“Suɔmɔ Sɛɛ Efooo Gbi ko Gbi Ko”

TAAKƐ SAMUEL D. LADESUYI GBA

Kɛ misusu afii abɔ ni eho kɛ nitsumɔ ni anyɛ atsu yɛ mli lɛ he lɛ, minaa kpɛɔ mihe waa. Yehowa miifee naakpɛɛ nii yɛ shikpɔŋ lɛ nɔ he fɛɛ he. Yɛ Ilesha, yɛ Nigeria lɛ, wɔyi fioo ko ni wɔje shiɛmɔ shishi yɛ 1931 mli lɛ ebatsɔ asafoi 36. Shiɛlɔi aaashɛ 4,000 ni yɔɔ Nigeria beni klɛŋklɛŋ bii ni gbe nikasemɔ naa yɛ Buu-Mɔɔ Biblia Gilead Skul lɛ bashɛ maŋ lɛ mli yɛ 1947 mli lɛ ayi efa babaoo kɛyashɛ nɔ ni fe mɛi 180,000. Kɛjɛ shishijee lɛ, wɔkpaaa gbɛ, ni wɔteŋ mɔ ko po susuuu shweremɔ ni baaba nɛɛ he. Kwɛ bɔ ni midaa shi waa mihaa akɛ mina gbɛfaŋnɔ yɛ nitsumɔ ni yɔɔ nyam nɛɛ mli! Ha magba bo ehe sane.

MITSƐ kpaa shi ehɔ̃ɔ tu kɛ tu-tsofa kɛjɛɔ maŋ kome nɔ kɛyaa maŋ kroko nɔ; efɔɔɔ shia hilɛ. Eyɛ ŋamɛi kpawo ni mile amɛ, shi jeee amɛ fɛɛ amɛkɛ lɛ yɔɔ hekome. Mitsɛ nine shɛ minyɛ nɔ akɛ gboshinii kɛjɛ enyɛmi nuu onukpa ni gbo lɛ dɛŋ. Ebafee eŋa ni ji enyɔ, ni mikɛ minyɛ hi shi.

Gbi ko lɛ, Ataa tee eyasara eŋa ni ji klɛŋklɛŋ mɔ, ni yɔɔ akrowa kroko ni bɛŋkɛ wɔ lɛ mli, ni eba shia. Beni eyɔɔ jɛmɛ lɛ, ena ele akɛ mitsɛ binuu lɛ miiya skul. Mitsɛ binuu lɛ eye afii nyɔŋma, tamɔ mi nɔŋŋ pɛpɛɛpɛ. No hewɔ lɛ Ataa kpɛ eyiŋ akɛ esa akɛ mi hu maya skul. Eha mi shika fioo ni ji nain-pɛns—trɔ kɛha skul wolo kɛ sis-pɛns kɛha sleeti. Enɛ ba yɛ afi 1924 mli.

Ato Biblia Kasemɔ Kuu Shishi

Mina suɔmɔ miha Nyɔŋmɔ Wiemɔ, ni ji Biblia lɛ, kɛjɛ migbekɛbiiashi tɔ̃ɔ. Minaa Biblia klas he miishɛɛ yɛ skul, ni gbekɛbii a-Hɔgbaa-skul tsɔɔlɔi lɛ jieɔ miyi be fɛɛ be. No hewɔ lɛ, yɛ 1930 mli lɛ, mikɛ hegbɛ ni mina lɛ tsu nii ni miyabo maŋshiɛmɔ ko ni Biblia Kaselɔ ko baha, ni ji mɛi ni bashiɛ yɛ Ilesha klɛŋklɛŋ lɛ ateŋ mɔ kome lɛ toi. Yɛ maŋshiɛmɔ lɛ sɛɛ lɛ, eha mi The Harp of God wolo lɛ ekome yɛ Yoruba wiemɔ mli.

