Is it hard to be a TWR counselor?
Tommy: No, I believe it is harder being a junior higher
and freshman. I already know and experience the love
of God in my life in the midst of the craziness in
this world when I was growing up. But each one of you
is still searching for wholeness, rather it's by
having lotsa friends, good academics and career,
acceptance, recognitions and approvals from other
people or by relationships. But I believe that all
these things will failed us becasue they can come but
they can go just as easier as they come. But the love
of God will never change and leave us (see #4.) And
it's very easy for me to try to share that love of God
to each one of you but it's very difficult for you to
accept and believe this love because the world is
telling you otherwise.
Ions: Where do you work and do you enjoy your job?
Tommy: I am currently working at a company called
Sapient as a e-Service consultant. Basically we worked
for other companies who are willing to pay us to
figure out their e-Business strategies and brand and
to build the solutions (like their websites to their
customers) for them. Do I enjoy my job? Yes I do but
this is a demanding career. Do I like this job over
all my previous jobs? Yes. But this is nothing
comparing to TWR. I find joy in knowing that Friday is
fast approaching every week and I look forward to
coming to church, not just TWR but spending time with
other Christians and with God.
Ions: Do you ever feel a lot of pressure from work and being a TWR counselor?
Tommy: Yes, definitely. I would imagine the same for all
of you feeling a lot of pressure from school, home and
trying to live your life as a Christian. I think we
all have pressures even though you guys think that we
don't have any. But I think my struggle is to live my
everyday life as though the yare my Fridays and
Sundays. To be consistent in my workplace and home is
very difficult but is doable if we have Jesus inside
us and if we let the Holy Spirit lead us. This means
that we must be teachable because the Spirit will
convicts us in everything we do in order for us to be
successfully consistent.
Ions: What is your favorite verse in the Bible?
Tommy: Well my favorite book in the Bible is Romans but
my favorite verses (if I may take the liberty to have
two instead of one) are Psalm 13:5-6 and Philippians
4:4-7.
Psalm 13:5-6 says "But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to
the LORD, for he has been good to me."
Philippians 4:4-7 says "Rejoice in the Lord always. I
will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be
evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious
about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to
God. And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and mindsin
Christ Jesus."
Remember that being joyful in rejoicing is not an
option. We must let it be a part of us.
