Friend! Family! Brother! Sister! Mentor! Loved ones!
Where has time flown? How is it almost mid 2021? Why has it been this long since I’ve written a blog with a juicy life update? How come there are so many demands in life, where if not careful, we can get all caught up and tangled, overwhelmed, drained, and tapped out? & why is the Lord so gracious, merciful, full of goodness and agape love, especially in the times we feel we least deserve it?
This year has been another year for the books, let me tell ya! I’ve got a few updates for you & an opportunity to partner with me in something I find very special, near and dear to my heart. Here we GOOO!
2019 was a whirlwind full of gigantic ups and downs. At one point, I found myself clinically depressed, wrestling to get out of bed everyday, fighting to hold back tears hour by hour.
2020 came around and I found the Lord taking me from what felt like a measure of a pit of despair to the sweetness of community that became family, a stronger foundation in the Lord, and a more mature understanding of what it meant to do my best to suffer well, no matter how long that “suffering” lasted.
In mid 2020 I started working at a unique social work ministry organization called Doors of Hope. Here at Doors of Hope, I work as a social worker/life skills coach, participating in all kinds of emotional, mental, and spiritual supportive services for individuals and families. Everyday is different, some days more heavy than others, but I have a team of 5 amazing individuals who dedicate their lives to bringing hope into many individuals and families that are in crisis situations, homeless, facing the destructive cycles of poverty, and so much more. We are encouraged to share the gospel with our clients, which has been so life-giving to have the honor of doing! This is heavy work, but the reward of it is so so great.
In addition to this, I am currently finishing a masters in social work degree, which will allow me to pursue therapy/counseling as a career path moving forward. June 22, 2021 is my last class, WAHOOO! The Lord also provided an employment opportunity at a faith based counseling practice, where they actually encourage therapists to share the gospel with clients, which I am SO stoked about, too. I will be starting this practice sometime this summer or early fall. Just WOW!
ALSO — I just recently adopted a dog named Ruby (boxer mix) from the animal shelter a couple weeks ago. I am hoping to eventually train her into a therapy dog, praying that she would be a blessing to those around. I want her to be a dog for the communities I am blessed to have, one that brings comfort and companionship! So far, she’s been an AWESOME evangelist, cuddle cutie, and adventure buddy!
Starting June 12th, 2021, I will be having a refugee/unaccompanied minor from Guatemala living with me in Holland Michigan, where she will be going to Highschool, getting involved with wonderful community, and living life side by side with a couple of friends and myself. I am so excited and honored the Lord would provide an opportunity like this for me to embrace. I feel this is going to be incredible, tough, and absolutely beautiful at the same time. Nathali is her name! Please see the attached photo of her (the one with dark brown hair! The others are my current housemates). I will also be learning ALOT of Spanish, as Nathali hardly speaks any English!
I am so excited to have this opportunity to pour into Nathali this next year as well as learn from her so much too. I have decided to raise financial support for some of Nathali’s living expenses, as rent for her will be $450 a month and she only receives $620 a month from the government, and she’s not allowed to work in the USA yet legally. If I could raise $200 a month for her through my support network, helping to cover $200 of her rent each month, I believe this will help her live more sustainably and comfortably in the years to come. This means I need to raise a total of $2,400 in order to help cover some of Nathali’s rent from June 2021-June 2022. I am believing this is doable and the finances will come in, some way, somehow!
You have partnered with me so well in my journey with the World Race to my journey with Joy Makers Project and now here, today I invite you to prayerfully consider financially partnering with me in this next adventure, supporting Nathali, the teen from Guatemala. I would love to continue to send occasional blog updates on how Nathali is growing, immersing into Holland MI and the community, and prayer requests throughout our time together.
To be very frank, I am nervous and excited for Nathali to live with me. I am keenly aware grace, patience, perseverance, community support, and so much grace from the Lord is needed in order for this opportunity go as smoothly as possible, mentally preparing that it may be much more difficult that I am anticipating, or much more eased and relaxed than I am anticipating, too! The thought of having my supportive network continue on in this next adventure with me through prayer and financial giving, blesses my heart so much, and brings a sigh of great relief.
If something is stirring in you to possibly help financially partner with me in this journey with Nathali, please click here to donate and receive a tax deductible donation receipt :). You can also write out a check to me and send to 184 E 7th Street Holland MI 49423 if that is easier. I also have Venmo which is @Kailey-Mattarella. I am SO grateful & believe Nathali will be, too!
I want to hear what questions you may have, I want to hear any wisdom or advice you’d like to share. I am happy to hop on a phone call with you, grab some coffee, and share more about the “why” behind saying yes to Nathali & what else the Lord has been showing me as of late.
This year has been so wild and overwhelming, yet I see the Lord’s grace through it all. He has “hid me in his shelter in the day of trouble, he has concealed me under thecover of his tent, he has lifted me high upon a rock” Psalm 27:5. I have an amazing community of believers in my life, I’ve become more rooted in Holland MI, and rejoice for the year to come.
There is so much love in my heart for each of you taking the time to read, hear my heart, and to invest in my life. I wish I could be a bajillion places at once, so I could give each of you the biggest hug.
More updates to come soon, stay in touch, and feel free to reach out to me at [email protected], or 231-631-6085 anytime.
With deep gratitude,
Kailey
