Reflections from Summer 2014, Part 2

By Mike Moose, member of a medical team

Itinerant--adjective; working in one place for a comparatively short time and then moving on to work in another place; characterized by alternating periods of working and wandering. Recently I was talking to someone about our recent medical mission trip to the Roma camps in Ukraine. The person, knowing that I have no medical background, asked me, "So what did you do?"  It's a great question, one that I ask myself each year.  What am I doing over there?  Why am I going? Maybe "itinerant" described me.  I hauled crates of medicine and supplies, labeled and packaged meds in the pharmacy, played with some kids, did a little crowd control, hugged and encouraged the other tireless team members, led worship in a Roma church, and preached two sermons.  Working and wandering; wandering and working. For what purpose?  I heard a Roma congregation sing along with me songs I wrote for them in Hungarian.  I got a hug from a precious little girl.  I saw a little boy clutching a bottle of medicine I had filled and labeled earlier.  I saw an artist (one of our translators) bring one of my sermons to life by rendering a beautiful painting as I spoke.  I saw smiles.  I saw laughter.  I saw tears.  I saw love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness. Perhaps we can never know fully for what purpose the threads of our lives guide us, but this is where the thread of my life goes--and I must follow it.