“Nyɛkatsua Ŋmaa ni Fiteɔ lɛ he Nii”

TAAKƐ DAVID LUNSTRUM GBA

Mikɛ minyɛmi nuu fioo Elwood damɔ atswere nɔ yɛ ŋwɛi, nɔ ni fe mitai 9, ni wɔkɛ pɛnte miiŋma nii hee yɛ Buu Mɔɔ Asafo lɛ woji afeemɔ tsu lɛ he. Nɔ ni fe afii 40 sɛɛ lɛ, eyɛ jɛmɛ lolo, ni eewo hewalɛ akɛ: “KANEMƆ NYƆŊMƆ WIEMƆ NI JI BIBLIA LƐ DAA.” Daa otsi lɛ, gbɔmɛi akpei abɔ naa niŋmaa nɛɛ beni amɛtsɔɔ Brooklyn Bridge ni ehe gbɛi waa lɛ nɔ lɛ.

MIGBEKƐBIIASHI nibii ni mikaiɔ jogbaŋŋ lɛ ateŋ ekome ji wɔ weku lɛ niiahefɔmɔ gbi. Beni aaashɛ leebi 5:00, no mli lɛ Awo ete shi momo, ni eefɔ wɔ weku agbo lɛ atadei ahe, belɛ Ataa hu miisaa ehe kɛha nitsumɔ yaa. Amɛnaa amɛ sanegbaa ni bei jeɔ mli lɛ ekoŋŋ, ní Ataa kɛ lɛ miitaa sane naa akɛ gbɔmɔ tsake aahu yɛ afii akpekpei abɔ ni ho lɛ amli, ní Awo miitsɛ wiemɔi asɛɛ kɛmiijɛ Biblia lɛ mli kɛmiima nɔ mi akɛ adesai lɛ, Nyɔŋmɔ adebɔɔ nii tɛɛ ji amɛ.

Beni miye afii kpawo pɛ po lɛ, miyoo akɛ nɔ ni Awo kɛɔ lɛ ji anɔkwale. Yɛ bɔ ni misumɔɔ Ataa waa lɛ fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, minaa akɛ ehemɔkɛyeli lɛ kɛ hiɛnɔkamɔ ko haaa kɛha wɔsɛɛ. Kwɛ bɔ ni kulɛ Awo baana miishɛɛ waa eha akɛ eeele akɛ afii babaoo sɛɛ lɛ, ebihii lɛ ateŋ mɛi enyɔ kɛ pɛnte ŋma nɔ ko ni woɔ gbɔmɛi hewalɛ ni amɛkane Biblia, ni ji wolo ni esumɔɔ waa lɛ!

Shi mitoko mihe sane ni migbaa nyɛ nɛɛ naa jogbaŋŋ. Te fɛɛ tɛŋŋ ni mibana hegbɛ kɛha nitsumɔ ni tamɔ nɛkɛ? Ehe miihia ni maku mi sɛɛ kɛya afi 1906, ni ji afii etɛ dani afɔ mi lɛ nɔ tɔ̃ɔ.

Awo Anɔkwayeli He Nɔkwɛmɔ nɔ Lɛ

No mli lɛ Awo kɛ Ataa ebote gbalashihilɛ mli ehee, ni amɛyɛ buu ko mli yɛ Arizona. Biblia Kaselɔ ko, taakɛ atsɛɔ Yehowa Odasefoi yɛ nakai beaŋ lɛ, ba wɔ ŋɔɔ ni eha Awo woji sɔrɔtoi ni tsara nɔ, ni Charles Taze Russell ŋmala, ni yitso ji Studies in the Scriptures lɛ eko. Awo shĩ kpe nyɔɔŋ-nyɔɔŋ fɛɛ ní eekane, ni no sɛɛ etsɛɛɛ kɛkɛ ni eyoo akɛ enɛ ji anɔkwale ni etaoɔ lɛ. Eeye oyai waa ni Ataa ajɛ he ni etee kɛha nitsumɔ taomɔ lɛ ni eba ni ekɛɛ lɛ.

