FABER FAMILY
In 2010, our family adopted Jonathon (Yuri) 16 y.o., Hyrum (Zhenia) 12 y.o., and Heather (Luba) 10 y.o. to our family of six boys, Justin, Ryan, Joshua, Caleb, Samuel (aka Larry), and Gabe. Although we were thrilled to have them join our family, Jon, Hyrum, and Heather left their 3 older siblings in Ukraine. To read more about that story, check out the blog post “The Story – Jon Yuri Faber”.
Today, these three siblings are all young adults. Jon married Olivia Hyde two and a half years ago and is finishing up his bachelor’s degree at Utah Valley University. Hyrum and his girlfriend, Kelley, live near Eugene, Oregon where Hyrum works building industrial wood chippers. Heather works in a hair salon and lives with her dog, Ayssa, and a roommate. Jon, Hyrum, and Heather along with both parents, six brothers, and six sister-in-laws are “all in” in doing whatever needs to be done to help their Ukrainian siblings and their families to be safe during this devastating time for them.
EMILY LEGER & ANNE-MARIE CALES LEWIS
When Emily Leger read Anne Faber‘s Facebook post requesting for anyone that had resources to help their Ukrainian family get out of the country, she immediately jumped into action. Being a neighbor and friend to the Faber family and having known and loved Jon, Hyrum and Heather, ever since they came to Utah, Emily was excited to find a way to help them! She enlisted the help of her sister and brother-in-law, Anne-Marie and Chris Lewis, who are living in Paris, France, and had already been making arrangements of their own to assist Ukrainian refugees at the border.
Knowing all the potential dangers that groups of women and children could face traveling alone in the current chaotic circumstances in Ukraine, Emily and Anne-Marie sought out resources, people, transportation, and tried to find the best and safest routes for the family to have the best chance for success. They connected with friends, former missionaries to Ukraine, church leaders, people in Facebook groups, humanitarian aid workers, even connecting with the Polish embassy to get as much information as possible to ensure the safe arrival of Elena, Anya and their precious children. They messaged with Jon Faber, the Faber family members, and their Ukrainian contacts: Sarah Fedetov, Moana Haretuku and Alyona Oborn all hours of the day and night, gaining information, making plans, making backup plans and beyond until the family was safe in Poland.
Anne-Marie met a friend and co-worker, Ken Hanada, in Warsaw, Poland and immediately greeted Elena and Anya when they finally got off the bus after over 35 hours of travel time. Ken’s knowledge of the Ukrainian language and customs has been invaluable! They had a hotel room for them with food, clean clothes, and toiletries to provide them some much needed rest and comfort.
After decompressing in Warsaw for a few days, arrangements have been made for the family to travel to Paris with Anne-Marie and Chris to figure out the next steps.
Like so many of us, we feel helpless with the situation happening in Ukraine and want to do something, anything, to help! This beautiful family could use our help now as they have left everything behind, and have had to start completely over in a foreign land, in a language they don’t understand, being separated from other family members, and are going to have to rebuild their lives. We hope you’ll join us on this journey in helping this incredible family!