No mli lɛ mitee Hɔgbaa skul aahu kɛtsara nɔ. Agbɛnɛ mikɔɔ The Harp of God wolo lɛ kɛyaa ni mikɛtsuɔ nii kɛteɔ shi woɔ tsɔɔmɔi ni atsɔɔ yɛ jɛmɛ lɛ ekomɛi. Enɛ kɛ naataamɔi ba, ni sɔlemɔ lɛ hiɛnyiɛlɔi bɔ mi kɔkɔ shii abɔ yɛ nɛkɛ ‘tsɔɔmɔ hee’ nɛɛ sɛɛnyiɛmɔ he.

Afii ni nyiɛ sɛɛ lɛ mli, beni mishɛraa shi yɛ gbɛjegbɛ ko nɔ lɛ, miyana mɛi saŋŋ ni ebua amɛhe naa kɛmiibo nuu ko ni kɛ amɛ miiwie toi. Mɔ ni kɛ amɛ wieɔ lɛ ji J. I. Owenpa, ni ji Biblia Kaselɔ. Mɔ ni tsu lɛ kɛba jɛmɛ ji William R. Brown (ni afɔɔ lɛ tsɛmɔ akɛ Bible Brown lɛ), ni lɛ ji mɔ ni kwɛɔ Maŋtsɛyeli shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ nɔ kɛjɛɔ Lagos.a Mibana mile akɛ ato Biblia kasemɔ kuu bibioo ko yɛ Ilesha, ni amɛbaakase The Harp of God wolo lɛ, no hewɔ lɛ miyafata amɛhe.

Mi ji mɔ ni edako fe fɛɛ yɛ kuu lɛ mli—skul gbekɛ fioo, aaafee afii 16. Kulɛ esa akɛ efee mi hiɛgbele, aloo mashe gbeyei po, akɛ mikɛ hii ni eye afii 30 kɛyaa, kɛ mɛi ni edara fe nakai po lɛ aaabɔ gbagbalii nakai. Shi amɛna he miishɛɛ waa akɛ mibafata amɛhe, ni amɛwo mi hewalɛ. Amɛbafee tamɔ tsɛmɛi kɛha mi.

Osɔfoi Ashitee-kɛ-Woo

Etsɛɛɛ kɛkɛ ni wɔkɛ shitee-kɛ-woo ni mli wa kpe kɛjɛ osɔfoi lɛ aŋɔɔ. Katolikbii, Anglikanbii, kɛ mɛi krokomɛi, ni tsutsu lɛ amɛkɛ amɛhe wuɔ ta lɛ, fee ekome agbɛnɛ kɛte shi amɛwo wɔ. Amɛkɛ maŋtsɛmɛi lɛ fee ekome koni amɛfee nii kɛje wɔnijiaŋ wui. Amɛtsu polisifoi kɛba koni amɛbahe wɔ woji lɛ kɛjɛ wɔdɛŋ, kɛ naajiemɔ akɛ amɛji woji ni yeɔ maŋbii lɛ awui. Shi kɛlɛ, amɛ onukpa ni kwɛɔ nakai kpokpaa wulu lɛ nɔ lɛ bɔ amɛ kɔkɔ akɛ amɛbɛ hegbɛ ni amɛheɔ woji lɛ kɛyaa, ni otsii enyɔ sɛɛ lɛ amɛkɛ woji lɛ baha wɔ.

Yɛ enɛ sɛɛ lɛ, atsɛ wɔ kpee ko, ni wɔkɛ oba, loo maŋtsɛ lɛ, kɛ maŋ lɛ mli bii krokomɛi ni ale amɛ jogbaŋŋ lɛ kpe. No mli lɛ wɔyifalɛ aaafee mɛi 30. Yiŋtoo hewɔ ni atsɛ wɔ lɛ ji ni aha wɔkpa woji ni “he yɔɔ oshara” lɛ kanemɔ. Amɛbi wɔ akɛ ani gbɔi ji wɔ lo, shi beni amɛkwɛ wɔhiɛ jogbaŋŋ lɛ, amɛwie akɛ, “Wɔmaŋ bii sɔŋŋ ni, eyɛ mli akɛ gbɔi komɛi fata amɛhe.” Amɛkɛɛ wɔ akɛ amɛsumɔɔɔ ni wɔya nɔ wɔkase jamɔ ko ni baaye wɔ awui lɛ woji.

