Welcome New Refugee Family to Marin County, CA

We are raising funds on behalf of MAN Ministry 501(c)(3) to benefit a refugee family that has arrived to Marin County in California due to war in Ukraine.

Let me start with special thanks going to all individuals and organizations who prayed, supported and sheltered this family through their several-months journey to the US, including the ARK Russian Anti-War Committee in Yerevan, Armenia; Be2Live in La Mision, Mexico; Bay Marin Church in San Rafael, CA; New Life Church in Novato, CA; Network of Bay Area Attorneys volunteers, and others.

Let me briefly introduce you to the “A and N” family. (Many of you know the names of this family of four people, but we will protect their identities and call them by the first letters of their names only.) “A”(husband) and “N” (wife) have two sons: “M,” who is seven years old, and “M,” who is four. “A” (husband) has a Russian passport, “N” (his wife) has a Ukrainian passport, and she is in her fifth month of pregnancy. They have been between a rock and a hard place because of this since the start of the war in Ukraine. This family has lost their livelihood: “N” was an owner of a small printing shop and refused to print a merchandise order with a “Z” (a symbol of Russia’s invasion support,) which resulted in coercion to close her business. “A,” who is an antiwar, pro-Ukrainian activist and an aspiring musician, was a Sunday school teacher at the family’s church prior to the start of the conflict. “A” stopped serving shortly after the hostilities had started: his wife was threatened by some of the church members, who openly supported war and weren’t happy with her citizenship/nationality/ethnicity, etc.

Our ministry has known this family for four years, “A” and “N” have been part of our online Zoom Bible study group. At some point, they informed us that they couldn’t stay in Russia any longer for fear of being persecuted because of their nationality and political opinions. We also found out that “A” and “N” don’t have relatives who would be willing to support them on both sides of their family because of their ethnically-mixed marriage. Some relatives didn’t want to do it, because of being brainwashed by propaganda, others – because of fear of association. My husband Max and I, and some other people from our ministry network, have agreed to support this family on their journey to safety and freedom. This family traveled light: each with only a carry-on. First, they arrived to Armenia at the end of April and stayed there at the ARK - a Russian Anti-War Committee in Yerevan shelter for two weeks. Their next trip leg via Frankfurt – Abu Dhabi – Mexico City brought them to La Mision, where they were hosted by a missionary family for three months, while they were waiting for their US visas. This family arrived to the US on August 10, 2022. We appreciate the volunteer lawyers’ financial support, who generously covered their airfare expenses from Mexico to the USA.

Despite that, now, things are coming along, this family of four has tremendous needs. They have accumulated $8,750.00 in travel and other expenses, debt that they cannot reimburse. It will take some time for them to get their work authorization. With great help of the Bay Marin Church folks, our ministry was able to get this family a shelter and a temporary place to stay. One of the “M” boys, the elder son has just started school. “N” (wife) is in College of Marin now, and taking ESL class. We also registered them with the Marin County Food Bank, while they are waiting for their general assistance.

Thank you for your desire to help good people, who are fleeing war and seeking safety. Please, feel free to share this fundraising with your loved ones, your family and friends.

MAN Ministry 501 (c)(3) is an active supporter of individuals and families impacted by the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine since the start of this conflict.

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