2025-07-11_kyrgyzstan_it_mission_trip_planning_f7aed51e

Meeting Title: Kyrgyzstan IT Mission Trip Planning Date: 2025-07-11 Meeting participants: AC, Robert Tseng

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WEBVTT

1 00:00:55.360 ⇒ 00:00:56.600 AC: Hey! Hi! Ralph!

2 00:00:57.080 ⇒ 00:00:58.790 Robert Tseng: Hi! Is it Kenneth.

3 00:00:58.790 ⇒ 00:01:02.350 AC: Yes. Where are you? New York?

4 00:01:02.350 ⇒ 00:01:03.759 Robert Tseng: Yeah, I’m in New York.

5 00:01:03.760 ⇒ 00:01:05.962 AC: All right. I’m in Mountain View.

6 00:01:06.810 ⇒ 00:01:07.440 Robert Tseng: Nice.

7 00:01:07.440 ⇒ 00:01:11.599 AC: Nice to meet you. So you have known Ed for a long time.

8 00:01:12.270 ⇒ 00:01:17.450 Robert Tseng: Yeah, I guess I’ve known him for all like over almost 10 years. At this point.

9 00:01:17.950 ⇒ 00:01:24.510 AC: Wow, okay, you work with him on some short term or other projects.

10 00:01:25.664 ⇒ 00:01:40.080 Robert Tseng: When he was living in Kyrgyzstan I visited, I mean I guess I did short term missions trips with him a few times. And then we were part of the same church network.

11 00:01:40.430 ⇒ 00:01:41.440 Robert Tseng: and.

12 00:01:41.440 ⇒ 00:01:43.389 AC: From your Ucla days.

13 00:01:43.606 ⇒ 00:01:45.990 Robert Tseng: Yeah, I was at Usc, but yeah, he was at Ucla.

14 00:01:45.990 ⇒ 00:01:47.090 AC: Okay. Alright. Yeah.

15 00:01:47.090 ⇒ 00:01:47.730 Robert Tseng: Yeah.

16 00:01:48.766 ⇒ 00:01:50.140 AC: So yeah.

17 00:01:50.140 ⇒ 00:01:57.180 AC: Mentored by the same same math teacher, I think right.

18 00:01:57.992 ⇒ 00:02:01.319 Robert Tseng: Yeah, we were mentored by the same pastor, actually. But.

19 00:02:01.520 ⇒ 00:02:02.690 AC: Okay. Okay.

20 00:02:02.690 ⇒ 00:02:03.230 Robert Tseng: Yeah.

21 00:02:04.230 ⇒ 00:02:04.840 AC: Wow!

22 00:02:05.310 ⇒ 00:02:07.650 AC: So you’re about the same age as Ed.

23 00:02:07.650 ⇒ 00:02:13.889 Robert Tseng: No, I’m not. I’m I’m probably much younger. I think I graduated in 2,007.

24 00:02:14.200 ⇒ 00:02:20.950 Robert Tseng: I’m probably like, yeah, probably at least 10 years younger than him. I don’t actually know how old he is exactly.

25 00:02:20.950 ⇒ 00:02:23.116 AC: But at looks so young.

26 00:02:23.550 ⇒ 00:02:25.999 Robert Tseng: Yeah, he’s got. He’s got youthful energy.

27 00:02:26.600 ⇒ 00:02:34.400 AC: And also his demeanor. Right? So so Ufo and Reese.

28 00:02:34.560 ⇒ 00:02:38.330 AC: So so what kind of work do you do? You’re in it, or something.

29 00:02:39.344 ⇒ 00:02:58.439 Robert Tseng: Kind of I mean, I, I run a data and AI consulting firm. So we work with mostly for profit businesses, either in consumer product, good or or software. We basically just set up automations and reporting to help them.

30 00:02:58.950 ⇒ 00:03:07.499 Robert Tseng: Kind of, we can do like functionally, like what a data team would do for them, but as a fractional partner.

31 00:03:07.790 ⇒ 00:03:10.969 AC: Okay, sounds cool. So you are a co-founder of the company.

32 00:03:11.240 ⇒ 00:03:12.260 Robert Tseng: I am. Yeah.

33 00:03:12.270 ⇒ 00:03:16.119 AC: Cool. How many, how many partners do you have in this company?

34 00:03:16.998 ⇒ 00:03:21.630 Robert Tseng: I mean, it’s just me and my business partner, the 2 kind of, I guess

35 00:03:22.720 ⇒ 00:03:27.070 Robert Tseng: shareholders. If you want to call that we have.

36 00:03:27.380 ⇒ 00:03:45.530 Robert Tseng: We have a board, we’ve we have some advisors, so we like. There are other like advisor. We have advisors, that kind of own parts of the business as well. Our team is about 16 people right now. And yeah, it’s kind of all over the all over the place.

37 00:03:46.090 ⇒ 00:03:46.480 Robert Tseng: Company.

38 00:03:46.480 ⇒ 00:03:47.110 AC: Perfect.

39 00:03:47.844 ⇒ 00:03:50.565 AC: So your startup is surviving.

40 00:03:51.465 ⇒ 00:03:53.599 Robert Tseng: Yeah, yeah, it’s it’s it’s going.

41 00:03:54.100 ⇒ 00:03:54.650 Robert Tseng: Yeah.

42 00:03:55.190 ⇒ 00:03:58.080 AC: Did you grow up in California or New York?

43 00:03:58.080 ⇒ 00:04:07.959 Robert Tseng: I grew up in California. Yeah, I started the company when I was in La, and then I moved to New York recently, after I got married, and my wife’s work is out here.

44 00:04:08.180 ⇒ 00:04:10.950 AC: Oh, so your family are still in California.

45 00:04:10.950 ⇒ 00:04:15.780 Robert Tseng: Yeah, family is in the bay. Actually. So I’m I. I grew up in the 4 0. 8 as well.

46 00:04:15.780 ⇒ 00:04:18.063 AC: That’s why you said the following number.

47 00:04:18.399 ⇒ 00:04:19.309 Robert Tseng: Yeah, yeah.

48 00:04:19.310 ⇒ 00:04:22.144 AC: Probably started when you were high school.

49 00:04:22.710 ⇒ 00:04:23.480 Robert Tseng: Yeah.

50 00:04:24.950 ⇒ 00:04:28.320 AC: Very cool. Yeah. Which part of the Bay area you grew up in.

51 00:04:29.072 ⇒ 00:04:35.270 Robert Tseng: In San Jose. Specifically South San Jose Almaden. If you’re familiar.

52 00:04:35.270 ⇒ 00:04:36.269 AC: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

53 00:04:36.270 ⇒ 00:04:42.080 Robert Tseng: Yeah, yeah. So, yeah, very different from New York City now. But.

54 00:04:42.080 ⇒ 00:04:45.380 AC: When did you leave California for New York.

55 00:04:46.180 ⇒ 00:04:47.460 Robert Tseng: Like 2 years ago.

56 00:04:49.300 ⇒ 00:04:52.654 AC: So you’re still adjusting to life on the east coast.

57 00:04:52.990 ⇒ 00:05:01.509 Robert Tseng: Yeah, I think so. We. We were living in Jersey, Jersey City when we 1st moved here. And

58 00:05:01.760 ⇒ 00:05:12.600 Robert Tseng: yeah, back back in March just a few months ago we moved into Manhattan. So now we live in Columbus Circle, which is next to the Park. And yeah, it’s

59 00:05:13.080 ⇒ 00:05:15.519 Robert Tseng: I mean we like it here. We’ll be here for a few years, probably.

60 00:05:15.520 ⇒ 00:05:19.751 AC: Oh, glad you like New York, Manhattan.

61 00:05:20.280 ⇒ 00:05:20.840 Robert Tseng: Yeah.

62 00:05:21.080 ⇒ 00:05:28.090 AC: So is it for a business or family. Your wife’s family reason that you moved to the East coast.

63 00:05:28.456 ⇒ 00:05:35.060 Robert Tseng: I would say it’s mostly for work. My wife’s company is based is headquartered in New York.

64 00:05:35.280 ⇒ 00:05:55.889 Robert Tseng: So that was like the main reason to move. I think it’s also helped my business. And I have clients in the city now. So yeah, I think it works out. And I’m actually starting a part time like law law program. So I’ll be going to law school in a couple of months.

65 00:05:55.890 ⇒ 00:05:58.739 AC: Where? Where? Where? Do you? Where you’re studying law?

66 00:05:58.740 ⇒ 00:06:04.963 Robert Tseng: At Fordham Law School. I’m actually in one of the clock in one of the study rooms right now. And

67 00:06:06.010 ⇒ 00:06:17.499 Robert Tseng: yeah, I guess it’s like a, it’s like a 4 year program. So it’s a bit slower. You only take 2 classes. A semester in the evenings. But yeah. So I think that’s an.

68 00:06:17.500 ⇒ 00:06:19.720 AC: So you’re thinking of switching career.

69 00:06:20.523 ⇒ 00:06:33.879 Robert Tseng: I think I’ve always wanted to stay in services. I think. I don’t really view it as a career switch. I don’t think my career is very linear anyway, like, I’ve been working for myself for a few years. So I think.

70 00:06:34.320 ⇒ 00:06:48.359 Robert Tseng: rather than just doing like digital transformation work and doing like tech work for people. I I think I I want to do more direct services work I think legal is interesting to me. Because,

71 00:06:49.660 ⇒ 00:07:12.190 Robert Tseng: yeah, I think just blending my ministry background and like, kind of where I feel, I mean, I have tech skills as well like, I, I think that’s there’s a lot of opportunity to do public interest oriented like legal work. But just in a more tech enabled way. So I guess that’s what I’m hoping to explore and find out while I go through this program.

72 00:07:12.390 ⇒ 00:07:14.929 AC: Wow. So you’re interested in public service.

73 00:07:15.760 ⇒ 00:07:20.941 Robert Tseng: Yeah. Well, I think, not necessarily working for the government, but more.

74 00:07:21.520 ⇒ 00:07:27.079 Robert Tseng: yeah, just offerings services to people who typically can’t afford them. Yeah.

75 00:07:27.730 ⇒ 00:07:29.360 AC: Very cool, very cool.

76 00:07:29.360 ⇒ 00:07:29.910 Robert Tseng: Yeah.

77 00:07:29.910 ⇒ 00:07:32.600 AC: We need. We need. We need more.

78 00:07:33.010 ⇒ 00:07:35.110 AC: We need more Christian lawyers.

79 00:07:36.270 ⇒ 00:07:46.960 Robert Tseng: Yeah, I I guess I mean a 1st generation lawyer. No one in my family is in legal. So it feels very. Yeah. It’s a new adventure. I have no idea what we’ll we’ll see.

80 00:07:46.960 ⇒ 00:07:51.720 AC: As a as a family in our church. We knew the parents very well, and of course

81 00:07:52.000 ⇒ 00:07:53.960 AC: sons grew up together.

82 00:07:54.499 ⇒ 00:08:10.319 AC: So he is now actually living half a block away from us. He was, he finished, a law school, traditional to Usc. And then he and then he was in doing very well in IP law.

83 00:08:10.530 ⇒ 00:08:10.960 Robert Tseng: Hmm.

84 00:08:11.020 ⇒ 00:08:17.430 AC: Then, after a few years, he it’s now a I think he’s.

85 00:08:18.760 ⇒ 00:08:20.200 AC: I think, his

86 00:08:20.420 ⇒ 00:08:32.184 AC: a public prosecutor. I don’t. I don’t know where he is where he is in the, in the letter I want to go after the bad guys.

87 00:08:33.490 ⇒ 00:08:33.950 Robert Tseng: Yeah.

88 00:08:34.421 ⇒ 00:08:36.780 AC: And I know one other

89 00:08:38.120 ⇒ 00:08:42.810 AC: no Christian in this case. I don’t know her very well, but again I know parents well, and I’ve met her.

90 00:08:43.480 ⇒ 00:08:46.790 AC: She is a da in San Francisco.

91 00:08:47.260 ⇒ 00:08:48.070 Robert Tseng: Wow!

