Esther Lee Yao was a committed housewife and mother of two young girls. She often graded her career as “B” but “A” for being a wife and a mother. In addition to the separate files on OCA and OCAW she also established, organized and participated in a number of community organizations, events and activities.
Chinese Churches
Religion has played a guiding role and always the major ingredient of Esther’s life. She re-dedicated herself after she had her first daughter in the fall, 1971. Finally, she fully understood God’s soveignty in her life. From that point two songs: Have Thine Own Way Lord and Living for Jesus have dominated her life.
After moving to Houston with her husband, Stanton in February 1972, she felt the calling to a vast land/opportunity to plant the seed of the gospel/good tiding. To reach out more than 200 Chinese families in the Clear Lake City (CLC) where the Johnson Space Center located she came up with the ideas of Chinese class and Chinese Family Discussion Group (on parenting skills). Both started in Spring, 1972 soon after their arrival in CLC. There were only three Christian families in the area: Peggy and Herbert King (been their for several years then), Cynthia and Ronald Chen (shortly before Esther’s arrival). The Chinese class started in her 2-BR apartment in CLC in Spring, 1972. Since the Yaos bought their first house and moved to Sagemont the Chinese class had to be relocated to local Nassu Bay Baptist Church. For three years prior to her part-time appointment with UHCL in Spring, 1975, she devoted herself to these two projects.
Meanwhile, she and her husband joined a local Chinese Mission which later became Houston Chinese Church. She played the piano while Stanton directed the choir. She directed the choir briefly and had the Cantata No Greater Love with slide presentation for the Easter celebration.
The Yaos moved back to Clear Lake City once UHCL offered Esther a full-time position as an associate professor in August, 1975. She prayed for three years to return to Clear Lake City for God’s ministry. She requested God to increase their income by $100 so they could afford the housing in Clear Lake City. How could she know that God was greater and more generous than her expectation. HE GAVE HER A JOB! As a result, the Yaos were able to move into a larger two-story house in a prestigious subdivision.
This new house with a large living was purchased for their bi-weekly fellowship. They invited the pastor from the Houston Chinese Church to CLC to preach regularly. Esther tried to prepare the best dam sums that were not available in Chinese restaurants at that time to attract local Chinese Americans. From this bi-weekly fellowship the Clear Lake Chinese Church was formed with the support of Houston Chinese Church. Esther was active as a pianist, baby sitter and cook for the Sunday lunches. Her involvement was diminished and eventually ended as a result of the church interpreter’s assault to Faith, her older daughter in the women’s room. Finally she left the Church with her two girls around 1982. Stanton stayed at the Chinese church while they attended the American University Baptist Church.
Minority Businesswomen Workshop
Held on August 22, 1981
Esther was a speaker addressing the issues related to minority women. Then she was paid tribute in the following years’ conference.
Chinese Lunar New Year Festival at UHCL
Held on Feb. 8, 1982
Esther Yao cooked (deep fried) several hundred thin skinned/wrapped egg rolls for sale to raise money for the Chinese Student Organization of UHCL. She deep fried the homemade egg rolls and delivered to campus via several trips. The purpose of the event was to introduce Chinese culture to local Clear Lake residents. The program consisted of Chinese food stands, displays and sale of Chinese artifacts, Chinese traditional custom show and demonstration of Chinese painting and calligraphy. The Chinese Student Organization was formed under her leadership and sponsorship.
Space City Chinese School
Spring, 1972
(later named Clear Lake Chinese School)
Shortly after Esther and her husband, Stanton’s arrival in Houston from W. Lafayette, IN she started the weekend Chinese School at their two-bedroom apartment in Clear Lake City, Houston. At that time her first daughter, Faith, was only three-month old. Esther was convinced that American born Chinese (ABC) should be able speak Chinese. Yet, at that time Chinese classes were only available in Cantonese not Mandarin, in Chinatown to those early immigrants’ descents after regular American school hours. Since those immigrants who arrived after WW II especially after the open immigration policy effective in 1967 were highly educated and lived in an integrated community their children could not attend the Chinese classes/schools held in Chinatown. In addition, Chinatowns could only be found in major cities. Thus, Esther had the idea to start a weekend Chinese class for those new immigrants’ children. The classes were staffed by volunteer mothers initially. With the support of Cynthia Chan and Peggy King, this new concept of Chinese class was formally established and held at Esther’s King’s Park Apartment in Clear Lake for few months. Cynthia was responsible for operation, Esther was responsible for teaching the Bible stories in Chinese and Peggy was in charge of the singing. All three were Christians and had great sense of ministry. Since the Yaos relocated to the Sagemont area the class had to be moved to the Nassau Bay Baptist Church in fall 1972.
