My name is Samantha Russell, but you can call me Sammi!
This is my very first Odyssey article, {eeeeeeekk!!!!} and I wanted you to have the chance to get to know a little bit about the person writing.
My name is Sammi. I am twenty-two years old. I am a member of the sorority Alpha Gamma Delta and I attend Auburn University at Montgomery. That was simple. Right? Well, I know some of you are still thinking, “Well, that does not tell me much about you. Especially if you are the person claiming, ‘I want to be a voice for those too afraid to speak…’ Uhm, excuse me?! Did I ASK you to be my voice?”
Well no, but I know exactly what it’s like to need one and I want to be yours if you’ll allow me. In my twenty-two years of life, the Lord has lead me through a lot. Though I did not know my Protector until I was eighteen years old, when we met and my eyes were opened, He showed me how He was there from the very beginning. He also gave me a voice I never had before. He took away every fear so that I might have the strength to even start writing about the tough stuff, and I am already SO excited to share it all with you when the time comes. But before I become a voice for you… I have a declaration of what choosingjoy is going to be for you.
So friends, here is choosingjoy’s mission statement, for me to be held accountable as your voice.
This is a place for your voice to be heard.
For you who have walked through mental illness, and have had people tell you mental illness is not real, or called you crazy, a liar, over dramatic, a drama queen, or an attention seeker. This is a place for you, you who have walked through heartache after falling in love and are trying to learn to love again. This is a place for you, you who have the most amazing best friends in the universe and want to talk about them all day long. For you college student, you who work your butt off just to get a passing grade, while it seems everyone else is breezing by. For you colligate Greek organization member, for people to hear the ups, downs, and magical adventure of what being in a fraternity or sorority is REALLY like. This is for you, you who are growing, learning, and just trying to figure how this whole life thing works. This is for you; you who believe Jesus lived, died, and rose again to save us from our sins. For you as you grow in faith and through trials. This is your place. My prayer as I begin writing for this blog is to be as vulnerable as possible, sharing every step of this life with honesty, transparency, and love. The only way this will happen is if the Lord remains my strength, and gives me courage. This being said, 2 Corinthians 12:9 has been placed on my heart to be our banner. “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Whoa. I get to boast in my weakness, and Jesus’ power will rest on me, on you! Crazy. So let’s get this party started! Thank you for joining me on this journey, and I ask for your prayers in this. I am humbled and encouraged be to be given this opportunity.
Much love. Many Blessings.
SammiBelle
