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Katelyn – 2017 Graduate

Katelyn | 2017 Mercy GradIn third grade, I was molested. Then at fifteen years old, I was raped. I never told anyone what happened and turned to drinking and smoking to numb and suppress my emotions. At sixteen, I began a long term, on-and-off relationship. The relationship revolved around codependency, manipulation, control, fear, and sexual abuse. I was raped again at a college party and started believing I was put on this earth to please men. I started using other drugs and became addicted to cocaine and pills. After several other bad relationships, I tried to take my life and when that didn’t work, I turned to drugs even more until I ended up in the hospital from an overdose. I had absolutely no self-worth, and my life just felt completely hopeless.

I learned about Mercy Multiplied online when I was searching for different programs. I started the application process two different times before I completed it and was accepted. When I entered the home, I had so many walls up, and I kept to myself. I had a very hard time trusting the staff, and it took a while for me to start opening up to them.

The first major turning point in my journey at Mercy was when we had a guest speaker come speak at the home. Through her, God spoke so many promises over my life that I held onto until I started believing they could actually happen. My second major turning point is when I came back from my being out on a home pass. I knew I needed to just trust God and dive into the hard things I kept trying to avoid. I quickly started to experience one breakthrough after another, as well as a huge change in my relationship with God.

God has broken down every wall, as well as every addiction and lie in my life. He completely transformed me and replaced years of guilt and shame with His peace and joy and love. I have dreams and goals again.

After Mercy, I plan on going back to school to get my degree in human services and either counseling or psychology. I have a huge desire to help rescue women and children from sex trafficking, as well as go on more mission trips and share my testimony and the amazing work God has done in me.

I am so beyond grateful for Nancy’s obedience to start Mercy and for the donors who make this ministry possible. I am a completely different person than I was when I entered Mercy. I have freedom and joy now, which I never thought would be possible. Thank you so much!