Letisha Reimer remembered by fellow church members: 'she'll be forever in our hearts'
'In the midst of darkness, there's a lot of goodness & we're seeing people rise to the occasion,' says pastor
Vibrant. Vivacious. A person with a "zeal for life", who constantly worked to lift people up around her.
That was how Letisha Reimer, the 13-year-old girl fatally stabbed at her Abbotsford high school this week, was described by those in her church's community that knew her best.
"Letisha was a phenomenal person, and we just love her," said Mike Olynyk, the student ministries pastor at South Abbotsford Church.
"We miss her, and she will be forever in our hearts, because of how she connected each of us to her and each other," said Olynyk.
Reimer was one of two students stabbed on Nov. 1 at Abbotsford Senior Secondary School. The other, a 14-year-old girl, is recovering in hospital.
Since her death, a large memorial has grown outside the school, and a GoFundMe campaign created for the family has raised over $35,000.
Matt Ewert, the lead pastor at the church, says the way the community has rallied in the days since the attack has been inspiring.
"The story starts with a horrific tragic event. Some of the comments I hear, 'what's this world coming to', I get it, it's all true, but there's a lot of good still in the world," he said.
"In the midst of darkness, there's a lot of goodness, and we're seeing people rise to the occasion."
Selfless mentor for young people
Church leaders said Reimer was very active, teaching Sunday school and leading a girls' group at the church.
"When she came to youth events on a Thursday night, the energy she brought was just amazing. She laughed and the whole room laughed with her, because it was such a contagious laugh," said Olynyk.
"She danced and sang, and loved to make people feel a part of things."
"I'm amazed at the number of activities she was involved in. But it wasn't the number of activities she volunteered in that impressed me the most, it was the way she served," said Matt Dirks, a student leader.
"When she showed up to youth events, she brought positivity, joy and selflessness to what might be considered joyless tasks."
Ewert said it will take some time for the many young people Reimer mentored to understand what happened.
"In some ways, trying to explain it probably is the futile route to go," said Ewert.
"For us as people of faith, what do we anchor ourselves in when we don't understand? That's when we go back to holding on our faith ... what we really want to do is focus on telling them not what we can't explain even as adults, but what we do know."
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A public service will be held at the church at 10 a.m. PT Friday, while a candlelight vigil is being planned at the Secondary School at 7 p.m. PT.
"She is dearly missed," said Dirks.
"But we celebrate the time we were given with her, and know we will see her again."