Wɔwieee nɔ ko kwraa ni wɔtee shia, ejaakɛ wɔkpɛ wɔyiŋ akɛ wɔkɛ nakai gbɔmɛi ni ale amɛ jogbaŋŋ nɛɛ awiemɔ ko kwraa tsuŋ nii. Wɔteŋ mɛi pii naa nibii ni wɔkaseɔ lɛ he miishɛɛ waa, ni wɔtswa wɔfai shi akɛ wɔbaatsa nikasemɔ lɛ nɔ. No hewɔ lɛ, eyɛ mli akɛ amɛwo mɛi fioo komɛi ahe gbeyei ni amɛkɛ kuu lɛ kpa bɔɔ moŋ, shi wɔteŋ mɛi babaoo tsa wɔ nikasemɔ lɛ nɔ yɛ kapintɛfonyo ko nitsumɔ he. No mli lɛ wɔbɛ nɔkwɛlɔ. Wɔjeɔ shishi kɛ sɔlemɔ ni wɔtoɔ naa ni mɔ fɛɛ mɔ kaneɔ kukuji lɛ amli yɛ wolo lɛ mli. Aaafee ŋmɛlɛtswaa kome sɛɛ lɛ, wɔsɔleɔ ekoŋŋ kɛkɛ lɛ wɔtee shia. Shi mɛi komɛi tee ni amɛkpaa wɔ shi, ni maŋtsɛ lɛ kɛ jamɔ mli onukpai lɛ tee nɔ amɛtsɛ wɔ aahu daa otsii enyɔ, ni amɛbɔɔ wɔ kɔkɔ yɛ Biblia Kaselɔi lɛ awoji lɛ kasemɔ he.

Yɛ no mli fɛɛ lɛ, wɔbɔɔ mɔdɛŋ akɛ wɔkɛ nilee fioo ni wɔna lɛ baaye wɔbua gbɔmɛi lɛ, ni mɛi babaoo kɛ wɔ kpaa gbee. Aŋkroaŋkroi babɔi wɔhe fatamɔ. Wɔna miishɛɛ waa, shi kɛlɛ, wɔleee jamɔ ni wɔkɛbɔɔ lɛ he saji babaoo lolo.

Mra mli yɛ 1932 lɛ, nyɛminuu ko jɛ Lagos kɛba koni ebaye ebua ni eto wɔhe gbɛjianɔ, ni April mli lɛ “Bible” Brown hu ba. Beni ena akɛ kuu ko yɛ jɛmɛ ni amɛyifalɛ aaashɛ mɛi 30 lɛ, Nyɛminuu Brown bi he ni wɔtee hiɛ kɛyashɛ yɛ wɔ nikanemɔ lɛ mli. Wɔkɛɛ lɛ nɔ fɛɛ nɔ ni wɔle. Ewie akɛ wɔsa kɛha baptisimɔ.

Akɛni ejeee nugbɔnɛmɔ beaŋ hewɔ lɛ, esa akɛ wɔfa gbɛ kɛya faa ko naa, aaafee kilomitai 14 kɛjɛ Ilesha, ni abaptisi wɔyifalɛ aaashɛ mɛi 30. Kɛjɛ nakai beaŋ kɛyaa lɛ, wɔna wɔhe akɛ Maŋtsɛyeli lɛ shiɛlɔi, ni wɔbɔi shia kɛ shia yaa. Wɔkpaaa enɛ feemɔ gbɛ kwraa, shi agbɛnɛ wɔhe miitswa shi waa akɛ wɔkɛ mɛi krokomɛi aaagba nibii ni wɔle lɛ ahe sane. Esa akɛ wɔsaa wɔhe jogbaŋŋ bɔni afee ni wɔnyɛ wɔna Biblia mli sɛɛfimɔ ni wɔkɛku apasa tsɔɔmɔi ni wɔkɛkpeɔ lɛ anaa. No hewɔ lɛ, kɛ wɔtee kpeei lɛ, wɔsusuɔ tsɔɔmɔi lɛ ahe, ni wɔyeɔ wɔbuaa wɔhe yɛ nibii ni wɔle lɛ amli.

