Thursday, November 18, 2010

AfRiCa!

The night that changed my life forever was November 9th, 2010.  My aunt Lisa had invited me to hear the story of a woman name Mariama Kallon.  She was born and lived most of her life in Sierra Leone, Africa.  For those of you who know about this place is it's known for it's....blood diamonds.
The results of this horrific experience for many was the loss of limbs usually cut off by machetes or being shot to death. Both of these things Mariama witnessed as a little girl growing up in Sierra Leone.  When the men with the machetes would come a word would be yelled out and the people in the villages would run for their lives, many not running fast enough. Upon fleeing for her life she heard gun shots and turned around to notice that both her parents had been shot and killed. Looking to her sister who stated that they couldn't turn back but needed to keep running. They did so and came across a little hut that they thought was safe. Upon morning they woke up to be surrounded by the Rebels with their machetes in hand cussing and yelling commands at the women who had taken refuge in this little hut. They did as they were commanded to do all mumbling prayers to their God. Mariama had the thought cross her mind, she knew God existed but she thought about asking God if he was really there.  Upon doing so shouts from soilders nearby had scared the Rebels off and once again the women fled to the forests.  Her sister was not as fortuante and fell into the hands of the rebels. Once in the forest she was given a humanitarian kit that was able to help 25 women for 3 weeks!! To this day Mariama still carries what's left of her humanitarian kit. A friend from school had noticed her circumstances and told her she could stay with them until she found some family members. Upon staying with them they told her that they didn't have anything to give but hope, courage, and love from their church.  Needing hope, courage, and love she decided she would go. They took her to an LDS chapel where she experienced her first 'quite' church. :) There she found what she was looking for and decided she wanted to be apart of this church and got baptized, as well as served a full time mission in the Salt Lake City temple mission. With nothing but her humanitarian kit, scriptures, the clothes on her back, and her righteous desire to serve a mission she left for Utah. During her stay in the MTC her mission president had heard about her and him and his wife took her to the bookstore where she could purchase her first set of knee highs and other clothes that were apart of the missionary life. She also recieved 3 suitcases full of clothes given to her by sister missionaries returning home. Her story continues as she recieves many more blessings through out her life and to this day travels with the church for "a time out for woman" to tell her story.  I got to meet this amazing person and my desire to help and serve in Africa increased even more so.  I recieved a contact from Mariama into an organization that will one day change my life forever. I've been accepted and if I so choose at this time to serve in Africa I'll be leaving June 7th 2011. :) Thank you Mariama for your testimony, your inspirational story, and the love in you heart! I owe my success in Africa all to you!