Led by the belief that God was calling them to follow through with the process despite the family’s loss of its only income, the Muellers, who attend Grace Covenant Church in Chicago, adopted two-year-old Mulugeta, and his sister, six-year-old Birtukan. The brother and sister were orphaned when both of their parents died of a sudden illness.
Pete soon found a job working with a landscape supply company. Patty, who previously home-schooled six children, now has an additional two students.
The Chicago Tribune published a long, front-page article about the Muellers in its Sunday edition. The story includes a video.
Patty says the adoption has not been without its struggles and sometimes adds stress on their marriage as well as the other children. Ultimately, however, the adoption has been the right choice and has strengthened the couple’s faith, she adds.
“Without getting too philosophical, what kind of purpose in life do you want to create?” Pete told the Tribune. “We knew we weren’t the kind of couple that would vacation in the Riviera or climb the Himalayas, but we humbly think we have a great family. We’re good at this parenting thing. Once I got used to the fact that I’m going to be poor for the rest of my life, I was at absolute peace. That’s when I knew we couldn’t not do it.”
