A Family Reunion on Familiar Ground
Ukrainian missionaries George Markey, Jr., and his wife Sharon never thought they would leave their beloved adopted country. In the final segment of this 9-part series, Sharon, George, and their boys, along with many of the Markey family, are rejoined on familiar ground—Calvary Chapel Conference Center in Vajta, Hungary—once home to the Calvary Chapel Bible College Europe.
The Carpathian Mountains were still in the grip of winter when George Markey, Jr., evacuated from Ukraine. Functioning as a boundary between western and eastern Europe, the Carpathian Mountain range curves along the borders of Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, northern Hungary, Ukraine, Romania and Serbia. [Photo by Sharon Markey]
Ternopil, Ukraine
February 26, 2022, 6:30 a.m.
George’s alarm went off at 6:30 a.m. He roused himself from his bed on the floor in the open kitchen area. The apartment was dark and quiet. He quickly gathered his few belongings and put them back in his backpack. He visited the bathroom and combed his hair. Breakfast and coffee were not on the agenda, and he was soon ready to leave.
Calvary Chapel pastors Stan Marinussen (left) of CC Haarlemmermeer, Holland, and Árpi Horváth Kávai (right of Stan) of CC Golgota 11, Budapest, Hungary, collaborated to distribute used bicycles to refugees in Budapest. Recognizing the need for transportation, Árpi said, “This is a great opportunity for people to organize trips around the city, as Budapest is bike friendly, and almost everything is within 15 minutes of our area.” [Photo by Josh Larson]
A Quick Farewell
He went to find someone to see him out and lock the apartment door behind him. He poked his head into the living room and saw some of the ladies from our team asleep. Carefully shutting the door again, he headed upstairs to the second floor of the apartment, each step squeaking in protest as he passed.
He opened the door to the first bedroom at the top of the stairs, but again he saw only women asleep inside. Moving on to the next bedroom, he finally found the person he was looking for, a young, blond man who was sleeping beside his young wife. George quietly roused him, careful not to disturb his wife.
The man woke easily, got out from under the covers, and sleepily followed George back down the stairs. It was a muted farewell. They hugged long and tight and said goodbye just inside the apartment door. Then George opened the door and left. He walked down four flights of concrete stairs to reach the ground level. It was a little after 7:00 a.m., and his ride, a large, white van, was waiting.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Psalm 23:1-3
George Markey, Jr., (center) and his wife, Sharon (left), engage in conversation with a Ukrainian refugee at the bike distribution. After many years of serving as a missionary in Ukraine and pastor of Calvary Chapel Kyiv, George and his family became refugees themselves. Now settled into Budapest, George and Sharon, along with many CC pastors and missionaries, continue to serve and help refugees. [Photo by Josh Larson]
Journey Through the Mountain
The driver’s door opened, and Nate Medlong, pastor of CC Kharkiv, got out. Normally upbeat and talkative, today he was subdued and obviously exhausted. His family had spent the last two days driving from Kharkiv, a Ukrainian city located a mere 20 miles from the Russian border. When the bombing started at dawn on February 24, they had wasted little time loading their kids and a few belongings into their van and fleeing west. They had three teenage girls, a young son, and a very young daughter with them. The father got out of the van and greeted George with a hug then walked around the front of the van to get in the passenger’s seat. The plan was for George to drive. After two long days of travel, they were only too happy to have someone else who could take the wheel.
As they were getting into the van, the stillness of the morning was shattered by the abrupt wail of an air raid siren. They didn’t even hesitate to contemplate what to do. They quickly slid into their seats, slammed the doors, and hit the road. Ternopil is a small town, and traffic was very light so soon after curfew had ended, so before long they were out of town heading towards the mountains—just as we [Sharon and her boys] had done a little less than 24 hours before. As they drove, they talked about their experiences over the past two days. Everyone was still in shock. There hadn’t been time to begin to process what was happening.
A young boy enthusiastically mounts the bike he received at the outreach. Knowing there were many used bikes in Holland, Árpi collaborated on a four-week project with Stan who was able to collect over 50 bikes. Other than paying for small repairs themselves, Árpi and Stan witnessed God move on peoples' hearts to donate all other costs to have the bikes shipped to Hungary and then relocated from the logistics base to downtown Budapest. [Photo by Josh Larson]
Traffic on the open road was good for the first few hours of the drive. They had a full tank of gas, so they didn’t need to stop to refuel or brave the lines at the gas stations. Once they got into the mountains, however, they encountered the same long waits at military checkpoints that we had experienced the day before.
During one of these waits, one of the older girls got out of the van to find a place to relieve herself. It pained George to see about 20 cars roll past them while they waited. Once the girl rejoined them, George eased back into line. However, there were no cars on the opposite side of the road, so he pulled out of line and zipped ahead until he reached the vehicle that he had been behind before pulling off the road. In a show of solidarity, the other drivers recognized him and let him back in line without any problem.
