A week before her June 16 graduation from La Sierra University, Fiona Lin was in Loveland, Colorado, building IKEA furniture for her new residence, shopping at Target, and registering her car in preparation for her new job at the Voice of Prophecy. It was a time of varied emotions—excitement, anticipation, sadness, fond memories, and much gratitude as she recalled her difficult journey leading to this milestone and God’s life-changing provision during her darkest moments.
Several years ago, Lin, now age 21, and her brother, Gared, five years her junior, suffered the devastating loss of both of their parents within a short period. Their father, Ping-Herng “Denny” Lin, a La Sierra alumnus and a former assistant professor of computer science and senior programmer analyst, passed away in 2016 at the age of 49 following a lengthy battle with cancer. Within three years the siblings also unexpectedly lost their mother, Eunice Lin, a longtime teacher at the Loma Linda Children’s Center, who passed away suddenly in 2019 due to a cancerous condition. Fiona and Gared, while confronted with shock and grief following their mother’s death and still reeling from the recent loss of their father, soon faced the anxiety-inducing challenge of securing a long-term home.
Behind the scenes, however, God’s plans were taking shape.
Aimee Leukert, a La Sierra University associate education professor, her husband, Kristian Leukert, Loma Linda Academy’s choral director, and their daughters, Liana and Kayleigh, had been family acquaintances of the Lins. After the Lin children lost their mother, Aimee felt a soul urge to take a significant step in an unfamiliar direction. Following a discussion, the Leukerts decided to offer their home and guardianship to Fiona and Gared, who moved in several months later. (See related article in the March 7, 2023, Recorder.)
On Father’s Day, June 16, 2024, Fiona, whose given Chinese name is Yung Chia, crossed the graduation stage on La Sierra’s Founders’ Green to receive her Bachelor of Arts in Digital Media-Design and Communication, graduating with cum laude honors. She traveled the following week to start a position as a producer and supervising editor for the Voice of Prophecy, an international Seventh-day Adventist Christian media ministry. She serves as a producer for Discovery Mountain, a podcast where young listeners experience adventure and mystery and, most importantly, deepen their relationship with Jesus.
“When they [my parents] passed away, I was really doubting God. I was in such a dark place. Like, why would He do this? Why? Why was this happening to me at such a young age?” Fiona said. “But I think over time it strengthens my relationship with God. You can see through other people how God loves you. And that really made my relationship stronger.”
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By Darla Martin Tucker
