A Letter from Nathaniel Veltman in Ethiopia
November 2010
God’s Will
At an Ethiopian wedding with friends.
I like people-watching. I enjoy observing them and wondering about their stories. In watching people and thinking about their stories, I am reminded that I am not the only one at work for God’s Kingdom; it is exciting to think about the possibilities of how God is using the people I am watching for His work.
Just the other day, as I squished into the back seat of a minibus taxi in Addis Ababa, the young man sitting next to me captured my attention. I think it is safe to assume that he was a medical student, or at least interested in medicine, based on the thick medical textbook on disease diagnosis and treatment that he was flipping through. Watching him intently read about the diagnosis and possible causes of diseases, together with potential treatments, all in words that are beyond me, I became very grateful for the many doctors I have met in my life to whom God has given special skills.
As I sat there, I marveled at the complexities of our bodies. I don’t fully understand those complexities, but God does and He certainly knew what He was doing when He created us. I am constantly reminded of these complexities each time I explain how my cochlear implants work. I first need to explain what the cochlea is, how sound is normally registered for those with normal hearing, how the cochlear implant now uses the cochlea and the natural setup of the ear to transmit sound, and how my brain has adjusted to digital sound. We are indeed “fearfully and wonderfully made!” (Psalm 139:14).
As we approach the celebration of Christ’s birth and the upcoming New Year, I have been reflecting on the complexities of our lives as well. Our jobs, our relationships, and our various other commitments all pull us in different directions and provide us with different opportunities to live out our calling. At the beginning of this year, I did not have a lot of answers for my future in Ethiopia. I was still waiting for my work permit and, as the year progressed, new relationships were developed and new ministry opportunities presented themselves. As I look forward, the same is true for this coming year.
As I reflect on the providence of God over this past year, I move forward with confidence knowing that He is in control. Just like He knew what He was doing when He created our bodies, He also knows what He is doing with our lives when He invites us to be a part of His work, wherever that may be. Jeremiah 29:11 says: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
Enjoying coffee with my friend Dawit. I meet with Dawit regularly to discuss his studies in nursing school and to encourage him in his walk with God through reading the Scriptures and prayer.
There are many times when I have had many questions and few answers. But I am learning to watch for what God is doing and then join in. It is not about initiating something on my own. The right question is not “What is God’s will for my life?” but simply “What is God’s will?” God certainly has a purpose for my life, but it is all about God, not about my life. In revealing His will to me, God also reveals His purpose for my life. He desires to be in relationship with me and wants me to join Him in the work He is already doing around me.
While we may still have many questions, God has revealed to us His will: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). We can rest assured in this knowledge even when we have many unanswered questions. We can move forward with confidence, despite our questions, and answer His invitation to join Him with faith and courage.
After church one Sunday an Ethiopian man came up to me and introduced himself. He asked what I was doing in Ethiopia. I responded with my position as a PC(USA) mission co-worker, my job title as a development consultant and our partnership with the Mekane Yesus church in Ethiopia. I mentioned that I was still waiting for my work permit so I could fill that job. He responded, “You are here for a reason.” I was greatly encouraged by that. Sometimes I may not know exactly what that reason is. But God has revealed His will in calling me to be joyful, constantly in prayer, and full of gratitude.
As we celebrate Christ’s birth and move forward into the New Year, let us be reminded of the significant truth that Christ’s coming means for us: God, in His infinite mercy and grace, extends to us the opportunity to be in relationship with Him through Christ and, through that relationship, the opportunity to join Him in His work around us. It is my prayer that in the coming year we may fulfill God’s will of being joyful, constantly in prayer, and overflowing with gratitude.
Nathaniel Veltman
The 2010 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 50
