05/20/2026
We asked Abbie, a 2025 Summer Volunteer, some things she took away with her after spending a summer serving in Clarkston. Here’s what she said:
“My summer with Send Relief Atlanta impacted me greatly by increasing my love for the local church, missions, God’s word, and God’s heart for the nations. While I was in Clarkston each week Send Relief would give a challenge to the team that was serving with them for the week. The challenge came from the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 when Jesus said, “You go, and do likewise.” During my last week in Clarkston I thought and prayed about how I would “do likewise” in my hometown and college campus. One thing that God taught me in Clarkston was to be comfortable in uncomfortable places for the sake of the gospel. As I came back to my hometown and school I was praying and looking for ways to be intentional in this. One door that God opened was an opportunity to begin teaching an adult English class through a nonprofit that serves refugees. This was uncomfortable at first because it was new for me, but God has been gracious to use the ESL class as a means for building relationships to share the gospel with people from all over the world.
Another way my time with Send Relief impacted me is by teaching me to have a greater eternal mindset by living both intentionally and sacrificially. Whether it is in my classes, the grocery store, or walking on campus I know that there are opportunities to display the gospel of grace to the people around me. Ephesians 3:14-21 are some encouraging verses for me to know that God is “able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us…”. It is not my good deeds that draw people to Jesus, but the Holy Spirit that lives inside of me!”
We are so grateful to have had Abbie spend her summer with us last year, and we are even more grateful that she still continues to live on mission in her city!