Wɔ Shiɛmɔ Nitsumɔ Lɛ

Wɔkɛ wɔ shiɛmɔ lɛ kpele maŋ lɛ mli fɛɛ. Gbɔmɛi ye wɔhe fɛo, ni amɛbolɔ amɛwo wɔ, shi wɔhaaa no agba wɔnaa kwraa. Wɔmiishɛɛ lɛ da waa diɛŋtsɛ, ejaakɛ wɔhiɛ anɔkwale lɛ, eyɛ mli akɛ wɔyɛ nibii babaoo ni wɔbaakase lolo.

Wɔyaa shia kɛ shia daa Hɔgbaa. Gbɔmɛi biɔ wɔ saji, ni wɔbɔɔ mɔdɛŋ akɛ wɔɔha amɛ hetoo. Daa Hɔgbaa gbɛkɛ lɛ, wɔhaa maŋshiɛmɔ. No mli lɛ wɔbɛ Maŋtsɛyeli Asa, no hewɔ lɛ wɔfeɔ kpeei lɛ yɛ agbo naa. Wɔbuaa gbɔmɛi lɛ anaa, ni wɔhaa maŋshiɛmɔ, kɛkɛ lɛ wɔha amɛ hegbɛ ni amɛkɛbi saji. Bei komɛi lɛ, wɔyashiɛɔ yɛ sɔlemɔtsui amli.

Wɔfa gbɛ kɛtee hei ni gbɔmɛi lɛ nuko Yehowa Odasefoi ahe sane da lɛ hu fɛɛ. Bei pii lɛ, wɔtaraa baisikel nɔ kɛyaa, shi bei komɛi hu lɛ, wɔhaiɔ bɔs. Kɛ wɔyashɛ akrowa lɛ, wɔkpaa tsɔne lɛ bɛlɛ lɛ ni egbɛɔ waa. Akrowa muu lɛ fɛɛ nuɔ wɔhe! Ehaa gbɔmɛi kɛ foi jeɔ kpo akɛ amɛbaakwɛ nɔ ni yaa nɔ. Kɛkɛ lɛ wɔkɛ wɔ shɛɛ sane lɛ eha amɛ. Kɛ wɔgbe naa lɛ, gbɔmɛi lɛ peleɔ he akɛ amɛna wɔ woji lɛ eko. Wɔkɛ woji babaoo diɛŋtsɛ haa amɛ.

Wɔkɛ miishɛɛ kpa Nyɔŋmɔ Maŋtsɛyeli lɛ baa gbɛ waa. Mikaiɔ akɛ beni wɔnine shɛ 1935 Yearbook lɛ nɔ, ni nyɛminuu ko na akɛ ato daa gbi ŋmalɛi ahesusumɔ he gbɛjianɔ kɛha afi muu lɛ fɛɛ lɛ, ebi akɛ: “Ani enɛ tsɔɔ akɛ wɔbaagbe afi muu kroko hu naa dani Harmagedon baaba?”

Yɛ hetoohamɔ mli lɛ, nɔkwɛlɔ lɛ bi akɛ: “Nyɛminuu, ani osusuɔ akɛ kɛ Harmagedon ba wɔ lɛ, wɔbaakpa Yearbook lɛ kanemɔ?” Beni nyɛminuu lɛ jie naa akɛ dabi lɛ, nɔkwɛlɔ lɛ hu wie akɛ: “Belɛ mɛni hewɔ ohaoɔ ohe mɔ?” No mli lɛ, wɔmiikpa Yehowa gbi lɛ gbɛ waa, ni wɔkã he wɔmiikpa lɛ gbɛ lolo.

Ta Afii Lɛ

Beni awuɔ jeŋ ta ni ji enyɔ lɛ, atsi wɔ woji lɛ anaa ni akpɛlɛɛɛ ni eba maŋ lɛ mli. Nyɛminuu ko ni yɔɔ Ilesha kɛ Riches wolo lɛ ekome ha polisifonyo ko ni eleee. Ni polisifonyo lɛ bi lɛ akɛ: “Namɔ wolo nɛ?” Ni nyɛminuu lɛ wie akɛ lɛ enɔ ni. Polisifonyo lɛ kɛɛ lɛ akɛ eji wolo ni mla egu, ni emɔ lɛ kɛtee polisifoi anitsumɔ he lɛ, ni ekɛ lɛ yawo tsuŋ yɛ jɛmɛ.

