To everyone who has supported me thus far, thank you so much!!! I have reached the first fundraising benchmark. I logged in today to check and almost jumped over the kitchen table when I found out. 
In addition, I have saved up enough money that I bought some more of the gear that I will need, booked a flight to Training Camp, and purchased a year's worth of travel and medical insurance (at a very good price, thankfully). I also have gotten the majority of my shots for the race from the VA for free and will be able to get all of my medications from them for free as well. So, in other words, I am all set for the Training Camp and should have plenty of time to raise $4k by January.
This all comes just in time. My internship here at the Stock Exchange ends this Friday, August 9. At which point, I will start really stepping up my game to hopefully raise the next $4,000 that I need to leave the States in January. I was speaking with my dad on the phone just a few days ago and talking about how I intended to work all of this out and if I was really sure that I was going to go on the World Race. My answers were that I didn't know, but that everything would fall into place somehow. The following day, I met an incredible gentleman at work who has helped to give me just the push I needed to make it to training camp (Thanks for everything, Bruce!). God is good.
It seems crazy to be giving up so many incredible networking opportunities and such a great jumping point to other incredible jobs, so that I can go sleep on dirt floors, eat rice and beans, and work in some of the most neglected communities in the world, but I couldn't ask for anything more. I know that I want to travel, adventure, serve people, and strengthen my relationship with God. I can't think of a better time to do it nor can I think of anything I would rather be doing. This verse keeps coming to mind: "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." (Luke 12:48). – I certainly have been given more in this life than I ever thought possible. I feel that many people have committed to me over the past year especially, and I will continue to come through for them.
I'm not very good at blogging, because there's usually not a whole lot to blog about with regards to the race. Hopefully over the next couple of months I will be blogging more and will have more to talk about with regards to my funding and Race preparations. I'm going to talk with the CEO of NYSE this week and mention what my plans are after the internship. He has been impressed by my dedication and work ethic since day one and has been specifically tracking my individual progress. I have even begun a massive research project for him, trying to find better ways to help veterans. I'm not sure what his response will be in specific, but please be praying that the conversation about my trip will go well and that he may be willing to help fund me and/or willing to direct me to friends who might be willing to help.
Again, to everyone who has helped by supporting me, I cannot say thank you enough. And to everyone who is willing to support me, please know that you will be part of an incredible adventure. Not only will you be helping broken people find God and helping to serve them in more ways than you can imagine, but you will also be helping me to heal myself. My life has improved dramatically over the past year and a half as I finally have been able to close the chapter on many things that had been bothering me from Iraq and to move on to writing the next chapter. While my personal life is much better than it had been, a big part of the reason for this trip is to finally heal and close some of those wounds. To those of you who are helping me achieve this, I am eternally grateful.
Semper Fi and God Bless,
Dave
