THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, WE WILL BE INTRODUCING YOUR VESTRY SLATE. FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE ARE TWO OF THE CANDIDATES, SAMANTHA SUN AND DAVID WALLER. WE ARE STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM ONE MORE CANDIDATE, SO COME BACK NEXT WEEK FOR THE FINAL THREE! ANNUAL MEETING WILL BE ON ZOOM ON SUNDAY, FEB.14, AT 1 PM.
Samantha/Haiyan Sun
I was born and raised in China. I became a Christian, inspired by the wonderful work of the Western missionaries in China. Before coming to the U.S. five years ago, I served as a social worker at a Christian NGO (Children’s Hope Foundation) in China. I graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary with a master’s degree in intercultural studies. Currently, I am studying for a master’s degree in divinity.
I have been blessed with many opportunities to serve COS’s Chinese group by participating in Sunday worship, adult formation, and fellowships. Since our church closed because of the pandemic, I have become more active in volunteering by pre-recording Mandarin Sunday services and daily evening prayers. I have been editing audio and videos for weekly Mandarin services and online events such as the Chinese Moon Festival Virtual Gala. I also joined Mandarin Choir and pre-recorded hymns for our Sunday services. My service in the Chinese ministry of COS has helped my relationship with God and given me chances to know more about the Episcopal Church. The greater knowledge brings greater love. I am looking forward to getting more involved in the COS community.
David Waller
I was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, the youngest of three children. I attended public schools and graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in history and minors in literature and computer science. I studied theology for a year at Vanderbilt Divinity School, and then worked as a developer in the actuarial department of a local life insurance company.
After moving to California, I continued working as a developer for the actuarial department of Transamerica Life and then took a position as a developer and analyst in the IT department at Kaiser Permanente, from which I retired in 2014 after 35 years in the information technology field.
In retirement, I volunteer at Our Saviour Center Food Bank and as an usher and docent at the Pasadena Playhouse. At COS I’m currently serving on the Finance Committee and the Endowment Committee. I’m a past board member and president of the University Club of Pasadena, and I have served many years on the board of my HOA. I enjoy reading—mostly history, biography and murder mysteries—and share my home with two demanding but loving cats.