Mitee polisifoi anitsumɔ he lɛ, ni miyabibii saji saŋŋ, ni no sɛɛ lɛ midamɔ nyɛminuu lɛ sɛɛ ni ajie lɛ. Kɛkɛ ni mitswa Nyɛminuu Brown tɛlifon yɛ Lagos ni mitswa lɛ adafi yɛ nɔ ni eba nɛɛ he. Mibi lɛ hu akɛ ani mla ko yɛ ni guɔ wɔ woji lɛ ajaa lo. Nyɛminuu Brown kɛɛ mi akɛ wɔ woji lɛ ni wɔɔshɛ kɛba maŋ lɛ mli lɛ ji nɔ ni agu, shi jeee ni wɔkɛbaaha mɛi. Gbii etɛ sɛɛ lɛ, Nyɛminuu Brown tsu nyɛminuu ko kɛjɛ Lagos kɛba akɛ ebakwɛ nɔ ni yaa nɔ. Nyɛminuu nɛɛ kpɛ eyiŋ akɛ enɔ jetsɛremɔ lɛ, wɔ fɛɛ wɔbaaje kpo kɛya shiɛmɔ kɛ woji tɛtrɛbii kɛ woji wuji fɛɛ.

Wɔgbɛlɛ wɔmli kɛtee hei sɔrɔtoi. Aaafee ŋmɛlɛtswaa kome sɛɛ lɛ, minine shɛ adafitswaa nɔ akɛ amɔmɔ wɔnyɛmimɛi lɛ ateŋ mɛi babaoo. No hewɔ lɛ nyɛminuu ni eba wɔ saramɔ lɛ kɛ mi fɛɛ tee polisifoi anitsumɔ he lɛ. Polisifoi lɛ ekpɛlɛɛɛ ni amɛboɔ wɔ sane naatsɔɔmɔ ni wɔkɛhaa amɛ akɛ aguko wɔ woji lɛ toi.

Akɛ nyɛmimɛi 33 ni amɔmɔ amɛ lɛ tee Chief Magistrate’s Court yɛ Ife, ni mifata amɛhe kɛtee. Maŋbii ni na beni akɛ wɔ yaa lɛ bɔi bolɔmɔ akɛ: “Ŋmɛnɛ lɛ akɛ gbɔmɛi nɛɛ egbe naa. Ni amɛyaa nɛɛ amɛbaŋ biɛ dɔŋŋ.”

Akɛ naafolɔmɔ lɛ shwie kojolɔ nukpa lɛ, ni ji Nigerianyo lɛ hiɛ. Akɛ woji wuji kɛ woji tɛtrɛbii lɛ fɛɛ tsɔɔ. Kɛkɛ ni ebi polisifonyo onukpa lɛ mɔ ni ha lɛ hegbɛ akɛ emɔmɔ nɛkɛ gbɔmɛi nɛɛ. Polisifonyo onukpa lɛ ha hetoo akɛ etsu famɔ ni jɛ kpokpaa wulu nɔ onukpa lɛ ŋɔɔ kɛba lɛ he nii. Kɛkɛ ni kojolɔ nukpa lɛ tsɛ polisifonyo onukpa lɛ kɛ wɔ najiaŋdamɔlɔi ejwɛ, ni mifata he, kɛtee lɛ kojolɔ lɛ tsu mli he ni etsuɔ nii yɛ lɛ.

Ebi akɛ namɔ ji Ow. Brown. Ni wɔkɛɛ lɛ akɛ eji Buu Mɔɔ Asafo lɛ najiaŋdamɔlɔ yɛ Lagos. Ni ekɛɛ wɔ akɛ enine eshɛ tɛligram nɔ kɛjɛ Ow. Brown dɛŋ ni kɔɔ wɔhe. Etsi sane lɛ eto nakai gbi lɛ, ni eŋmɛ gbɛ akɛ abaanyɛ adamɔ nyɛmimɛi lɛ asɛɛ koni ajie amɛ. Enɔ jetsɛremɔ lɛ, ejie naafolɔmɔ lɛ kɛjɛ nyɛmimɛi lɛ anɔ, ni eŋmɛɛ amɛhe kwraa, ni efã polisifoi lɛ akɛ amɛkɛ woji lɛ aku sɛɛ aha wɔ.

