By Kristina Flores-Muñoz, Children's Ministry Manager
Some people leave a mark on our lives that we don’t fully understand until years later. They walk alongside us through difficult seasons, speak words we carry long after the conversation ends, and help shape the people we become. For me, one of those people was Misha Lewis.
Misha passed away during COVID, but I still think about her every day. I wish she were still here. I would love to hear her laugh again or have one more conversation. But when I think of Misha, I feel more than the sadness of missing her. I feel an overwhelming gratitude that God placed her in my life and allowed her to shape my story.
I have a necklace that Misha had made. It reads, “Not about me, but His divine plan.” At the time, those words were a reminder of a greater purpose. Today, they mean even more to me. Misha helped me through some of the hardest seasons of my life. She always seemed to know exactly what to say, offering wisdom and encouragement when I needed it most. As I’ve grown older and my own faith has developed, I’ve come to understand those moments differently. I know the Holy Spirit was speaking through her. What I experienced as the wisdom of a mentor, I now recognize as God working through someone who was willing to show up for others.
Misha played a significant role in the beginning of my faith journey. She helped lead me toward a relationship with God, and that is a gift that continues to shape my life. Without her, I would not be where I am today.
Of course, some of my favorite memories have nothing to do with a difficult season or a life-changing conversation. I remember Misha taking us to Sushi Mido, which has since become my favorite sushi place. If you ever get the chance, you should definitely try it. I’m only a little biased, lol. Those are the kinds of memories that make me smile, because they remind me that a person’s legacy isn’t built only through the big moments. Sometimes it lives in the simple things we shared, the laughter we remember, and the places that will always mean a little more because of the people we associate with them.
One day, while looking through old photographs, I came across a picture of Misha at Mission Adelante. I stopped when I saw it. There she was, serving at the very place where I would eventually find myself working.
I couldn’t help but reflect on that connection. Someone who had already played such an important role in my life had been part of this community long before I joined it myself. Finding that picture felt like a beautiful reminder of how God can weave people and places together in ways we may not recognize until we look back. What initially seemed like an unexpected discovery became a moment of gratitude for the connections that have shaped my life.
I wish Misha had been given more time here with us. I wish I could tell her how much her mentorship has meant to me and how often I still think of her. Yet my faith brings me comfort in the midst of that longing. I believe her life was part of God’s divine plan, and I find peace in trusting that He had a purpose for her, even when I wish that purpose had included more years with us.
When I look at my necklace now, I think about how those words reflect the way Misha lived. Her influence reached beyond what she could see, and the seeds she planted continue to grow in the people she encouraged. I carry her lessons into my own life and work, hoping to offer others even a portion of the guidance and encouragement she gave me.
Misha, I wish you were still here. There are so many things I wish I could tell you, so many moments I wish I could share with you, and so many times I wish I could hear your advice one more time. But more than anything, I am grateful that you were here, that God allowed our paths to cross, and that I had the privilege of learning from you.
Sometimes I wonder if you knew just how much of an impact you were making. I hope you did. I hope you knew that the things you said, the time you gave, and the way you poured into others would stay with us long after those moments had passed. I wish you could see where I am today and know that part of how I got here is because of you. Although I cannot tell you these things in person, I pray that the way I live, the way I serve, and the way I pour into others can reflect even a small part of what you poured into me.
I will always miss you, but I will never stop being thankful for you. Your life continues to mean something to mine, and your influence is woven into parts of my story that will always belong to you. When I think of you, I am reminded that we may never fully see what God is doing through us or how far the seeds we plant will grow. You may not be here to witness all the lives you continue to touch, but your impact lives on in those of us who were blessed to know you. And every time I wear that necklace, I am reminded of the words that capture so much of what you taught me: not about me, but His divine plan.
Who is the Misha Lewis in your life?
Think of someone who helped shape you, encouraged you through a difficult season, or helped you see God in a new way. Take a moment to remember them, thank God for their life, and consider how you can carry their impact forward. And if you are blessed to still have them here, tell them what they mean to you. You never know how much your words might mean.