92 00:08:48.600 ⇒ 00:08:50.610 AC: Yeah. So- so I think I,

93 00:08:50.810 ⇒ 00:08:53.250 AC: you know, I think, of course, that time is up

94 00:08:53.780 ⇒ 00:09:01.899 AC: Chinese American lawyers, but not very many that I personally know or I know about don’t have.

95 00:09:02.260 ⇒ 00:09:07.430 AC: you know, left the Prof for profit sector for public service.

96 00:09:07.740 ⇒ 00:09:33.239 Robert Tseng: Hmm, yeah, no, that’s that’s great to hear. Yeah, I think. I didn’t know too many people in the legal space before moving here one of my clients is actually like a bigger Christian publishing company. They’re based in Connecticut. But their CEO, he he actually taught at Fordham. So he was a big influence for me, but he was. Yeah, he was also a da. But then he had tech skills as well. And so he kind of built out like

97 00:09:33.240 ⇒ 00:09:41.899 Robert Tseng: this, like criminal database in New York City, and kind of was leading more. It was like it was a cool blend of like legal and tech that work that he was doing and.

98 00:09:41.900 ⇒ 00:09:42.250 AC: Oh!

99 00:09:42.250 ⇒ 00:09:50.340 Robert Tseng: Helped me to see myself as like. Well, you know, maybe there is a place for me in the legal world like I can maybe find something that I’m I’m.

100 00:09:50.340 ⇒ 00:09:54.269 AC: At some point, you know, I’ll be happy to connect you with

101 00:09:54.890 ⇒ 00:09:57.389 AC: Eric, whom I do very well.

102 00:09:57.390 ⇒ 00:09:57.890 Robert Tseng: Yeah.

103 00:09:57.890 ⇒ 00:10:06.160 AC: This other who’s daughter-in-law of a friend? I only met her once.

104 00:10:06.380 ⇒ 00:10:06.780 Robert Tseng: Hmm.

105 00:10:06.780 ⇒ 00:10:11.350 AC: Well, but she has been, I think she went to do so, and she has been

106 00:10:11.470 ⇒ 00:10:19.600 AC: a in San Francisco for some years, and it’s Chinese American woman. Da, that’s.

107 00:10:19.600 ⇒ 00:10:23.539 Robert Tseng: Yeah, I don’t know anybody who’s Chinese, American and doing. Ga, yeah.

108 00:10:23.540 ⇒ 00:10:28.979 AC: Yeah, kind of unusual, but I’m sure that they’ll be happy to talk to somebody like you, you know.

109 00:10:29.670 ⇒ 00:10:36.839 AC: young and seriously exploring public law. I think I think we need more

110 00:10:36.940 ⇒ 00:10:41.069 AC: Chinese, Americans, especially Chinese, American Christians.

111 00:10:41.200 ⇒ 00:10:41.820 Robert Tseng: Hmm.

112 00:10:42.300 ⇒ 00:10:45.060 AC: Get into this area.

113 00:10:46.430 ⇒ 00:10:48.171 Robert Tseng: Great. Yeah, no, I would appreciate that.

114 00:10:48.790 ⇒ 00:10:50.270 AC: Cool, very cool. Yeah.

115 00:10:51.590 ⇒ 00:10:55.275 AC: So what is your reason for wanting to connect with me.

116 00:10:55.610 ⇒ 00:11:00.260 Robert Tseng: Oh, I guess like Ed mentioned that. You

117 00:11:00.400 ⇒ 00:11:17.159 Robert Tseng: do some work in Kyrgyzstan. I think he mentioned that I mean, I guess last year he went on, a trip with you, or kind of through organization. Yeah, he just mentioned that like, Hey, maybe you should reach out and see if, like, yeah, if there’s.

118 00:11:17.440 ⇒ 00:11:21.739 Robert Tseng: I guess I didn’t really have much of an agenda. I think so. Just said.

119 00:11:21.920 ⇒ 00:11:31.820 AC: I’m glad that I’m glad it went to you. I know it might be a long shot, but if you can afford to take off 4 days after labor day, meaning.

120 00:11:31.820 ⇒ 00:11:32.290 Robert Tseng: And.

121 00:11:32.290 ⇒ 00:11:33.700 AC: Everybody is Monday.

122 00:11:34.340 ⇒ 00:11:39.440 Robert Tseng: Afford to take off from work or school. Tuesday through Friday.

123 00:11:40.289 ⇒ 00:11:57.460 AC: That. We’re actually free up 8 days, right? If you come until the following Sunday, we are trying to put together another it team in and is thinking and praying about it. So, in fact, I’ll be talking to him later this afternoon.

124 00:11:57.670 ⇒ 00:11:58.370 Robert Tseng: Okay.

125 00:11:58.370 ⇒ 00:12:01.149 AC: So how many times you’ve been to Kyrgyzstan.

126 00:12:02.080 ⇒ 00:12:07.281 Robert Tseng: I’ve I’ve spent probably a year of my life in Kyrgyzstan.

127 00:12:07.680 ⇒ 00:12:09.319 AC: Different trips to add together.

128 00:12:09.320 ⇒ 00:12:14.070 Robert Tseng: Yeah, well, I’ve been at least I think, 5 or 6 times. So yeah.

129 00:12:14.991 ⇒ 00:12:18.759 AC: So you were there for 5 or 6

130 00:12:19.180 ⇒ 00:12:24.445 AC: out of 8 years. That that was Becky.

131 00:12:25.320 ⇒ 00:12:33.019 Robert Tseng: Yeah, I I knew I met them right before the birth of their 1st daughter. And like, I, yeah, kind of had just.

132 00:12:33.020 ⇒ 00:12:33.933 AC: Okay. Well.

133 00:12:34.390 ⇒ 00:12:37.350 Robert Tseng: Since 2015. I was going every year pretty much.

134 00:12:37.350 ⇒ 00:12:49.459 AC: So so all those years, you know that and Becky were running English camps, English programs. And you know, at the end of 8 years they were quite disillusioned.

135 00:12:49.740 ⇒ 00:12:50.160 Robert Tseng: Yeah.

136 00:12:50.420 ⇒ 00:13:00.050 AC: Because when you teach English or you attract girls about that.

137 00:13:00.732 ⇒ 00:13:05.087 AC: Now you know that very quickly. I have to watch my time.

138 00:13:05.920 ⇒ 00:13:11.809 AC: we got involved with sponsoring a language center. In 2015.

139 00:13:12.240 ⇒ 00:13:15.070 AC: I I 1st went to Kyrgyzstan

140 00:13:15.550 ⇒ 00:13:18.369 AC: 2,003, 22 years ago.

141 00:13:18.660 ⇒ 00:13:19.220 Robert Tseng: Well.

142 00:13:19.220 ⇒ 00:13:25.109 AC: And I brought a team of about, you know, altogether 14 of us. We

143 00:13:25.220 ⇒ 00:13:27.149 AC: did the usual thing. We

144 00:13:27.650 ⇒ 00:13:39.000 AC: work with a youth center. Help them do some outreach teaching English primarily to young people. Right? So that was what we did. But then

145 00:13:39.200 ⇒ 00:13:40.959 AC: it was very intentional trip.

146 00:13:41.120 ⇒ 00:13:46.270 AC: I spent one month there and traveled to 5 cities and

147 00:13:46.410 ⇒ 00:13:50.300 AC: find out what God is doing there. What are some opportunities?

148 00:13:50.610 ⇒ 00:13:54.900 AC: And and one conversation that really

149 00:13:55.310 ⇒ 00:13:59.010 AC: small mem most memorable, and I’ve shared my memories.

150 00:13:59.420 ⇒ 00:14:01.479 AC: We went to Osh.

151 00:14:01.860 ⇒ 00:14:03.250 Robert Tseng: And so.

152 00:14:03.670 ⇒ 00:14:10.550 AC: There I met the Sultan Kyrgyzstan, director of chemistry, Saint.

153 00:14:11.270 ⇒ 00:14:11.690 Robert Tseng: Hmm.

154 00:14:11.690 ⇒ 00:14:22.699 AC: And the guys you know, when I met in 2,003, he said. Oh, you know, I’ve been here for 7 years, meaning the guy went there 1996. Shortly after the country.

155 00:14:23.100 ⇒ 00:14:23.750 Robert Tseng: Hmm.

156 00:14:23.750 ⇒ 00:14:30.430 AC: He said. You know what I’m just the evangelism and discipleship, Guy being a crusade man.

157 00:14:30.750 ⇒ 00:14:33.109 AC: But I found out painfully that

158 00:14:33.570 ⇒ 00:14:38.480 AC: no matter what I do. I disciple my best students for 4 years.

159 00:14:38.910 ⇒ 00:14:40.829 AC: Once the graduate.

160 00:14:41.160 ⇒ 00:14:45.150 AC: Either they cannot find work, or if they find work.

161 00:14:45.370 ⇒ 00:14:50.339 AC: their boss will make them do things, they quickly give them their things. So here I have.

162 00:14:50.480 ⇒ 00:14:56.190 AC: When I visited him he just purchased. See a house, a property large

163 00:14:56.390 ⇒ 00:14:59.240 AC: is that I’m dividing it into 4 pieces.

164 00:14:59.440 ⇒ 00:15:02.209 AC: There will be Computer Center.

165 00:15:02.460 ⇒ 00:15:04.380 AC: There will be a cafe.

166 00:15:04.730 ⇒ 00:15:08.540 AC: There will be a kindergarten, the 4th

167 00:15:08.970 ⇒ 00:15:15.750 AC: piece. I don’t know what yet, but I’m having people coming from the Us. Next month to come and teach me about business. I’ve just said

168 00:15:16.220 ⇒ 00:15:22.029 AC: evangeist. I know nothing about business, but I figure that I have to start some business

169 00:15:22.410 ⇒ 00:15:29.639 AC: so that my best graduates will be able to work and grow some skills.

170 00:15:31.490 ⇒ 00:15:35.370 AC: That left a big impression on me.

171 00:15:35.720 ⇒ 00:15:39.379 AC: Anyway, during that trip there was one couple

172 00:15:39.930 ⇒ 00:15:46.600 AC: were there to explore long term opportunities, so they were serious, and indeed.

173 00:15:46.870 ⇒ 00:15:51.650 AC: 2 years later, 2,005, they returned to Kyrgyzstan. They spent 7 years there.

174 00:15:52.240 ⇒ 00:15:54.819 AC: so during that trip, 2,003, I

175 00:15:55.130 ⇒ 00:16:02.690 AC: I talked to a different managers. Hey! Come a very low threshold thing to do, is it?

176 00:16:02.810 ⇒ 00:16:09.599 AC: You can start a language center, you know. Both of them grew up since age 1210,

177 00:16:10.010 ⇒ 00:16:15.279 AC: in Southern California. It was, so. They speak, native English, but then, because they grew up in

178 00:16:15.580 ⇒ 00:16:17.939 AC: households that speak

179 00:16:18.100 ⇒ 00:16:24.590 AC: mandarin, so they are fluently bilingual. Say, Hey, you can teach English, which is very popular, but also

180 00:16:24.900 ⇒ 00:16:28.629 AC: Chinese is becoming important, because 2,003,

181 00:16:28.740 ⇒ 00:16:33.959 AC: you know, Kyrgyzstan was really looking to China and looking to Russia.

182 00:16:34.160 ⇒ 00:16:40.000 AC: and they told us, oh, you know China is our model. They are doing so well.

183 00:16:40.250 ⇒ 00:16:49.859 AC: After abandoning Communism, 2,003 Chinese economy was really cool. Look at Russia! That was 2,003 was before Russia found oil.

184 00:16:49.980 ⇒ 00:16:51.599 AC: So Russia was poor.

185 00:16:52.010 ⇒ 00:16:52.360 Robert Tseng: Hmm.

186 00:16:52.360 ⇒ 00:16:55.350 AC: So learning Chinese was really hot.

187 00:16:55.720 ⇒ 00:17:04.919 AC: So, indeed, 2,005. When this couple returned to Kurpostan during the 7 years that one of the things they started was they started a language center.

188 00:17:06.170 ⇒ 00:17:10.209 AC: Doing quite well, but after 7 years in Kyrgyzstan, there

189 00:17:10.450 ⇒ 00:17:14.830 AC: only daughter was reaching junior high age, and they

190 00:17:15.170 ⇒ 00:17:18.320 AC: decided that they want their daughter to grow up learning

191 00:17:18.579 ⇒ 00:17:27.620 AC: better English and also Chinese. So we moved to Taiwan to start a mobilization office for a mission organization.

