“My name is Abbey and I grew up in a loving Christian family. However, at the age of 9, I started to be sexually abused by a relative. As a result, I hardened my heart towards God and struggled with an eating disorder. I fell into a pit of hopelessness and began using drugs and alcohol as an escape. After finding out I was pregnant and miscarrying, I wrote a letter to my parents, crying out for help.
They searched for a program for me, and found Springboard. I walked through the doors with every intention of not changing my beliefs about God, but the program wasn’t what I expected. I was immediately shown God’s love through the staff, I learned about having a personal relationship with God in the classroom, and I worked through my root issues in counseling. I accepted Jesus into my heart and for the first time felt like I had a purpose. I knew then that I had a passion and desire to help people.
After interning for 6 months at Teen Challenge, I am now embarking on a 9 month mission trip to Guatemala, Thailand, Malaysia, and Swaziland. I am overjoyed to have the opportunity to share the love of God with others and watch as they experience the same restoration I did when I began having a relationship with Jesus.”
