BIG NEWS ABOUT LAUNCH

It's official!! I am launching from Washington DC on Jan 7th to start my journey on the WR! 

Ladies and Gentleman: you kind hearts, you peoples all around the world - because of your greatness, because of the Lord's kindness, because of your loving support. I am now able to share with you that I am over halfway to being fully funded for the World Race! AHHH  I now have $7,838 in my WR account! This is incredible..Is this really happening!? 

I have enough to launch ..that alone is a miracle to me.. You are the miracle 

Handiwork of a good and loving God whose leadership is beyond perfect.. It's good, and true and right. Tonight I am just finding myself in such a good attitude of thankfulness and gratefulness.. I find myself to be intentional even in telling the Lord what I'm thankful for, because really and truly He has blessed me with many many things in life and many many beautiful people. Some here at home: that are my nearest and dearest, and some far away like my whole new World Race family that I will see soon enough. 

I am so excited about being halfway on being fully funded, but I don't wanna slack up. I still have needs and deadlines to be met. One main priority is I have to buy a plane ticket for launch date. Currently they are running at $198 from TLH to DC airport, so I'm gonna try an jump on that quick. Work that in the budget somehow. 

The other thing is I am trying to close out my apartment, and sell almost everything I own. Please just lift me up in prayer that moneys rains down from the heaven for me here hehe also, I will be selling my car. So yeah lots going on, lots to do for sure.

If you are at all interested in supporting me in anyway or any of my teammates or even our whole squad =) please let me know. I want to invite you to support me, to support us.. this isn't a demand or a beggers way. I want to invite you. I'm over halfway! This is amazing.

I will ask this if you would like to support my race and help me get fully funded go back to my main page at devintudor.theworldrace.org and click on the "SUPPORT ME" link on the left side of the page; however if you read an amazing blog of one of my teammates or anyone on my squad that just catches your heart and you kinda wanna adopt them..go for it! Support them! Go to their blogs and do the same steps. 

MONTHLY SPONSORS NEEDED

If you are wanting to support me personally for when I need toothpaste, underwears and such hehe let me know becuase I am in need of monthly sponsors to cover some of those expenses while on the field. I will be setting up a paypal account for that very purpose apart from the WR account. 

Thank you for being a miracle to me today, because of your love and support I can now officially say come Jan 7th I'm heading to Kenya! 

Love you all ~ Devin 

Part 2 from TC: Meet My WR Team/ BIG NEWS

This is us! M Squad. We are intentional in our love for one another and for the nations. We are intentional in our worship and adoration of a beautiful Savior who loves us even in our messes. This is M squad and we are love. 

I now get to introduce you to the lovely people of my team that I will have the honor and privilege to share life with on this great adventure this upcoming year. These people are beautiful in every sense of the word. They have such sweet spirits and they love with their whole hearts. They make you laugh until you hurt and I believe in each and every one of them. So without further ado here is our team. 

Team Intentional Vagabonds- A vagabond is a drifter and an itinerant wanderer who roams wherever they please, following the whim of the moment. Vagabonds may lack residence, a job, and even citizenship. We chose this name simply because we are choosing to embrace the lifestyle as a vagabond. "This world is not our home, we are sojourners just passing through, looking to the city that is to come".. We are embracing this lifestyle and intentional in our prayers and focus that our lives will leave a great story and inspire great adventure. This is us..

Meet Stacy Povian and Vanessa O'Neal (Our Squad Leaders)- These two lovely beautiful women are some of the most incredible people I've ever met. They call out leadership in us, they are real, authentic, they are brave and absolutely a joy to be around. I am so happy to be serving under their leadership and honored by their friendship. To learn more about Stacy visit her blog: http://stacypovian.theworldrace.org

To learn more about Vanessa visit her blog: http://vanessaoneal.theworldrace.org/

Meet Aimme Luallin- This girl has such a sensitive heart to the Lord and to those around her. She looks for and see's the best in people, and does a good job in bringing out the best in people too. To learn more about Aimee visit her blog: http://aimeeluallin.theworldrace.org

