Oti Ni Akɛma Mihiɛ Beni Miye Afii Ekpaa Lɛ Sɛɛtiumɔ

TAAKƐ SANDRA COWAN GBA LƐ

Fɔlɔi pii halaa shihilɛ be mli nitsumɔ amɛhaa amɛbii, tamɔ lala aloo joo, ni amɛjeɔ shishi amɛtsɔseɔ amɛ kɛjɛɔ amɛgbekɛbiiashi tɔŋŋ. Enɛ pɛpɛɛpɛ ji nɔ ni minyɛ fee eha mi. Kɛjɛ be mli ni miye otsii enyɔ lɛ, akɛ mi yaa Kristofoi akpeei fɛɛ ni akɛ mi jeɔ kpo kɛhaa shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ hu.

BENI miye afii ejwɛ lɛ, Awo susu akɛ mida bɔ ni manyɛ mashiɛ. Mikaiɔ klɛŋklɛŋ ni mika mikwɛ lɛ jogbaŋŋ. Wɔkɛ wɔ kar lɛ tee ŋmɔ mli shia agbo ko mli, ni beni Awo kɛ mɛi krokomɛi lɛ mɛɔ yɛ kar lɛ mli lɛ, mije kpo ni minyiɛ kɛtee shinaa lɛ naa. Awura fɛfɛo ko bo mi toi ni mikɛ woji bibii nyɔŋma ha lɛ. Eha mi samala tso agbo kome ni ekɛwo mi nyɔmɔ. Mikɛ miniji enyɔ lɛ fɛɛ hiɛ mli. Mina miishɛɛ waa!

Nakai afi lɛ mli nɔŋŋ, 1943 lɛ, agbele Watchtower Bible School of Gilead lɛ naa kɛha sɔɔlɔi ni ji be-fɛɛ gbɛgbalɔi atsɔsemɔ kɛha maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ. Awo wo mi hewalɛ ni mikɛ maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ afee oti ni ma mihiɛ yɛ shihilɛ mli. No mli lɛ Jeŋ Ta II miiya nɔ waa yɛ Europa, ni Awo gbaa mi Odasefoi abii bibii ni yɔɔ Europa ni amɔmɔɔ amɛ kɛjɛɔ amɛfɔlɔi ahe lɛ ahe saji. Eetao ni mihiɛ awa bɔ ni sa bɔni afee ni manyɛ madamɔ kaa fɛɛ kaa naa.

Yɛ 1946 hulutsoo be mli lɛ, abaptisi mi yɛ majimaji ateŋ kpee ni afee yɛ Cleveland, Ohio lɛ shishi. Eyɛ mli akɛ no mli lɛ miye afii ekpaa pɛ moŋ, shi mitswa mifai shi akɛ mawo mihenɔjɔɔmɔ kɛha Yehowa lɛ obɔ. Nakai hulutsoo be lɛ mli lɛ, misɔmɔ akɛ gbɛgbalɔ klɛŋklɛŋ kwraa. Mikaiɔ akɛ gbi ko leebi lɛ mikɛ woji tɛtrɛbii 40 ha gbɔmɛi ni ebatara shi yɛ The Plaza yɛ San Diego, California lɛ. Miheɔ miyeɔ akɛ, akɛni midaaa kwraa ni miwieɔ babaoo lɛ ha ebalɛ nakai.

Bei pii lɛ wɔshiɛɔ yɛ Beth-Sarim, he ni Buu Mɔɔ Asafo lɛ sɛinɔtalɔ, Nyɛminuu Rutherford, ni no mli lɛ ehe yeɔ lɛ, yeɔ fɛ̃i be lɛ yɛ daa, dani egbo yɛ 1942 mli lɛ masɛi. Wɔyasaraa be-fɛɛ sɔɔlɔi ni yɔɔ jɛmɛ lɛ daa ni wɔkɛ amɛ yeɔ nii. Nɛkɛ miishɛɛ saramɔi nɛɛ ha mikpɛ miyiŋ akɛ enɛ ji shihilɛ gbɛ ni mitaoɔ lɛlɛŋ. Kɛkɛ ni mikɛ Gilead Skul lɛ kɛ maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛmɔ lɛ fee oti ni ma mihiɛ yɛ mishihilɛ mli.

