Renew. Restore. Rejoice. A SafeHouse Ministries Podcast

Falling for the Bad Boy: Sammy's Story (Part 1)

• Phil Shuler

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Sammy was drawn to "the bad boy" and the particular boy she found was like a tornado of trouble from the beginning.  Sammy was not an addict herself but was deeply affected by addiction because the person she loved was an addict.  The boy turned man she will be speaking of is Josh Pezold, and if you haven't heard his story it aired on our podcast in four parts during October of 2024.  You'll love this episode with Sammy even if you haven't already heard Josh's story from last October, but if you go back and listen to the episodes with Josh first it will give you a much fuller picture of Sammy's story.  Enjoy!

Sammy:

We started dating, you know, going out steady, whatever you want to call it. Not just talking, pretty quick.

Phil:

Yeah, Why? What was the? I

Sammy:

don't know. Like, we just, it just kind of clicked, and he did have that bad boy thing. That kind of drew you in a little bit? Yeah, like, we were driving down the road, and there's a song by Three Smocky Wheres, The Bud. And he pulls it out, he's like, it's in my pocket. And I'm like, oh, I know. And you know, of course me, I'm like, oh, great. You know? I mean, I wasn't like, the perfect kid, but I wasn't Josh, by any means.

Phil Shuler:

HellO, and welcome to Renew, Restore, Rejoice, the Safe House Ministries podcast, where we share stories of the power of God to change lives through Safe House Ministries. Safe House Ministries is based out of Columbus, Georgia, and we are a ministry that exists to love and serve people who have been affected by addiction, homelessness, and incarceration. I'm your host, Phil Shuler, the Director of Development for Safe House Ministries here in Columbus, Georgia. Safe House serves over 1, 100 people each month as they transition back into our community. Safe House provides an abundance of services including 213 beds for homeless individuals and families, case management for obtaining job skills and long term employment. Over 300 hot meals every day, free clothing, and so much more. One of the most incredible services that Safe House provides is our free 9 12 month intensive outpatient substance abuse program, which is state licensed, CARF accredited, and has no wait list. Almost 100 percent of individuals staying in our shelters who follow our three phase program become fully employed within a few months. And 68 percent of individuals who stay at least one night with us End up finding work and moving into their own home. Thank you for being with us today and listening to our podcast. We hope you enjoy this week's episode.

Welcome to the Safe House Ministries Podcast. Today's episode is going to be a little bit different than our usual format, because today we have a special guest, Sammy Piesold, who is married to Josh Piesold, and we did about a four part podcast episode on Josh Piesold in October of last year, Josh has a crazy story right from the beginning of getting cast aside by his biological parents, falling into the depths of addiction and homelessness. In and out of rehab facilities, just crazy, crazy story of addiction and homelessness. And through all of that, from around early high school, he had a relationship with Sammy. She was not peas old at the time, but they became good friends. They dated on and off. And Sammy had a relationship with Josh over the years and really has a perspective that is very unique and helpful for us a perspective of being on the other side. Sammy has the perspective of being someone who loves and has a relationship. With someone who was going through craziness and addiction and darkness and Sammy's here today to share her story And her perspective of what things were like dealing with The crazy person. Until that person finally got the help that they needed and got sorted out, got clean, and started living in stability and victory, which is where Josh is today, and we're so excited for that. Sammy and Josh are expecting their first child and I am so excited to have Sammy here today because Sammy is going to give us just a unique perspective that I think we can learn so much from. And so with that, we're going to jump right in.

