Welcome!!
Here’s where you can learn all about me, who I am as an individual, and how I got to where I am today:)
My name is.. Abby Strickland.
The BASICS:
I’m 18 years old. A daughter to two encouraging parents, a sister to three younger brothers, and a forever friend to all I come in contact with. I’m currently a senior residing in Duluth, GA and attending Northview High School. On Sundays I attend Perimeter Church with my family and friends. In my free time besides hanging with friends I enjoy reading, watching TV shows, or watching the sunset in the parking lot of my high school. I played Basketball my freshmen and sophomore year. Participated in Track and Field in the 400m, long jump, and triple jump my sophomore and junior year. I’m uncertain what is in store for me this upcoming year. Possibility Lacrosse or another season of Track and Field.
My PASSION:
My heart is one that cares deeply for others. My desire in life is to chase after the hearts of those who are hurting and bring comfort to those whose soul’s are being crushed under the burdens of this life. I went on a mission trip the summer of 2016 to Haiti. It was on this trip when I realized how I specifically wanted to hone in my passion for others by focusing solely on bringing light to the lives of children who found themselves in unthinkable situations. While on this trip I also was able to experience the joy of a simple life. Because where I went, the children who ran up to me had bellies grumbling with hunger, parched throats from the water they never had, tattered clothes, week old open wounds, and were living in shacks smaller than my bedroom. Yet their joy which shown across their face through their smiles and laughter was a joy that was far greater than I’d ever witnessed before. This experience led me to desire and want to chase after a life of simplicity. The mix of wanting to help children and live a life of simplicity lead me to wanting to become a missionary.
My CHILDHOOD:
I was born in Georgia and spent my childhood living in a house in Johns Creek. My days were filled with school, adventures outdoors, practicing soccer, running to ballet practice, dashing to horseback riding lessons, hanging with my friends, church on Sundays, and family time. My father owned his own business and worked along side my mom as they photographed weddings, took engagement pictures, and everything in between. My Grandma on my mom’s side was a major part in my life due to the fact she was a primary caregiver of mine since my parents seemed to always be gone working. The days my Grandma wasn’t there I had a nanny who looked after me. Once my little brother Jonathan was born my mom stopped working and decided to become a stay at home mom. This led to my parents deciding to home school my brother and I.
Over the next couple years we traveled often seeing many different places within the States and I was able to experience the life of an entrepreneur first hand through watching my dad’s everyday life. At the age of seven and after attending North Point Community Church since before I was even a year old I gave my life to Christ. This moment will be one that sticks with me for the rest of my life and until the day I die. Because the moment I accepted Jesus into my life I felt the happiest I’d felt and I still remember the feeling of true love filling my sinful heart.
A couple years after this day, my family I moved up to Illinois. My father’s business was experiencing some trouble and he was forced to take a job up there. It was one of the most brutal periods in my life because of our lack of community and the fact that I was smack dab in the middle of my 5th grade school year about to enter into middle school. After a couple years, many trying experiences, several brutal arguments, and a few glimpses of love and laughter within our family, we moved back to Georgia. Within the time I lived in Illinois I had completely forgotten about the love I’d experienced that day I’d accepted Jesus into my life. I was a girl who angry, mad, and hateful towards anyone who exhibited the love and light I’d once had gleaming from within me. Little did I know this move back to Georgia would be the start of God rekindling the fire within my soul for Him.
Moving back to Georgia placed me into a community whose hearts and minds were steadfast on the Lord. I entered into Transit which is the middle school program at North Point Community Church. It was here where I would met the woman who would impact my life forever. I was placed into one of the most loving small groups who had the kindest high school leader out there. She took time to invest in me, love on me even when I was brutally mean to her, and was willing to talk for hours as I processed what it meant to live a life that was Christ-centered. By the time middle school was over and the end of my freshmen year, I had been transformed into a completely new person. I had a heart for Jesus, a passion He’d placed within my heart burning in my soul, and a heart knowledge of all He’d done for me.
