Reunite the Natalie Martin Family
Donation protected
Hello, this is Amy Gleason. My husband is Fr. Joseph Gleason, an Orthodox priest. Our contact information is included below.
Natalie Martin and her family are good friends of ours, and they desperately need help to keep their family together, so I am praying that you will share this fundraiser with everyone you know, and join together with me in prayer that this family's needs will be met.
Natalie reminds me of one of my cousins. Her ancestry is Slavic. Her husband Daniel is a good, hard working farmer from Mexico. They have six beautiful children, and number seven is on the way. Her husband came to America legally, and he got a green card, but he never received citizenship. He married Natalie, they started a family, and he found a good job in America, working on a farm.
Due to recent changes in American policies regarding immigrants, it has become much more difficult for green card holders to maintain legal residence in America. Daniel is a good husband and father, and he has honored American law. But recently, when he put in his paperwork to renew his green card, his application was declined. The government officials told him he is required to return to Mexico. They don't care that they are breaking up a family.
Of course Daniel, Natalie, and their children are heartbroken and devastated. They know how widespread gang violence has become in Mexico, and how it has become virtually impossible for a man to earn a decent living there. They know how dangerous it would be for his Slavic wife to live in Mexico, as well as for their seven children. Natalie and her children have never lived in Mexico, and they would not be safe there. So moving to Mexico is not an option for them.
Natalie and her family, having recently converted to Orthodoxy, want to see the children raised in a place that is safe for them, and also in a place where the Orthodox Faith is honored and practiced. They know my family and our story, so they are interested in moving to Russia to live near us.
My husband and I are willing to do whatever it takes to help Daniel get from Mexico to Russia. My husband is willing to pay for Daniel's passport, Russian VISA, and airfare. He has also spoken with a local Russian government official who says that Daniel and his family would be welcome here in the Rostov area.
Under normal circumstances, a fundraiser includes an actual picture of the family who needs help. In this current situation, though, sharing their pictures or their real names would put them in danger. Daniel is not willing to abandon his wife and children, so he has not yet left America. When he does leave America, he wants to know for sure that his wife and children will be able to follow him. He is a good husband and father. But if immigration officials saw their pictures and names posted online, it might make them more likely to find this family and arrest their dad. (Under the revised practices in America, he would not be simply deported; he would be put in prison for up to five years.) So to protect this precious family, we are not yet sharing their actual names or photos online.
We want to help this family legally immigrate to Russia, as soon as possible. We have enough money to help her husband get here. But we do not have enough money to give Natalie and all their children everything they need. So this fundraiser is for Natalie and her kids.
Just to make a brand new start, they will need passports, Russian VISAs, plane tickets, and most importantly, a place to live when they arrive here.
For a wife and seven children, we estimate the total cost for passports, VISAs, and airfare will be $9,280.
And while housing is very inexpensive in Russia, it is not free. A three bedroom home in the area around Rostov the Great will run approximately three million rubles, which in American money is approximately $47,600.
That comes to an overall total of $56,880. That is why we desperately need help from everyone who can find a way to somehow help this family.
Donations do not need to be a lot. If 1000 people would each give sixty dollars, that would provide more than enough money to give this family a brand new start — and most importantly, to keep this Christian family together!
If you can donate even $20, that would help.
If you cannot donate anything, you can still be a BIG help by just sharing this fundraiser with everyone you know. Perhaps some of your friends will have a little they can give to help Natalie and her kids. Perhaps they too will be willing to share this fundraiser with others.
We want you to know that the money will be used honestly. To keep everything accountable and above board, we suggest the following:
1. To see a picture of me and my husband and children, and to read the story of our relocation from America to Russia a couple years ago, check out this article that was written about us: https://tinyurl.com/8-to-Rostov (If clicking the link doesn't work, please try copying the link text into your browser.)
2. To communicate with us privately, feel free to send an email to Fr.Joseph.Gleason {{at}} gmail.com — My husband will gladly respond to your email, and will try to answer any questions you may have.
3. After Natalie's husband safely arrives here in Russia, and is no longer in danger, we will be happy to share a picture of the family you are helping.
4. When the family arrives here safely, and also when their house is successfully purchased, we plan to provide updates to this fundraiser, showing the progress that is being made.
This is very important, and very urgent. Please pray for them!
Please share Natalie's story with everyone you know.
