Home at Last! Wednesday, April 20, 2022

44 Days

44 days! 44 days ago was Monday, March 7, 2022. What were you doing 44 days ago? You might remember, but I am guessing you probably do not. If you were to ask Sasha, Elena, Anya, or anyone in the Faber family, they would know what happened 44 days ago.

44 days ago Elena and her husband Sasha had to make the terrifying decision for Elena to leave Sasha and take their three children, Nikita, Violetta, and baby Arianna, as well as for her sister Anya to join them with her daughter Dasha. 44 days ago, they made the decision to leave their home, their country, and their loved ones. 44 days ago, Sasha had to make the hardest decision of his life to let his family leave him in order to ensure his family was safe.

Today, they begin again in a new home, a new country. Yesterday, they made it to the United States of America, and late last night were reunited with their younger siblings, Jon and Heather. They will reunite with Hyrum in a few weeks. Today is possible because of many miracles, blessings, and people, including you. Thank you! Below is the full story of how things have played out in the past 48 hours, but first, enjoy this video.

Mexico Plan

As we were contemplating going the Mexico route, we did not want to do anything illegal OR risk having any of the group separated or put in a detention center. We were searching for where the line was to queue up to be one of the 100,000 Ukrainian refugees to enter the United States. The only line we could find (after sooo many phone calls to multiple immigration attorneys and researching) was at the southern US border. We read stories in the newspaper that Ukrainians were being let through the border from Tijuana. We contacted Anne’s brother, Reed, to see what he could find out on the Mexican side of things. Reed’s wife, Elena, is from Mexico and Reed holds Mexican citizenship. Reed immediately volunteered to help. Over the course of several days, he made calls to the Mexican consulate regarding the logistics of Ukrainians coming to Mexico. Reed also verified that the Ukrainians were indeed being passed through the southern border. What sealed the deal was Reed volunteering to fly to Mexico City to meet all of them flying in from Paris. Mexico City International Airport has two international concourses that have separate immigration services. Reed made sure that his flight arrived at the same concourse at the same time. Reed met all of them and was able to assist everybody through customs. Reed served an LDS mission in Mexico and one of his old companions arranged a hotel a short distance away.

Flight to Mexico

After getting some much needed food, it was off to bed for a few hours before getting up at 3:30am and going back to the airport (again) to catch a flight to Ciudad Juarez. While the flight from Paris to Mexico City had many Ukrainians on the plane, the flight to Ciudad Juarez had only our family members. In exploring the border situation, we determined that the Ciudad Juarez/El Paso border had much lower numbers of Ukrainians and that the wait time there would only be hours instead of days at the San Diego border.

Heading to the border

As Reed was preparing to fly out, he had the inspiration to contact a man who had served as a Bishop when Reed was serving his mission in Mexico years ago. His friend, Nahum, is now living in Ciudad Juarez and his business is assisting immigrants who come to the border. Nahum immediately volunteered to help. In fact, he drove to the border that evening and confirmed with border officers that Ukrainians were having no issues in getting through the border. Nahum was also at the airport to pick everyone up in his van and then drove them straight to the border. After dropping them off so they could walk across the pedestrian port, Nahum was generous enough to continue over the border with all of their luggage so that they would not have to haul it all with them. Nahum would wait to meet them on the other side once they cleared customs.

At the border

The line going up and over the bridge to the US was longer than usual, because this week is spring break in that area. Anne, Olivia, and the family stood in line while Reed cruised passed everyone in the line to the midway point where the US border agents were stationed. Reed told them why we were there and asked what we needed to do. He was told that we did have to stand in the line, but when we reach them, they would call their supervisor to come talk with us and the Ukrainians.  The line seemed to move along and the bridge was covered, creating shade for all of us, so it wasn’t too bad. After standing in line for an hour, we reached the midway point. The border agents started asking all of us who we were. They called their supervisor. We waited for quite a bit, but she did finally come. She asked us a few questions. She then told us that she would take them with her for a few hours. She would not give us any specifics. Anne and Olivia stood there watching the supervisor and the family walking down the other side of the bridge passed all the long line on the US side of the bridge. Reed was calm, but Anne and Olivia were feeling some anxiety watching them leave. The three of them waited in line for another hour to get to the bottom of the bridge to show their passports and to be allowed through.  

Tony had written a sponsorship letter stating that Elena, Anna, and the kids had a place to stay and would be taken care of. During work today, Tony received a call from an unknown number. Not in the habit of answering those numbers, he hesitated but with all the stuff that was going on he decided to answer. “Anthony Faber, this is officer —- from the customs office in El Paso. I have some Ukrainians here and I need to verify the address stated on your letter.” We are grateful that he answered and was not too shocked and was able to give the correct address. That letter that was almost an afterthought ended up coming in handy. To say that all of us waiting were stressing out would be a gross understatement. 

Through the border!

After clearing customs, Anne and Olivia waited on the U.S. side where Elena, Anna, and the kids would all hopefully come out. Reed offered Anne and Olivia to go somewhere else with Nahum while waiting but Anne and Olivia stoutly refused to be budged from that spot. After what seemed like forever, the doors to the Customs office opened and Violetta and Nikita came sprinting out to Anne and Olivia free of all bureaucratic papers and now safely in the United States. Tears were free flowing in Texas, Paris, Utah and everywhere else when we learned that they were safely through.

United at last

The last leg of their journey was to fly to Utah. They were able to catch their scheduled flight with no issues and arrived in Utah around 1 AM the morning of April 20. This is such a sweet end to what has been such a long journey for this family, but every end leads to a new, hopefully brighter, beginning.