Application Acceptance!!

I received word from COAT (chinese orphans assistance team) this morning around 2am, that my application has formally been accepted!!

This is HUGE!  Other than raising the rest of the money needed, this was the only other thing I was waiting on to find out if I am able to go!

I'm super stoked about this!!

I've been feeling a bit stressed out the past few days as well. When I first started fundraising for this trip, I made the first half of the money I needed in only two days! That was an insane blessing!! Since then, I've only received about $150.  Which is still VERY far from what I need to buy my plane tickets!!

If I receive enough money for my tickets, great! But then that still leaves the money for my visa. I will have the money, but the time it would take for me to mail my application to the courier in Chicago, and for her to take my application and everything to the chinese consulate, wait a day or two days to get it back. I had NO idea how to make that happen.  Then someone it got in my head that I could either just drive out there and get it, or take the megabus. Something I never would have thought of before.

That's not exactly something that's in my budget, but I know God will provide the money to make it happen!

This past Friday I had the great opportunity to travel down to Kansas City, MO with the band Hyland!! They graciously allowed me to make the trip with them from Minneapolis!  Saturday they were scheduled to play at the Acquire The Fire conference in downtown KC!  Some incredibly amazing friends of mine, We Are Leo, were also playing!  I'm so glad I was able to go because this was the last chance I'd have to see Hyland OR We Are Leo before I leave for China for the entire summer!!

It was a great day at ATF!! I had an awesome time hangin with Hyland and We Are Leo!  Some of my favorite people!!  Towards the end of the night I had been talking with the lady that had been running Hylands merch table about my trip. I was telling her how I was stressing about the money.  I told her I knew God would provide but it was just making me nervous because I still need to raise so much!  She said you can't worry and just trust that He will do it.

After that my great friend Novus, came up and gave me a big hug!  I was telling him what me and the merch lady had just been talking about. He said that we could pray for it, and then we all stood there, and he prayed for me!  Having someone pray over you is one of the greatest things!!  I thank God SO MUCH for bringing David(Novus) and the rest of the We Are Leo guys into my life! I am beyond thankful for them and their friendship! It means the world to me!

I still can't believe I won't get to see those guys all summer! SO crazy!  but I'm still super stoked for China!!

I may still be just the tiniest amount nervous about the money thing, but I absolutely know with all of my heart that God will provide! and SOON!

I'm beyond stoked for this opportunity, and super thankful that my application was accepted by COAT!!

Some things to be thankful for:

1. For everyone that has donated to my trip, and the amazing amount that has been raised so far!
2. That I've been able to get a couple things done in order for me to go! (background check, new license, photos for my visa)
3. Official application acceptance by COAT.

Some things to pray for:

1.The rest of the money I need to pay for my flight and VISA, and now, travel to chicago to get my visa.
2. I will have to go get some shots and things, (and probably an inhaler, because the pollution over there is pretty bad i'm told) since I'm going to be working with babies and small children the ladies at COAT said it would be a good idea.
3. Tomorrow I have an appointment to get my eyes checked and to get new glasses.  Thankfully this is covered by my insurance so I won't have to spend any money, but pray that I am able to get the glasses back BEFORE I leave for China.
4. That I can get everything in my room that I'm not taking to China packed up and in my car without too much trouble.

Thanks SO much to everyone that has been and will be praying with me!

I appreciate it SO much!!

blessings!

-erin