Hi! I am Tamika. I am a busy wife and mother of three, navigating the world in three cultures all at the same time. I am a Colorado girl who grew up and moved to Oklahoma, where I met and married my husband. He was born and raised in Poland. We have served together in some form of ministry for the past fourteen years. We currently live in Vienna, Austria where we minister to people all over Europe, concentrating on sharing the Bible with those who need it in their native language. We work for a non-profit called Eastern European Mission. I love the way God is using this ministry to bless and change the future of generations to come. I design the book covers and work as Publishing Assistant at EEM, as well as being a fitness trainer and raising a multicultural family. Our days are busy, but we are blessed. In my free time I blog here and here, paint, make jewelry, cook, and Bible journal. I could get lost for days word hunting in my Bible in an effort to connect deeper with the Father.
1. What is your favorite Bible verse?
Such a great question–one that never gets old. I have loved Psalm 86:11 since the first time it jumped off the page to me. I was a youth intern at my church and we were on a mission trip serving in a Children’s Home. I was reading the Living Bible. This version says “Tell me where you want me to go, and I will go there. May every fiber of my being unite in reverence to your Holy name.” At the time I was trying to discern what God wanted me to do in my life. I was trying to decide if I would move away to pursue ministry. This verse always reminds me that I need to take action to become who God created me to be. I need to abandon myself completely to the will of the Lord. Every fiber of my being, nothing left behind yearning for control. Simply running after the Lord with reckless abandon.
2. Who is the most relatable Bible character to me and why?
I have related to so many different people at different times in my life. One of the most unique I guess is the bleeding woman. You can find her story in Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34 and Luke 8:43-48. I relate to her because of her illness as well as the hope that she had. There is a six-year age difference between my two oldest children. That is because I had cancer in a pregnancy between them. It was rare and the treatment was meant to last 2 weeks. For 8 months I lived in the unknown. I had the best doctors and repeatedly hearing them say they didn’t know why treatment wasn’t working was discouraging. I even took experimental drugs. All the while I also experienced a scary hemorrhaging. I learned to rely on the Lord in small things and to trust that he alone could and would heal me. I was desperate for Him, yet at the same time confident that He was healing me. I experienced a peace I had never known before and have not experienced since. He held me in his hands, and gave me hope. So to answer the question, I guess I relate to her so much because in a hopeless situation I found hope in Christ alone.
3. What is your favorite easy go-to meal?
Tacos. We eat this once a week. Mexican Monday, Taco Tuesday/Thursday, Salsa Sunday/Saturday or Fiesta Friday.The whole family loves Mexican food! It is not easy to come by here and all I really need to do is brown and season some meat, prepare toppings, and serve with tortillas.
4. What are your hobbies?
I love to paint, draw, and create. I make jewelry, I Bible journal and I like to make up and explore recipes. I am generally happy when I am creating something. It calms and centers me.
5. What is your favorite TV show or movie?
Good question. I like crime, and fairytales I guess. So I am currently enjoying watching Grimm and Once Upon A Time. Stuff like that on Netflix. I like Breakfast at Tiffany’s, foreign films, and nature shows.
6. What is your favorite thing to do in your free time?
I love to hang out with my kids, but when I have time all to myself right now I spend it hand lettering and Bible journaling.
7. Who is your role model?
I have many mentors. I have kept a list of them and the things I have learned from them in my Bible for many years. God has blessed me with many spiritual mothers. Most of them I still have a relationship with. Women who point you to Jesus and stand near to support you on the journey. Mine are all over the world: Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Greece, Croatia, Poland, Ireland, Czech Republic, and in Austria too. I feel blessed.
8. Would you rather vacation at a mountain cabin or a beach house?
I am a Colorado girl. The mountains and I will always have a connection. Most of my first special moments with God were on a mountain. I will pick mountain cabin above beach every time. I just feel alive and connected to God there.
9. What is the best thing about you?
I think my ability to learn and adapt is one of the best things about me. I have a teachable spirit and it allows me to grow all the time. I need to do that. I am hungry to be a better person, and become who I was created to be.
10. What is one of your favorite books and/or what are you reading right now?
I love the book Captivating by Stasi Eldredge. I could read that book again and again. I am reading The Best Yes by Lysa Terkeurst right now.
- Remember Them as if You Were One of Them - April 27, 2018
- When You Feel Too Overwhelmed to Pray - April 5, 2018
- Five Ways to Encourage a Missionary - February 20, 2018