192 00:17:28.230 ⇒ 00:17:34.300 AC: So they left they. But then by then the the center was doing reasonably well.

193 00:17:34.440 ⇒ 00:17:38.019 AC: So they wanted somebody to take over.

194 00:17:38.460 ⇒ 00:17:41.720 AC: because, anyway, so they talk to us.

195 00:17:41.930 ⇒ 00:17:46.529 AC: So 2,013 I went there, my wife and I went there

196 00:17:47.620 ⇒ 00:17:54.700 AC: for me. It was the 1st time back, but actually during those 10 years, because we got so busy with our ministry in China.

197 00:17:54.880 ⇒ 00:18:08.490 AC: So we actually had the youngest staff, who was a university staff, who spent 7 years in Europe reaching Muslim students. Then he back in the beer to

198 00:18:08.840 ⇒ 00:18:10.640 AC: to do a M. Disk

199 00:18:10.800 ⇒ 00:18:16.929 AC: for further preparation. So during those years that he was doing his empty for the Bay Area.

200 00:18:17.340 ⇒ 00:18:24.469 AC: he became our lead staff. So every summer he would lead teams back to Kyrgyzstan.

201 00:18:25.320 ⇒ 00:18:28.120 AC: So, so, so, so. So anyway.

202 00:18:28.390 ⇒ 00:18:35.269 AC: I went. But 2,013 was the 1st time for me personally to be back and cover other 10 years time.

203 00:18:35.950 ⇒ 00:18:39.499 AC: And so we did a lot of due diligence.

204 00:18:39.730 ⇒ 00:18:52.280 AC: But then there were quite a few language centers teaching English and Chinese, but there’s still a pretty thriving

205 00:18:52.690 ⇒ 00:18:53.720 AC: industry.

206 00:18:54.180 ⇒ 00:19:02.109 AC: So but then we we talked to people said, Well, you know, language by itself is good, but it doesn’t really

207 00:19:02.360 ⇒ 00:19:04.500 AC: prepare young people for jobs.

208 00:19:05.100 ⇒ 00:19:13.830 AC: Lots of young people in Kyrgyzstan believe that if they learn English better they will get jobs with UN

209 00:19:14.300 ⇒ 00:19:17.140 AC: or embassies, or but not always

210 00:19:17.270 ⇒ 00:19:21.880 AC: right. And and and because of the small population economy.

211 00:19:22.360 ⇒ 00:19:27.259 AC: there are not that many Western businesses there

212 00:19:32.130 ⇒ 00:19:37.270 AC: when you train them in good English, good English, they leave the country

213 00:19:37.700 ⇒ 00:19:41.350 AC: to work and to buy in, you know.

214 00:19:41.510 ⇒ 00:19:45.469 AC: anywhere. Right? So that’s a sad story of the brain drain.

215 00:19:45.670 ⇒ 00:19:53.900 AC: So so I talked to lots of people. And we talked with lots of pastors, missionaries, business people, even non-christian business people.

216 00:19:54.150 ⇒ 00:20:05.980 AC: Okay? And we did 2 kind of focused research groups. We talked to a group of Christian students and young graduates. We talked to a group of Muslim students and young graduates

217 00:20:06.190 ⇒ 00:20:09.290 AC: and Austin, what will help you

218 00:20:10.930 ⇒ 00:20:13.989 AC: find jobs? You know that in Kyrgyzstan

219 00:20:14.570 ⇒ 00:20:28.150 AC: jobs are dependent on client relationships or bribes, right? Desktop skills, better English better teamwork management.

220 00:20:28.310 ⇒ 00:20:30.449 AC: That at least will equip us

221 00:20:30.590 ⇒ 00:20:33.749 AC: to survive better if we find jobs.

222 00:20:34.280 ⇒ 00:20:36.489 AC: So that’s our vision. Okay, we will

223 00:20:36.730 ⇒ 00:20:40.289 AC: take over the language center, but the vision is to build it up.

224 00:20:40.660 ⇒ 00:20:44.419 AC: Accurate business clauses it, maybe right?

225 00:20:45.310 ⇒ 00:21:00.409 AC: So we took after we took over the language center in 2,005 14 took us a year to do our due diligence and make decisions as an organization. So we took up the language center. So we began to work on building it up

226 00:21:01.312 ⇒ 00:21:11.379 AC: not too bad. 2 years later the language center actually got a license to give international student visas.

227 00:21:11.650 ⇒ 00:21:13.270 AC: So if you

228 00:21:13.520 ⇒ 00:21:24.629 AC: and worker. Wherever you want to come to study language, you can actually study in our center. Learn better Russian, learn, maybe Biblical, Russian.

229 00:21:24.950 ⇒ 00:21:30.990 AC: and at the same time you have an international student visa from website.

230 00:21:31.500 ⇒ 00:21:39.199 AC: But then 201-71-8193 years in a row, we began to send short-term teams to explore.

231 00:21:39.390 ⇒ 00:21:49.330 AC: Oh, what teaching business would mean because they were request from university, from local Christian business people.

232 00:21:49.890 ⇒ 00:21:55.500 AC: And the most, I guess significant

233 00:21:56.660 ⇒ 00:21:59.560 AC: thing was that 2,019.

234 00:21:59.720 ⇒ 00:22:06.599 AC: We partnered with crusade to do a weekend camp on entrepreneurship

235 00:22:07.140 ⇒ 00:22:10.539 AC: on Friday afternoon, when everybody arrived at is support.

236 00:22:11.550 ⇒ 00:22:15.170 AC: The crew director was so excited. Wow!

237 00:22:15.480 ⇒ 00:22:17.659 AC: 36 people have come.

238 00:22:18.020 ⇒ 00:22:22.900 AC: And more than half of them are guys. You never see that

239 00:22:23.110 ⇒ 00:22:27.679 AC: when we do English camps we send maybe 4 or 5 guys into all girls.

240 00:22:27.990 ⇒ 00:22:31.989 AC: And that really impress me barely.

241 00:22:32.560 ⇒ 00:22:35.379 AC: So what happens is that all these years

242 00:22:35.600 ⇒ 00:22:39.170 AC: crusade and diversity new for Christ.

243 00:22:39.800 ⇒ 00:22:43.380 AC: The only way to know how to do. Outreach is teach English.

244 00:22:43.490 ⇒ 00:22:51.140 AC: or, in the case of to say, they receive. Korean teams, teach Korean, but still just the language learning.

245 00:22:51.720 ⇒ 00:23:01.690 AC: So their ministry is overwhelmingly teams, just like what Ed and Becky did found out.

246 00:23:02.390 ⇒ 00:23:06.740 AC: So Crusade is the largest organization now.

247 00:23:07.000 ⇒ 00:23:14.570 AC: They have over 22 time staff, but only 4 accounts.

248 00:23:14.710 ⇒ 00:23:22.989 AC: It reflects the students that they now nothing wrong with more women coming to trade right.

249 00:23:23.130 ⇒ 00:23:26.090 AC: The only problem is that what happens when they grow up.

250 00:23:26.700 ⇒ 00:23:33.169 AC: No guys to marry, and in Kyrgyzstan, if you reach 25 you’re still single.

251 00:23:33.410 ⇒ 00:23:41.510 AC: You are ashamed to your parents. They will make you married we’ll see it so you could pass this.

252 00:23:41.640 ⇒ 00:23:44.320 AC: Oh, just for marry Muslims.

253 00:23:45.040 ⇒ 00:23:52.080 AC: and in this case I was shocked that after she married a Muslim she’s the youth director for a church.

254 00:23:52.780 ⇒ 00:23:57.599 AC: So I quietly asked. Somebody old in the church said, You know what’s going on, you know.

255 00:23:57.900 ⇒ 00:23:59.729 AC: And the guy said, well, you know.

256 00:24:01.130 ⇒ 00:24:06.829 AC: we used to teach Christians should marry Christians, but after a while

257 00:24:07.710 ⇒ 00:24:12.820 AC: the parents in the church are so. Give the pastor so much pressure.

258 00:24:12.970 ⇒ 00:24:18.510 AC: so pastors stopped teaching that Christians should only marry Christian.

259 00:24:20.190 ⇒ 00:24:21.410 AC: What’s the future?

260 00:24:21.920 ⇒ 00:24:27.729 AC: No future, because divorce rate is so high among Muslim men.

261 00:24:28.000 ⇒ 00:24:35.139 AC: After 10 years you may be stuck with a whole bunch of single Christian moms raising kids in the church.

262 00:24:36.420 ⇒ 00:24:41.730 AC: It’s very sad. And so so we’ve talked to you. And I’ve done. Yes, in general

263 00:24:41.950 ⇒ 00:24:44.089 AC: there are very few.

264 00:24:46.680 ⇒ 00:24:52.630 AC: The old graphics. One churches in Kyrgyzstan lack young professionals.

265 00:24:53.300 ⇒ 00:24:59.160 AC: So in this case I put this this pastor’s daughter, who eventually married a Muslim

266 00:24:59.290 ⇒ 00:25:00.900 AC: when she was still single.

267 00:25:01.600 ⇒ 00:25:11.769 AC: she actually was at 1 point a part time teacher in our language center. So one afternoon in 2019, I sat down. My wife, hey? You know, Miriam, so

268 00:25:12.090 ⇒ 00:25:21.809 AC: you are now a young working graduate. Do you have peers in the church to support you with some sort of young adult fellowship.

269 00:25:22.210 ⇒ 00:25:28.829 AC: You said, well, we have an Interchurch young adult fellowship.

270 00:25:28.970 ⇒ 00:25:36.219 AC: About 25 of us get together once a month, I said, why does it meant to church? Don’t you have your own fellowship?

271 00:25:36.590 ⇒ 00:25:39.809 AC: She said, because there are so few of us.

272 00:25:40.360 ⇒ 00:25:45.050 AC: We have to come together as an inter church.

273 00:25:46.320 ⇒ 00:25:48.719 AC: So I said, Okay, what is your biggest need?

274 00:25:49.150 ⇒ 00:25:57.360 AC: So you know some optimal leadership, she said, well, we need to be professionals meaning

275 00:25:58.170 ⇒ 00:26:05.880 AC: lacking opportunities and skills for oh, work!

276 00:26:08.020 ⇒ 00:26:14.950 AC: So. So. So that was 2019. And so that year we began to collaborate with

277 00:26:15.640 ⇒ 00:26:19.970 AC: 1st coding school in Pakistan called Codify Lab.

278 00:26:20.400 ⇒ 00:26:23.130 AC: because they were looking for ways to.

279 00:26:23.780 ⇒ 00:26:27.720 AC: and I have a course on it English. It’s so hard to find people who.

280 00:26:27.990 ⇒ 00:26:34.040 AC: native American, English speaker. We can also teach it right well, we happen to have such a person.

281 00:26:34.420 ⇒ 00:26:42.270 AC: 2018. We have a couple who arrived, in fact, our 1st long term worker in Kyrgyzstan, the brother.

282 00:26:42.520 ⇒ 00:26:49.349 AC: That’s a very strong teaching. His background. He had, in fact, he got his Emmy from Teachers College.

283 00:26:49.740 ⇒ 00:26:51.539 AC: but before then it was a

284 00:26:52.190 ⇒ 00:26:57.740 AC: in it business. He actually started a it business when he was younger.

285 00:26:58.550 ⇒ 00:27:05.309 AC: and so when they got caught on long story, he so he is totally qualified to teach it English.

286 00:27:05.480 ⇒ 00:27:20.580 AC: So 2019, our language center actually collaborated with codified lab and offered 2 classes on. It was very well received. But we’re really excited.

287 00:27:21.250 ⇒ 00:27:25.460 AC: Covid hit them. The language center was essentially closed for a year.

288 00:27:27.188 ⇒ 00:27:32.650 AC: and then, when we reopen, we collaborated with indigosity

289 00:27:33.140 ⇒ 00:27:40.799 AC: and said, Hey, you know, we’re going to take over the language center and use it. So they did. But then, after 3 years last October.

290 00:27:41.150 ⇒ 00:27:45.279 AC: they told us, put it on hold. Why?