Phil:

Good morning. This morning on the podcast, I have Sammy Pezold and I'm so excited that Sammy is here. You can't see this because it's not on video, but your outfit actually your eye color perfectly matches your shirt. I just just realized that

Sammy:

That is

Phil:

so cool but Sammy is Married to Josh Pezold and Josh works with us at safe house ministries Josh has shared his story on our podcast the longest one ever. I think it was four Part episodes, Sammy said that did not surprise her at all. But Sammy has known Josh for a long time. And as most of the podcasts go, it is a person who has gone through the darkness, dealt with addiction, homelessness, destruction, and they have lived through that and made the wrong choices, gone in the wrong path. Sammy is here to be able to share a different kind of perspective with us because Sammy from early ages began a relationship with Josh and knew him over all of those years. And she'll be able to share with us just the other side of the coin, the other side of the picture, and what it's like to see someone go through that, to, to love someone and to have them. Make the wrong choices and do the wrong things and probably hurt you deeply and just repeatedly and I don't know, I just, I'm sure there's so many things you can teach us about forgiveness and wisdom and just, I don't even know, just relentless, relentless kindness in so many things, but Sammy, thank you for being here and really to kick off, I want to ask you the same question I ask everybody else. If there was one thing, one word, that might best describe you, what would that word be?

Sammy:

I would probably say loyal.

Phil:

Awesome, that's a good word. Loyal. That that's awesome. What do you mean when you say that?

Sammy:

I think my personality type, really. I'm type A. So once you're kind of like in that close knit, you stay there until I Guess you really really really have to mess up considering, you know,

Phil:

Wow

Sammy:

and marry Josh.

Phil:

Yeah Loyal. Well, no doubt just because of where you are being married to Josh. That is Probably the perfect word. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Like where'd you grow up? And what was your family life like?

Sammy:

So, I grew up in Columbus. Born and raised. I have my dad. Who I'm extremely close to my family. I still live four doors down from my dad right now. So we're, Josh and I are moving. It's very hard. And then I have my mom and she's married to my stepdad and they're currently living in Dubai. So this is the first time I've ever been away from my mom in 34 years. Wow. Yes, so I'm very very close to my family and My parents were divorced from the time I think I was two. Yeah. And so my stepdad has been in my life since I was seven. So I've had, you know, pretty constant parents in my life.

Phil:

Good relationship with both your parents?

Sammy:

Yeah. Yeah, yeah. I'm an only child. I have a stepsister, and but I grew up, you know, mainly as an only child. So, you know, I had a lot of cousins, but yeah, that's kind of my life.

Phil:

You grew up with your mom and your stepdad, like, living with them, but then you would spend a lot of time with your dad as well, or?

Sammy:

They had joint custody. Okay. So, six months, six months, every other weekend, every Wednesday, until about high school. That's whenever my stepdad was in the army and he was deployed a lot, and I would stay with my mom a little bit more, but, I mean, my relationship with my dad never changed. Okay. So.

Phil:

Yeah. Did you grow up in church?

Sammy:

Somewhat. I ventured a lot of churches in Columbus. I think growing up we went to maybe Evangel Temple, and then Christ Community, Cascade Hills, I went to Winbrook this kind of falls into when Josh and I got together, they were going to Winbrook, so we went there a lot, and then also like in high school they did, you know, like, the teen thing. So, I would go there.

Phil:

They did the teen thing? Who's they?

Sammy:

Winbrook.

Phil:

Okay. Oh, gotcha. Okay. So, how old were you when you first met Josh?

Sammy:

I was 15, is what he says. It's all a blur to me. And honestly, I, I have pregnancy brain right now. So, I'm How far along are you? Five months.

Phil:

I'm so excited. That's awesome.

Sammy:

Yeah, we're, we're very excited. But, it's big changes.

Phil:

Yes, it is. Wonderful changes and great blessings, but it's a big adjustment. Yeah. Yeah. Awesome. so you're around 15. Mm hmm. Sounds like you made a bigger impression on him than he made on you at first, at least.

Sammy:

I'm not good with ages. I mean, I forget how old I am. We met Through mutual friends. We had a lot of mutual friends that we didn't even know were. We went to two different high schools. I went to Columbus. He went to Northside. And I happened to be at a Northside football game with one of his friends. That was a mutual friend of someone else. Cause you know, I couldn't drive. And we took him home and we pulled up to his house and I was like, Whoa! What does this, like, what does his parents do? And the guy's like, he owns malls in Atlanta. I was like, I gotta get to know him. But we actually had a mutual best friend and his name was also Josh. So I just happened to ask, I was like, do you know this guy? He goes to Northside, he played, you know, you play soccer. He's like, yeah, that's my friend, you know? And I was like, how have we never really kind of crossed paths, but Considering his, you know, recreational time and my time were very different.

