Journey so far – about to board

So I just wanted to share something which I thought was pretty cool, now when I started writing I didn’t intend for this to be so long, but when God is good, He really is good…. Anyways I will understand if you need to take a couple of sittings to finish reading.

Ok anyways so I was reading my Bible the other day and came across something which made me think about how God has brought me to where I am at the moment… About 7 months ago I wrote in my Bible a dangerous prayer that went something like this…

“Lord perhaps maybe, just perhaps maybe you could make a way for me to go and volunteer in Africa… Lord I know that there are a lot of things that stand in the way but perhaps maybe you could just make a way…”

Now rewind a little and for the last 2 years I have had this unwavering and unshakable burning desire to go to Africa and work with mercy ships as a Physio. Now not knowing what to do with this I asked someone with a bigger and Godlier brain than me (Ps Tony from Brisbane) Anyways I remember he prayed a simple prayer with me – “that if this truly was God’s will then let the doors start opening up”

And what followed was nothing short of a personal miracle, one by one doors opened up. Big ones, small ones and ones that seemed to be dead bolted, they all started opening up.

Now the reason I am writing is that I really just wanted to just share how God has reached out and made away… over and over again… there is truly nothing that He can’t do…

Now I like bullet points because it makes things easy to read so I thought id bullet point all the things that He has done…

• First of all I needed to actually get a position with mercy ships, which is harder than it sounds when there is only one Physiotherapist for the whole hospital – but sure enough God is good.

• Secondly, I needed my work at Royal Brisbane Hospital to let me to go and still hold my position for when I get back. Now I figured I had no chance of this as I had only been back 4 months from having a year off travelling overseas - but again God is good.

• Thirdly I wanted to volunteer for as long as I could, but I figured asking for 3 months would be pushing it. But my Physio director told me to put in a wish list and she would see what she could do… so 3 months managed to turn into 6 so that I could volunteer for longer and work back in England for a month or two so I could earn pounds to save more - so again God is good…

• Everything started falling into place and now all I needed was to save like crazy as I had just also bought a new apartment and had a mortgage to take care of. So again I prayed to God for Him to make a way. Now I wasn’t expecting God to drop money from the sky (although this would’ve been nice), but what followed truly was amazing. One by one, opportunities came my way to earn and save more money. For the last three months I was in Brisbane, I pretty much worked every weekend I was there. Work gave me the opportunity to take a pregnancy exercise class after hours. So of course, as a completely faithful servant (out of his depth) I put on my tight lycra shirt and shorts and took the class for 5 weeks– I’m sure the Big Fella would have been having a chuckle.

I also got asked to take on the position of senior of outpatients while my boss was on holidays (at higher pay) - so again God is good. By this time I had work organised in England and I figured in light of my new senior role at the hospital I would ask my England job for a raise before even working a day and see what would happen… and the most amazing thing was that they actually did – so again God is good….

• Everything was now looking fine from a financial point of view. I had now organised two of my friends to stay in my apartment while I was away, which obviously was going to help with the mortgage repayments. However I got convicted big time as I had just found out that I am not suppose to rent it out within a year of purchasing the property (stamp duty). Now I find it really hard to knowingly do the wrong thing so I just gave in and said ok God you know what’s best. So I decided to trust in God and not charge my friends any rent for the 6 months. Now what followed was truly remarkable.

When I told my friends what I was wanting to do it completely blew them away… that I was willing to let them stay free of charge for the 6 months. And the reason was because of my relationship with God and I also told them that it’s just a really easy way to show God’s love towards another.

And secondly it really forced me to trust in God. Completely submitting to His will, I was really looking forward to seeing what was going to happen – it was kind of funny, I wasn’t worried at all, I had this peace that everything was going to be ok even though my financial situation now wasn’t too great.

• Now what came next was nothing short of a personal miracle and continues to blow me away… I was talking to one of my friends (someone who didn’t have a personal relationship with God) about my situation and he suggested trying to raise the money, which to be honest had never even crossed my mind. Dumb I know, but it never crossed my mind to let people know what I am doing and why I am doing it…. and see if they would be willing to help.

In just under two months I have managed to raise enough money to get me back on board (literally) – everyone’s generosity was just awesome

Girls from work were selling chocolates for me

I had donations from the most unlikeliest of people

I had donations from all over the world from people I hardly even knew

And the most amazing thing was that I got anonymous donations that totalled over $1000 (so I guess sometimes money does fall from the sky…)

The other amazing thing that happened in the process of raising the money was that it forced me to let every single person that I have ever known – what I am doing and why I am doing it….. that I am a Christian and because of my relationship with God I want to share His love to others and this is just one practical way of doing it….