291 00:27:45.490 ⇒ 00:27:54.990 AC: Because the language centers have become so numerous in Fish Camp 2020, 1415,

292 00:27:55.180 ⇒ 00:28:02.200 AC: they said there were like maybe 60 80 language centers, and about maybe a 3rd of them

293 00:28:03.250 ⇒ 00:28:05.739 AC: claim to be teaching Chinese also.

294 00:28:05.940 ⇒ 00:28:10.480 AC: By now there are 200 length of sentence in district.

295 00:28:11.140 ⇒ 00:28:12.879 AC: Many are also

296 00:28:13.010 ⇒ 00:28:21.509 AC: teaching Chinese. Why? Because Confucius Institute has given scholarships for many young people to go study in China.

297 00:28:22.230 ⇒ 00:28:28.579 AC: but of course you go to China. Don’t get to stay. There are no jobs right for for Kyrgyz people right?

298 00:28:28.760 ⇒ 00:28:31.589 AC: So many of them returned to Kyrgyzstan.

299 00:28:32.350 ⇒ 00:28:37.549 AC: Don’t have anything better with you. They all start Language center. They all going to be teaching Chinese.

300 00:28:37.700 ⇒ 00:28:43.460 AC: So the businesses no longer viable.

301 00:28:43.900 ⇒ 00:28:49.960 AC: So they said, Well, we so October. So we said, Okay, that’s when we’ve been praying and thinking that

302 00:28:50.110 ⇒ 00:28:54.440 AC: you know, because I’m also discovering that language centers you.

303 00:28:56.050 ⇒ 00:29:01.220 AC: If you just do language centers, it’s hard to administer. You hire a lot of part time teachers

304 00:29:01.710 ⇒ 00:29:10.319 AC: and the students come and go there for an hour, usually for an hour, to their students right? And then they quickly need to go away to do homework.

305 00:29:10.440 ⇒ 00:29:20.700 AC: So unless you have the bandwidth and the personnel to do a lot of extra curricular activities what they call talking club.

306 00:29:20.940 ⇒ 00:29:23.480 AC: Well, you know, you don’t have ministry.

307 00:29:23.750 ⇒ 00:29:29.120 AC: So so we said, Well, that’s not the way to go. So what we’re doing is that so since last year we’ve been planning

308 00:29:29.220 ⇒ 00:29:40.319 AC: to turn our space into a co-working space, because in these last 10 years I it. Industry has emerged.

309 00:29:40.890 ⇒ 00:29:48.049 AC: and you may have heard of the 1st successful co-working space is called Lolo House.

310 00:29:48.270 ⇒ 00:29:52.420 AC: I think it starts at 22 0. 7.

311 00:29:53.010 ⇒ 00:29:53.490 Robert Tseng: Hmm.

312 00:29:55.910 ⇒ 00:30:04.340 AC: 2,015, yeah, 2,015. They started a rural house, and a little house is now very successful there.

313 00:30:04.530 ⇒ 00:30:10.459 AC: multiple campuses and other smaller, or who else Wannabe have started.

314 00:30:10.880 ⇒ 00:30:20.170 AC: So we decided to turn our. So our office is not big. It’s just 1,700 square feet.

315 00:30:20.730 ⇒ 00:30:24.400 AC: but we have to incredible location

316 00:30:24.920 ⇒ 00:30:32.110 AC: right in City Center, you know. You know, you know, if you still remember that the main road, north and south is Madness Avenue.

317 00:30:32.970 ⇒ 00:30:36.980 AC: And you know the main road is east and west is Chewy Avenue.

318 00:30:37.550 ⇒ 00:30:42.734 AC: One block north, 2 blocks south of 2 is.

319 00:30:43.870 ⇒ 00:30:44.270 Robert Tseng: Hmm.

320 00:30:44.270 ⇒ 00:30:48.520 AC: Our office is located on the corner of Manasse and Tapu Group.

321 00:30:48.900 ⇒ 00:30:50.139 Robert Tseng: Wow, yeah.

322 00:30:50.140 ⇒ 00:30:57.809 AC: Well, how did it happen? It’s also a God story. Because of this we feel, oh, God! You must have some reason for us to be in Kyrgyzstan.

323 00:30:58.250 ⇒ 00:31:05.290 AC: Remember, I said, that we took over the language center in 2,014, and right after we decided

324 00:31:05.760 ⇒ 00:31:13.760 AC: at that time the language center was located in a building owned by a Korean Christian businessman, and

325 00:31:14.500 ⇒ 00:31:22.989 AC: 2 months afterwards the guy told, Hey, you know. Sorry you guys have been moved because I have sold my building to a British mining company

326 00:31:23.300 ⇒ 00:31:30.689 AC: so below for a place. So I spent 4 weeks, you know, summer of 2015

327 00:31:30.890 ⇒ 00:31:33.629 AC: to look for a place. Look all over.

328 00:31:33.870 ⇒ 00:31:37.749 AC: At that time. 2,015. Real estate was a

329 00:31:37.920 ⇒ 00:31:43.819 AC: really skyrocketed, you know, in Bishop Brand become very expensive.

330 00:31:44.230 ⇒ 00:31:50.680 AC: So look at any place that is semi reasonable with public transportation access.

331 00:31:52.120 ⇒ 00:31:59.189 AC: If you count the dollars 2 years rent plus renovation cost

332 00:32:00.150 ⇒ 00:32:02.309 AC: would be half the purchase funds.

333 00:32:03.080 ⇒ 00:32:03.410 Robert Tseng: Right.

334 00:32:03.410 ⇒ 00:32:06.829 AC: Believe in buying real estate before

335 00:32:07.600 ⇒ 00:32:12.529 AC: the real ministry. Right? So so I I can’t. I can’t justify that right.

336 00:32:12.860 ⇒ 00:32:16.339 AC: So after 4 weeks I came back to California a little bit

337 00:32:16.560 ⇒ 00:32:22.830 AC: wondering, come on, what should we do? Because it’s pressure for us to move out of that. Well, amazing! The phone rang.

338 00:32:23.430 ⇒ 00:32:25.260 AC: A friend from college.

339 00:32:25.520 ⇒ 00:32:28.349 AC: We talk to each other, maybe once every several years.

340 00:32:28.640 ⇒ 00:32:35.320 AC: and he has maybe made a last donation to our organization

341 00:32:36.160 ⇒ 00:32:48.619 AC: in the nineties 20 years ago. So I’m not the kind of people who know how to fundraise to go after friends. But he caught up that day for the 1st time in months.

342 00:32:48.720 ⇒ 00:32:54.949 AC: It’s okay. What are you doing? Oh, I just think, what are you doing? Oh, I don’t want to do really struggling, you know

343 00:32:55.110 ⇒ 00:32:58.060 AC: not know what to do with this office situation

344 00:32:59.320 ⇒ 00:33:02.739 AC: at the end of 20 min of the phone. Okay, how about this?

345 00:33:03.360 ⇒ 00:33:05.759 AC: I have some money coming end of this year

346 00:33:06.520 ⇒ 00:33:11.060 AC: I will buy something and let you guys use it for free.

347 00:33:11.560 ⇒ 00:33:14.800 AC: And if you guys really, you know

348 00:33:16.140 ⇒ 00:33:23.439 AC: do what you do, maybe after yourself donated to your organization. And if you guys, if you guys don’t get to

349 00:33:23.660 ⇒ 00:33:27.600 AC: to see, maybe I can sell and make some money.

350 00:33:28.510 ⇒ 00:33:36.690 AC: so it turns out that he has a company called Ipo Energy. So always password.

351 00:33:37.140 ⇒ 00:33:44.490 AC: So that’s how we out of the blue got this City Center Location Office.

352 00:33:45.040 ⇒ 00:33:45.590 Robert Tseng: Hmm.

353 00:33:45.590 ⇒ 00:33:50.379 AC: And it’s not big, but it’s city center in the office building.

354 00:33:50.550 ⇒ 00:33:55.646 AC: And respectfully, you know, respectfully, respectively,

355 00:33:56.980 ⇒ 00:33:59.340 AC: fixed up as a business environment.

356 00:33:59.950 ⇒ 00:34:03.939 AC: So last year, when we were beginning to think of change.

357 00:34:04.120 ⇒ 00:34:09.969 AC: we invited the National Director Crusade in diversity and mutual trust

358 00:34:10.210 ⇒ 00:34:14.249 AC: to come, take a look and say, You know, if we are a Co. Working space here.

359 00:34:14.530 ⇒ 00:34:18.030 AC: do you think it can serve some of your young adults?

360 00:34:18.600 ⇒ 00:34:23.619 AC: But then, when they walked in. They also are excited. Wow! This is a great location

361 00:34:23.870 ⇒ 00:34:31.119 AC: to organize business type events to reach out to young professions. Now we

362 00:34:31.409 ⇒ 00:34:42.020 AC: all have our own student centers. But our student centers are residential houses in residential neighborhoods. We can never.

363 00:34:42.330 ⇒ 00:34:48.760 AC: you know, good. It’s good for students, but it cannot attract young working people

364 00:34:49.290 ⇒ 00:34:56.080 AC: so well, we’ll be happy to offer the place to, to, to fast forward to today.

365 00:34:56.760 ⇒ 00:35:00.309 AC: Yeah, transforming this.

366 00:35:00.510 ⇒ 00:35:02.030 AC: Oh, wow!

367 00:35:02.230 ⇒ 00:35:07.069 AC: 700 square feet into a Co. Working space, for now

368 00:35:07.180 ⇒ 00:35:09.720 AC: we just have used the largest room about

369 00:35:10.220 ⇒ 00:35:14.169 AC: 400 square feet. You could comfortably put in

370 00:35:14.450 ⇒ 00:35:20.360 AC: 10 or 12 desk space, and then there’ll be other rooms for meeting.

371 00:35:22.360 ⇒ 00:35:27.799 AC: But then the most exciting thing is that even though we are not big, we have enough rooms.

372 00:35:28.000 ⇒ 00:35:34.099 AC: The 3 small missional companies all

373 00:35:35.360 ⇒ 00:35:41.120 AC: for all, all set up to do. Business training will be moving in and.

374 00:35:41.120 ⇒ 00:35:41.540 Robert Tseng: Hmm.

375 00:35:41.540 ⇒ 00:35:50.230 AC: They all are planning to do business train, but different segments, different market. And so it could be complementary.

376 00:35:50.970 ⇒ 00:35:58.129 AC: So we are fixing up, you know, making some renovations right now.

377 00:35:58.590 ⇒ 00:36:08.789 AC: Hopefully, by August of September we officially launched a co-working space, and then these 3 companies.

378 00:36:09.080 ⇒ 00:36:11.060 AC: We’ll be able to use

379 00:36:11.190 ⇒ 00:36:18.379 AC: the other space. They each have their own offices, but that they’ll be able to share use of the

380 00:36:19.520 ⇒ 00:36:23.440 AC: larger rooms for training, and then

381 00:36:23.950 ⇒ 00:36:35.960 AC: that’s business training. But then also it something that we found out last summer from that trip, because our

382 00:36:36.360 ⇒ 00:36:43.409 AC: woodcam was so well received at this small university. Is it so? That university is. Another interesting story

383 00:36:43.520 ⇒ 00:36:52.480 AC: is located in Tautmok, a town of about 70,000, and out outside the fish camera is like.

384 00:36:52.830 ⇒ 00:36:53.979 AC: if you’re in.

385 00:36:55.460 ⇒ 00:36:56.340 Robert Tseng: I’m not talking about.

386 00:36:56.340 ⇒ 00:36:56.960 AC: No.

387 00:36:57.110 ⇒ 00:37:02.139 Robert Tseng: I know it took a month. I I still I’m I’m still in touch with a missionary family that lives out there.

388 00:37:02.140 ⇒ 00:37:05.331 AC: Okay, it’s not Leo and San Francisco. Right?

389 00:37:05.730 ⇒ 00:37:06.060 Robert Tseng: Here.

390 00:37:06.520 ⇒ 00:37:14.480 AC: So who will build a university, Vallejo? But that’s what this gentleman did 15 years ago. Long story.

391 00:37:14.700 ⇒ 00:37:24.449 AC: But then he amazingly got 2 of the best educators in Kyrgyzstan to run this university.

