Meet Kailey

Beloved in the Desert is part of the Episcopal Service Corps with the mission of forming an intentional community for young adults that fosters beloved Christian disciples through service, study, and prayer in the Tucson borderlands. For more information click here.

This week new Beloved Corps member, Kailey, introduces herself to the Saint Philip’s community. Her internship will be at Interfaith Community Services.

I am from Columbus, Indiana. I drove for nine days across the country to join Beloved in the Desert in Tucson. Along the way, I stopped in Nashville, Tennessee to visit a friend. Then I booked a massage in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and took advantage of the city’s hiking trails and great Argentine coffee. 

Next, I spent a couple of days with my family in Dallas before I hiked Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas, at Guadalupe Mountains National Park. I enjoyed a scenic drive through El Paso and moseyed my way through New Mexico, stopping to camp at a state park and appreciate the dark starry sky. 

As I made my way through Arizona, I had the pleasure of visiting The Thing roadside attraction, which may perhaps be my favorite memory of the entire road trip. Coincidentally, I hate driving. I do, however, love adventures.

I graduated college in 2020 and had to put a lot of plans on hold because of the pandemic. I stayed at home in Indiana for a year working in retail and as a teacher’s aid in the public school system. 

I chose to come to Tucson because I wanted to feel less isolated. I wanted to become a Beloved member because faith and deep relationships are important to me. I am also interested in writing, hiking, meeting new people, and exploring the different cultural venues of Tucson. This is my first time living in a large city, so even trying new coffee shops and restaurants is exciting to me. I look forward to meeting the Saint Philip’s community over the next few months.

—Kailey (she/her)