Thank you so much, and may God bless you!
in Christ,
Amy Gleason
Natalie Martin and her family are good friends of ours, and they desperately need help to keep their family together, so I am praying that you will share this fundraiser with everyone you know, and join together with me in prayer that this family's needs will be met.
Natalie reminds me of one of my cousins. Her ancestry is Slavic. Her husband Daniel is a good, hard working farmer from Mexico. They have six beautiful children, and number seven is on the way. Her husband came to America legally, and he got a green card, but he never received citizenship. He married Natalie, they started a family, and he found a good job in America, working on a farm.
Due to recent changes in American policies regarding immigrants, it has become much more difficult for green card holders to maintain legal residence in America. Daniel is a good husband and father, and he has honored American law. But recently, when he put in his paperwork to renew his green card, his application was declined. The government officials told him he is required to return to Mexico. They don't care that they are breaking up a family.
Of course Daniel, Natalie, and their children are heartbroken and devastated. They know how widespread gang violence has become in Mexico, and how it has become virtually impossible for a man to earn a decent living there. They know how dangerous it would be for his Slavic wife to live in Mexico, as well as for their seven children. Natalie and her children have never lived in Mexico, and they would not be safe there. So moving to Mexico is not an option for them.
Natalie and her family, having recently converted to Orthodoxy, want to see the children raised in a place that is safe for them, and also in a place where the Orthodox Faith is honored and practiced. They know my family and our story, so they are interested in moving to Russia to live near us.
My husband and I are willing to do whatever it takes to help Daniel get from Mexico to Russia. My husband is willing to pay for Daniel's passport, Russian VISA, and airfare. He has also spoken with a local Russian government official who says that Daniel and his family would be welcome here in the Rostov area.
Under normal circumstances, a fundraiser includes an actual picture of the family who needs help. In this current situation, though, sharing their pictures or their real names would put them in danger. Daniel is not willing to abandon his wife and children, so he has not yet left America. When he does leave America, he wants to know for sure that his wife and children will be able to follow him. He is a good husband and father. But if immigration officials saw their pictures and names posted online, it might make them more likely to find this family and arrest their dad. (Under the revised practices in America, he would not be simply deported; he would be put in prison for up to five years.) So to protect this precious family, we are not yet sharing their actual names or photos online.
We want to help this family legally immigrate to Russia, as soon as possible. We have enough money to help her husband get here. But we do not have enough money to give Natalie and all their children everything they need. So this fundraiser is for Natalie and her kids.
Just to make a brand new start, they will need passports, Russian VISAs, plane tickets, and most importantly, a place to live when they arrive here.
For a wife and seven children, we estimate the total cost for passports, VISAs, and airfare will be $9,280.
And while housing is very inexpensive in Russia, it is not free. A three bedroom home in the area around Rostov the Great will run approximately three million rubles, which in American money is approximately $47,600.
That comes to an overall total of $56,880. That is why we desperately need help from everyone who can find a way to somehow help this family.
Donations do not need to be a lot. If 1000 people would each give sixty dollars, that would provide more than enough money to give this family a brand new start — and most importantly, to keep this Christian family together!
If you can donate even $20, that would help.
If you cannot donate anything, you can still be a BIG help by just sharing this fundraiser with everyone you know. Perhaps some of your friends will have a little they can give to help Natalie and her kids. Perhaps they too will be willing to share this fundraiser with others.
We want you to know that the money will be used honestly. To keep everything accountable and above board, we suggest the following:
1. To see a picture of me and my husband and children, and to read the story of our relocation from America to Russia a couple years ago, check out this article that was written about us: https://tinyurl.com/8-to-Rostov (If clicking the link doesn't work, please try copying the link text into your browser.)
2. To communicate with us privately, feel free to send an email to Fr.Joseph.Gleason {{at}} gmail.com — My husband will gladly respond to your email, and will try to answer any questions you may have.
3. After Natalie's husband safely arrives here in Russia, and is no longer in danger, we will be happy to share a picture of the family you are helping.
4. When the family arrives here safely, and also when their house is successfully purchased, we plan to provide updates to this fundraiser, showing the progress that is being made.
This is very important, and very urgent. Please pray for them!
Please share Natalie's story with everyone you know.
Thank you so much, and may God bless you!
in Christ,
Amy Gleason
Organizer
Иосиф Глисон
Organizer
Omaha, IL