On December 18, 2016, I lost one of my close friends to a drug overdose.
I know this is an intense way to start a blog post, but this is something very heavy on my heart.
I was in Guatemala on a mission trip with my home church when I found out. We were in a little mall on our way to Zone 18, and I was at a Starbucks with wifi. I received the text that said, “Sami ____ is dead.” My heart sank so deep into my chest that my whole body went numb. I knew the kind of person he was, he was a sweet, friendly, kind, funny, loving, caring, and overall a great individual, but I also knew his heart.
His death made me realize how important it is to love on the lost, and help them find their way in Jesus. I hadn’t ever felt so convicted over something in my entire life. I had been living for Christ, but not to it’s full purpose. I was just going along with the motions. I wasn’t affecting peoples lives the way I should have been. Going on the race will change my life forever. It’ll help teach me the right ways to approach people, and love on them in ways I never thought imaginable.
The Lord has crazy ways of working in each of us. Even though I had to lose a friend to realize this, I’m glad that this calling was put on my heart. I want to reach lost people, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for me during these 9 months!