Wɔku wɔsɛɛ kɛba Ilesha, kɛ lala. Gbɔmɛi lɛ bɔi bolɔmɔ ekoŋŋ, shi agbɛnɛ, nɔ ni amɛkɛɔ ji akɛ, “Amɛba ekoŋŋ!”

Aha Yehowa Mla ni Kɔɔ Gbalashihilɛ He lɛ Fee Faŋŋ

Afi 1947 mli ni klɛŋklɛŋ mɛi etɛ ni egbe Gilead nikasemɔ naa lɛ bashɛ Nigeria. Nyɛmimɛi hii nɛɛ ateŋ mɔ kome, Tony Attwood, yɛ biɛ lolo, eesɔmɔ yɛ Nigeria Betel. Kɛjɛ nakai beaŋ kɛbaa lɛ, wɔna tsakemɔi wuji yɛ Yehowa gbɛjianɔtoo lɛ mli yɛ Nigeria. Tsakemɔi wuji ni ba lɛ ekome ji bɔ ni wɔsusuɔ yei pii kɛ shihilɛ he wɔhaa lɛ.

Mikɛ Olabisi Fashugba bote gbalashihilɛ mli yɛ February 1941 mli, ni no mli lɛ miyɛ nilee saŋŋ, no hewɔ lɛ mikɛ yei krokomɛi ehiii shi kɛfataaa ehe. Shi kɛbashi afi 1947, beni maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛlɔ lɛ ba lɛ, no mli lɛ yei pii kɛ shihilɛ yɛ asafoi lɛ amli fɛɛ. Akɛɛ nyɛmimɛi ni kɛ yei pii ebote gbalashihilɛ mli lɛ akɛ le ni amɛleee akɛ ejaaa hewɔ ni amɛkɛ yei pii ehi shi lɛ. No hewɔ lɛ, kɛ amɛyɛ ŋamɛi enyɔ loo etɛ loo ejwɛ loo enumɔ lɛ, amɛbaanyɛ amɛkɛ amɛ ahi shi, shi amɛkɛ mɛi krokomɛi akahi shi kɛfata amɛhe dɔŋŋ. No ji mla ni wɔkɛtsu nii.

Gbɔmɛi babaoo miishwe ni amɛbafata wɔhe, titri lɛ Kerubim kɛ Serafim Kuu ni yɔɔ Ilesha lɛ. Amɛkɛɔ akɛ Yehowa Odasefoi pɛ ji mɛi ni tsɔɔ anɔkwale lɛ. Amɛkpɛlɛɔ wɔ tsɔɔmɔi lɛ anɔ, ni amɛmiitao ni amɛtsake amɛ sɔlemɔtsui lɛ ni amɛfee lɛ Maŋtsɛyeli Asai. Wɔ hu wɔmiibɔ mɔdɛŋ waa ni wɔha nɛkɛ ekomefeemɔ nɛɛ aba. Wɔto hei po ni wɔtsɔseɔ amɛ onukpai lɛ yɛ.