Afi ni nyiɛ sɛɛ lɛ, mifɔlɔi tse gbala mli, shi wɔweku shihilɛ ni etsake nɛɛ haaa wɔmumɔ he ajɔ. Awo miisɔmɔ akɛ gbɛgbalɔ ni esusuɔ tsɔsemɔ ni ekɛaaha mikɛ minyɛminuu lɛ he waa diɛŋtsɛ. Wɔtsu bibioo ni akɛkpɛtɛɔ tsɔne sɛɛ lɛ bafee miishɛɛ hé kɛha Kristofoi nyɛmimɛi hii kɛ yei ni basaraa wɔ lɛ. Awo bɔ mɔdɛŋ ni eto gbɛjianɔ koni mikɛ mɛi ni egbe nikasemɔ naa yɛ Gilead lɛ akpe. Amɛteŋ mɛi enyɔ komɛi ji Lloyd kɛ Melba Barry, ni basaraa wɔ yɛ gbɛfaa nitsumɔ lɛ mli beni amɛmɛɔ ni amɛya he ni aha amɛ nitsumɔ yɛ, yɛ maŋsɛɛ ni ji Japan lɛ. Amɛhe be ni amɛkɛwo mi hewalɛ​—gbekɛyoo fioo ni miisumɔ ni etsɔ maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛlɔ​—ni mina he miishɛɛ waa diɛŋtsɛ.

Beni miye afii nyɔŋma lɛ, Awo kɛ Odasefonyo ko ni he yɔɔ miishɛɛ ni lɛ hu eji gbɛgbalɔ bote gbalashihilɛ mli. Eŋɔ mikɛ minyɛminuu lɛ efee ebii, jeee yɛ woji amli pɛ kɛkɛ, shi moŋ yɛ etsui mli hu. Suɔmɔ ni eyɔɔ kɛha Yehowa kɛ ekaa ni eyɔɔ kɛha sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ na minɔ hewalɛ.

Awo kɛ Ataa fee ekome ni amɛkɛtsɔse wɔ, gbekɛbii enyɔ lɛ fɛɛ yɛ wɔbalaŋtaiŋ afii ni mli wa lɛ amli. Wɔshia lɛ bafee mumɔŋ hejɔɔmɔ he ni mikɛ miishɛɛ kaiɔ be fɛɛ be. Ni amɛaafee gbɛgbalɔi ni amɛaalɛ gbekɛbii enyɔ kɛ shika fioo pɛ ni amɛnaa lɛ bɛ mlɛo; ebi he-kɛ-afɔleshaa. Shi Awo kɛ Ataa kɛ amɛhe fɔ Yehowa nɔ ni amɛkɛ Maŋtsɛyeli lɛ he nibii ye klɛŋklɛŋ gbɛhe. Kwɛ bɔ ni mikaiɔ majimaji ateŋ kpee ni afee yɛ New York City yɛ 1950 lɛ jogbaŋŋ mihaa! Ataa yafa shika yɛ shikatoo he, ni wɔhole gbɛfalɔi etɛ yɛ wɔ kar lɛ mli bɔni afee ni amɛye abua kɛ gbɛfaa he nyɔmɔ lɛ. Awo, Ataa, minyɛminuu lɛ, kɛ mi tara kar lɛ hiɛ sɛii lɛ anɔ kɛjɛ San Diego aahu kɛtee New York tɔŋŋ, beni mɛi krokomɛi lɛ tara sɛɛ. Akɛni Ataa nitsumɔtsɛ lɛ ekpɛlɛɛɛ ni eha lɛ nitsumɔ mli gbɛ ni ebi otsii enyɔ lɛ hewɔ lɛ, kpee lɛ ni wɔtee lɛ ha enitsumɔ je edɛŋ. Shi, taakɛ Ataa ma nɔ mi eha wɔ lɛ, Yehowa baaha wɔ wɔhiamɔ nii, ni E-fee nakai hu. Ataa hɔ̃ɔ kar lɛ ni ekɛwo shika ni eyafa yɛ shikatoo he lɛ he nyɔmɔ lɛ, kɛkɛ ni no sɛɛ lɛ ena nitsumɔ ni hi fe tsutsu lɛ. Enɛ kɛ niiashikpamɔi krokomɛi ni tamɔ nakai lɛ ahe ba sɛɛnamɔ kɛha mi afii babaoo sɛɛ beni mikɛ miwu kɛ shihilɛi ni mli wawai kpeɔ lɛ.

