The Great Wall of Taiwan

As you know from previous posts, the adoption was slow moving due to changing in the orphanage in Taiwan. We have since found out that it will take even longer and with no sight to when everything will get back in order. We have stepped back from New Beginnings Agency (they have been wonderful so nothing against them) and we are now starting with the agency called CCAI. This will be a Special Needs Program from China. We are filling out the paper work this week and studying up/praying about each special needs so we can know, for us, the best match. This is a small hiccup in our journey however we have FULL trust in God! We feel as if we are back on track with His will! Please continue to pray for us and our child. Thanks to everyone for your support and encouragement! It is much appreciation! Love you all!

Brandy and T.J

Re-A-Rangered

Well, we have been in the process of adoption since the beginning of this year.  Up to this point, our lives haven't really changed.  We've been filling out paperwork, writing checks, raising money, and we took a physical.  Everything else has pretty much stayed the same......Until today.  Today I parted with my Ranger that I have had since it was new in 1998.  My Ranger and I have been through a lot together.  Today was bittersweet, but as comical as this may sound, selling my Ranger marks the beginning of a new era in our lives.

As funny as all of this must sound, there is a bit of a God story that goes along with this momentous occasion that I would like to share.  As Brandy and I looked ahead to bringing home a baby, we knew that my truck would not be "baby friendly" since it does not have a back seat.  We kind of went back and forth over whether now was the time to sell, or if we could afford a bigger truck.

Now, here's where the God story comes in to play.  Let's back up to one week ago.  I have been feeling a calling to read my Bible more.  I've also been thinking a lot about fasting.  Chip Henderson preached last week about us being children of God, but during the message he also talked about knowing God more by reading the Bible.  After the service, I decided that I would fast my radio in my truck for one week, and listen to a Bible reading plan provided by our church called the L3.  So, for the whole week, I did not listen to music on my drive to and from work, or anytime I drove my truck.  Instead, I listened to my Pinelake app and followed along with the L3 reading plan.  Many times when we fast, it is because we are praying over something, but for me I was just answering a calling.  I'm glad I answered, because I really enjoy my time listening to the Bible in the mornings, but I did not expect any kind of response from God.  I certainly didn't expect to sell my truck.

So, I've given some back story on what was going on this past week.  Brandy and I weren't sure what was the right move, but what we were sure of was that God would provide for us whatever we needed.  So, fast forward to the end of the week.  I had stuck a "For Sale" sign on my dash around Thursday or Friday.  Saturday, I went down to the shop to work on my race truck and get caught up on some stuff in the office and decal shop.  While I was working on some decals, I made a sticker with my phone number to put on the For Sale sign.  I decided on a whim, to get my Mustang out and park the truck next to Highway 49 with the sign in the window with no great expectations on getting any calls any time soon.

Now, get ready for some dynamite stuffed with God powder.  The very next day after I parked my truck, the end of my week long fast, I get my first phone call not long after church.  A guy sees my truck on his way to Hattiesburg to look at another truck.  Later, his wife told me she didn't even know how he saw the small sign on my dash.  He asks me a couple of questions and says that he has a couple of other trucks to look at.  Later that day, he calls to see if I can meet him at the shop.  He takes the Ranger for a test drive while his wife waits at the shop with me.  I explain to her that we are selling the truck to help pay for a bigger truck for our adopted baby.  More dynamite, she tells me that she is adopted and encourages me for what we are doing and shares a little bit about her experience.  After the test drive, I do some negotiating with George, using some skills I have picked up from watching American Pickers.  We shake on it, and they leave a deposit with a promise to return on Monday.  Did that just happen?

Really, I'm exaggerating about the American Picker skills.  I was nervous, and I think I was shaking.  This truck has become a part of me.  Letting go of it was much harder than I thought.  I just felt surreal afterwards.  I was going to say goodbye to something that was with me for a big part of my life.  Still, I felt like I handled it pretty well.  I go to bed last night just thankful to God that he had answered a prayer that I had never really asked him directly.  I just trusted in whatever his plan was.  I went to sleep quite peacefully.  Then, 3:15 A.M. came and I awoke with my mind going in all sorts of directions.  I kept thinking about my Ranger, what I was going to do without it, and whether or not I could find or afford something else.  I kept reminding myself about the confident T.J. who put everything in God's hands and eventually fell back to sleep.

So, this morning I told my dad that I was going to take the truck for a ride to the store one last time.  The buyer couldn't come pick up the truck until after work, so I had to look at my old Ranger all day knowing it would be the last time.  He came this afternoon, we signed the bill of sale, and I watched him drive away.  I feel like my Danger Ranger is going to a good home, but it was weird seeing someone else drive away in "my" Ranger.

I know I am dramatizing a little, but I can only think what other kinds of life changes are we going to make?  How else will we rearrange our lives?  What else are we going to give up?  As funny as all of this is, it was the first change in what I know is going to be a whole lot of changes in our lives.  It's a weird thing to blog about, but it's come at a time that has been sort of a lull for us in the adoption process.  We last heard from the agency that they were in the process of finding a new orphanage to partner with in Taiwan.  They said it would take about a month, so we hope to hear something soon.  Keep praying for us.  We truly feel the support from all of the prayers and donations we have received.



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If you want to support our adoption, we have an account with BancorpSouth under TJ Paul or Brandy Paul called Paul's Adoption Fund.

We also have a Paypal account