My life journey from Matala, Sri Lanka, to Gbarnga/Monrovia Liberia, and back to Colombo Sri Lanka
Bio: My name is Kanagasbai UmaShankar (go by Uma). I was born in Matale, Sri Lanka, to a Tamil Hindu family but was forced to escape due to the ethnic genocide early in my life while still being an infant. My family and I found refuge in Liberia, where I grew up through my early teenage years. In Liberia, upon turning 13 years of age, I survived a series of Civil wars and unrest, which led me to escape from Liberia back to Sri Lanka. Despite the civil unrest in both countries, I spent the next six years going back and forth between countries trying to find normalcy in life. Finally, when I was 21 years old, I came to the US on a student Visa to attend Concordia University in Portland, OR. At Concordia, I came to understand the saving grace of Christ and became a Christian my sophomore year. Since that moment, I have witnessed my Savior Jesus Christ to the world every day. I completed my basic degree in Science and added a Post – Bacc in Director of Christian Education. I spent ten years as a DCE in two congregations (Christ Our Redeemer in Sandpoint, Idaho, and Trinity Lutheran Church in Hillsboro, Oregon) in the NW and then chose to change course and became a high school teacher/coach. I have spent the last 11years teaching, first in WA (Mount Rainier Lutheran HS) and now in Texas (Concordia Lutheran High School). I have been married to my beautiful bride Toni Raye for almost 21 years, and we have three incredible sons, AviLashan Jonah (21) Arujun Kristoffer (18), and Aashwin Larson (15).
Youth and adult sessions recorded at the 2022 LCMS Youth Gathering in Houston, Texas. For more information about the Gathering, visit www.lcmsgathering.com.