Beni wɔku wɔsɛɛ kɛjɛ New York kɛba lɛ, wɔtee wɔyakwɛ Kingdom Farm, ni mikɛna hegbɛ ni mikwɛ Gilead Skul lɛ klɛŋklɛŋ kwraa. Mikaiɔ akɛ miyadamɔ skul tsui lɛ ekome mli ni mikɛɛ mihe akɛ, ‘Miyeko afii 11 po. Minaŋ hegbɛ maba biɛ kɔkɔɔkɔ. Harmagedon baaba klɛŋklɛŋ.’ Shi nakai shishɛramɔ lɛ ha mikpɛ miyiŋ jogbaŋŋ fe bei fɛɛ ni eho akɛ mikɛ Gilead baafee oti ni ma mihiɛ yɛ mishihilɛ mli.

Oti ni Ma Mihiɛ lɛ He Shɛɛ

Kɛjɛ klɛŋklɛŋ sɛi lɛ nɔ aahu kɛyaa, beni miyɔɔ skul lɛ, mifeɔ gbɛgbalɔ yɛ daa hulutsoo be hejɔɔmɔ be lɛ mli. Kɛkɛ ni, beni migbe nɔtsamɔ skul naa yɛ June 1957 mli lɛ, mibatsɔ daa gbɛgbalɔ.

Kpee ni afee yɛ kpokpaa wulu nɔ kpee lɛ shishi yɛ Los Angeles yɛ 1957, kɛha mɛi ni yɔɔ Gilead he miishɛɛ lɛ bafee kpee krɛdɛɛ ko kɛha mi. Beni minyiɛɔ kɛboteɔ buu lɛ mli kɛha kpee lɛ, mikɛ Bill, ni ji nyɛminuu obalanyo ko ni mile lɛ kɛjɛ beni miye afii ekpaa lɛ kpe. Afi ni eho lɛ mli lɛ, no mli lɛ eesɔmɔ yɛ he ni hiamɔ fa babaoo yɛ, yɛ Louisiana. Bɔ ni wɔyi enyɔ lɛ fɛɛ wɔyɔɔ maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛmɔ lɛ he miishɛɛ wɔha lɛ fee wɔ fɛɛ naakpɛɛ. Nyɔji ekpaa sɛɛ lɛ, wɔkpɛ wɔyiŋ akɛ wɔbaafee ekome kɛtsu nii. Wɔŋma wolo wɔyaha Asafo lɛ ni wɔbi ni aha wɔ nitsumɔ, ni beni eshwɛ nyɔŋ kome dani wɔbaabote gbalashihilɛ mli lɛ, wɔnine shɛ nitsumɔ nɔ yɛ Romney, yɛ West Virginia.