This Space City Chinese School was growing rapidly and caught the attention of the Ministry of Overseas Chinese of the Republic of China (Taiwan). The minister of MOC and some legislators even came to Nassu Bay Baptist Church to visit the school. Some interested parents from other part of the greater Houston area also came to learn about it so they could establish their own locally, including the well-known Evergreen Chinese School in Houston. There were many articles about the growth of the school. They could be found in a separate file.
Space City Chinese Family Discussion Group
In addition to the Chinese School which was considered a ministry for Esther, she also formed the Space City Chinese Family Discussion Group. This group met monthly to share their parenting skills and experiences. Esther at times was the speaker but most of the time as a moderator. She applied her minor in Child Development and Family Life (CDFL) to this group. A majority of the participants were professional and related to the Johnson Space Center. Later, this group had become more social than learning. They met for dinners on Chinese holidays or special events.
Chinese Amateur Musicians Association
Some time in 1972 or so, Peggy King and Esther started the Chinese Amateur Musicians Association. For several years, recitals were held and later even a chorus was formed under the leadership
Kuang Jen Children’s Symphony from Taiwan
Esther and her graduate students who were school administrators went to Taiwan and Korea in June 1981 for a study tour as invited by the Korean UNSICO (?). They were all very impressed with the Kuang Jen Children’s Symphony’s performance. As a result two school administrators extended an invitation to them and arranged two concerts in Galveston (August14, 1981) and Alvin (August 15, 1981) within less than two months. Naturally, Esther was one of the key players for these two events. The details of their visit to Houston can be found in a separate MGI files under Esther’s community involvement. By the way, both Esther’s daughters went to the Sea World in Galveston with the group as a photo shows.
Young Musical Festival
In viewing so many musically talented Chinese children in the Greater Houston area, Esther initiated the first and only Young Musical Festival with the support of Wing Eng, a piano teacher. It was held at Houston Room, Houston Center, University of Houston with two sessions based on the age on June 16, 1979.
Esther basically concluded her non-political community activities after she became involved in the Republican Party even though she still played key role in Chinese Church and Chinese School until mid-1980s.
Chinese Churches
Religion has played a guiding role and always the major ingredient of Esther’s life. She re-dedicated herself after she had her first daughter in the fall, 1971. Finally, she fully understood God’s soveignty in her life. From that point two songs: Have Thine Own Way Lord and Living for Jesus have dominated her life.
After moving to Houston with her husband, Stanton in February 1972, she felt the calling to a vast land/opportunity to plant the seed of the gospel/good tiding. To reach out more than 200 Chinese families in the Clear Lake City (CLC) where the Johnson Space Center located she came up with the ideas of Chinese class and Chinese Family Discussion Group (on parenting skills). Both started in Spring, 1972 soon after their arrival in CLC. There were only three Christian families in the area: Peggy and Herbert King (been their for several years then), Cynthia and Ronald Chen (shortly before Esther’s arrival). The Chinese class started in her 2-BR apartment in CLC in Spring, 1972. Since the Yaos bought their first house and moved to Sagemont the Chinese class had to be relocated to local Nassu Bay Baptist Church. For three years prior to her part-time appointment with UHCL in Spring, 1975, she devoted herself to these two projects.
Meanwhile, she and her husband joined a local Chinese Mission which later became Houston Chinese Church. She played the piano while Stanton directed the choir. She directed the choir briefly and had the Cantata No Greater Love with slide presentation for the Easter celebration.
The Yaos moved back to Clear Lake City once UHCL offered Esther a full-time position as an associate professor in August, 1975. She prayed for three years to return to Clear Lake City for God’s ministry. She requested God to increase their income by $100 so they could afford the housing in Clear Lake City. How could she know that God was greater and more generous than her expectation. HE GAVE HER A JOB! As a result, the Yaos were able to move into a larger two-story house in a prestigious subdivision.
This new house with a large living was purchased for their bi-weekly fellowship. They invited the pastor from the Houston Chinese Church to CLC to preach regularly. Esther tried to prepare the best dam sums that were not available in Chinese restaurants at that time to attract local Chinese Americans. From this bi-weekly fellowship the Clear Lake Chinese Church was formed with the support of Houston Chinese Church. Esther was active as a pianist, baby sitter and cook for the Sunday lunches. Her involvement was diminished and eventually ended as a result of the church interpreter’s assault to Faith, her older daughter in the women’s room. Finally she left the Church with her two girls around 1982. Stanton stayed at the Chinese church while they attended the American University Baptist Church.