392 00:37:24.770 ⇒ 00:37:33.380 AC: So these are an American and a Kyrgyz lady, not Christians, but they actually mute

393 00:37:34.040 ⇒ 00:37:42.740 AC: American University of Central Asia after build up a uca Auca was acquired by Soros.

394 00:37:43.600 ⇒ 00:37:45.040 AC: So let’s kick them out.

395 00:37:45.890 ⇒ 00:37:46.220 Robert Tseng: Hmm.

396 00:37:46.220 ⇒ 00:37:48.690 AC: When they got kicked out they were really.

397 00:37:49.390 ⇒ 00:37:54.319 AC: you know, I’m happy. But then this Christian gentleman paid him good money.

398 00:37:54.540 ⇒ 00:37:57.880 AC: and so these these 2 people.

399 00:37:58.560 ⇒ 00:38:04.279 AC: Oh, 3 to 5 times a week they commute to work in tomorrow.

400 00:38:04.650 ⇒ 00:38:05.380 Robert Tseng: Wow!

401 00:38:05.380 ⇒ 00:38:12.799 AC: And so, after 15 years, this universities is now one of the top 5 in Kirkstan.

402 00:38:13.180 ⇒ 00:38:13.650 Robert Tseng: Hmm.

403 00:38:13.650 ⇒ 00:38:18.749 AC: With strong it business and pedagogy departments.

404 00:38:19.260 ⇒ 00:38:24.080 AC: So we did a boot camp there, and so that was where we spent.

405 00:38:24.320 ⇒ 00:38:25.549 AC: I don’t know.

406 00:38:25.710 ⇒ 00:38:28.040 AC: We’re very well received by the

407 00:38:28.370 ⇒ 00:38:36.349 AC: to use it. So the Vp. Was very happy, as we said, well, you know we’re here to learn about the tech landscape of Kyrgyzstan.

408 00:38:36.690 ⇒ 00:38:37.870 AC: So this is sure.

409 00:38:38.000 ⇒ 00:38:41.840 AC: He introduced us to the high tech pack

410 00:38:42.050 ⇒ 00:38:50.920 AC: in Bishka. Interesting story turns out that Kyrgyzstan, small and poor, among all the 5 stars.

411 00:38:51.680 ⇒ 00:38:56.139 AC: It’s the 1st country in Central Asia to start a high tech partner.

412 00:38:56.790 ⇒ 00:38:57.110 Robert Tseng: Hmm.

413 00:38:57.110 ⇒ 00:38:58.459 AC: Around 2015.

414 00:38:59.790 ⇒ 00:39:03.140 AC: The the guy gave us a 3 h, you know.

415 00:39:03.430 ⇒ 00:39:05.490 AC: Reception because it was free that day

416 00:39:05.860 ⇒ 00:39:10.489 AC: is all started with a few forward looking business people.

417 00:39:10.710 ⇒ 00:39:15.420 AC: together with some overseas attorneys. They told the Government, hey.

418 00:39:15.630 ⇒ 00:39:22.950 AC: we don’t have oil. We don’t have gas, but we can do it outsourcing and bring income

419 00:39:23.480 ⇒ 00:39:25.140 AC: to interpret them.

420 00:39:25.640 ⇒ 00:39:31.659 AC: So the government building virtual high tech property purpose. It began as a living room somewhere.

421 00:39:32.160 ⇒ 00:39:36.850 AC: a virtual high tech plan very smart policies.

422 00:39:37.230 ⇒ 00:39:40.633 AC: The government bases. Right? Okay. If you

423 00:39:42.570 ⇒ 00:39:46.980 AC: show that you are doing tech and you can shoot it.

424 00:39:47.220 ⇒ 00:39:55.299 AC: 80% or more of your revenue come from overseas, you can operate, tax, free.

425 00:39:56.380 ⇒ 00:39:57.040 Robert Tseng: Wow!

426 00:39:57.040 ⇒ 00:40:03.269 AC: The only stipulation is that you give back 1% of your revenue to the High Tech Park

427 00:40:03.610 ⇒ 00:40:08.919 AC: to promote tech education and promote a tech industry in kerpeasing.

428 00:40:09.770 ⇒ 00:40:11.479 AC: So the guys show us the crown.

429 00:40:11.630 ⇒ 00:40:13.519 AC: In just 7 years

430 00:40:14.280 ⇒ 00:40:23.870 AC: 425 companies have registered you, don’t. You don’t even move there because there’s no place but you just register

431 00:40:24.720 ⇒ 00:40:34.720 AC: and create. These companies could obviously not make, because 400 companies created 2,400 jobs.

432 00:40:34.830 ⇒ 00:40:37.620 AC: But they in 2023

433 00:40:37.870 ⇒ 00:40:40.820 AC: brought in 86 million into Kurpezan

434 00:40:41.010 ⇒ 00:40:44.079 AC: pennies, weight by American. But that is big, beautiful.

435 00:40:44.250 ⇒ 00:40:45.360 AC: Oh, Kyrgyzstan!

436 00:40:45.640 ⇒ 00:40:46.290 Robert Tseng: Yeah.

437 00:40:46.290 ⇒ 00:40:48.269 AC: And no oil, no gas, right?

438 00:40:48.851 ⇒ 00:40:59.809 AC: So they are really excited. They they come to learn from Drapers, University, and they are. And so when they further, we have a team from

439 00:41:00.010 ⇒ 00:41:02.890 AC: Silicon Valley Company that brings them to receive us.

440 00:41:03.410 ⇒ 00:41:08.390 AC: So that gave us a idea that so so

441 00:41:09.100 ⇒ 00:41:15.559 AC: remember, I said they encrypt was that jobs are dependent on relationships and bribes.

442 00:41:16.330 ⇒ 00:41:17.990 AC: That doesn’t provide you

443 00:41:18.910 ⇒ 00:41:25.389 AC: in when it comes to it. If you don’t want to stop, no matter who you know and what bribes you pay, you cannot get the jobs.

444 00:41:25.780 ⇒ 00:41:29.499 AC: On the other hand, if you have the stuff you get hired.

445 00:41:29.820 ⇒ 00:41:37.590 AC: So so we went to visit the largest, the Number one coding school called Geeks last summer, because

446 00:41:38.390 ⇒ 00:41:40.779 AC: the Development Director.

447 00:41:41.230 ⇒ 00:41:52.789 AC: a guy now in his thirties. He was 17 years old high schooler, and he went through 2 summers with Ed, so so at

448 00:41:53.020 ⇒ 00:41:57.020 AC: went to visit him. He gave us a royal reception

449 00:41:57.140 ⇒ 00:42:01.439 AC: and 2 floors in a class a office.

450 00:42:01.590 ⇒ 00:42:04.020 AC: It’s this coding school.

451 00:42:04.590 ⇒ 00:42:08.899 AC: And so we see all kinds of mutually young people there.

452 00:42:09.240 ⇒ 00:42:20.959 AC: And so we say, Wow, it workers are really a strategic people group to reach because they are motivated.

453 00:42:21.380 ⇒ 00:42:22.800 AC: the up and coming.

454 00:42:23.160 ⇒ 00:42:27.379 AC: When you do it, you can see in terms of your family.

455 00:42:27.510 ⇒ 00:42:30.019 AC: You can even work from Cosette.

456 00:42:30.590 ⇒ 00:42:38.450 AC: You know the Airbnb host that I still second time. Hey! It’s about the window I look, I work in it. So who do you work for? He smiled.

457 00:42:38.610 ⇒ 00:42:43.650 AC: I work for Uncle Sin, American sellers.

458 00:42:44.330 ⇒ 00:42:47.780 AC: So, and that these people are staying in courtism. Right?

459 00:42:47.890 ⇒ 00:42:50.249 AC: So we said, Wow, if we can

460 00:42:50.430 ⇒ 00:42:55.089 AC: get Christians into it, or encourage and build up

461 00:42:55.200 ⇒ 00:42:59.740 AC: young it workers in the treasures they can.

462 00:43:00.370 ⇒ 00:43:09.390 AC: the the future influences at the very least, they become contributing members of the church.

463 00:43:10.210 ⇒ 00:43:12.400 AC: So we are really

464 00:43:12.560 ⇒ 00:43:18.759 AC: create that. Okay, so how are we gonna do it? We cannot do it just by bringing short term teams.

465 00:43:19.277 ⇒ 00:43:24.669 AC: But amazingly, in November we we were there in August in November, when we went back.

466 00:43:25.820 ⇒ 00:43:30.539 AC: We connected with 7 local it workers in Bishkat.

467 00:43:31.200 ⇒ 00:43:35.760 AC: 2 of them are actually American missionaries, 10 victims.

468 00:43:35.910 ⇒ 00:43:38.210 AC: But 5 of them are local people.

469 00:43:38.780 ⇒ 00:43:42.359 AC: and somehow these people are now in their thirties.

470 00:43:42.580 ⇒ 00:43:47.679 AC: Somehow they they have all the issues of story, how they learn it

471 00:43:48.340 ⇒ 00:43:53.739 AC: when it. Education was almost like they went to law school. And then.

472 00:43:54.020 ⇒ 00:44:01.549 AC: so we have a a guy who is the lead system administrator for World Bank

473 00:44:01.730 ⇒ 00:44:07.920 AC: in Kyrgyzstan. He has worked for World Bank for 15 years with a lady

474 00:44:08.120 ⇒ 00:44:10.909 AC: who is a senior engineer with Meccacom.

475 00:44:11.020 ⇒ 00:44:19.060 AC: but she is so dedicated she teaches part time on Saturday at Ponta University and took a Phd.

476 00:44:19.660 ⇒ 00:44:21.859 AC: So we have multita people like that.

477 00:44:22.050 ⇒ 00:44:26.490 AC: And interestingly, they did not know each other before.

478 00:44:26.630 ⇒ 00:44:30.310 AC: So somehow we’ve got them together. And they were all very excited.

479 00:44:30.520 ⇒ 00:44:38.659 AC: So someone said, Yeah, we would love to figure a way to mentor the next generation, especially Christians.

480 00:44:39.080 ⇒ 00:44:44.540 AC: So we are working on strategy now.

481 00:44:45.245 ⇒ 00:44:51.850 AC: So in this coming September, we bring our team back. Yes, we’ll spend

482 00:44:52.080 ⇒ 00:44:53.989 AC: 3 days back at the university.

483 00:44:54.590 ⇒ 00:44:58.459 AC: but that will also have a shorter version.

484 00:44:58.660 ⇒ 00:45:08.080 AC: Working people cannot be away from work for 3 days. Right? We would just do a Friday evening and Saturday all day. Send them shorter version.

485 00:45:08.940 ⇒ 00:45:13.660 AC: and we will reach out to young it workers in fishcap.

486 00:45:13.760 ⇒ 00:45:19.480 AC: beginning with the it alumna of the University. Isn’t this University

487 00:45:19.610 ⇒ 00:45:23.829 AC: has already graduated over 120

488 00:45:24.050 ⇒ 00:45:28.049 AC: students in the last, you know, 8, 10 years.

489 00:45:28.750 ⇒ 00:45:33.909 AC: and they actually still have contact with more than half of them.

490 00:45:34.890 ⇒ 00:45:39.790 AC: So we can. We’re trying to, because we do use it.

491 00:45:40.010 ⇒ 00:45:44.439 AC: We can coordinates this next program.

492 00:45:45.140 ⇒ 00:45:49.429 AC: It will cost you nothing, and they have already seen the quality of the people that we brought

493 00:45:49.690 ⇒ 00:45:54.380 AC: last summer. They so they they know that they will.

494 00:45:54.770 ⇒ 00:45:56.410 AC: We will not ruin the name.

495 00:45:57.230 ⇒ 00:46:07.300 AC: and they. So if if this this this summer, this this fall, you plan well, you will officially be co-organized by

496 00:46:07.470 ⇒ 00:46:12.499 AC: Iuc it department and organization.

497 00:46:13.770 ⇒ 00:46:17.990 AC: We could help them become the 1st university in Kyrgyzstan

498 00:46:18.200 ⇒ 00:46:21.630 AC: to provide continuing education for the alumni.