Meet Caity Lewis (on the right) - She is bold and so courageous. She has such a beautiful testimony and her journey is incredible. If you ever have a moment to sit down and talk with her you shouldn't pass it up.  To learn more about Caity visit her blog: http://caitylewis.theworldrace.org/

Meet Gabe Bedford- This guy is incredible! He loves people, and puts everyone above himself. He has a great sense of humor and makes our team laugh like no other, and yet at the same time in just a moment he can show another side of himself. In an instant he can share his strength and sensitivity to the Lord and His heart with you. It's a beautiful thing. Don't let his stature fool you. He is a big ole' teddy bear. To learn more about Gabe visit his blog: http://gabebedford.theworldrace.org/

Meet Jill Robertson- If there is one thing I can say about Jill, it would have to be about her loyalty. She is probably one of the most loyal people I have ever met. She loves deeply, and from what I have heard her share she really fights for those she loves and cares about. She is a lover and a fighter. To learn more about Jill visit her blog: http://jillrobertson.theworldrace.org/

Meet Pamela Gessler- This girl is so wise beyond her years. Ask anybody, and they will tell you the same. She also brings many smiles and laughs to the team. She has known she was going to become a missionary since she was 15! We have the honor to have her as our team treasurer. To learn more about Pamela visit her blog: http://pamelagessler.theworldrace.org/

Meet Sara Shoup- Sara is such a leader in the way she carries herself, her attitude, her actions and her words. She leads in such a way it invites people to follow. She loves to make people laugh and when you see her she will usually have a smile on her face as well. To learn more about Sara visit her blog: http://sarashoup.theworldrace.org/

So here is some BIG NEWS:

Close to the end of the week in training camp. I was invited to something nothing short of amazing. I was invited to be a team leader to these amazing, beautiful people.. and guess what? I accepted ... *insert smiley face* (from ear to ear) =)

So here we go starting this crazy journey.. this amazing adventure. I'm coming from being that guy on his computer losing sleep at night cause of searching blog after blog of world racer's and now I'm one of em' and  I have the privilege of actually leading a team. Whaaa!? Follow our journey ..

Many more adventures to come! 

Live A Great Story~Devin 

So..I Almost died at Training Camp (Post Training Camp part I)

Thank you for all of your support and love that helped get me to Training Camp It was one of the most incredible, crazy and humbling weeks I have ever had.

Training Camp- When you ( maybe even a future World Racer) find yourself reading blog after blog about training camp you might get the idea that training camp is all about squad wars, living outside, and lots of fun and games. 

You may just come to find out that the WR has little to do with squad wars..they happen, you do live outside..among other places.. some you love, and some you just have to laugh at to keep from crying.. you do have fun, and there are games, but it is so much more than just the fun, the games and the squad wars. (*sidenote  though My squad M SQUAD did win squad wars 'cause that's just how we do! All WE Do Is Win!)

Here is a big tip- Let go of any expectations you have. 

 Prior to going to TC I had many expectations. Many expectations of what TC and the WR would and should look like. I read blog after blog and noticed one thing.. Training camp seemed to be clouded in mystery. What was this big secret about training camp that made it the best and yet hardest week of peoples lives? I soon would find out for myself just what these people meant, and I would soon let go of all my preconceived ideas of people and all of my expectations for this upcoming year.  

This is not the part I tell you all the secrets of what made TC so great and yet so hard..I'm sorry, but to all you future world racer's you will thank me later. To those of you wanting feedback- no worries I have many stories to tell ya. 

What I will start with today is a simple encounter, a simple moment where I almost died, and I don't mean in some spiritual sense. I mean in the literal "I almost died" lol.

Before you get the wrong idea of adventures in missions let me just say the people here care more about you than they do themselves. Everyone on staff, squad leaders, your squad, your team..all the way down to the individual.. I  experienced such love and compassion from these people and for these people. This past week at training camp I had the privilege to walk and talk with Jesus. To camp outside around a fire with Jesus. I got to see Jesus in the eyes of these beautiful people that surrounded me. 

