Leszek Vincent

Elder

Influences: Mr Earle (surrogate Dad); IFES (staff of Intl Fellowship of Evangelical Students in South Africa); quite a few good books; observing the perseverance of others.

Epic Moments: Crossing the finish line in marathons and ultra-marathons as a type-1 diabetic; close-up views of biological life via the light and scanning electron microscope; participating in the 'multi-racial' general election in South Africa in 1994; Deciding to leave South Africa in 1998; Becoming a naturalized citizen of the USA in 2007.

Education: BSc, BSc (Hons), HED, Rhodes University (South Africa: www.ru.ac.za); MSc, PhD, University of Natal (now University of KwaZulu-Natal: www.ukzn.ac.za).

Favorite Bands/Music: The Beatles (& some of the similar vintage music); "Annie's song" by John Denver; some jazz (e.g. Dave & Darius Brubeck); Classical (Beethoven, Brahms, Greig, Mahler). All in all a wide range and growing.

Best Inventions: The silicon chip, the personal computer, the insulin pump.

Favorite Book(s): Quite a long list with no outright favorites but the following are some worth noting: Future Grace by John Piper, Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands by Paul David Tripp, Finding Common Ground by Tim Downs, When Men Think Private Thoughts by Gordon MacDonald, The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind by Mark A. Noll, The Language of God by Francis S. Collins, When I Don't Desire God by John Piper, The God Who Is There by Francis A. Schaeffer. I also have some favorite journals (for the botanically inclined).

Favorite Movies: James Bond Movies, Some Westerns, Schindler's List.

Favorite Sports: Sailing, especially competitive dinghy sailing with a Laser. Good sailing spots around Columbia are not plentiful so model boat sailing and racing helps to fill some of the 'gap' (www.m3sc.org).

Spare Time: Being with dear Muriel, sailing, pure and applied botany and landscaping, reading, some time with friends, fixing things and making things in my workshop.

Fear Factors: Swimming in DEEP water without the right gear.

Biggest Frustration: My 'too small' view of God.

Passions: Working out my faith with 'fear & trembling' in my life and encouraging others to do the same, and science and all things botanical.

Motivation: Serving others and experiencing 'valleys' continues to teach me more about God & myself.

Personal Motto: Think!