In March of 2008 we brought home our 4th adopted child from Ethiopia. She is a miracle story that still brings tears to us all. We met Beti (Bethlehem) in July 2007 while doing some ministry in orphanages in Ethiopia on a trip we made to bring home 3 siblings we had adopted. Beti had been at Ahope for just a few days prior to our meeting. She was a sad, sad little girl who didn't know where she was and why her mommy wasn't with her. It was during this trip that we also met Kiel and Carolyn Twietmeyer and their family.

Kiel and Carolyn were in Ethiopia to pick up their children too. Our Beti touched many hearts including theirs. I remember Carolyn telling me that she didn't think we were really serious when I told her we wanted to adopt her as she had heard that before. Carolyn and I became fast friends. Beti had become very sick while in care and was hospitalized due to a very dangerous form of malnutrition. We were so thankful for all the prayers they offered on Beti's and our situation. Because of the adoption of our 3 siblings, the agency placing Beti was not willing to let us move forward for her until we were home for at least 6 months. However, as we prayed for Beti, others began to email us in regards to her health and whether we were still interested in her. We of course were. With much persistence, prayer, and help from others the adoption agency finally let us begin that process. As it turns out, Carolyn had been praying that whoever this "family" was that was being held back that the agency would release them and allow them to move forward. I remember Carolyn emailing me after she found out it was us waiting for the agency to let us move forward "IT IS YOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!" Yes, we really did mean it when we said we wanted to adopt Beti!

Due to the extended travel time waiting for HIV waiver approval, only my husband Ran traveled to pick up Beti. Ran filed Beti's waiver on a Wednesday and was told it would be back in a few days. Friday came and went - no waiver. Monday came and went - no waiver. That evening I visited with Ran and he was quite concerned over an illness that had set in on him. Tuesday still no waiver and Randy was getting increasingly worse. He was quite concerned and felt he may need to fly home for medical attention and then fly back for Beti. I decided I should contact Carolyn at Project HOPEFUL and ask if there was anything Project HOPEFUL could do. She immediately emailed me back to let me know she was "on it." I remember going to bed Tuesday night pleading with the Lord to please heal Ran and please get our waiver process completed. Upon waking Wednesday morning the first thing I did was check my email. Carolyn had emailed that McLane Layton of Equality for Adopted Children was looking into it and she would keep me posted. Hours later I learned that the waiver was approved and on its way back to Ethiopia allowing Ran to travel home on Friday with Beti. In talking with Carolyn on Thursday, I found out exactly how AMAZING and WONDERFUL McLane and Project HOPEFUL are. McLane had been on vacation during this time. She took time off from her family time to step in to advocate for us with the Federal agencies involved in the waiver processing. Had she not stepped in, we were told that it would have been several more days to a week before the waiver would be back in Ethiopia. I can't thank them enough for all they do for our children and for us as families trying to get thru this process. Please support Project HOPEFUL and EACH in any way possible. These are amazing people who go to bat for us and our children in every way they can! Thank you Carolyn, McLane, and Project HOPEFUL - we truly are indebted to you. Randy and Lori Stofferahn and family!