Wɔfã kɛyahi jɛmɛ beni wɔyaa New York kpee lɛ yɛ 1958 mli. Beni wɔyɔɔ kpee lɛ shishi lɛ, wɔtee kpee ni afee kɛha mɛi ni yɔɔ Gilead he miishɛɛ lɛ. Mɛi ohai abɔ ba. Beni wɔkwɛ mɛi babaoo ni ba lɛ, wɔnu he akɛ hegbɛ bibioo ko pɛ wɔyɔɔ akɛ abaanyɛ ahala wɔ ni wɔya Gilead. Shi yɛ fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, wɔkɛ klɛŋklɛŋ gbɛbimɔ wolo maje, eyɛ mli akɛ wɔbote gbalashihilɛ mli nɛɛ, otsii 11 pɛ wɔna. Afi ni nyiɛ sɛɛ lɛ mli lɛ, wɔkɛ gbɛbimɔ wolo ni ji enyɔ baha, yɛ kpokpaa wulu nɔ kpee ni afee yɛ Philadelphia lɛ shishi.

Bill kɛ mi fɛɛ kase bɔ ni wɔkɛ wɔhe aaafɔ Yehowa nɔ ni eye ebua wɔ yɛ shihilɛi ni mli wawai amli yɛ Romney. Romney ji maŋ ko ni emlibii ayifalɛ aaashɛ 2,000. Anaaa nitsumɔ yɛ jɛmɛ. Wɔhi tsu bibioo ni akɛkpɛtɛɔ tsɔne sɛɛ, ni wɔ diɛŋtsɛ wɔfee kɛha California shihilɛ, ni edalɛ ji ninetalɔi 16 mli. Wɔbɛ nu kpakpa ni anuɔ, wɔbɛ tsɔne ni baaha wɔhe adɔ, wɔbɛ friji. Fɛ̃i yeɔ yɛ tsu lɛ mli aahu akɛ ebiɔ ni wɔjwara ais lɛ yɛ goga mli dani wɔna nu. Nyɛmimɛi lɛ ye bua wɔ bɔ ni amɛaanyɛ, ni amɛkɛ wɔ jaa niyenii ni amɛyagbɔbiɔ amɛnaa lɛ. Wɔye ofrote, kɛ kooloo ko tamɔ akpɛsɛɔ, kɛ sɔ̃ne. Eshɛɔ bei babaoo ni wɔsusuɔ akɛ wɔnaŋ niyenii ni wɔbaaye nakai gbi lɛ, kɛkɛ lɛ beni wɔbaaku wɔsɛɛ kɛjɛ shiɛmɔ wɔba shia lɛ, wɔbanina ni ashi apple loo keesuu yɛ wɔshinaa lɛ naa.

Wɔhi shihilɛ ni mli wa mli aahu nyɔji nɛɛhu sɔŋŋ ni bei komɛi lɛ wɔshika taa kwraa ni nɔ ni wɔyɔɔ lɛ shɛɛɛ nɔ ko kwraa hemɔ. Yɛ naagbee lɛ, wɔkpɛ wɔyiŋ akɛ ebaahi akɛ wɔɔfa kɛyahi Baltimore, yɛ Maryland, he ni Bill baanyɛ ana nitsumɔ yɛ. Beni wɔha nyɛmimɛi lɛ le wɔyiŋkpɛɛ lɛ, amɛfó ni wɔ hu wɔfó. No hewɔ lɛ wɔkpɛ wɔyiŋ akɛ wɔbaamɛ bei fioo ko da.

No sɛɛ nɔŋŋ lɛ, Odasefonyo ko ni ji shwapo wulu ko nɔkwɛlɔ yɛ Westernport, yɛ Maryland, ni ekɛ wɔ jɛkɛmɔ aaafee kilomitai 60 lɛ, ha Bill nitsumɔ ni ekɛ ebe fa baatsu. Nakai nyɔŋ lɛ nɔ nɔŋŋ lɛ, wɔ Biblia nikaselɔi lɛ ateŋ mɔ kome ha wɔ shia bibioo fɛfɛo ko ni asaa mli ni ŋãi stof agbo yɛ mli. Nɛkɛ be nɛɛ mli ni Maleaki 3:10 bafee ŋmalɛ ni misumɔɔ fe fɛɛ. Yehowa efɔse jɔɔmɔi eshwie wɔnɔ fe bɔ ni wɔkpaa gbɛ kwraa.

