ON 17TH JUNE 1980, Teera crossed Oceans to find solace for her and her family in a faraway away land.
Through continuous turmoil, she managed to stay in her job at Browns group for 17 years until she had no choice but, quit and flee from paradise island called Srilanka and start a new life in the United States’ the land of freedom and opportunity.
For a while it seemed like the task of finding a job and getting on her feet would be impossible to accomplish.
Her feelings of anxiety and inadequacy held her back and were hard not to come off as desperate during interviews.
Teera bounced around to all sorts of different odd jobs from housekeeping to hospice care.
Finally, she got a job offer as an administrative assistant in a company named Executive trading in Los Angeles, California.
Before long Teera found herself her first apartment in Hollywood and moved on the 31st May 1981 and it happened to be the day of her 17th wedding anniversary. It was liberating for Teera to have the Freedom to have a place call her own after so many years.
Her life was nearly perfect until the night her husband was violently murdered in the middle of the night while they lay in bed sleeping. The assailant attempted to kill her, but she survived. Devastated by loss and scarred for life with a gruesome facial wound, her infants still to care for Teera learned to endure and carry on.
Everything was perfect and she was so hopeful about the new chapter in her life and was excited to reunite with her 3 children shortly.
Teera felt like she was on top of the world.
Sadly three days later she got a lay off notice from the job. She was panic-stricken and devastated.When she got home that gloomy evening it really did feel like the end of the world. ‘Why so many struggles God? She prayed, Why so many tests? Pitfalls on the way when least expected. Her courage was shattered, but soon she realized she was not alone in this journey because many came to her rescue and assistance and shortly Teera found employment at Los angles Medical center and started the new job on the 17th July 1981.
A year later she reunited with her two sons and the void was filled On Valentine’s day 1983 as she and her sons had the joy of reuniting with her precious daughter, their loving caring beautiful sister.
it certainly was a day to call a true Valentine’s day for the reunited family. Their home was filled with love! peace and tranquility! As they were blessed to live under one roof after so many painful years of separation. An enormous Triumph!
A desperate mother’s humble wish came true. The answer to her prayer was granted!
What a difference Faith makes.
After her children grew up and moved on, Teera felt like there had to be more to her life. More to be done!. She kept waking up and thinking to herself ‘what is her next assignment? What is that God wants her to do?
Teera felt indebted to all those who had helped her on the way. She realized it was her time to give back.
She remembered The Welcome House. They needed help more than anyone did. They saved her life and helped her get back on her feet. Their whole operation depends on the generosity of those who are in a position to give. She raised funds for the last 17 years to support them and the scholarships fund program for prison inmates children.
Teera finds inspiration in the talent she sees in people and never misses the opportunity to encourage them to follow their dreams. Most importantly children to live up to their potential and take small steps to big dreams and to trust in the plan of the God of the Universe and never give up Hope.
On her daughter’s request, she wrote her life story.
Her co-author Patrick Meissner was introduced to her on the 17th June 2010. Exactly 30 years the day she fled from her homeland.
Fr. Tom Allender S.J who is the founder of Lifes journey ministry read the story she wrote and introduced the 22-year-old Patrick Meissner who had just recently graduated from Loyola Mary-mount University to help her tell her story – A good read!
Her memoir was published on the 22nd February 2015.
She moved to Los Angeles on the 17th June and continued writing the follow up on her story with the title Divine connections which is in the process.
She is also working on a short story book with the title “who am I to Judge” Many interesting events lead her to come up with the title.
Teera got out of her comfort zone and set up Oceans 17 nonprofit organization to help many more in need and so grateful to those who supported and encouraged and made it happen.
Amazingly all the assistance she needed to set up oceans 17th were lined up at the perfect TIME.
During her life’s journey, she learned there is a TIME for everything in our lives.