499 00:46:22.000 ⇒ 00:46:24.900 AC: No other organization, no other university, is doing

500 00:46:25.890 ⇒ 00:46:28.890 AC: so. This is something that we’re proposing to them.

501 00:46:29.120 ⇒ 00:46:36.480 AC: So I think this would be strategic, because after a weekend broker in our center.

502 00:46:36.820 ⇒ 00:46:44.599 AC: we at the same time advertise series of seminars and webinars

503 00:46:44.910 ⇒ 00:46:48.580 AC: featuring local it workers in person.

504 00:46:49.050 ⇒ 00:47:00.280 AC: And also us software engineers zooming in. So this combination of local and us people

505 00:47:00.500 ⇒ 00:47:07.420 AC: will be attracted. The most important thing is the local people, because the local people will be there to help interpret.

506 00:47:07.580 ⇒ 00:47:16.100 AC: to meet the young people, to become their friends and mentor and role models. Right? Oh.

507 00:47:16.450 ⇒ 00:47:18.810 AC: I can become like these guys, you know.

508 00:47:18.940 ⇒ 00:47:26.570 AC: So that would hopefully be encouraging for Christians and for non-christians do

509 00:47:26.730 ⇒ 00:47:29.970 AC: so, our program can hopefully become

510 00:47:30.970 ⇒ 00:47:37.320 AC: bridge building activity for Christians and non-christians. And so that’s

511 00:47:37.460 ⇒ 00:47:39.169 AC: what we are doing. That’s fine.

512 00:47:39.430 ⇒ 00:47:43.430 AC: So I’m I’m trying to convinced at that.

513 00:47:43.840 ⇒ 00:47:51.350 AC: He he should make this his annual annual mission trip back to Kirk. I mean.

514 00:47:51.870 ⇒ 00:48:06.590 AC: you know, he’s kind of like he. He still speaks Russian and Kirk is, and so so you get up there, and you start the program with a few words of Kirk is and Russian. The whole room just warms up.

515 00:48:08.490 ⇒ 00:48:12.739 AC: And then and then and then I think that honestly, you know, I feel that

516 00:48:13.640 ⇒ 00:48:18.189 AC: our organization need somebody like him to join our board.

517 00:48:18.810 ⇒ 00:48:27.599 AC: because nobody else on the board except myself have been to Kyrgyzstan. You know we know, you know, situations not

518 00:48:28.500 ⇒ 00:48:31.389 AC: a place that many people know about.

519 00:48:32.220 ⇒ 00:48:36.300 AC: but but I think actually, Kyrgyzstan is

520 00:48:36.590 ⇒ 00:48:39.870 AC: incredible. It’s booming. Now. When was the last time you were there?

521 00:48:41.317 ⇒ 00:48:43.029 Robert Tseng: Probably 2022.

522 00:48:43.420 ⇒ 00:48:45.500 AC: Oh, 2022.

523 00:48:45.500 ⇒ 00:48:46.160 Robert Tseng: Yeah.

524 00:48:46.330 ⇒ 00:48:49.040 AC: Even after Ed left you went back.

525 00:48:49.040 ⇒ 00:48:49.710 Robert Tseng: Yeah.

526 00:48:49.960 ⇒ 00:48:51.290 AC: We went back to do what.

527 00:48:52.200 ⇒ 00:49:04.770 Robert Tseng: I have a I mean, I have my own kind of like network there, now, like I I’ve I discipled one of the guys that I led to Christ and one of the summer programs. With Ed

528 00:49:05.140 ⇒ 00:49:15.099 Robert Tseng: he plugged into a local church, and he was like, kind of just growing as a leader. So I just made a trip out there to visit him and some of my other contacts. Yeah.

529 00:49:15.380 ⇒ 00:49:19.697 AC: Very cool. Wow! We should get you to go this summer.

530 00:49:20.430 ⇒ 00:49:21.480 AC: I’m serious.

531 00:49:21.770 ⇒ 00:49:29.309 AC: Oh, you know we have a we have a topics and a rough curriculum

532 00:49:29.450 ⇒ 00:49:43.690 AC: proposed by a Christian. It instructor at the University. He’s the only he’s 1 of a few Christian instructors. The only Christian in the it department is very. Andre Shelton is a really

533 00:49:44.600 ⇒ 00:49:49.140 AC: good guy. He was at one time the head of the it department.

534 00:49:49.350 ⇒ 00:49:51.769 AC: and but that was probably default.

535 00:49:52.350 ⇒ 00:50:00.439 AC: The University grew academically. So now he is still an it instructor. But he has started his own company in Tomo

536 00:50:00.900 ⇒ 00:50:09.550 AC: doing software for a hospital in Taiwan, so I guess he should qualify for

537 00:50:10.030 ⇒ 00:50:14.639 AC: the high tech part right? And then he hires a few of his own

538 00:50:15.410 ⇒ 00:50:18.689 AC: graduates, Christians and non-christians to work.

539 00:50:19.140 ⇒ 00:50:26.290 AC: So he’s the one who came up. So we have no idea what to teach would be relevant. Right? So he is the one who

540 00:50:26.560 ⇒ 00:50:30.249 AC: came up with the topics last year, and also this year.

541 00:50:30.360 ⇒ 00:50:40.480 AC: for sure, they will be relevant to his students, but then, hopefully, would also be relevant to recent graduates from Ayusane.

542 00:50:42.560 ⇒ 00:50:50.949 AC: So- so I think that this is where we think so that the for people joining this trip.

543 00:50:51.480 ⇒ 00:50:57.099 AC: you basically fly out of the us. Friday afternoon evening

544 00:50:57.390 ⇒ 00:50:59.940 AC: you arrived, Fishcat. On Sunday morning.

545 00:51:00.230 ⇒ 00:51:04.510 AC: We can go to International Church, or wherever, and then

546 00:51:04.880 ⇒ 00:51:09.390 AC: do some on site. But we’ll do pre true orientation team building

547 00:51:10.092 ⇒ 00:51:18.230 AC: even work out division of labor. Okay, so 3 days. Who will teach what part? And so that’s what that was what worked out last year.

548 00:51:18.440 ⇒ 00:51:25.627 AC: and the the brother who was the technical team lead last year is a pre seasoned

549 00:51:26.230 ⇒ 00:51:32.120 AC: solar engineer. Yes, 15 or more years of last

550 00:51:32.620 ⇒ 00:51:44.309 AC: 7 years senior engineer at Meta. So he’s the one who put together the curriculum, and he’s working on it right now, and chances are that he will. He’s willing to go again this year.

551 00:51:44.710 ⇒ 00:51:47.209 AC: because, after all, you know, it’s a

552 00:51:47.650 ⇒ 00:51:51.579 AC: of doing this. The week following Labor Day is

553 00:51:52.830 ⇒ 00:51:55.890 AC: in a great idea last year we did before Labor Day.

554 00:51:56.290 ⇒ 00:51:58.569 AC: but during Labor Day is even better, because

555 00:51:58.690 ⇒ 00:52:02.150 AC: people basically need to take off from work for 4 days.

556 00:52:04.150 ⇒ 00:52:11.729 AC: He leaves on Friday evening, August 29, th and you’ll be back.

557 00:52:11.930 ⇒ 00:52:15.089 AC: you know. September 7.th Sunday afternoon.

558 00:52:16.290 ⇒ 00:52:25.020 AC: Which is is quite doable, and then, of course, you may go, and then the they they will.

559 00:52:25.140 ⇒ 00:52:31.500 AC: They will be after they can. Maybe the following year they can participate in our online

560 00:52:32.229 ⇒ 00:52:38.099 AC: program. So one sister, she’s the only sister to work for oracle.

561 00:52:38.692 ⇒ 00:52:50.230 AC: She was there last summer this year she won’t go, but she has already promised that she will help to put together a seminar, so so we will have our workshop

562 00:52:50.510 ⇒ 00:52:54.610 AC: in Palm University, but then also in our office.

563 00:52:54.930 ⇒ 00:52:57.309 AC: See you send it Friday, Saturday.

564 00:52:58.010 ⇒ 00:53:00.330 AC: Bring together hopefully some group, and then

565 00:53:00.910 ⇒ 00:53:04.679 AC: who at the same time be able to hey, you know, after this weekend

566 00:53:05.390 ⇒ 00:53:08.549 AC: later this month, and then we think that

567 00:53:09.150 ⇒ 00:53:13.110 AC: probably a bi-weekly series would be the right rhythm.

568 00:53:14.610 ⇒ 00:53:21.450 AC: It could, it could be, and then people on the ground they prefer to teach on weekday evening, so that

569 00:53:21.700 ⇒ 00:53:25.540 AC: their weekends family. But then people from the Us.

570 00:53:25.730 ⇒ 00:53:33.840 AC: Will most probably be teaching, or Saturday, because it would be

571 00:53:34.050 ⇒ 00:53:37.530 AC: Friday afternoon or evening for us people

572 00:53:37.750 ⇒ 00:53:48.179 AC: to zoom into Kyrgyzstan. It will be Saturday morning or afternoon time so seriously for people who commit.

573 00:53:48.740 ⇒ 00:53:55.450 AC: you know, even if you commit regularly, maybe you only need to do a seminar once every 3 months of in 4 months.

574 00:53:56.320 ⇒ 00:53:59.110 AC: It will take you 10 h to put together something right?

575 00:53:59.230 ⇒ 00:54:05.580 AC: And then so we just need people to.

576 00:54:06.140 ⇒ 00:54:08.060 AC: you know, lined up and teaching.

577 00:54:08.290 ⇒ 00:54:12.070 AC: and we don’t. We will try to become a coding sloop.

578 00:54:12.340 ⇒ 00:54:15.939 AC: and people can just teach whatever they

579 00:54:16.090 ⇒ 00:54:18.840 AC: are comfortable. Then we’ll tick them

580 00:54:19.060 ⇒ 00:54:21.559 AC: least amount of time to prepare right.

581 00:54:22.300 ⇒ 00:54:31.509 AC: So random topics. But basically a continuing education, a series hopefully to gradually

582 00:54:31.650 ⇒ 00:54:35.449 AC: build a core group of young. It workers.

583 00:54:37.340 ⇒ 00:54:40.650 AC: Mentored by a few local people. That’s the key thing.

584 00:54:41.860 ⇒ 00:54:47.869 AC: So so people zooming in or whatever they are the attractions. But

585 00:54:48.300 ⇒ 00:54:58.789 AC: actually the local people will do the real work, and then we have crew endorsity and beautiful Christ. Hopefully, this will help them.

586 00:54:58.950 ⇒ 00:54:59.790 AC: Wow!

587 00:55:00.000 ⇒ 00:55:11.110 AC: Picture of all guys number 2, help them develop a young professionals industry.

588 00:55:11.270 ⇒ 00:55:11.780 AC: We just.

589 00:55:12.520 ⇒ 00:55:15.600 AC: Important because I grew up in Asia.

590 00:55:15.860 ⇒ 00:55:18.180 AC: I grew up in Hong Kong.

591 00:55:19.070 ⇒ 00:55:22.500 AC: I know the history of prison movement in Asia.

592 00:55:23.740 ⇒ 00:55:30.200 AC: In the fifties and sixties after World War, 2 generosity crew, navigator.

593 00:55:30.890 ⇒ 00:55:35.090 AC: They brought young people to Christ. There was a Syrian movement.

594 00:55:35.420 ⇒ 00:55:38.170 AC: but pretty quickly by the seventies and eighties.

595 00:55:38.460 ⇒ 00:55:42.090 AC: They all developed graduates, ministry.

596 00:55:43.160 ⇒ 00:55:54.190 AC: So then you begin to teachers, Christian fellowship, social workers, Christian fellowship, nurse doctors, lawyers, even insurance sales people.

597 00:55:54.550 ⇒ 00:55:56.330 AC: And what that does is that.

598 00:55:57.230 ⇒ 00:56:07.310 AC: Oh, young professionals are supported because that’s the situation, and no matter how good is your campus fellowship.

599 00:56:07.610 ⇒ 00:56:12.419 AC: once you graduate, you no longer have that kind of environment.

600 00:56:12.670 ⇒ 00:56:19.979 AC: you step into the workplace. It’s a pretty hostile place, pretty lonely place, even in America. It’s not easy to survive.

