Biola Alumni Serve in China

After the 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit China, specifically the Sichuan province, on May 12, devastation followed as the death toll rose to nearly 70,000 people. The Sichuan earthquake, also known as the Wenchuan earthquake, was felt across the country and touched the hearts of many across the world. Three Biola alums, Monica Finifrock (’98) and Richard (’06) and his wife Esther Chen (‘04), served in Sichuan at the end of May providing earthquake relief.

Finifrock and the Chens provided medical assistance to ‘overlooked’ areas just a few weeks after the earthquake.

“The government has done an excellent job…however, there are still pockets of people who have been overlooked,” said Finifrock. “Our team’s desire was to get to those ‘overlooked’ areas and see what needs we could meet.”

Finifrock and her husband, Jake, joined the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) International in 2000 and worked for two years in Kenya. In 2005, they moved to the Guizhou province, which borders part of southern Sichuan in China. The Finifrocks met the Chens last fall, who also work with SIL. They were recently assigned to the same team as the Finifrocks.

Finifrock and the Chens joined a medical team from Macau, China for three days to provide earthquake relief. Finifrock worked as a ‘triage’ nurse, being the first one to interview, examine and talk with patients. The Chens worked together as pharmacists. With the goal of finding ‘overlooked’ areas, their first stop was in the small town of Tongji.

“We asked if there was any medical care we could give, and within moments we had a crowd of people surrounding us asking us to set up a clinic,” said Finifrock.

On the first day, the team treated 200 people. For the following days, the team traveled to different locations to give medical assistance. Esther said they saw a variety of patients – from a woman with a burned leg because the water she was boiling fell on her to a man who couldn’t sleep because he had constant nightmares.

“Our hearts broke as we heard their stories and walked beside the rubble that they use to call home,” said Esther.

Although the devastation was overwhelming, the people were excited the team was there.

“What stood out to me the most that [first] day was how happy the people were that we had come to see them,” said Finifrock.

The team returned home after three days. Finifrock may return later this summer since the needs are long-term. She expressed her sadness when leaving knowing the people were going to face months of heartache.

“Most of the people seemed in a daze, and it was clear they just wanted attention, and to share their stories,” she said.

The Finifrocks have two children, Creed, 4 years, and Chloe, 18 months. Jake graduated from Seattle Pacific University in 1994 and received his teaching credential from UCLA in 1999. Monica worked as a registered nurse prior to joining SIL.

The Chens met during their time at Biola University’s Talbot School of Theology and married in 2005 in Biola’s Calvary Chapel. Richard graduated with a Master of Arts from Talbot and one from Biola’s Intercultural Studies program. Esther graduated with a Master of Arts from Talbot.

Both couples are involved in a bi-lingual education project and community development among the Dong (Gaeml) minority in Southern Guizhou, China.

Written by Jenna Bartlo, Media Relations Coordinator. Jenna can be reached at (562) 777-4061 or through email at