Kɛkɛ ni akɛ gbɛtsɔɔmɔ hee ni kɔɔ yei pii kɛ shihilɛ he lɛ ba. Maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛlɔi lɛ ekome ha maŋshiɛmɔ ko yɛ kpokpaa nɔ kpee ko shishi yɛ 1947 mli. Ewie jeŋba kɛ subaŋi kpakpai ahe. Kɛkɛ ni no sɛɛ lɛ etsɛ 1 Korintobii 6:9, 10, ni kɛɔ akɛ mɛi ni feɔ nibii ni ejaaa gbɛ lɛ anine shɛŋ Nyɔŋmɔ Maŋtsɛyeli lɛ nɔ lɛ sɛɛ. Kɛkɛ ni ekɛfata he akɛ: “Ni mɛi ni kɛ yei pii ehi shi lɛ anine shɛŋ Nyɔŋmɔ Maŋtsɛyeli lɛ nɔ!” Gbɔmɛi ni yɔɔ toibolɔi lɛ ateŋ bolɔ akɛ: “Oo, mɛi ni kɛ yei pii ehi shi lɛ anine shɛŋ Nyɔŋmɔ Maŋtsɛyeli lɛ nɔ!” Enɛ kɛ mligbalamɔ ba. Ebafee tamɔ ta. Mɛi heei ni kɛ wɔ bɔɔ lɛ ateŋ mɛi pii kɛ wɔ kpa bɔɔ kwraa, ni amɛkɛɛ: “Wɔmiida Nyɔŋmɔ shi akɛ wɔkɛ asafo nɛɛ ebɔɔɔ kɛyaaa shɔŋŋ.”

Shi, nyɛmimɛi lɛ ateŋ mɛi babaoo bɔi amɛ gbalashihilɛi lɛ asaamɔ, ni amɛŋmɛɛ amɛŋamɛi babaoo ni amɛyɔɔ lɛ ahe. Amɛha amɛ shika ni amɛkɛɛ amɛ akɛ, ‘Kɛ odako tsɔ lɛ, no lɛ obaanyɛ oyatao wu kroko. Mitɔ̃ akɛ mikɛ bo hi shi. Amrɔ nɛɛ esa akɛ mafee ŋa kome pɛ wu.’

Etsɛɛɛ kɛkɛ ni naagba kroko hu te shi. Yɛ be mli ni amɛkpɛ amɛyiŋ akɛ amɛbaahi ŋa kome pɛ, ni amɛŋmɛɛ mɛi krokomɛi lɛ ahe lɛ sɛɛ lɛ, mɛi komɛi tsake amɛjwɛŋmɔ ni amɛkpɛ amɛyiŋ akɛ amɛmiisumɔ ni amɛŋɔ ŋamɛi krokomɛi ni amɛŋmɛɛ amɛhe lɛ ateŋ mɔ kome ni amɛŋmɛɛ mɔ ni amɛha ehi shi tsutsu lɛ he! No hewɔ lɛ naagba je shishi ekoŋŋ.

Gbɛtsɔɔmɔ kroko jɛ nitsumɔ he yitso lɛ yɛ Brooklyn ba, ni edamɔ Maleaki 2:14, ni wieɔ “obalahiiaŋ ŋa” lɛ he lɛ nɔ. Gbɛtsɔɔmɔ lɛ ji akɛ, esa akɛ wumɛi kɛ amɛ klɛŋklɛŋ ŋamɛi ni amɛkɛbote gbalashihilɛ mli lɛ ahi shi. Nakai ji bɔ ni akɛna sane lɛ naa kwraa kɛmɔ shi.

Sɔɔmɔ Hegbɛi

Yɛ 1947 mli lɛ, Asafo lɛ bɔi asafoi lɛ hewalɛwoo, ni ato amɛhe gbɛjianɔ awo kpokpai amli. Amɛmiitao ni amɛhala nyɛmimɛi hii ni edara yɛ mumɔŋ, ni etee hiɛ waa yɛ nilee mli hu akɛ ‘sɔɔlɔi kɛha nyɛmimɛi lɛ,’ ni atsɛɔ amɛ kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔi amrɔ nɛɛ. Nyɛminuu Brown bi mi akɛ ani masumɔ ni ahala mi afata he lo. Mikɛɛ lɛ akɛ yiŋtoo hewɔ ni abaptisi mi ji ni mafee Yehowa suɔmɔnaa nii, ni mikɛfata he akɛ: “Bo po ji mɔ ni baptisi mi. Kɛji hegbɛ eba amrɔ nɛɛ akɛ masɔmɔ Yehowa jogbaŋŋ kɛmɔ shi lɛ, ani osusuɔ akɛ makɛɛ dabi?”