Wɔtee Gilead Kɛ̃!

Mishihilɛ mli gbii ni yɔɔ miishɛɛ lɛ ateŋ ekome ji gbi ko, yɛ November 1959 mli, beni wɔnine shɛ wɔninefɔɔ nɔ kɛha Gilead lɛ. Afɔ wɔ nine kɛtee klas ni ji 35, nɔ ni ji naagbee nɔ ni afee yɛ Kingdom Farm lɛ. Beni miyadamɔ skultsu ni miyakwɛ mli beni mi ji gbekɛ lɛ mli lɛ, mina miishɛɛ babaoo ni minyɛŋ mikɛ wiemɔi atsɔɔ mli jogbaŋŋ.

Gilead tamɔ mumɔŋ nu hiŋmɛi yɛ shia ŋa nɔ. Etamɔ nɔ ni wɔyahi jeŋ hee lɛ mli nyɔji enumɔ. Efɔɔɔ kaa yɛ shihilɛ mli akɛ wɔkɛ afii babaoo aaamɛ kɛkɛ lɛ no sɛɛ lɛ wɔná nɔ ni hi kwraa fe nɔ ni wɔkpaa gbɛ lɛ. Shi Gilead bafee nakai pɛpɛɛpɛ.

Aha wɔ nitsumɔ yɛ India, shi yɛ naagbee lɛ ahaaa wɔ gbɛŋmɛɛ woji. No hewɔ lɛ, beni wɔkɛ nɔ ni fe afi emɛ yɛ New York City lɛ, no sɛɛ lɛ Buu Mɔɔ Asafo lɛ saa eha wɔ nitsumɔ yɛ Morocco, yɛ Afrika Kooyigbɛ.

Maŋsɛɛ Sanekpakpa Shiɛlɔi yɛ Morocco

Wɔkɛ miishɛɛ afii 24 hi Morocco, ni wɔna gbɔmɛi lɛ ahe miishɛɛ amrɔ nɔŋŋ ni wɔyashɛ jɛmɛ lɛ. Wɔkase French kɛ Spanish wiemɔi lɛ, ni eye ebua wɔ waa ni wɔkɛ maŋ nɔ bii sɔrɔtoi ni yɔɔ jɛmɛ lɛ gba sane. Mɛi ni efa gbɛ kɛjɛ maji krokomɛi anɔ kɛba lɛ ji mɛi titri ni boɔ Maŋtsɛyeli lɛ he shɛɛ sane lɛ toi.

Yoo ko ni mikɛ lɛ kase Biblia lɛ ji Spanishnyo ko ni joɔ flamenco joo lɛ, ni ahe lɛ ni etsuɔ nii yɛ daanumɔ he ni ajoɔ kɛjieɔ mɛi ahiɛtserɛ yɛ, yɛ Casablanca. Beni ekase Biblia shishitoo mlai sɛɛ lɛ, eshi hiɛtserɛjiemɔ he nɔtsɛ ni ekɛ lɛ yɔɔ lɛ ni eku esɛɛ kɛtee Spain. Eye odase yɛ jɛmɛ etsɔɔ eweku muu fɛɛ, ni amɛteŋ mɛi komɛi kpɛlɛ Biblia mli anɔkwalei ni ekɛhaa amɛ lɛ nɔ. No sɛɛ lɛ eku esɛɛ kɛba Casablanca, ni ehi shi akɛ anɔkwafo kɛha Nyɔŋmɔ kɛyashi egbele mli yɛ 1990.