601 00:56:21.380 ⇒ 00:56:24.880 AC: Right not to mention Muslim country.

602 00:56:25.020 ⇒ 00:56:32.009 AC: So it’s it’s critical that we will try to build this peace and and encourage the

603 00:56:32.150 ⇒ 00:56:34.379 AC: you still got a message, but I think I have.

604 00:56:34.660 ⇒ 00:56:42.069 AC: Don’t just focus on working on students. I know that you needed numbers to report to your supporters.

605 00:56:43.880 ⇒ 00:56:53.990 AC: invest in graduates and try to even turn some of your graduates into volunteer staff.

606 00:56:55.040 ⇒ 00:57:00.970 AC: And young people, we see role models right? If the only role model that young people see are

607 00:57:01.360 ⇒ 00:57:16.650 AC: these totally dedicated Christian staff who have given up their careers to do campus ministry. Okay, this is this is in one way, is inspiring. Another way is scary. Oh.

608 00:57:17.820 ⇒ 00:57:20.910 AC: do I want to become like you.

609 00:57:21.280 ⇒ 00:57:27.340 AC: You know what, incidentally, that is also what some campus ministries do in America.

610 00:57:29.970 ⇒ 00:57:33.880 AC: This. This is not. It’s not this it has to.

611 00:57:34.210 ⇒ 00:57:39.009 AC: It’s written in a sacred secular divide worldview.

612 00:57:40.930 ⇒ 00:57:45.739 AC: Yeah, I mean, I’m very familiar with that. That’s the organization I came from. So

613 00:57:46.069 ⇒ 00:57:52.009 AC: that’s how you grew up right. That’s how I grew up, how we all grew up.

614 00:57:53.350 ⇒ 00:57:53.800 Robert Tseng: Yeah.

615 00:57:54.240 ⇒ 00:58:03.049 AC: But then but then but then, if you think of it, it’s totally unbiblical. The Hebrew word evidah means worship.

616 00:58:03.740 ⇒ 00:58:06.060 AC: surface and work.

617 00:58:06.470 ⇒ 00:58:13.660 AC: So biblicary discipleship is 24, 7.

618 00:58:14.950 ⇒ 00:58:20.400 AC: Not just Friday night. Bible study, Wednesday night, prayer, meeting, Sunday worship.

619 00:58:20.560 ⇒ 00:58:21.530 Robert Tseng: It was.

620 00:58:22.240 ⇒ 00:58:27.509 AC: Ours are meant to equip, empower, and support us.

621 00:58:27.760 ⇒ 00:58:33.269 AC: to live our faith in real life. Real life means family work.

622 00:58:34.060 ⇒ 00:58:34.700 Robert Tseng: Yeah.

623 00:58:35.210 ⇒ 00:58:39.380 AC: To workers the big piece. Right? So this is also

624 00:58:40.000 ⇒ 00:58:48.769 AC: I I you know I didn’t tell you my story. I became a doctor, thinking I would do, I would become a missionary right? But then, when I found that becoming a doctor.

625 00:58:49.170 ⇒ 00:58:51.700 AC: was it that end street? Because

626 00:58:51.850 ⇒ 00:58:58.269 AC: there’s a licensing barrier everywhere you turn, plus all the countries that I wanted to go to the missions.

627 00:58:59.490 ⇒ 00:59:01.680 AC: Healthcare is a cost center.

628 00:59:02.080 ⇒ 00:59:02.600 Robert Tseng: Hmm.

629 00:59:02.600 ⇒ 00:59:08.980 AC: No money to spend on hiring an American doctor, and when I went to China years ago

630 00:59:09.860 ⇒ 00:59:15.370 AC: the eighties there was not even one international clinic in all of China.

631 00:59:15.730 ⇒ 00:59:16.470 Robert Tseng: Hmm.

632 00:59:16.470 ⇒ 00:59:26.710 AC: Because there’s not enough population. So that’s when I said, Okay, God, I don’t have to do medicine. I just want to do missions. So at age 37, after I became

633 00:59:27.060 ⇒ 00:59:30.479 AC: was certified. I was, you know.

634 00:59:30.980 ⇒ 00:59:35.480 AC: I have a nice clinical assistant professor of medicine from Usc.

635 00:59:35.820 ⇒ 00:59:37.320 AC: I decided to.

636 00:59:37.670 ⇒ 00:59:39.990 AC: You know I had to leave that behind. You

637 00:59:40.360 ⇒ 00:59:44.909 AC: figure out how to develop a new model for missions.

638 00:59:45.410 ⇒ 00:59:45.850 Robert Tseng: Hmm.

639 00:59:45.850 ⇒ 00:59:51.300 AC: Encouraging and mobilizing and supporting professionals, because

640 00:59:51.430 ⇒ 00:59:55.580 AC: think of all the countries that it costs us, may see that you know

641 00:59:56.310 ⇒ 00:59:59.910 AC: you cannot go in as a church plant. You cannot go as me.

642 01:00:00.300 ⇒ 01:00:04.045 AC: Ed. Has to spend 8 years as a language student.

643 01:00:05.150 ⇒ 01:00:11.330 AC: How? How long can you be a language student? When you have 3 kids, people look at you strange, right?

644 01:00:12.730 ⇒ 01:00:13.930 AC: It doesn’t work.

645 01:00:14.490 ⇒ 01:00:28.180 AC: So I think that for me is it’s a is a journey that for me to discover that. Wow, okay, I have to start organization to tell young people, hey? You want to do mission. 1st of all, don’t do medicine. Secondly.

646 01:00:29.010 ⇒ 01:00:35.180 AC: you must think of becoming good at some profession.

647 01:00:35.690 ⇒ 01:00:39.880 AC: and then you can tick your professional or your business

648 01:00:40.090 ⇒ 01:00:42.109 AC: to where the gospel is missing.

649 01:00:42.640 ⇒ 01:00:43.010 Robert Tseng: Hmm.

650 01:00:43.010 ⇒ 01:00:46.839 AC: But, by the way, Kyrgyzstan is growing by leaps and bounds

651 01:00:47.170 ⇒ 01:00:57.110 AC: so seriously, if you are doing a it company at some point we think of outsourcing some of your

652 01:00:57.370 ⇒ 01:00:59.470 AC: software development to Kyrgyzstan.

653 01:01:00.210 ⇒ 01:01:05.200 Robert Tseng: I have. I’ve hired a couple of my former students interns last summer.

654 01:01:05.649 ⇒ 01:01:28.530 Robert Tseng: I mean, I could share a lot of stories, but I do gotta go. But like, yeah, one of the students I met during my 1st time he was in middle school at the time. He did an internship with my company last summer, and then, just like through my network, I helped him get his 1st job. He’s at Google now. So like, I do try to give my connections in Kyrgyzstan opportunity.

655 01:01:28.530 ⇒ 01:01:32.319 AC: So cool he did internship for your Us. Based company.

656 01:01:32.490 ⇒ 01:01:33.110 Robert Tseng: Yeah.

657 01:01:33.110 ⇒ 01:01:34.080 AC: Remotely.

658 01:01:35.098 ⇒ 01:01:44.060 Robert Tseng: No, he! He actually came. He was a smart kid. He ended up getting to. He came to the States. He studied a Community college went to University of Washington.

659 01:01:44.498 ⇒ 01:02:02.690 Robert Tseng: But yeah, because of visa issues. It was hard for him to work for a Us. Based company. But you know I’m not so by the book like that, and I hired him anyway. But I think I mean in some way it may have helped him now his company will sponsor him, so he’s good. But yeah.

660 01:02:03.100 ⇒ 01:02:04.969 AC: So he stays in America.

661 01:02:04.970 ⇒ 01:02:08.140 Robert Tseng: Yeah. Yeah. Now he lives in Seattle. He works for Google. There.

662 01:02:08.140 ⇒ 01:02:10.480 AC: Oh, so you contributed to the brain train.

663 01:02:12.010 ⇒ 01:02:12.890 Robert Tseng: Hey!

664 01:02:13.770 ⇒ 01:02:15.509 AC: So seriously, seriously.

665 01:02:16.120 ⇒ 01:02:25.999 AC: Why don’t you, if you want to turn your business into a mission vehicle, think of hiring people in

666 01:02:26.440 ⇒ 01:02:35.390 AC: Kyrgyzstan so seriously. If if if we can advertise, say, Hey, you know our little center here

667 01:02:35.650 ⇒ 01:02:40.940 AC: as a way of okay giving you internship work

668 01:02:41.600 ⇒ 01:02:46.680 AC: for for pennies, right? Maybe even for pennies, is good money for students.

669 01:02:46.680 ⇒ 01:02:47.410 Robert Tseng: Yeah.

670 01:02:47.410 ⇒ 01:02:55.060 AC: Because the key to getting a job for all the It students in Korea Center. If you get an internship.

671 01:02:55.530 ⇒ 01:02:56.090 Robert Tseng: Yeah.

672 01:02:56.090 ⇒ 01:03:05.110 AC: Internships are hard to get right. You know, we hire you basically investing time right?

673 01:03:05.380 ⇒ 01:03:09.389 AC: And and so in interns are expensive in terms of

674 01:03:10.640 ⇒ 01:03:15.535 AC: investment in the company. But if you do this for missions it

675 01:03:16.420 ⇒ 01:03:20.450 AC: you quietly select Christian it, students

676 01:03:20.760 ⇒ 01:03:26.220 AC: and Andre Charton can help you all of the class.

677 01:03:26.410 ⇒ 01:03:33.080 AC: By the way, the It. Department that IUCA.

678 01:03:33.270 ⇒ 01:03:37.670 AC: It’s very reputable, because there you have.

679 01:03:38.080 ⇒ 01:03:41.709 AC: This is well, because university is so corrupt in Kyrgyzstan

680 01:03:41.920 ⇒ 01:03:51.319 AC: the grazing is nothing, but not Iuca. So Ololo House, the founder, has a private list of top. It

681 01:03:51.650 ⇒ 01:03:57.710 AC: programs in Kyrgyzstan, and on his book I, Uca is number 4.

682 01:03:58.600 ⇒ 01:03:58.980 Robert Tseng: Hmm.

683 01:03:58.980 ⇒ 01:04:04.690 AC: Or university with just 15 years history? Right? So so you if you could.

684 01:04:05.130 ⇒ 01:04:08.830 AC: you know I introduce you, Andre. He’s a very good brother.

685 01:04:09.160 ⇒ 01:04:17.660 AC: He will look out for Christian students in this department, and then.

686 01:04:18.900 ⇒ 01:04:20.869 AC: you know, you give her an internship

687 01:04:21.490 ⇒ 01:04:25.639 AC: that will help him or her find jobs in Kyrgyzstan.

688 01:04:26.810 ⇒ 01:04:28.199 AC: And then that will help.

689 01:04:28.430 ⇒ 01:04:31.639 AC: Let’s build up a core of

690 01:04:31.890 ⇒ 01:04:38.520 AC: it. Workers, maybe even a It fellowship in Kyrgyzstan.

691 01:04:40.960 ⇒ 01:04:47.810 AC: So you are in a interesting position, I mean, and I hear that you

692 01:04:49.060 ⇒ 01:04:53.639 AC: big heart for Kyrgyzstan. That’s why you even went back in 2,002,

693 01:04:53.830 ⇒ 01:04:55.880 AC: just to visit your friends right.

694 01:04:57.070 ⇒ 01:05:01.309 AC: And then there’s also a very interesting church movement.

695 01:05:01.420 ⇒ 01:05:03.839 AC: We got to know this church movement.

696 01:05:04.560 ⇒ 01:05:08.230 AC: It’s only a few years old. It’s called compel.

697 01:05:08.740 ⇒ 01:05:12.440 AC: It starts with a pasture in Castle Sun.

698 01:05:12.840 ⇒ 01:05:22.800 AC: I don’t know. You know how he got position, but he is starting a by vocational move forward.

699 01:05:23.800 ⇒ 01:05:29.940 AC: I’ll go well, they just 4 years old. They are growing cast of that.

700 01:05:30.270 ⇒ 01:05:37.630 AC: but they have already started to send teams to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

701 01:05:38.120 ⇒ 01:05:38.960 Robert Tseng: Hmm.