Yɛ nakai afi lɛ October mli lɛ, atsɛ wɔteŋ mɛi kpawo kɛtee Lagos ni akɛ tsɔsemɔ ha wɔ, dani atsu wɔ kɛtee kpokpaa nɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Nakai beaŋ lɛ, kpokpai lɛ dara waa. Aja maŋ muu lɛ fɛɛ mli awo kpokpai kpawo pɛ mli. Asafoi lɛ faaa.

Wɔ nitsumɔ akɛ sɔɔlɔi kɛha nyɛmimɛi lɛ wa waa. Wɔnyiɛɔ shitooi abɔ daa gbi, bei pii lɛ, kɛtsɔɔ hulu liamɔ shikpɔŋ nɔ kooi ni mli dɔɔ, ni emli yɔɔ frɔnɔɔ hu mli. Daa otsi lɛ, esa akɛ wɔfa gbɛ kɛjɛ akrowa kome mli kɛya akrowa kroko mli. Bei komɛi lɛ, minuɔ he tamɔ nɔ ni minaji miihe aje mishishi. Bei kroko hu lɛ, minuɔ he tamɔ nɔ ni miigbo! Shi wɔna miishɛɛ babaoo hu, titri lɛ beni wɔnaa mɛi babaoo ni yaa nɔ amɛkpɛlɛɔ anɔkwale lɛ nɔ lɛ. Ejaakɛ, yɛ afii kpawo pɛ mli lɛ, shiɛlɔi ayibɔ ni yɔɔ maŋ lɛ mli lɛ ku ebɔ he toi ejwɛ!

Mitsu nii yɛ kpokpaa nɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli aahu kɛbashi 1955 beni gbɔmɔtsoŋ hela ha miku misɛɛ kɛba Ilesha, he ni ahala mi akɛ maŋtiase nɔkwɛlɔ lɛ. Shia ni miyɔɔ lɛ ha mikɛ mijwɛŋmɔ fɔ̃ miweku lɛ yelikɛbuamɔ yɛ mumɔŋ nɔ titri. Ŋmɛnɛ, mibii ekpaa lɛ fɛɛ kɛ anɔkwayeli miisɔmɔ Yehowa.

Anɔkwa Suɔmɔ Sɛɛ Efooo Gbi ko Gbi Ko

Kɛ misusu afii abɔ ni eho lɛ he lɛ, miyɛ nibii babaoo ni midaa shi yɛ he. Wɔkɛ nijiaŋwujeei, haomɔi, kɛ helai kpe moŋ, shi wɔna miishɛɛ babaoo hu. Eyɛ mli akɛ wɔ nilee kɛ niiashishinumɔ etee hiɛ waa yɛ afii abɔ lɛ amli moŋ, shi mibanu 1 Korintobii 13:8, ni kɛɔ akɛ: “Suɔmɔ sɛɛ efooo gbi ko gbi ko” lɛ shishi jogbaŋŋ kɛtsɔ niiashikpamɔ nɔ. Kɛ osumɔɔ Yehowa, ni ohi shi shiŋŋ yɛ esɔɔmɔ mli lɛ, ebaaye ebua bo kɛtsɔ ojaramɔ bei amli, ni ebaajɔɔ bo babaoo.

Anɔkwale la lɛ miiya nɔ eekpɛ waa diɛŋtsɛ. Beni wɔje shishi klɛŋklɛŋ kwraa lɛ, wɔsusu akɛ Harmagedon baaba oya nɔŋŋ; no hewɔ ni wɔye oyai waa koni wɔkɛtsu nɔ ni wɔbaanyɛ wɔtsu lɛ. Shi nomɛi fɛɛ ebafee sɛɛnamɔ kɛha wɔ. No hewɔ ni mikɛ lalatsɛ lɛ wiemɔi nɛɛ kpaa gbee lɛ, akɛ: “Gbii abɔ ni mihiɛ kã nɛɛ majie Yehowa yi; gbii abɔ ni miyɔɔ jeŋ nɛɛ mala majie mi-Nyɔŋmɔ lɛ yi!”—Lala 146:2.

[Shishigbɛ niŋmai]

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 23]

Samuel kɛ Milton Henschel yɛ 1955 mli

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 24]

Samuel kɛ eŋa, Olabisi