No mli lɛ Ataa hu naaa nɔ ni sɔlemɔi lɛ tsɔɔ lɛ he miishɛɛ, no hewɔ lɛ ekpɛlɛ Biblia mli anɔkwalei nɛɛ anɔ yɛ be ko mli. Shi, sɛɛ mli lɛ, ekɔ lɛ diɛŋtsɛ egbɛ yɛ jamɔ gbɛfaŋ, ni eha nibii amli bawa waa po kɛha Awo yɛ jamɔ gbɛfaŋ. Ni kɛlɛ, Awo kpaaa ebii lɛ aheloonaa kɛ mumɔŋ hiamɔ nibii hu fɛɛ ahe nitsumɔ kɔkɔɔkɔ.

Mihiɛ kpaŋ bɔ ni Awo yiɔ shi kɛjɛɔ ŋwɛitsu lɛ nɔ daa gbɛkɛ, yɛ be mli ni etsu nii aahu kɛ tɔlɛ babaoo gbi muu fɛɛ lɛ sɛɛ, koni ebakane Biblia lɛ fã ko eha wɔ aloo ni ekɛ wɔ abagba mumɔŋ jwetri ko he sane lɛ nɔ kɔkɔɔkɔ. Ataa hu tsuɔ nii waa diɛŋtsɛ, ni beni midaa lɛ, lɛ ji mɔ ni tsɔɔ mi pɛnte kɛ nitɛŋmɔ loo kɛ niŋmaa nitsumɔ lɛ. Hɛɛ, Ataa tsɔɔ mi nitsumɔ, shi Awo tsɔɔ mi nitsumɔ ni esa akɛ matsu, taakɛ Yesu kɛ famɔ ha lɛ, ‘ŋmaa ni fiteee lɛ’ he nitsumɔ.—Yohane 6:27.

Yɛ naagbee lɛ wɔ weku lɛ yahi maŋ bibioo ni atsɛɔ lɛ Ellensburg lɛ mli yɛ Washington maŋ wulu lɛ mli, aaafee kilomitai 180 yɛ Seattle bokagbɛ. Beni wɔ, gbekɛbii lɛ kɛ Awo bɔi Biblia Kaselɔi lɛ akpeei yaa lɛ, no mli lɛ wɔkpeɔ yɛ mɛi ashiai amli. Hii lɛ fɛɛ shi wɔ nikasemɔ kuu lɛ beni ama hiamɔ ni ehe hiaa ni akɛ he awo shia-kɛ-shia sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli lɛ nɔ mi lɛ. Shi Awo gbugbãaa kɔkɔɔkɔ. Enɛ na minɔ hewalɛ waa akɛ, esa akɛ wɔkɛ wɔhe afɔ gbɛtsɔɔmɔ ni Yehowa gbɛjianɔtoo lɛ kɛhaa wɔ lɛ nɔ be fɛɛ be.

Yɛ naagbee lɛ, Ataa kɛ Awo fɔ bii nɛɛhu. Afɔ mi October 1, 1909, akɛ amɛbi ni ji etɛ. Yɛ fɛɛ mli lɛ, wɔteŋ mɛi ekpaa kase Awo nɔkwɛmɔ nɔ kpakpa lɛ ni wɔbatsɔmɔ Yehowa Odasefoi ni yɔɔ ekaa.

Henɔjɔɔmɔ kɛ Baptisimɔ

Beni miye fe afii nyɔŋma kɛ enumɔ kɛyaa lɛ, mijɔɔ mihe nɔ miha Yehowa, ni mikɛ nu mli baptisimɔ fee enɛ he okadi yɛ afi 1927 mli. Afee baptisimɔ lɛ yɛ Seattle yɛ tsu momo ko ni tsutsu lɛ eji Baptist sɔlemɔ tsu lɛ mli. Eŋɔɔ minaa waa akɛ no mli lɛ ajie tsu kakadaŋŋ ni akɛ sɛŋmɔtso maa nɔ lɛ kɛjɛ he. Anyiɛ wɔhiɛ kɛtee nu bu ni yɔɔ tsu lɛ shishigbɛ lɛ mli ni aha wɔ atadei diji kakadaji ni wɔwo. Eha efee tamɔ nɔ ni wɔmiiya yara nɔ.