I almost died because of my pride. One day the guys and girls separated for the day and us guys went on a hike. For the sake of not spoiling the lesson learned that some of you may experience yourselves I will say this.. Us guys were asked to strip down to our boxers and take a swim. During this swim I almost drown twice! It was my pride that kept me from calling out for help when help would have been there in a split second if I would just cry out, but I didn't..

I tried to do things on my own. I tried to carry burdens that were too heavy for me to carry, I tried to be a man all macho and what not.. 

We (the guys) had a goal to this swim, they (the staff) had a lesson to teach us. Much like Jesus with His parables, the staff spoke to our hearts, to the core of us as men. You can call it a "team building" exercise if you will. 

Here is what I learned from this lesson and from my week: I am prideful, I am selfish, I am messy, and I am a broken individual. 

Here is something I left training camp with: Even in my brokenness, beauty erupted from my soul. I am learning to live simple, embrace the messy, and love unconditionally and without reserve. 

Tune into part II to meet my team that I will be sharing life with for the upcoming year. Be a part of our adventures! Subscribe to our blogs, adopt our team and you wont miss a beat. 

Living and Loving This Great Adventure~ Devin

BEAUTY BECKONS

I know little of such wonders that await me in this journey to come. I have neither the imagination nor the vocabulary to understand this world of mystery, but I can hear it calling my name. 

With each day passing I'm getting closer and closer..4 days from now I will be on my way to Training Camp. I have read blog after blog of what to expect, and I have learned to just throw my expectations out the window, and just be really flexible. I am learning I need to posture my heart into a position of being vulnerable before the Lord, and before these people I will soon call family. "Starfish" ( Read Stephanie's blog about this) http://stephanielouisemay.wordpress.com/2012/10/09/training-camp-wisdom-near-death-experiences/ 

Since my last blog post money has poured into my account without me really feeling like I lifted a finger to make it happen. Your hearts responding in such a way is making this a reality. I am so honored and so happy to say I am now at $7,428 .. I am pretty much at the halfway mark of being fully funded towards the total $15,500! Thank you  for your support friends, family.. thank you for your love and compassion. For walking with me in this, sharing the journey, celebrating the beauty..

Some Of My Daily Reads These Days..

Some of my favorite songs these days

Eyes- Rouge Wave

We Move Lightly- Dustin O Halloran

Fragile N.4 -Dustin O' Halloran

Impossible-Figurine

Blood- The Middle East

Cosmic Love- Florence + The Machine

Life is crazy.. it's as simple as that... Life is crazy right now, all the transition all the change in seasons, in the journey of my thoughts and heart..It's certainly not for the faint of heart and yet while hard, it's beautiful. I'm beginning to learn how to face the reality of leaving. Just scratching at the surface of this reality, but I am facing it head on rather then trying to wait till launch to deal with the emotion that comes with leaving. As scary as it is it's taking "a physical journey to complete a spiritual one". I'm learning that going away from all the familiar is making my heart a place where God can work, much like a garden. A place where faith will sustain me. 

Jer: 17:7- 

"But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, 

    whose confidence is in Him. 

They will be like a tree planted by water 

    that sends out its roots by the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes;

    It's leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought

And never fails to bear fruit."

Change and transition are never easy but with the changing of seasons there is promise of new life. Promise of new beautiful moments, beautiful encounters. "You can recognize truth by it's beauty and simplicity". 

You and I, each and every one of us without exception, can be defined as an aching need for the infinite. You see this in longing as we listen to symphonies in their elegant and harmonious unity of dozens of instruments and thousands upon thousands of notes producing dazzling melodies..or the beautiful mystery of seeing how jet planes need runways or two or more miles to take off and land, and yet birds can land successfully on a twig one quarter inch in diameter. Many birds can jump and turn 180 degrees in a split second, an amazing accomplishment in itself. "The point is every human is drawn to beauty". A night sky can thrill, an exquisite orchid, a Mozart concerto, a lovely face...Beauty beckons

I am jumping head on into this. This adventure, this journey. It's my leap of faith. My dive into beauty.

I am looking upon the upcoming horizons with eager excitement, and all the while enjoying the sunset views from right where I stand here and now.. I'm content and I'm happy.. 

Thanks for listening to my thoughts and wondering's.. 

Live A Great Story- Dev