just finished the skype interview!

So I just finished the skype interview with Margaret and Linda from COAT.

those two ladies are amazing!!

they are super funny!!

I think the interview went very well!

I guess I will wait to hear back about formal acceptance!!

will you pray with me about it??

and still pray about the rest of my funding for the trip!

thanks so much everyone!!

blessings!

-erin

COAT interview! and planes and visas! oh my!

I have my official interview with COAT(chinese orphans assistance team) tonight!

I am both nervous, AND excited!

I will be interviewing over Skype with Margaret and Linda from COAT. They are located in Gympie, Queensland, Australia.

I DO love the Australian accent, so I am super stoked for this interview because of that! LOL.

I'm also excited because, other than raising the rest of the money I need to purchase my airplane tickets and visa, this is the last BIG step before I can legitimately say that I am actually going. 

to China.

you guys. CHINA!

so stoked!!

I do have a couple prayer requests:

1.that the COAT interview goes well and they officially accept my application to volunteer for them.

2.that the rest of the money I need to buy my plane tickets/visa(about $1,000) comes through! I need it SO soon!

3.I am going to have to get some vaccinations before I go to China, I'm not sure how much money that will cost, pray that I receive additional funding to cover that.

4. I am packing up everything I own before I leave. My lease at my current apartment is up in July, and since I won't be here, I need to pack up all my belongings before I leave. Pray I can get it all done quickly.

Here's a praise!

1. I found someone, my coworker Sue, who has agreed to store my car for me the ENTIRE time I am gone...and for FREE! that is a HUGE blessings! She will make sure it stays safe, and start it up regularly to keep it running!

Alright, well I'm gonna get going!  I'm sitting at my Starbucks, on my computer, just got done with my taxes, and filling out my visa application as much as I could. There's some sections left I don't know how to fill out so I'm waiting on some answers from someone about that.

My interview is at 7pm!

pray for me!

thanks everyone!!

blessings!

-Erin

p.s. - I finally figured out the PayPal thing....I was able to create a sweet donation widget that you will see on the left side of the blog!! and it WORKS! if anyone is led to donate, check out the widget!! -->

halfway funded!!! sayyyyy whattt?!

alright kids.

so....

my current donation total is $1,303.42!!!!

that means i am OVER halfway funded!!! SO crazy!!

my initial fundraising goal will go towards all things associated with getting to China! For example, my roundtrip plane tickets(this is the biggest need!! need these tickets before i can apply to get my visa!), chinese visa, getting pictures made/printed for my visa application, and once I get to China, anything i will immediately need for daily living and any food during my travel time.

I can't thank everyone enough!!

So thankful to everyone that has donated already!!

BLESSINGS!!!

-Erin

blown away!

it's only been two days and I've already raised $1,200!!

this is just crazy to me!! i'm so excited about how God is already blessing this trip!! I only need about $500 more and I can purchase my plane tickets!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone that has contributed so far! It means more than you may ever know!!

I can NOT wait to get my hands on those precious little babies at Eagles Wings!!

a small prayer request:

due to my job responsibilities I will not be able to leave until the 11th of February! please pray that the staff at Eagles Wings will be able to take care of the two new little ones and not be too busy with everything until I can get there!!

Also please pray for the staff of COAT out in Australia! there's been some flooding where they are located. pray that everyone stays safe. The floods are also messing with their Internet availability which is delaying my interview with them which is CRUCIAL for me to even make it to china by the 11th!

thanks everyone!

Blessings!
-erin

Donations

If anyone is so lead as to donate funding for my trip to China, you can either send it to my email address (erinmoose@gmail.com) via paypal. Or I have created a fancy little donation widget that you can click on to donate by credit card/bank account! This donation will also go into my personal PayPal account, but you don't need an account if you use the button.

You can choose any amount in the drop down menu!

Thanks for anything you are able to give!!