So anyways I just felt compelled to share how good God has been towards me of late. When I look back in retrospect I see a personal, caring, providing God that can do absolutely anything… and He reminds us of this everyday… God truly is good…

The funny thing is that I have gained so much already and I haven’t even got on board yet…

Oh just on a side note, ill tell you something pretty cool and awesome also. I flew into Nottingham airport the other day on a public holiday. Turns out pretty much all public transport comes to a stop on public holidays in England and I found myself with no way of getting to Birmingham (over an hour and a half away).  So I just said a quick prayer to the Big Fella asking Him to help me out and I kid you not within 2 minutes the person I was sitting next to on the plane found me from across the airport terminal and offered me a lift to exactly where I needed to go… so good

Now don’t get me wrong things like this don’t happen to me all the time.. I think it was God’s way of reminding me that He is with us wherever we go…

May God bless you and may you see Him in the big and small of your day

Nick

Fundraising – Goal achieved

I just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped to get me

on my way to Africa.

As of 5:33pm local Birmingham, England time, everyone’s donations have

come to an amazing $3106 which continues to increase by the day. This

is way more than I ever expected and will help out more than you can

imagine. Even though you may not be in Togo yourselves you are helping

me touch sooooo many people in need. It really breaks my heart seeing

people die because they not only have a lack of basic health care but

because they have none at all...

It is also very confronting knowing people are out casted from their

communities because of a simple physical defect, often forcing them to

beg for a living (especially when so easily fixed). So not only are

you indirectly helping restore many physically impairments (whether it

be remove a tumour, repair a broken leg or suture back a cleft

pallet... just to name a few) but you are literally changing their

whole life and giving them a HOPE for a brighter future, giving them a

chance to re-enter their community and feel human again...

So I really just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who has

helped me get on my way to help out in such a place as Togo...

...so as a result of everyone’s generosity and raising over $3000

I have owned up to my end of the bargain and

waxed the following:

- both legs (ingrown hairs everywhere)

- my chest (I actually drew blood on this one)

- my arms (just a few ingrowns left)

- my armpits (I wouldn’t recommend doing this.... ever... I had to walk

around all day with my hands on my hips and that night had ice packs

under my armpits... and a week later the ingrown hairs are just on

their way)

- my head - I am now bald in freezing cold England.. something I don’t

ever recommend...

anyway thanks again for everyone’s support,

May God bless you for your support.

Nick

If you want to check out the waxing experience check out the video below....

Fundraising efforts

Hello to everyone that I know and those I don't know (yet),



I’m not sure if you are aware but I have been given an awesome opportunity to volunteer as a physiotherapist with Mercy Ships next year. For those who don’t know Mercy ships is a hospital on board a massive, gigantic, titanic ship. The advantage of having a fully functioning hospital on board a ship is that they are able to reach and provide a world-class medical service to the poorest of the poor nations on earth.

Mercy ships are a Christian organisation that endeavors to follow the example of Jesus by bringing hope and healing to some of the world's poorest people. Mercy Ships is committed to alleviating human suffering and empowering them to stand on their own two feet and fulfill their God-given potential.

I have always dreamt of going to Africa and helping those who have been born into poverty, starvation and a life with seemingly little hope for a bright future and words can’t express how excited I am about taking up this opportunity. The best thing about serving within such an organisation is that I am able to use my clinical skills as a physiotherapist on board. It will be very exciting and challenging time for me as I will be the sole physiotherapist in the hospital working in the orthopaedic, general surgical and medical wards. I will be volunteering for 3 months starting February 14th until May 14th next year while the ship is based in Togo (West Africa). Mercy ships are all about providing a quality service to those who can’t afford it and I am absolutely excited about volunteering on board. Apart from getting a lot of satisfaction out of volunteering within such an organisation, I have no doubt that I will become a better physiotherapist and leader being stretched in such a situation.

The reason I am writing is that I am looking at raising money to enable me to serve on board. As Mercy ships is a volunteer organisation volunteers need to cover their own costs. For me this predominantly involves my flights to Togo and crew fees (food and board). The total cost I am looking at raising is $5375 and if there is even one dollar over I will be donating it to Mercy Ships. Just to let you know Mercy Ships is a tax deductable organisation, so for all you business savvy people out there you can claim any donations back as a tax deduction.

I was talking to one of my mates (Mark Nelson) and he said I should do something to encourage people to donate and suggested a shave. Which I reckon is a great idea. So if the money below is raised this is what I am willing to commit to:
$50 Clean Shaven
$100 1 leg waxed
$200 2 legs waxed
$400 Legs and arms waxed
$600 Legs and arms and chest waxed
Anything over $1000 shaved head and legs/arms/chest waxed

I will have a going away party just before I leave and do the shave and wax then.

If you or anyone you can think of is at all interested in donating anything at all to me please let me know and I can give you my specific Mercy ships payment details who will then redirect the funds back to me. Also could you please keep me in your prayers while I am away next year as Togo will be having their elections right when I arrive (how’s that for timing). Anyway during this time there is a lot of tension and a very real likelihood of street riots erupting.
Ps. If you want any information on Mercy Ships you can go to their website http://www.mercyships.org.au/
Thank you kindly and God bless.
Nick Veltjens