got purpose?
Sometimes I ask myself why I’m living in Los Angeles. I’ve been here 25 years now, all of my married life. But this question comes up at times when I’m driving in crazy stop-and-go traffic, or when I can see the air in front of me but can’t see the foothills, or when I hear the police siren whiz by for the umpteenth time, or when I miss my parents (who live 6 hours away). Yet, L.A. is a gateway to the world, with people from over 103 countries choosing to live here. It has culture, wonderful weather, beaches, mountains, and lots of interesting things to do. Is this why I’m living in L.A.? It all goes back to several key events in my life.
First, I came down to Riverside to attend college, which got me close in proximity to L.A. That is where I met Dave. So, when he proposed to me 3 years later, he explained that God had called him to Los Angeles, and he asked if I would join him in reaching people in LA for Jesus? I loved Dave, and decided to join him in this vast vision and effort. Through the years, my purpose has remained constant, but the ways I’ve reached that purpose have varied … from playing the keyboard in bands, to joining with other moms in helping each other raise our kids in L.A., to helping women get connected in mentoring friendships, to just chatting together over coffee. God had a purpose for every season of my life.
A second key factor that has kept me in L.A. is the loving heart of Mosaic community. As I met so many different women through the various stages of my life, I found true friendship in whatever I was going through. There were times when a friend would reach out to me, but other times when I needed to take the initiative and reach out … but I always found a kindred spirit in being a woman of L.A. One friend I met, who moved here from out of state, found her purpose in working with junior high ministry; another friend found her purpose dancing with our Mosaic team; another found her purpose in helping inner city kids in a summer camp; and yet another in helping at a battered women’s shelter; the list goes on in multiple ways.
SHE Community is a band of women that I am glad to be a part of — women who dare to serve with courage, open hearts, and sleeves rolled up, ready to help; to reach out to those from every walk of life in Los Angeles — the rich and the poor, the foreigner and the Angelina, the old and the young. We are a force of love, bringing hope and faith to L.A. This is why I’m here in L.A., in a place I really didn’t want to be in the first place, but am so glad I’m here now! God brought me here for reasons I’ll probably never know, until I see Him face to face, and see my fellow Angelinas right behind Him.
What is your purpose? What is your calling? God has you in Los Angeles for a reason. Join arm-in-arm with me — and SHE Community — as we give of our lives to women of Los Angeles, so they can see and hear the good news of Jesus, embrace Him, and live lives of purpose, too!
Tami loves spending time with her husband and 4 daughters; enjoys hanging out with women, sharing heart-to-heart and laughing together; and loves Jesus most of all!
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