{Mariama Kallon}

This lady was AMAZING. She was one of the speakers at Time Out for Women. The Spirit was so strong with her. Her story is amazing. She was raised in Sierra Leone, where war was prevalent. As a young girl was witness to the violent murders of her parents and siblings. She spent most of her youth running from rebels.

She shared incredible story's of faith. The first one she shared was when rebels came into their little village where they lived. The rebels grabbed about ten of the women, and lined them up and one by one was going to chop off their legs and arms. She witnessed this happening to her poor dear sister. The memory of it for her is as real as it was the day it happened. She has tears streaming down her face. I suddenly felt so blessed and thankful for my life. I mean, i already was, but hearing her story made my life seem like peaches and cream. She said that her and a couple women got down on their knees, and she offered a prayer and said "God i know you are real and i know you can save us from these terrible men." Just then, soldiers came rushing into their village and rescued the few, including her, that hadn't become victims of this torture yet.

She served a mission for the Church in Salt Lake City on the Temple Grounds.
She didn't sleep on a bed until she was 18 years old.
She made her own shoes from cardboard. She showed us a pair she made.
She now speaks for Time Out for Women and has attended LDS Business College.

One other story of hers that displayed incredible FAITH and an answer to that prayer...She was serving on Temple Square, as i already said. One Elder, which i don't remember who it was...maybe her mission president. Anyway, he ran into her on the Temple Square. He wanted to talk with her and she said "I am sorry, i have an appointment that i must go to." He said, "Okay. Great. With who?" She said "A black man!" She was all excited b/c she said "there are no black people there, so i was so excited to meet a black man!" :) It was funny with her telling it. Later, the Mission President ran into her again and he asked her who had set the appointment for her. He said that she acted kind of embarrassed and she said "Well, nobody set the appointment for me." And so he was like "Well, how did you know to have an appointment then?" She then said, "Well, i really was wanting to run into a black man(haha!) and wanted to teach him about the gospel. So, before i went out on the Square, i found a closet, went and kneeled down and said a prayer to God. I told him that i want to spread his word. And i told him that i want to teach a black man the gospel. And i knew the Lord would provide. So, i told him `Lord, i know you will provide, so i am going to the South Gate and will wait until this man comes so that i can teach him the Gospel.' So, as she was rushing to the South Gate, that's when she ran into the Mission President. Remember? She rushed to the South Gate and she onnly had to wait about five minutes before a black man from Ghana came to the south gate and she taught him and he ended up getting baptized.

Her's was a story of incredible faith. It gave me goosebumps. And the spirit was so strong with her. I was amazed by her incredible faith. She cried and said of course she has days where she feels down and depressed, lonely, etc. still from the past....but immersing herself in the Lord's work helps her get through those times. The Message of the Gospel has brought peace and comfort into her life and helps her feel like she can go on because she knows the purpose of this life. She has learned what God can do in our lives when we give our lives to him.

Truly, she was amazing. Her story really made me put my life into perspective. I could listen to her all day long.