God Bless!
-Erin

GUESS WHAT? I'M GOING TO...CHINA!! TO WORK WITH ORPHANS!!

I have some pretty crazy news to share with everyone!!  In just about two weeks, I will be going to China!!

crazy, right?!

Not crazy to me!! I am BEYOND excited!!  My friend, Jenessa, posted a tweet last week mentioning that one of her favorite foster homes in China is in need of someone to work in their baby room for 3-6 months.

I almost didn't respond, but then said, almost jokingly, "If only I could afford to fly to China!" We went back and forth for a while and I had felt my heart being prepared to be away from my job(which I LOVE, by the way) lately, but wasn't really sure why.

When I first moved to Minnesota I said to myself I would not move unless God dropped an opportunity right in my lap.  And that happened, the opportunity dropped and I left my home and packed up and moved to Minnesota.

So when Jenessa posted that tweet, and after we talked...I thought to myself...THERE IT IS! opportunity DROPPED!!

So, I've decided to pack up and move myself to China for 6 months! (ON FEBRUARY 9TH--3 days after my birthday!!)

Jenessa put me in touch with Donna Laurie, who is an american and works at the orphanage in China. She seems like an amazing lady!!

The orphanage I'll be working at is called Eagles Wings(near ZhengZhou, China)! You can check them out on their facebook page, Eagles Wings on Facebook  or on their official website, Eagles Wings China 

Eagles Wings currently operates 8 different homes, all housing kids from newborn to 18 years of age. Most of the children have physical or developmental problems. they are all SO precious!!

They recently had a few extra babies(i've seen pictures of the two babies and OH MY are they precious!!) come into their care and they cannot fully give them all the attention they need with their current staff.

That is where I come in!  I told Donna that I would be 100% for coming over there to help!!  

I am currently in the process of applying with the Chinese Orphans Assistance Team (COAT), who operates Eagles Wings. They are an organization based in Australia.

There are a few things that I will need to be able to get to China right away. Most importantly I need PRAYER!! lots and lots of PRAYER!! I also need approval from COAT to be able to go to China.

Another big thing, is money.  It costs A LOT of money to fly to China, and get the necessary VISA to be allowed into the country.  I am not really one to ask for money...but if I can't raise enough to get these tickets and my VISA, I can't go!  

This postion is also strictly volunteer based. I will receive free room & board, and a small stipend for extras. But that is it!  

In addition to money for plane tickets(around $1,800 roundtrip) and the VISA(around $300--because I will have to get the visa expedited), I will need support to be able to buy basic necessities for living.  Also on a monthly basis, for March thru June, I will need money to cover my rent at my apartment in Minnesota if I can't find someone to take my spot in my apartment, and my car payment, combined about $575.

Initially I will need around $2,500 to get to China. The extra money beyond the plane tickets & visa will cover any unexpected fees during travel, or if I have to pay to store my car somewhere while I'm gone. And to be used once I get to China for food or anything else I might need that Eagles Wings doesn't provide.

I really don't like asking for money, but I can't do this on my own! I was stressing about asking for money, or that I would be able to raise enough, but Jenessa told me, "When you respond to God's direct call of caring for widows and orphans, He blesses it. Every. Single. Time." That gave me SO much hope! 

If any of you, my friends, are able and would love to monetarily contribute to this awesome opportunity, I would be eternally grateful, and so will the orphans!

I have a PayPal account where you can send any donations! the email address to use on PayPal to send money to me is erinmoose@gmail.com

Of course, if you live near me in MN and would like to help, you can always come see me in person!

I can't do this without prayer!! That is the most important thing!!

THANK YOU to anyone and everyone who would possibly help with the money I need for this trip!

Also, please pray that I can get everything else I need to get done for travel done in the next few days!  I need to get a police background check to send to COAT with my application, get my drivers license renewed/changed to an MN license, and the necessary documents ready to send with my VISA application!

God Bless!!

Erin!

<3