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Vajta, Hungary
February 26, 2022, 9:30 a.m.
Meanwhile, I, Sharon, had awakened after a mere three hours of sleep. I couldn’t understand it. I was exhausted, having barely slept during the previous two days. Jon and Stephanie offered to take care of my kids so I could sleep some more. Jon was planning to go grocery shopping, so I gave him a big list of things we needed in order to stock a new kitchen, and I went back to bed.
Pastor Árpi encourages a woman during the bicycle outreach. The team distributed 35 bikes, some to people in the church and the rest disbursed to the community. The remaining 18 bikes were sent to Pécs, Hungary, where many Ukrainian evacuees have gathered. [Photo by Josh Larson]
Tossing and Turning
The apartment was quiet, and my kids were next door having a blast with their cousins. My husband was safely on his way to us, driving through the part of Ukraine that was the least likely to come under attack. And yet, I couldn’t sleep. For three hours, I tried desperately to fall asleep, but I couldn’t even doze. It was emotionally exhausting to be so sleep deprived and yet unable to sleep. Feeling guilty that Stephanie was taking care of twelve kids on her own, I finally got up, got dressed, and left the apartment to find my kids and see how I could help.
The sun was shining as I stepped out onto the porch and made my way down the stairs. I walked around the front of the building, across the gravel driveway, and turned the corner to the far side of the building to reach the entrance to the two-story unit where Jon and Stephanie’s family was staying. I didn’t bother to knock. I just let myself in. I could hear the happy sounds of kids playing. My 8-year-old caught sight of me and came running up. “Hi, Mommy!” he exclaimed, giving me a quick hug around the waist. They were clearly enjoying themselves.
In a glimpse of better times, a teenager joyfully helps a little boy ride the bicycle he just received. Árpi’s friendships and connections throughout the CC family have contributed to how effectively and efficiently they have been able to minister to the displaced and each other. [Photo by Josh Larson]
I found my way into the kitchen, where Jon and Stephanie were seated at the table talking.
“Oh, hi, Sharon!” Jon said.
“Did you get some sleep?” Stephanie asked.
“No, I just lay there for three hours, trying to sleep. It was really frustrating. But thanks for watching the kids. How have they been?”
“Oh, they’ve been great!” Stephanie paused. “How are you?”
How could I answer that question? Did I even know how I was?
“How are any of us?” I said, shrugging. “I’m glad George is safe and on his way.”
There was a pause.
“We have some news,” Jon said. “Mom’s coming.”
“What??” My hand flew to my mouth, and my eyes opened wide, blinking back tears formed from some combination of joy and shock. “She’s coming here?”
A Ukrainian mother shows her toddler the free bicycle she just received. A means of transportation gives refugees more freedom and control over their chaotic lives. “In circumstances when they have lost so much control over everything, having control over a few things is key,” Árpi stated. [Photo by Josh Larson]
Surprise Visitors
It was hard to believe. My mother-in-law, Pam Markey, lived in the Republic of Georgia where she worked as the director of the Calvary Chapel Bible College that had once been located at the campus where we were now staying. She had been like a mother to me ever since I had married her eldest son and left behind everything that had ever been familiar to join his life—two continents and an ocean away from my family. I treasured every moment I got to spend with her, and they didn’t happen often enough, as far as I was concerned. Her coming wouldn’t make up for everything we had been through, but it would go a long way towards making things better.
“When?” I asked.
“Monday,” Jon said.
“What’s today?” I asked, disoriented.
“Saturday. And Paul and Mel are coming with their kids. Tomorrow.”
The news just kept getting better. Paul and Melanie Billings were Calvary Chapel missionaries, and Melanie was also one of George’s sisters. Of his five sisters, I was the closest to her because she and I had shared an apartment when I had visited Kyiv for the summer before George and I were married. Melanie had even been one of my bridesmaids. We had a special bond, and I saw her even less than I saw George’s mom, so the fact that she would be arriving the next day was amazing. And her five kids were great friends with our kids. Our kids would be thrilled when they heard! I stood still in the kitchen entrance, beside the refrigerator, trying to process all the good news.
“We’re thinking of not telling the kids and letting it be a surprise,” Stephanie broke into my stream of thoughts.
“Oh, that’s a great idea!” I said, finally coming all the way into the kitchen.
I busied myself making a cup of tea. I felt comfortable in this kitchen. This unit had once housed Melanie and her family, and we had celebrated a large family Christmas at the Bible College campus the year that they had lived here. My mind wandered back to the warm, festive gatherings we had enjoyed in this very kitchen and even specific Christmas gifts we had received from each other that year. My pleasant memories were a sharp contrast with the realities of the moment, but soon Paul and Melanie and Mom would all be here!