Phil:

Yeah, you had stability and a good home life and he had chaos from the beginning. I mean, his adopted parents were At that time,

Sammy:

no, that was Josh. That was, that was Josh. I mean, his parents, I mean, I met his mom. And she'll probably kill me for telling everybody this, but, like, I met his mom, we went to his house, so he could change shoes, and she was in his bathroom, in a bathrobe, changing a lightbulb. And I was like, hi, and she's like, you know, introduced herself, and I was like, well, this just isn't an appropriate place for all of us to be, because, you know, very, very blondie, you know, and Not to be in the bedroom together. Yeah. And I was like, okay. But no, I mean.

Phil:

That's, that's JoRe you're talking about. Yes, I, I

Sammy:

love his parents. They're, they're great, you know. So we've been, both been lucky with our in law situations. You know, I got his and he got mine.

Phil:

That's awesome. That's good. So that was the first time you met his mom. Yeah. And then but you, from early on, you're like, I want to get to know this guy. So what, what what did the early stages of that relationship look like?

Sammy:

I mean, it was high school, so it was so long ago. Yeah. I mean, I'm 34, so I mean, you know, everything is so important to you in high school. Yeah. Like, everything's earth shattering. And, you know, I was a cheerleader And then, I mean, we started dating, you know, going out steady, whatever you want to call it. Not just talking, pretty quick.

Phil:

Yeah, Why? What was the? I

Sammy:

don't know. Like, we just, it just kind of clicked, and he did have that bad boy thing. That kind of drew you in a little bit? Yeah, like, we were driving down the road, and there's a song by Three Smocky Wheres, The Bud. And he pulls it out, he's like, it's in my pocket. And I'm like, oh, I know. And you know, of course me, I'm like, oh, great. You know? I mean, I wasn't like, the perfect kid, but I wasn't Josh, by any means. So

Phil:

if you're hearing this podcast and you don't know, you gotta listen to Josh's story to be able to know what she's talking about. Like, when she says, I wasn't Josh.

Sammy:

Yeah, he he was colorful. I think he might have Already been getting kicked out of high school when we were together.

Phil:

Did that not scare you away? Or that kind of, I mean, like, what were you thinking? Like, when you're in your early stages of dating and

Sammy:

I guess it was just one of those things that I don't know, I mean I I guess I didn't care. It's not like I was gonna follow him. I was like, well, I'm not leaving. I mean, I went to school every day still.

Phil:

You're solidly just gonna do, do what you needed to do on your own. Oh, yeah. I

Sammy:

wasn't gonna pull that. I mean, my parents would kill me.

Phil:

Did your parents like Josh? Like, what was that dynamic? Oh

Sammy:

time to time. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. I mean, it's still funny to this day. Whenever, you know, he asked my dad to marry me my dad was shocked and we don't know why, but he was shocked. And then we went to dinner and he said, why him? You know, he had some choice words for Josh in high school. He, he was a punk.

background:

Yeah.

Sammy:

But you know, my dad, he wasn't like straight A student kind of person either. He just, he fended for himself in a lot of ways. And he, I mean, my dad dropped out of high school. I was My parents were 17 and 18 when they had me. So, yeah. So, my parents and I grew up together. I would say. Yeah. So, I mean, by the time at my age, my dad had a 17 year old. I was graduating high school. So, it's kind of crazy, you know. But, I mean, he would come over to the house. Josh would come over to the house in high school and he showed up at my house with a Trash bag full of clothes and his parents apparently told him like you follow rules or you get out You know, and you don't want to follow those rules So I was like, okay. Well, I guess I'll see you when I can. I mean I wasn't driving. He didn't have a car anymore

Phil:

Yeah,

Sammy:

so So he showed up at your

Phil:

house with a, just a bag of clothes, home, kind of

Sammy:

He was homeless, he was gonna go couch surf or whatever he wouldn't listen

Phil:

to his parents and

Sammy:

Oh no, Josh does not like to be controlled.

