International adoption is not for wimps.

But when Darrin and Angela Ditchen first looked into the eyes of their new baby daughter, they realized the lengthy, expensive and often-frustrating process was worth the effort. The Stanfield couple arrives home from Africa with 9-month-old Josie on Friday after an adoption journey that started long before the baby was born.

Adoption isnt new to Darrin, 35, and Angela, 33, early in their marriage faced a decision seek fertility treatment or adopt their children. They adopted two sons, now 8 and 5, in the U.S. but decided to go beyond U.S. borders for their third child. After some research, they decided on Ethiopia.

Bottom line where was the most need? Angela said. Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in the world.

Close to 5 million people live in Addis Ababa on 131,000 acres, Darrin said. An estimated 1 million people live on the streets.

The Ditchens are not alone in choosing Ethiopia. According to U.S. Department of State statistics, Ethiopia and China top the list for parents who adopt internationally.

The couple spent almost six months compiling their dossier a collection of documents required by their adoption agency, American World Adoption, and the Ethiopian government. When complete, the 4-inch-thick file contained financial statements, medical information, employment verification, proof of insurance, background checks and a home study. The agency examined the dossier and sent it on to Ethiopia, where the paperwork was translated and scrutinized.

The process is different for every country, said Mike Stone, public relations director at American World Adoption, McLean, Va. The country itself dictates the process.

Tightened regulations

Things change frequently, Stone said. Adopting from China, for example, was a relatively simple process until about five years ago.

In 2007, China handed down new restrictions that started to bottleneck the system, Stone said. Once as quick as a year, it now takes about five years.

To stem the avalanche of applications, the country tightened restrictions on foreign adoptions, rejecting applications from prospective parents who are single, obese or cant meet other physical, psychological or financial benchmarks. The restrictions are eased for children with special needs.

Darrin and Angela waited more than a year to get a referral from Ethiopia. The agency called last September with the news that they were most of the way cleared to adopt a baby girl. The remaining hurdles included making an Ethiopian court appearance and meeting their baby in December and, after that, applying for her visa. Jumping through those two hoops and picking up their new daughter would require two visits to Ethiopia.

Upon reaching Addis Ababa, Ethiopias capitol, for the first time, the couple felt shocked as they walked among starving and homeless Ethiopians.

You cant go anywhere without seeing homeless people on the streets, including mothers and their babies, Angela said. Three different mothers approached who pleaded, Please take my baby.

The couple, who farm grass seed near Stanfield, also noticed the efforts of poor dirt farmers and little children herding cows with sticks.

Six people and a team of oxen take a few days to harvest what we can do in 15 minutes with a tractor, Darrin said.

At the orphanage, a nanny brought Josie onto the porch. Darrin and Angela stared at her with lumps in their throats.

It was sort of surreal, Angela said. You wait for so long you cant even imagine what it will be like until youre there.

Best day, worst day

Josies given name, Siarkenan, which means You found me, will become her middle name. The babys 18-year-old birth mother had worked in a bar and likely worked as a prostitute. When she got pregnant, the couple learned, she had ended up on the streets. When the mother had finally showed up at the orphanage, the baby was four weeks old and malnourished.

Darrin and Angela visited Josie for a couple hours each day. Before long, the baby reacted with excitement, reaching for them when they arrived.

The court appearance ended in success. The judge, after questioning the Ditchens through an interpreter, awarded them custody of Josie. They were now officially her parents but they couldnt take the baby home without a visa. That would take three more months.

It was one of the best days of my life, but the worst, too, Angela said. We had to say goodbye for a while leaving her was the hardest thing we ever had to do.

Back on their wheat ranch, they thought about their baby every day, looking often at the huge blow-up photo of Josie on the dining room wall.

Finally, Josie is in Darrin and Angelas arms to stay. Their two boys wait anxiously at home to meet Josie after seeing their new sister on Skype.

Stone said one reason the process is so rigorous and expensive from $28,000-$38,000 for most Ethiopian adoptions is wariness about child trafficking.

The Hague Convention helped put safeguards in place, he said. You want to make sure your child is truly an orphan.

Darrin and Angela plan to return to Ethiopia multiple times so their daughter will know her country of birth. They try not to think too much about all the orphans they left behind.

Were changing the life of one, Darrin said. Hopefully, shell grow up and do more. Ethiopia has our heart.