702 01:05:39.430 ⇒ 01:05:40.290 AC: For

703 01:05:40.600 ⇒ 01:05:47.509 AC: young people who grew up in Kazakhstan to be willing to come to go to Kyrgyzstan. It’s kind of like

704 01:05:48.120 ⇒ 01:05:50.619 AC: Americans going to work in Mexico.

705 01:05:52.000 ⇒ 01:05:53.680 AC: Or Nicaragua, right?

706 01:05:53.980 ⇒ 01:05:57.590 AC: So we met this team of 4 that

707 01:05:57.910 ⇒ 01:06:00.940 AC: went to Fish Camp a year ago.

708 01:06:01.610 ⇒ 01:06:03.989 AC: and they have a bivocational model.

709 01:06:04.690 ⇒ 01:06:07.030 AC: I think the 3rd part is a positive sum.

710 01:06:07.320 ⇒ 01:06:11.330 AC: but they each have their own little geeks.

711 01:06:12.280 ⇒ 01:06:15.030 AC: One of them is a young woman.

712 01:06:15.260 ⇒ 01:06:22.010 AC: She’s making custom jewelries and selling them on on the phone, and nothing

713 01:06:22.270 ⇒ 01:06:26.739 AC: is, has trained himself to become a a barista.

714 01:06:26.960 ⇒ 01:06:38.220 AC: and they actually have started a barista training set up in the pilot that the that you rent

715 01:06:38.690 ⇒ 01:06:49.600 AC: another guy, a Kabul, is importing Canadian manufactured building panels.

716 01:06:51.480 ⇒ 01:07:00.710 AC: But they are 4 Cossacks young people send to stop, compelled in fish care.

717 01:07:01.280 ⇒ 01:07:01.770 Robert Tseng: Hmm.

718 01:07:01.770 ⇒ 01:07:08.380 AC: Within a year. They have already started 2 probations, very vibrant young people.

719 01:07:09.040 ⇒ 01:07:14.689 AC: and they have the same model, sending their church planters to Tajikistan.

720 01:07:18.030 ⇒ 01:07:26.330 AC: So this is a very interesting, so maybe with your you know, it will cost you maybe.

721 01:07:27.340 ⇒ 01:07:35.730 AC: where you do money and I don’t know, are your partners Christians, that you you’ll share your focused on.

722 01:07:37.655 ⇒ 01:07:42.884 Robert Tseng: I hire Christians not exclusively. My business partner is not

723 01:07:44.000 ⇒ 01:07:58.179 Robert Tseng: yeah. But I mean, we do employ a global workforce. We have people work doing back office functions in the Philippines, and then we also hire from like Pakistan, because he’s he’s but my, but my partner’s Pakistani. So.

724 01:07:58.180 ⇒ 01:07:59.300 AC: Right, right.

725 01:07:59.470 ⇒ 01:08:02.799 Robert Tseng: Yeah, those are really the 2 main places we hire outside of the Us.

726 01:08:02.800 ⇒ 01:08:10.550 AC: This is, give me an idea I need to reach out to if you it companies that I know

727 01:08:10.980 ⇒ 01:08:12.710 AC: the Christian owned.

728 01:08:13.120 ⇒ 01:08:13.870 Robert Tseng: Yeah.

729 01:08:13.870 ⇒ 01:08:20.490 AC: We just need to what? $200$300 a month during the summer, right.

730 01:08:20.870 ⇒ 01:08:21.210 Robert Tseng: Cheers.

731 01:08:21.210 ⇒ 01:08:30.649 AC: It’s like coffee money for them, right? But with that money they could. But now, of course, is you need to find a Christian staff to invest in in time. Right.

732 01:08:31.040 ⇒ 01:08:31.680 Robert Tseng: Hmm.

733 01:08:31.689 ⇒ 01:08:36.139 AC: But I think that what you tell me in my mind is

734 01:08:36.449 ⇒ 01:08:44.299 AC: totally doable, because even if you hire an intern in your New York office chances that you’re you’re talking to him on the computer, right? Even if.

735 01:08:44.300 ⇒ 01:08:45.080 Robert Tseng: Yeah, yeah.

736 01:08:45.080 ⇒ 01:08:46.999 AC: Even if you’re sitting in the next room right.

737 01:08:47.140 ⇒ 01:08:51.009 Robert Tseng: I don’t even really run the intern program anymore. I have someone else running at this point.

738 01:08:51.010 ⇒ 01:08:51.390 AC: Okay.

739 01:08:51.399 ⇒ 01:08:54.099 Robert Tseng: We have. We have 3 interns this summer. So yeah.

740 01:08:54.480 ⇒ 01:08:59.180 AC: Is the person running in superware mode mission minded Christian.

741 01:08:59.819 ⇒ 01:09:08.229 Robert Tseng: Well, not this summer. I didn’t. I mean, I could I? Yeah, we we have a few Christians in our company. Yeah, I mean, if I were to

742 01:09:08.429 ⇒ 01:09:11.109 Robert Tseng: make it more missional, I would put someone Christian.

743 01:09:11.109 ⇒ 01:09:13.279 AC: Intentionally. You said the plan right?

744 01:09:13.279 ⇒ 01:09:13.899 Robert Tseng: Yeah.

745 01:09:13.899 ⇒ 01:09:17.659 AC: Plan, so that next year you will have finally.

746 01:09:17.989 ⇒ 01:09:22.309 AC: and then you can help this person become missional too.

747 01:09:22.310 ⇒ 01:09:23.270 Robert Tseng: Yeah. Totally.

748 01:09:23.279 ⇒ 01:09:33.419 AC: No, because the thing is exciting most of the time we think of this. Oh, go to do some houses, go to rent some children. Summer camp, you know, get that all that is cool.

749 01:09:33.739 ⇒ 01:09:42.629 AC: But what about using our education and profession to reach strategically.

750 01:09:42.929 ⇒ 01:09:48.489 AC: because this is contributing to the career. Development of young people.

751 01:09:48.950 ⇒ 01:09:49.560 Robert Tseng: Yeah.

752 01:09:49.569 ⇒ 01:09:56.149 AC: Who could become, you know, pillars of society and laden salt in the marketplace. Right?

753 01:09:56.319 ⇒ 01:09:58.239 AC: So. It’s very exciting.

754 01:10:00.390 ⇒ 01:10:16.774 Robert Tseng: Yeah, no, this is a really, you know, great opportunity. I’m glad we had this conversation. Yeah, I didn’t know you guys are going so soon. I I would consider it. Yeah, I would love to see more details logistically, and see if we can make that work. I do have to go, so I apologize for cutting our call short. But

755 01:10:17.946 ⇒ 01:10:20.694 AC: Expected over, now.

756 01:10:22.174 ⇒ 01:10:22.740 Robert Tseng: Okay.

757 01:10:22.740 ⇒ 01:10:26.065 AC: Anyway. Why do you pray about

758 01:10:27.440 ⇒ 01:10:30.610 AC: spending a few days after? I don’t know if you’re working.

759 01:10:30.870 ⇒ 01:10:36.619 AC: you’re starting to law school, whether you can afford a family. But pray about that.

760 01:10:36.930 ⇒ 01:10:42.115 Robert Tseng: I will. Yeah, no, I I’ve been. I’ve been wanting to go back to Kyrgyzstan so.

761 01:10:42.440 ⇒ 01:10:45.479 AC: You have more than one now you have. Now you have more than one reason. I’m

762 01:10:47.300 ⇒ 01:10:53.669 AC: go. I’ll introduce Andre Charlton, and then he will help you. Recruit Christian students.

763 01:10:53.890 ⇒ 01:10:54.360 Robert Tseng: Yeah.

764 01:10:54.550 ⇒ 01:10:58.220 AC: New York intern next year, or whatever.

765 01:10:58.450 ⇒ 01:10:59.080 Robert Tseng: Yeah.

766 01:11:01.160 ⇒ 01:11:05.338 AC: Cool. Well, why don’t we pray? This is exciting. I’m so glad I talked to you.

767 01:11:05.600 ⇒ 01:11:07.379 Robert Tseng: Sure. Yeah, thank you.

768 01:11:07.380 ⇒ 01:11:10.060 AC: How do you pray? I did was talking you.

769 01:11:10.060 ⇒ 01:11:10.500 Robert Tseng: Okay.

770 01:11:11.350 ⇒ 01:11:12.376 Robert Tseng: Alright, alright!

771 01:11:14.180 ⇒ 01:11:22.360 Robert Tseng: dear, only, father, thank you so much for this opportunity to connect with Brother Kenneth. And just to hear just this

772 01:11:22.800 ⇒ 01:11:44.029 Robert Tseng: wonderful story, Lord, of just your fingerprints over Kyrgyzstan, over the these, even just this glimpse of Canada’s 20 plus year journey of just praying and serving in Kyrgyzstan. And yeah, just kind of seeing these things line up. Lord, I just pray for.

773 01:11:44.550 ⇒ 01:11:56.610 Robert Tseng: Yeah. I pray for everyone involved, from the people on the people on the ground who are yeah, spending day and night just doing life with.

774 01:11:57.340 ⇒ 01:12:18.359 Robert Tseng: yeah, just our Christian Kyrgyz brothers and sisters. And yeah, just really praying for opportunities to kind of serve them and grow their career. And yeah, just really tackle this brain drain and kind of just problem in in in Kyrgyzstan, and

775 01:12:18.470 ⇒ 01:12:41.512 Robert Tseng: we also pray for everyone that’s stateside and all the other talent that they’re that Ken is talking to. Yeah, I pray that you would stir in people’s hearts. Yeah, just to see the urgency. And yeah, just the compelling yeah. Just missional discipleship opportunity there is in just in in this ministry.

776 01:12:42.640 ⇒ 01:13:11.799 Robert Tseng: Lord, none of this would happen unless your you know your blessing. Your anointing is on it, Lord, and so we just thank you for just the men and women of peace. The favor that they found, and getting the office and the the wise connections that they have, whether it’s you know, Ed’s former students or just friends of friends and yeah, you know Christians and non-christians alike. Lord, you you just chose your sovereignty. And

777 01:13:12.293 ⇒ 01:13:32.600 Robert Tseng: yeah, just bringing people together even without them realizing it. So, Lord, I just pray for clarity over just this particular trip, coming up in a month or so on. Who who will be on that trip? I pray for just travel mercies and logistical grace, and just the planning of things. And

778 01:13:32.850 ⇒ 01:13:34.469 Robert Tseng: yeah, Lord, it just

779 01:13:34.640 ⇒ 01:13:49.279 Robert Tseng: yeah. Just continue to just lift up just this initiative. This is, yeah. But just 1 1 trip of of many people’s efforts and hours pouring and prayer. And I’m just I’m humbled to

780 01:13:49.610 ⇒ 01:13:52.160 Robert Tseng: yeah, just here, just even

781 01:13:52.350 ⇒ 01:14:03.910 Robert Tseng: a short testimony of just so many years of laboring and prayer for Kyrgyzstan. And so, Lord, we just, if we pray these things in your name. Amen.

782 01:14:04.270 ⇒ 01:14:05.050 AC: Amen.

783 01:14:05.670 ⇒ 01:14:06.470 AC: Well.

784 01:14:06.820 ⇒ 01:14:12.900 AC: thank you, Rob, it’s really more than more than expected to be in 1 h conversation. We’ll see how.

785 01:14:12.900 ⇒ 01:14:13.230 Robert Tseng: Yeah.

786 01:14:13.562 ⇒ 01:14:14.560 AC: It’s okay. Alright.

787 01:14:15.001 ⇒ 01:14:18.089 Robert Tseng: Okay, I’ll talk to you soon, then.

788 01:14:18.090 ⇒ 01:14:27.459 AC: Okay, bye-bye. I’ll send you the flyer and think of maybe a few other it friends that you could share with. Yeah.

789 01:14:28.020 ⇒ 01:14:28.990 AC: okay, yeah.

790 01:14:28.990 ⇒ 01:14:31.009 AC: I’ll send the Whatsapp. Okay? See? You.

791 01:14:31.010 ⇒ 01:14:32.360 Robert Tseng: I will. Okay.

792 01:14:32.580 ⇒ 01:14:35.120 Robert Tseng: Alright, thank you. Bye.