Dear Disa,
Oh, girl. Heartbroken doesn’t begin to describe my feelings over the past 4 days since I heard of your death.
While I know we did not know each other well, I felt so connected to you. Our Skype interview in May 2017 formed a bond between us in my heart. We had such similar backgrounds and struggles that I felt like we had been friends forever. I guess you just have that effect on people. You were so loving and welcoming, everyone felt like your friend. That was the Jesus in you.
Back in October, I began to feel a burden in my heart for you. I reached out to my contacts for you with no response. So, I did all I knew to do: I prayed. I began to to pray for you each morning as I was driving into work. Last month I felt the burden again. I mentioned it to my husband.
Then April 19 happened. My husband called my cell phone while I had students. “I wanted you to hear it from me first,” he said. “Mandisa died last night.”
Time stopped.
I can’t imagine how your family felt. You loved them so much.
You loved so much. That was the Jesus in you.
Jesus used your music to save my life. I am sure I am not alone in that. The Jesus in you came through your music and touched my heart. It reminded me of the Jesus I had known since I was a child. The Jesus that had been faithful through everything life had thrown my way.
Disa, you are now seeing first hand everything you sang about. You are standing, hands raised, at the feet of our Savior, singing praises to him face to face. I’m pretty sure my mom is right next to you.
My students were concerned after I got off the phone with my husband. I told them that a friend had died. The first song that came to my mind was Face2Face. You are living that out now.
Thank you, Disa. Thank you for sharing the Jesus in you. Thank you for allowing Jesus to use you to touch so many of us. Thank you for following Jesus’ leading for your life. You were very open about things that many people didn’t want to be open about. Thank you for setting a new precedent.
Thank you for being you, Disa.
You will be missed. So very much.
You have run your race. You have passed the baton. I pray the rest of us can keep up with your pace. Rest now, and save me a spot with you before the throne.
Your sister in Christ,
Aletheia
Skype interview with Mandisa in 2017
adleavitt 