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:23-25
Pastor Benjamin Morrison and his wife, Lena, serve at CC Svitlovodsk. Located in central Ukraine at a crossroad on the way to bordering countries, they have ministered to an influx of travelers fleeing from heavier bombing in the east and north of the country. As cities in western Ukraine become overcrowded, many refugees consider staying in more peaceful areas of Ukraine, such as Svitlovodsk, despite it being further east than Kyiv. [Photo courtesy of Benjamin Morrison]
In some ways, that day felt like the first day of vacation, since we’d arrived at a wonderful place that had been the location of many family vacations in the past, and we were with family members whom we didn’t often get to see. It felt special. But at the same time, we couldn’t forget everything that was happening. We also had not had time to process, and we were reeling from the suddenness with which so much in our lives had changed. In the coming days, I alternated between crying at every change in my emotions and feeling completely numb.
A Day of Family Fellowship
We had a calm day. The kids formed groups by age and interest and amused themselves with very little need for any parental input or intervention. The older ones were in and out of the house, enjoying the freedom to roam the extensive campus grounds on their own. The youngest kids napped when needed. Stephanie and I served snacks and prepared simple meals. Through it all, we adults were frequently on our phones, monitoring the news about Ukraine, keeping tabs on friends and loved ones through social media, and texting people.
Once it got dark, I gathered my boys together, and we made our way back to our apartment to get ready for bed. I wanted an early night. It was a lot easier getting everyone ready for bed this time. The toothbrushes were already out, and I enlisted the older boys to help as much as they could. It wasn’t late when everyone was settled for the night.
Despite my extreme exhaustion, I had trouble sleeping again. When I was putting the kids to bed, I had planned to go to bed myself as soon as possible and get a solid night of sleep before George arrived the next day, but once the apartment was quiet, it was hard for me to unplug. George was at the border, and I kept checking my phone for news of his progress and monitoring all my chat programs for news of anything else.
During the first weekend of the war, Benjamin had the honor and joy to officiate the wedding of Andrey and Nadya, refugees from Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. Benjamin stated, “What better way to say that we serve a higher King and have a deeper joy than to rejoice in the midst of chaos? The light is not afraid of the darkness; it dispels the darkness.” [Photo courtesy of Benjamin Morrison]
Joyful Reunion
George made it across the border and entered Hungary at 12:50 a.m. Hungarian time, several hours faster than I had expected. But even though there were no longer any obstacles standing between him and us, I couldn’t settle. I finally managed to put myself to bed at 3:00 a.m., feeling how desperately my body needed rest. I slept lightly, knowing George would arrive around 6:00 a.m.
George called my cell phone when he arrived. I was up in an instant. I quietly made my way to the apartment door, careful not to disturb my sleeping kids. Through the blinds, I saw George’s familiar silhouette in the soft pre-dawn light. This was the moment I’d been hoping and praying for since the war first started!
In an instant, I had the door open and stepped into his waiting embrace.
“Hi.” I pressed my face into his chest.
He stroked my long hair. “It’s good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you too.” I had never meant it more.
We immediately went to bed. George had been driving for almost 24 hours straight, and I had only slept a total of six hours since the beginning of the full-scale invasion 72 hours earlier.
It was chilly in the apartment. I hadn’t thought to request extra bedding from the retreat center staff, so we only had one twin-sized comforter between the two of us. We cuddled together under the small blanket, drawing warmth and comfort from each other.
Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:11-12
My mind wandered back over all the fears that had assailed me over the past three days. Having to face the uncertain future without George by my side. Being forced to figure out a new life for our family—in a different country—on my own. Needing to find a job to support six growing boys. Raising my children alone. Watching my precious sons grow up without their dad.
Those awful visions now dissipated like smoke in the wind. We were together again. There was much that was wrong in the world, but this was definitely right.
Sharon and George Markey, Jr., stand on the bank of Europe’s second longest river, the Danube, in Budapest, Hungary. Over 6.5 million Ukrainians have fled their country since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022. In the midst of the devastation, God has given the Markeys incredible opportunities to be the hands and feet to millions of suffering people through their organization, Bridge UA. They envision themselves as a "bridge" connecting the resources of their friends and partners in the West with the greatest needs of Ukrainians, both in Ukraine and across Europe. Learn more about this ministry at BridgeUA.org
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Follow this series at:
Part 1: The Looming Reality of War
Part 2: Alone in a Country at War
Part 3: As Missiles Fall, Kyivans Flee the City
Part 4: The Invasion Begins
Part 5: Saying Goodbye: A Difficult Decision
Part 6: The Journey to Hungary
Part 7: Ternopil: A Way Station
Part 8: An Unexpected Homecoming
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Sharon T. Markey was a Calvary Chapel missionary in Ukraine for 19 years prior to the full-scale Russian invasion. Her husband George served there for 30 years as a Calvary Chapel church planter. Since evacuating to Hungary with their six sons, they have been ministering to Ukrainian refugees all over the country. Sharon is writing a book about their experiences. You can connect with her at MommyJoys.com
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