Phil:

What, did he ever stay at your house? No. Or were your parents like, no, you're not staying here? No, no, that

Sammy:

wasn't part of the deal, no. They weren't having that.

Phil:

Alright.

Sammy:

No. I don't really know where he went. I mean, high school, we were on and off. He went to I don't know. Rehabs and places, you know. I was still living, yeah. During high school, you were still finishing high school. I was still living my life, you know, I mean.

Phil:

Really? You dating other people in between, or?

Sammy:

Yeah, I mean, Josh was such a I'm not gonna say free spirit, but he was kind of Just, you never knew. Yeah. A wild card. That's probably a great way to say it. Yes, that was Josh, and you know, he would come back and You know, sometimes we would have, like, communication but he would come back, and this and that, and things would be good, and then, you know, things would happen, and he wasn't into anything hard, like, that I knew of, and he never really did anything around me. I mean, one time, we got caught smoking weed together, and I don't know how, my dad just called me and said, if Josh is going to smoke weed while you're in the car, Like he's got another thing coming. I'm like, where are you? And this is, you know, there's no tracking. There's no this, but it is Columbus, Georgia. And I was like, Oh my gosh. But

Phil:

how old were you at that point?

Sammy:

I don't, I don't know. I don't think I could drive. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I couldn't drive. I drove late. I was a junior by the time I got to drive. Cause I was the youngest in my class. So I think we finally like. Had a solid footing. We were going to church together on Sundays and hanging out. We went to the beach like his mom brought Me and my friend to the beach and then his friend from somewhere in Florida thought he Maybe a rehab wherever he was at.

background:

Yeah,

Sammy:

we all went to the beach and you know things were good and Homecoming my senior year. We, we finally made it to like homecoming. Yeah, so you guys are

Phil:

dating together during that time.

Sammy:

Yes, but I think after that, I mean, we didn't make the prom. He wasn't here. Wow. Yeah, I went with actually a friend of both of ours. To my senior prom.

Phil:

So he's in and out like because of his crazy Oh yeah. Addictions and in and out of rehabs And programs I mean his mom

Sammy:

would call me on him And I'd have to come over there and be like What is your problem? Like why are you being a jerk to your mom? Like I mean it was, it's such a Memory that I don't remember everything but Maybe if I was, like, under hypnosis, like, I could pull a lot of stuff out, but

Phil:

Did you ever have a little bit of influence over him? Like, like, talk to him, and then he'd be like, I'm sorry, I'm gonna, I'm sorry, Mom, I should do better, or I think

Sammy:

he would, somewhat, but, you know, Josh is gonna do what Josh wants to do. Yeah. Supposedly he listens to me now, but There's only so much We'll see how long that lasts, or how the

Phil:

track record, he's gotta build up some consistency with that. Yeah, he, I

Sammy:

mean But Josh was never, like, horrible to me. He was never, like, the mean guy. He was never the guy that was, I mean, you hear just about, I mean, the stuff he's done, or just, you know. But never to you. No. No. He was always respectful

Phil:

and

Sammy:

Yeah.

Phil:

Okay.

Sammy:

And he So,

Phil:

he, when he would leave and come back Like if maybe you had dated somebody else in the meantime, like would you always just kind of like immediately go back to him? Or sometimes

Sammy:

we weren't even really together. I mean,

Phil:

we're just friends had a relationship

Sammy:

Yeah, and then I think the last time was I had just graduated and I had my wisdom teeth out And, you know, I was just ready to have fun. I was like, here's this dude, like, gosh, he's just a pile of problems. And I'm like, I'm going to college. I'm, I'm just, and he showed up at my house and had someone else there.