Minority Businesswomen Workshop
Held on August 22, 1981
Esther was a speaker addressing the issues related to minority women. Then she was paid tribute in the following years’ conference.
Chinese Lunar New Year Festival at UHCL
Held on Feb. 8, 1982
Esther Yao cooked (deep fried) several hundred thin skinned/wrapped egg rolls for sale to raise money for the Chinese Student Organization of UHCL. She deep fried the homemade egg rolls and delivered to campus via several trips. The purpose of the event was to introduce Chinese culture to local Clear Lake residents. The program consisted of Chinese food stands, displays and sale of Chinese artifacts, Chinese traditional custom show and demonstration of Chinese painting and calligraphy. The Chinese Student Organization was formed under her leadership and sponsorship.
Space City Chinese School
Spring, 1972
(later named Clear Lake Chinese School)
Shortly after Esther and her husband, Stanton’s arrival in Houston from W. Lafayette, IN she started the weekend Chinese School at their two-bedroom apartment in Clear Lake City, Houston. At that time her first daughter, Faith, was only three-month old. Esther was convinced that American born Chinese (ABC) should be able speak Chinese. Yet, at that time Chinese classes were only available in Cantonese not Mandarin, in Chinatown to those early immigrants’ descents after regular American school hours. Since those immigrants who arrived after WW II especially after the open immigration policy effective in 1967 were highly educated and lived in an integrated community their children could not attend the Chinese classes/schools held in Chinatown. In addition, Chinatowns could only be found in major cities. Thus, Esther had the idea to start a weekend Chinese class for those new immigrants’ children. The classes were staffed by volunteer mothers initially. With the support of Cynthia Chan and Peggy King, this new concept of Chinese class was formally established and held at Esther’s King’s Park Apartment in Clear Lake for few months. Cynthia was responsible for operation, Esther was responsible for teaching the Bible stories in Chinese and Peggy was in charge of the singing. All three were Christians and had great sense of ministry. Since the Yaos relocated to the Sagemont area the class had to be moved to the Nassau Bay Baptist Church in fall 1972.
This Space City Chinese School was growing rapidly and caught the attention of the Ministry of Overseas Chinese of the Republic of China (Taiwan). The minister of MOC and some legislators even came to Nassu Bay Baptist Church to visit the school. Some interested parents from other part of the greater Houston area also came to learn about it so they could establish their own locally, including the well-known Evergreen Chinese School in Houston. There were many articles about the growth of the school. They could be found in a separate file.
Space City Chinese Family Discussion Group
In addition to the Chinese School which was considered a ministry for Esther, she also formed the Space City Chinese Family Discussion Group. This group met monthly to share their parenting skills and experiences. Esther at times was the speaker but most of the time as a moderator. She applied her minor in Child Development and Family Life (CDFL) to this group. A majority of the participants were professional and related to the Johnson Space Center. Later, this group had become more social than learning. They met for dinners on Chinese holidays or special events.
Chinese Amateur Musicians Association
Some time in 1972 or so, Peggy King and Esther started the Chinese Amateur Musicians Association. For several years, recitals were held and later even a chorus was formed under the leadership
Kuang Jen Children’s Symphony from Taiwan
Esther and her graduate students who were school administrators went to Taiwan and Korea in June 1981 for a study tour as invited by the Korean UNSICO (?). They were all very impressed with the Kuang Jen Children’s Symphony’s performance. As a result two school administrators extended an invitation to them and arranged two concerts in Galveston (August14, 1981) and Alvin (August 15, 1981) within less than two months. Naturally, Esther was one of the key players for these two events. The details of their visit to Houston can be found in a separate MGI files under Esther’s community involvement. By the way, both Esther’s daughters went to the Sea World in Galveston with the group as a photo shows.
Young Musical Festival
In viewing so many musically talented Chinese children in the Greater Houston area, Esther initiated the first and only Young Musical Festival with the support of Wing Eng, a piano teacher. It was held at Houston Room, Houston Center, University of Houston with two sessions based on the age on June 16, 1979.
Esther basically concluded her non-political community activities after she became involved in the Republican Party even though she still played key role in Chinese Church and Chinese School until mid-1980s.
OCA Non GOP Involvement
1980 Political workshop
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