Adoption Homecoming at ABIA

Cheers and tears for 7-year old Ben, who made his first steps off of a plane from Ethiopia into and in to the arms of this new mother. Brandon and Jen Hatmaker brought home 5-year old Remy in July. Although Ben and Remy are not biological siblings, the two made a connection in the orphanage. However in July, the Hatmakers had to make a hard decision of who to bring home.

"She was cleared for travel in April and we waited. We kept hoping he would pass court and we could bring him home and when it was clear his case as going to be delayed we went for her in July," said Jen Hatmaker. "It was really hard to bring her home and leave him there.

On August 18th, Brandon traveled back to Ethiopia and found out he could bring Ben home with him to Austin. Jen says the nearly two months the kids were apart was hard for them.

"That goodbye was really hard. She cried in the car for the next 2 hours and it was really hard but we let them know we were just weeks away from this reunion and she's been talking about him non-stop," said Jen.

On Sunday, they were reunited.
The Hatmakers started Austin New Church in south Austin in 2007 after they say they were called to do so. This last year, the couple says they were called again, this time to adopt.

The couple, who has three biological children, says with millions of children needing homes in the world, they want to use their story to inspire others to get involved in the world, to make a difference.

"Sometimes you look at the need in the world and it's very overwhelming and many times we just get paralyzed and don't know what to do," said Brandon Hatmaker. "Just do something. You think you think you're blessing them or changing their lives but the truth is ours has been radically changed already and I just can't wait to see what the future holds."