Phil:

You had someone else there

Sammy:

just hanging out with me. I just had my wisdom teeth out. Yeah, dude. I don't, I don't need all this. I told him not to come and he came to bring me like flowers or something. And so then, you know, you feel horrible and I'm just like, but. You have done so much to me, and just caused so much angst in my life, I'm like, whatever. Well, I mean, that guy that I was seeing then was worse than Josh, and I just didn't know.

Phil:

Oh, wow.

Sammy:

I know. I'm like, how did this happen?

Phil:

So you were kind of drawn to lots of bad boys.

Sammy:

I didn't know that he was. I met him at a party night of graduation.

background:

Wow.

Sammy:

And I'm like, what are he was older than I thought. I'm like, what are you doing at a high school party? Like, this is So he wasn't, he was beyond high school. No, I was 17 and he was 23

Phil:

he just wanted to crash the high school party. I

Sammy:

guess, he was with a couple of people and, you know, I had my best friend who had just told me she was like pregnant that day, who we're still best friends now, and she's pregnant again. Wow. Yeah, so we are pregnant together. That's exciting. This time. But Yeah, I met this guy and, you know, I was like, you know what? I'm just tired of the roller coaster. And Josh and I kind of lost touch. That's when he ended up with a girl named Ann. Okay. Who was Jordan's mother. Yeah. And she became a problem of my life. Because when I guess we were 16 or 17, Josh gave me a promise ring. And she wanted that ring from me. Which I'm like, why? Like, and I'm assuming it was for drugs.

Phil:

Like to sell it?

Sammy:

Yeah, he's, she's, she called me, she's like, Pezold wants his ring back. I said, well you know what? You can let him call me and tell me that. So I called his mom. Cause I still had some contact with her.

Phil:

How old were you at that point?

Sammy:

I was 17 when I graduated, so 17 to 18.

Phil:

Okay, and that's when Anne was calling you.

Sammy:

Mm hmm. Wow. Yeah, she wanted, I was like, So you called Joe Reed? But the worst part was, the guy that I was seeing had stole the ring from me. Wow! Yes, I had to go buy it back from the pawn shop. Wow! And I didn't want to tell my parents, I didn't want my parents involved, because I was like, I have screwed up, you know? And this guy had stole tons from me.

background:

And I

Sammy:

didn't know at first that it was him. I was like, I was working at Country Thought from Countries from the time I was 16 until I graduated college. But money would just go missing, and this would go missing, and his parents came to me and finally said, Is something, like are things going missing around you? And at that point I was like, alright, I'm done. Never talk to him again.

background:

Wow.

Sammy:

Yeah, so. But yeah, I was like, well I can't even give you the ring cause, you know, I don't even know where it is. That's so crazy. It is. It really is. And so after that, I mean, I went through college and I Where'd you

Phil:

graduate?

Sammy:

I went to Columbus State. Okay. And we had still mutual friends. But we just had like different relationships with them all.

background:

Yeah. Like,

Sammy:

he had friends that he would stay over there. But I was friends with him because I, I worked with the girl, like, of the couple, like, I would work with her, and then we'd go over there and, you know, they'd have parties over there and whatnot. So you

Phil:

would see him, like

Sammy:

I wouldn't even see him, like, we never, like, crossed paths, but we had, like, this group that I knew still had contact with him.

background:

Okay.

Sammy:

You know, sometimes I would ask about him, or this and that, and then one of his, he was actually in our wedding I still would talk to him and we would hang out like in group settings. Like it was never anything like, let's get together. It was like, Oh, we went out and I did some spiteful stuff. I took a picture of all of us and send it to Josh. And I was like, Oh, only one person missing here, huh? You know, and

Phil:

So did you, you still kind of communicated here and there?

Sammy:

Oh yeah, But, there was one time that I had a friend say, hey come to Cougar Village we're gonna go, like, we're having a party. I was like, no, I just don't feel like it. It was like in the middle of the day. And he's like, peasled here, he's like, alright, I'm coming. You know? Just to go, I mean, we had not spoke, we hadn't anything. It was just kind of like Just to see him.

