MEET TAMARA

 

Tamara loves to share her story. Not what she has done or accomplished but rather what God has and continues to do in and through her life. She has experienced many mountain-top experiences but also has spent some considerable time down deep in the valley. Her life consists of many twists and turns and she will immediately say that the Holy Spirit has been her guiding force even long before she made the decision to choose to follow Jesus Christ at the age of 20.  

 

Tamara knows all too well the life-transforming and healing power of the Holy Spirit. In spite of a difficult past, overwhelming obstacles and immense loss in her life, she has and continues to be strengthened, healed, and victorious through the power of the Holy Spirit. Tamara has chosen to not allow neither her past nor her losses to define who she is but rather has chosen to trust the fact that her identity comes from Christ and what He says about who she is and holds true to His promises throughout His Word. 

 

The greatest life-transforming decision she has ever made was to follow and serve Christ in 1991. From there she has and continues to serve Him throughout her adult life living a transformed life through Christ who has allowed her to accomplish so many amazing things, overcome horrendous obstacles and to fulfill many dreams and life goals. The following are but a few highlights of her past, current, and future dreams, in spite of overwhelming odds against her: 

 

• Suffered depresssion and low self-esteem;

• Placed in foster care at age 13;

• Emancipated at 17 when foster mom passed away;

• Put herself through college attending Portland State University receiving a

        Bachelors degree in Business/Accounting and a minor in speech communications;

• Worked in the corporate world as a Corporate tax accountant;

• Attended George Fox Evangelical Seminary pursuing an MA in Christian Education and

            Church leadership;

• Served on staff at Portland Christian Center as the Early Childhood Children's Pastor;

• Led and participated in many short-term missions trip;

• Endured many painful losses in her life including the loss of her brother in the Iraq war

       and her father in a car collision;

• Co-directed Kidz Romania national ministry team for thirteen years in Romania (2006-2019);

• Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies at AGTS;

• Currently preparing to expand ministry into Montenegro beginning in 2020

• Currently has many life goals she is pursuing (to run in a military marathon in honor of her brother who lost his life in Iraq war, learn Montenegrin language, complete Ph.D., pursue a dream to coach and mentor others who desire grow in personal development, and many more)

 

Tamara loves to weave her life story into God's grand narrative encouraging others to pursue Him no matter how difficult and challenging our life circumstances.  She also has a passion to see others fulfill life goals and dreams.  Are you looking to set some goals and make life transforming changes but need a little accountability and someone to walk you through the process then contact Tamara to discuss if she may help serve you in this area. 

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Fun Facts about Tamara

• Loves to run

• loves reading (between reading and audible books she has already gone through about 50 books in 2019)

• Favorite time of day:  early morning 5am wake up 

• Is an introvert and can be shy in some social settings

• loves both cats and dogs

• Favorite color: Hunter Green and Burgundy 

• Is an MK (no not missionary kid - military kid)

• Love language is quality time and words of affirmation

• Loves coffee (devotional time and coffee go together - I'm sure it's in the Bible somewhere :-) )

• Loves her hair (not in a prideful way, just very blessed with what she has received. 

• Knows how blessed she is and is thankful and content with her life and tries to live life to the fullest.

• Loves road trips.

• Loves the mountains

• Pistachio icecream is one of her weaknesses

• Has a variety of different genres on her music playlist...Including Christian heavy metal which she loves to run to.

• Is planning a "50 by 50" list.  50 things she wants to do by the time she turns 50.  This will begin on her 49th birthday november 2019. Follow her blog to hear more in the future. 

• Has a beautiful tattoo to depict God's strength and light in her life during her darkest and most difficult time in her life.  It has been used to share God's glory and His story of hope and healing. 

• Silly things that bring her joy:  book stores (and if there is a coffee shop even better) and office supply stores.

• She is not so much into material gifts.  Want to bless her, give her your time and presence. 

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...Anything else you want to know about Tamara? Ask and it just may make the list.

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