Wɔbɔi nɔyaa namɔ yɛ Morocco yɛ Maŋtsɛyeli shiɛlɔi ayifalɛ mli yɛ afii fioo ni wɔye lɛ mli. Shi, beni ebawa waa kɛha gbɔi akɛ amɛaana nitsumɔ kɛ maŋ lɛŋ hilɛ gbɛŋmɛɛ woji lɛ, Odasefoi lɛ ateŋ mɛi saŋŋ shi jɛmɛ kɛtee Europa. Amrɔ nɛɛ mɛi ni wɔkɛkase nii lɛ ateŋ mɛi komɛi yɛ New Zealand, Canada, kɛ United States, Bulgaria, Russia, kɛ France, ni amɛteŋ mɛi komɛi kɛ amɛhe woɔ be-fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli.

Trukaa, kɛkɛ ni yɛ April 1973 mli lɛ, agu wɔnitsumɔ lɛ yɛ Morocco. Mɛɛ amanehulu sane nɛ! Soo gbɛkɛ ko lɛ, wɔna mɛi babaoo ni yɔɔ miishɛɛ waa yɛ Maŋtsɛyeli Asa lɛ nɔ, ni wɔgba sane aahu kɛyashi agbe kane lɛ koni akɛha wɔle akɛ je ena bɔ ni esa akɛ wɔya shia. Ebaaa wɔjwɛŋmɔ mli kwraa akɛ wɔnaŋ nakai kane kpɛmɔ yɛ Kristofoi akpeei ashishi yɛ faŋŋ mli nakai dɔŋŋ. Akɛni agu wɔnitsumɔ lɛ hewɔ lɛ, wɔfeɔ kpeei kɛ kpokpaa nɔ kpeei lɛ yɛ kui bibii pɛ mli yɛ mɛi ashiai amli. Odasefoi lɛ faa gbɛ kɛyaa France aloo Spain, ni amɛnyɛɔ amɛyaa kpokpaa wulu nɔ kpeei.

Beni wɔnɔ gbɔɔ lɛ, Odasefoi fioo ni eshwɛ yɛ Morocco lɛ kɛ amɛhe kpɛtɛ amɛhe gbagbalii. No hewɔ lɛ beni Buu Mɔɔ Asafo lɛ kpɛ eyiŋ akɛ ebaaŋa nitsumɔ he nine lɛ yɛ naagbee kwraa ni eha wɔ nitsumɔ yɛ he kroko lɛ, wɔ fɛɛ wɔhiŋmɛiaŋ kpala nu aahu.

Wɔtsa nɔ Kɛba central Afrika

He ni aha wɔ nitsumɔ hee yɛ ji Central African Republic. Kwɛ bɔ ni esoro jɛmɛ kwraa yɛ Afrika Kooyigbɛ he! Yɛ be mli ni Morocco kɔɔyɔŋ tsakemɔ lɛ tamɔ California wuoyigbɛ nɔ lɛ nɔŋŋ lɛ, amrɔ nɛɛ wɔbaje hulu liamɔi ni mli dɔɔ, ni efeɔ flɔnɔɔ lɛ mli.

Naagbai heei yɛ ni esa akɛ wɔkɛkpe. Akɛ nɔkwɛmɔ nɔ lɛ, esa akɛ maye waamɔ kooloi bibii ahe gbeyeishemɔ lɛ nɔ. Odaaklɛɔi ekpɔ kɛbagbee miyiteŋ shii etɛ sɔŋŋ ni miitsɔ shinaa shishi. Bei komɛi lɛ, kɛji miifee Biblia mli nikasemɔ lɛ, obishi baa akɛ eeba ebafata wɔhe! Eyɛ mli akɛ mitaoɔ akɛ matu ni majo foi moŋ, shi mibɔɔ mɔdɛŋ miyeɔ mihe nɔ, ni mijieee mihiŋmɛi kɛjɛɛɛ Ataa Obishi nɔ kɔkɔɔkɔ, beni miwo mibaagi nɔ mihiɛ ni mihole minaji anɔ hu kɛjɛ shikpɔŋ lɛ, kɛyashi be mli ni eeeshi jɛmɛ ni eya. Mina mile akɛ kɛji onijiaŋ ejeee wui yɛ shihilɛ ko mli lɛ, onyɛɔ oleɔ emli shihilɛ.