Phil:

Yeah, and you were in college at this point.

Sammy:

Yeah, and I mean, I had a boyfriend too, so, I just kind of went over there and, just, there's always something, cause it's like I always wanted to know what he was doing. Yeah. And then, I mean, we really lost touch, I mean, I think he was like in Texas, and here, and there, and everywhere, and

Phil:

He's been a lot of places. Yeah,

Sammy:

I mean I never thought I would see him again. I was with somebody. I actually was engaged to somebody else. Yes. So, by the time I graduated college, I had, I was engaged. And that fell through. So, don't have that one. But, I, when was it? I was at a softball game or something, and I posted a picture, and Josh commented like, Oh, what's a Georgia girl doing some like, it was like a Auburn or something. And I was like, he just keeps popping up, doesn't he? Every time. And I mean, that was, that wasn't anything. I mean, then it took a couple more years and you know, then I found out like from a mutual acquaintance, like just, I was at a, a concert and a guy walks by, he's like, You'll never guess who I was. I saw him in jail the other day. I'm like, Who? He's like, he's old. I was like, What did he do? Because in high school, he was arrested in Atlanta.

background:

Yeah.

Sammy:

Yeah, that was fun. I get that phone call and he's like, well, I'm just gonna take the tr I'm like, are you stupid? Like, why, why are you, why are you taking the fall for everything? I'm like, stop being dumb. So I'm like, on the phone with his mom. Like, And, you know, you don't want your own parents to know. Like, come on, I mean, saying everything in conjunction, you really sound like you're like, girl,

background:

what were you

Sammy:

thinking? And that was just minor stuff back then. And then I was out of college, you know, I already had a job, and we had, I had a message from someone that was like Hey, Pezold wants to see you, or something, and I'm like, well, if he wants to, he can man up and call, like, message me himself.

Phil:

That's, it gets interesting. Oh, yeah. When maybe he was afraid that you wouldn't respond if he did, or Yeah,

Sammy:

I'm like, oh, against his little ego, you know, can't hurt that. And I was, so then he messaged me, he's like, alright, well here it is, blah, blah, blah. And we ended up going to dinner and it was actually New Year's Eve. And he, we went to dinner, and he ordered Tilapia, but he says tilapia. And I'm like, oh no, oh no, no, no, I can't do this. We went to like dinner and a movie and I was like, OK, well, I'm going to go over to my friend's house like we're going to go out for the night. And he's like, OK, you know, and we had some communication back and forth. But I guess that kind of dissed him. And yeah, yeah,

Phil:

he was mad or he was.

Sammy:

Well, you know, he probably expected full on I'm gonna invite you and we're gonna get back together, you know, that's that's Josh.

background:

Yeah.

Sammy:

But we talked a little bit, but it wasn't anything serious. I mean he was like Working at CrossFit. He was a janitor there. He was living at the Grace house at the time And just kind of like, he kind of laid everything out, like, I just got out of jail for this and that, and I'm just like, oh, okay, you know, like, I've already bought a condo um, I have, like, my own life, I have a job, like, a career, cool, glad you're doing this, and he, I guess, started seeing maybe somebody else, and I was at sacrifice, he At CrossFit picking something up and I saw him and he was so happy and just waved to me and I looked at him and kind of gave him like the head nod, I'm like, no, like, we're not doing this, like, no, no, no and I guess things fell through for them, clearly, but I think the guy reached back out to me or something or Josh and we ended up starting to like really talk and see each other again and Telling my parents was the hardest part, because I was like, gosh how am I going to explain this? You know?

Phil:

Wow, I'm sure, yeah. I mean, I'm an

Sammy:

adult at this time, you know, I don't have to I mean, I think I was probably, maybe 20 something. I'm trying to remember. Yeah. It's been years, so I had to be in my 20s. So, were you ever like My later 20s.

Phil:

Did he ever turn to you to like help him at certain other times over the Not

Sammy:

until we really started, like, as an adult.

