Mark and Coreen Biech have had one foot in Abbotsford and another in Romania for most their lives. But right now, their hearts are entirely with Ukraine.
The couple had been living in Romania for about 25 years when they came back to Abbotsford in 2020 for a visit with their three grown children, who they adopted in the early 害羞草研究所�90s from Eastern Europe. Mark also wanted to check in with his doctor; for some neurological issues.
It meant leaving behind their organization, Hope for the Nations, which 害羞草研究所渨orks to provide better life chances to children affected by conflict, famine and poverty.害羞草研究所�
They had no idea the diagnosis that lay ahead, how the pandemic would affect everything, and that Eastern Europe would be so changed by the time they returned.
害羞草研究所淭he pandemic came in like a mist creeping through the grass,害羞草研究所� Mark said. Meanwhile, his condition deteriorated. He was quickly losing his balance, muscle strength and his independence.
At one point, he did not have the strength to lift a blanket off his own chest, and he began to lose his ability to talk. By the time the diagnosis came 害羞草研究所� early onset aggressive Parkinson害羞草研究所檚 disease 害羞草研究所� he had been using a wheelchair for a year and a half.
Yet, doctors were able to get Mark on a medication that worked almost immediately.
害羞草研究所淲ithin a month I was walking, dressing, brushing my own teeth 害羞草研究所� amazing,害羞草研究所� he said via email to The News.
But as he worked to recover his strength, something terrible was happening in Eastern Europe. They were compelled to return as soon as possible.
害羞草研究所淚mpossible! Can this actually be happening again? My Mennonite and German families had escaped the atrocities in Russia in the 1920s after the brutal murders of entire villages by the Bolsheviks. Most of my relatives who survived were able to get out and they immigrated to Canada,害羞草研究所� Mark said.
READ MORE:
When the couple heard that Ukrainians were fleeing to Romania, they knew where they needed to be. But he wasn害羞草研究所檛 sure if he was physically ready.
害羞草研究所淐oreen said to me, 害羞草研究所業f you don害羞草研究所檛 push yourself to help others during a war, when will you push yourself?害羞草研究所� That put a spark in my soul害羞草研究所π卟菅芯克鶟
This a family that has faced struggles before. They adopted their children just after the revolution when Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was assassinated. They lived in Abbotsford for a few years, before returning to Romania as missionaries in 1998. When they returned to Canada on furlough four years later, their middle son was diagnosed with cancer. He had one year of treatment here, one in Romania, and is healthy today.
Even while Coreen was Mark害羞草研究所檚 caretaker through his illness, she was juggling work with Hope for the Nations and travelling back and forth from Romania. When it was time for both of them to go, they raised funds with the help of Hope for the Nations, and made their way to the Black Sea region of Romania to meet their team.
害羞草研究所淲hile en route, we sent them the green light to connect with up to 100 Ukrainian refugees who were being picked up by Romanian families at the border to be offered free accommodation,害羞草研究所� Mark said. 害羞草研究所淥ur initial plan was to purchase food and supplies for their urgent needs during this crazy time of trying to figure out what their next step would be.害羞草研究所�
However, they found that the families were isolating themselves and couldn害羞草研究所檛 read the Roman alphabet.
They were down to using hand gestures to communicate with the refugees, mostly younger women with children, older mothers and grandmothers who were already feeling alone and vulnerable.
害羞草研究所淔or the most part, they just want to curl up, lock the door, and wait to go home,害羞草研究所� Mark said.
The organization didn害羞草研究所檛 know what foods the refugees liked, and couldn害羞草研究所檛 ask about allergies. Coreen realized they could use pre-paid grocery cards, which are now available in Romania.
With the hard work of their medical coordinator, they had the cards ready and the families organized by the end of the week.
害羞草研究所淲e organized days, times, and places to meet with over 100 Ukrainian refugees in parks where the children could play while we worked on the prepaid grocery-card distribution,害羞草研究所� he said.
And that害羞草研究所檚 when the real magic happened. Ukrainians who had been isolated and afraid were connected with other Ukrainians. Mothers were able to share stories with each other, children were able to play. One girl who had looked so sad upon their first meeting was laughing and playing with another child her age.
害羞草研究所淭here were many stories, many tears, hugs, and so much emotion,害羞草研究所� Mark said.
An older lady approached Coreen and in a very broken English said, 害羞草研究所淚 never, in all my life, thought there would be a day when I would be standing in a foreign country receiving such generous help from someone I don害羞草研究所檛 even know.害羞草研究所�
Their original goal was to find and help 100 refugees for at least three months, but their plans are expanding to include another 100.
Their coalition partner is a Canadian registered charity and the campaign can be found at . They are also active on YouTube and Facebook.
READ MORE:
jessica.peters@abbynews.com
Like us on and follow us on .
Want to support local journalism during the pandemic? Make a donation