Beni wɔhi jɛmɛ nyɔji ekpaa lɛ, atswa adafi ko yɛ redio lɛ nɔ akɛ agu wɔnitsumɔ lɛ. No hewɔ lɛ aŋamɔ wɔ-Maŋtsɛyeli Asai lɛ, ni akɛɛ maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛlɔi lɛ fɛɛ ashi maŋ lɛ mli. Wɔ, kɛ gbalashihilɛ mli hefatalɔi krokomɛi pɛ nyɛ wɔhi nitsumɔ he nine lɛ afii etɛ kɛfata he. Kɛkɛ ni Hɔgbaa leebi ko beni wɔfeɔ Buu-Mɔɔ Nikasemɔ lɛ, polisifoi ni hiɛ tui ba ni amɛbamɔmɔ wɔ kɛtee polisifoi anitsumɔ he yitso lɛ. Amɛŋmɛɛ yei lɛ kɛ gbekɛbii lɛ ahe, shi amɛtsi nyɛmimɛi hii 23 naa, ni miwu, Bill fata amɛhe. Gbii ekpaa sɛɛ lɛ, amɛŋmɛɛ ehe ni eya shia ni eyato enibii; gbii etɛ sɛɛ lɛ, wɔshi maŋ lɛ mli, yɛ nɔyeli lɛ famɔ naa, yɛ May 1989 mli. Wɔshimɔ lɛ bafee yaafo be ekoŋŋ yɛ kɔɔyɔŋ lɛji ashidaamɔ he lɛ, beni wɔnyɛmimɛi ni yɔɔ wɔhe suɔmɔ lɛ ba ní amɛkɛ wɔ abaye shɛɛ lɛ.

Yɛ Naagbee lɛ, Wɔtee Sierra Leone

He ni wɔtsuɔ nii yɛ amrɔ nɛɛ ji Sierra Leone, yɛ Afrika Anaigbɛ, yɛ ŋshɔnaa shia yɛŋ maŋ fɛfɛo ko mli. Gbɔmɛi lɛ sumɔɔ naanyobɔɔ, ni shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ yɛ miishɛɛ waa. Ahaa wɔ sɛi ni wɔtara shi yɛ shia fɛɛ shia mli, ni yɛ bei babaoo mli lɛ wɔtaa hɔŋ mli yɛ maŋo loo akokooshi tso shishi. Gbɔmɛi lɛ sumɔɔ ni amɛgba Nyɔŋmɔ he sane, ni amɛhiɛɔ amɛ diɛŋtsɛ amɛ-Biblia ni amɛnyiɛɔ sanegbaa lɛ sɛɛ.

Bill kɛ mi fɛɛ tsuɔ nii yɛ Freetown Betel Shia lɛ. Misɔmɔɔ akɛ mɔ ni hereɔ mɛi agbɔ ni mitsuɔ woji tɛtrɛbii ni ashɛ lɛ kɛ asafoi ashika he akɔntabuu he nii. Yɛ be mli ni mikɛ afii 16 esɔmɔ yɛ maji ni agu nitsumɔ lɛ yɛ mli lɛ, eyɛ miishɛɛ waa akɛ mahi maŋ ko mli, he ni nitsumɔ lɛ miiya nɔ yɛ heyeli mli ni eeshwere hu.

Migbe mi-maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ afii 30 naa yɛ June 1991 mli. Lɛlɛŋ, Awo kɛ oti ko ni hi jogbaŋŋ diɛŋtsɛ ma mihiɛ! Eji eyɛ wala mli lolo kulɛ, masumɔ ni makɛɛ lɛ ekoŋŋ akɛ, “Miida bo shi, Awo!” Minyɛɔ mikɛ miishɛɛ kɛɔ akɛ: “Miidao shi, Ataa!”

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 28]

New York kpee, yɛ 1958

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 29]

35th class​—July, 1960

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 30]

Bill kɛ Sandra Cowan, 1991