Phil:

Okay. So now you're, you're, you're grown, you're an adult, you're on your own, and Josh is back in the picture, and you gotta tell your parents? Yes. How'd that go?

Sammy:

Well, my mom, she was a little more open to it. And, I mean, my dad, like, he really didn't care for him. He thought he was a punk. And, you know, high school and stuff, and, you know, he's just your dad. Yeah. He's so protective. But your dad

Phil:

was like, you can make your own decisions, but here's what I think kind of thing. So

Sammy:

Josh started coming back around, and we started dating, and like our first kind of like official thing was like Easter, so it was like March, April, and I went out of town. And that's when he relapsed. And that was like, August, September time frame.

background:

Yeah.

Sammy:

And, you don't want to think it, you don't want to see it and you really don't want anybody to know and, I just started questioning a lot of stuff. And it went pretty, it was pretty fast. It was a, a decline. And he was living In Grove Park. Apartments and I just I think I don't think he had to go anywhere. I think he was in, He was in connection with Neil still. And, He tried to like, detox at home. And I just remember messaging Neil like, What's gonna happen to us? Like, what do we do? Because,

Phil:

Like you and Josh and your relationship?

Sammy:

Mm hmm. I mean. Here's this guy that, he's already relapsed, and you know, he just, he's only been clean like he was out of jail, and this and that, and he wasn't, you know, doing his epsom. I didn't know anything about, I mean, addiction in that sense. I didn't go to Al Anon. I've actually never been to Al Anon.

Phil:

Al Anon? What's, what is Al Anon?

Sammy:

It's like for the families of like, Alcoholic Anonymous. Okay. I went to an N. A. meeting on accident. Yes, I was trying to go to the Al Anon, I guess. Okay. And it was in the same building, same time. And I went into a room, and I walked in, and I sat down, and I was sitting there, and they hand me, you know, paper. I was like, oh no, like, I'm not an addict. And people were like, okay. And I'm like, no. Like, I'm, I'm really not. And I have a girl come give me her number, and like, this guy just kept staring at me. I'm like, bro, I am not the one. Like, I already got one. Like, I don't need another. And finally I look at this guy and it's like, I think his name was Joe? And I said, you know Josh. He's like, yes, you shouldn't be here. I said, I know. And they bring me down the hall. So I'm already like, emotionally spent at this time. And to an Al Anon meeting. I'm like, oh gosh, I gotta spend more time here. I was like, you know what? It might be for some people, but like I don't need to hear about everyone else's Problems of like what what's happened with them and their loved ones and then I have people hugging me I'm like, please do not touch me. Oh my like really don't want you to touch me So I got people touching me and hugging me and I'm like

background:

Wow.

Sammy:

I was like, this is the worst experience of my life and you know, I, I know people go and they give them comfort, but I just, that's not my personality. I'm like, no, I don't, I don't need to hear like the worst case scenarios. Cause, I'm seeing worst case scenario with Josh.

And that is the end of part one of Sammy's story, and I hope you enjoyed that this morning. I really did. next week you're going to hear how things got even worse and the distress and the darkness and the craziness. And it will be really amazing as you hear just how Sammy navigated that, having that relationship with someone who is Diving into the depths of addiction and the struggle and the things that that person would do. I think you're going to really enjoy it. So be sure to be back next week. God bless you. And I hope you have a wonderful, wonderful week for the rest of this week. We'll be back soon

Phil Shuler:

We look forward to being with you again next week as we share another testimony about the power and the goodness of God to change lives through Safe House Ministries. if you are someone listening to this podcast that loves to hear these stories of the great things that God is doing in changing people's lives for the better, and if you would like to be a part of that work, please reach out to us You can reach us at 2101 Hamilton Road, Columbus, Georgia, 31,904. You can call us at seven oh six three two two. 3 7, 7 3, or you can email us at info@safehouse-ministries.com.

Microphone (Samson Q2U Microphone)-2:

Thank you so much for being with us this week for the renew restore and rejoice podcast of safe house ministries, we pray that God will bless you this week. And we look forward to having you back with us again next week for a new episode.