Miba Seattle ekoŋŋ yɛ nyɔji fioo sɛɛ, ni nakai beaŋ ji be ni mikɛ mihe wo shia-kɛ-shia odaseyeli lɛ mli klɛŋklɛŋ kwraa. Mɔ ni nyiɛ hiɛ lɛ kɛ gbɛtsɔɔmɔ ha mi akɛ, “Bo nyiɛmɔ gbɛ nɛɛ nɔ kɛbɔle tsu nɛɛ, ní mi hu matsɔ nɛkɛ gbɛ.” Yɛ mihe kpokpomɔ lɛ fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, mikɛ woji akui sɔrɔtoi enyɔ ha yoo ko ni yɔɔ wiemɔ lɛ he miishɛɛ waa. Mitee nɔ yɛ shia-kɛ-shia sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli beni miku misɛɛ kɛtee Ellensburg lɛ, ni amrɔ nɛɛ, aaafee afii 70 sɛɛ lɛ, sɔɔmɔ nɛɛ haa minaa miishɛɛ waa lolo.

Sɔɔmɔ yɛ Jeŋ Fɛɛ Nitsumɔ He Yitso Lɛ

No sɛɛ etsɛɛɛ lɛ, mɔ ko ni esɔmɔ yɛ Brooklyn Betel, ni ji Buu Mɔɔ Asafo lɛ jeŋ fɛɛ nitsumɔ he yitso lɛ, wo mi hewalɛ ni mikɛ mihe aha akɛ masɔmɔ yɛ jɛmɛ. Yɛ wɔ sanegbaa lɛ sɛɛ be fioo mli lɛ, adafitswaa ko je kpo yɛ Buu-Mɔɔ wolo tɛtrɛɛ lɛ mli ni ha ale akɛ yelikɛbuamɔ he ehia yɛ Betel. No hewɔ lɛ miŋma wolo kɛtee. Mihiɛ kpaŋ miishɛɛ ni mina beni minine shɛ wolo nɔ akɛ miba kɛha Betel sɔɔmɔ yɛ Brooklyn, yɛ New York, yɛ March 10, 1930 lɛ nɔ kɔkɔɔkɔ. Nɛkɛ gbɛ nɔ mitsɔ mije miwala be mli nitsumɔ, ni ji be-fɛɛ nitsumɔ ni mitsuɔ kɛha ‘ŋmaa ni fiteee’ lɛ shishi.

Ekolɛ mɔ ko baasusu akɛ yɛ niiashikpamɔ ni miyɔɔ akɛ nitɛŋlɔ lɛ hewɔ lɛ, abaaha mi nitsumɔ ni matɛŋ nii. Shi yɛ no najiaŋ lɛ, klɛŋklɛŋ nitsumɔ ni aha mi ji ni miyatsu nii yɛ tsɔne ni akɛkpɛɔ woji amli yɛ woji afeemɔ he lɛ he. Eyɛ mli akɛ nitsumɔ nɛɛ ji nitsumɔ koome ni tsakeee moŋ, shi mina he miishɛɛ aahu fe afii ekpaa. Woji akalamɔ tsɔne agbo ni wɔkɛ miishɛɛ wo lɛ gbɛi akɛ tawuu lɛlɛ momo lɛ, kalaa woji bibii ni akɛshwie rɔba kpãa ni lɛɛ ni tsɔne kudɔɔ lɛ kɛbɔleɔ ehe lɛ nɔ kɛyaa nitsumɔ he lɛ shishigbɛ tsu lɛ mli. Wɔnaa he miishɛɛ waa akɛ wɔɔka wɔkwɛ akɛ ani wɔbaanyɛ wɔkpɛ woji lɛ oya tamɔ bɔ ni ebaa oyayaayai kɛjɛɔ tawuu lɛlɛ lɛ mli lɛ lo.

Sɛɛ mli lɛ, miyatsu nii yɛ nitsumɔi hei sɔrɔtoi amli, ni he ni wɔfeɔ gramafon kɛ eplɛtei yɛ lɛ fata he. Wɔkɛ nɛkɛ tsɔnei nɛɛ tsuɔ nii ni wɔkɛtswaa Biblia mli saji ni akɛwo plɛtei anɔ, yɛ shiatsɛmɛi lɛ ashinaai anaa. Wɔ nitsumɔ he lɛ nitsulɔi ni kɛ amɛhe eha, fee gramafon lɛ eko ni anyɛɔ amɛkɛmaa shi jaŋŋ. Jeee akɛ nɛkɛ gramafon nɛɛ nyɛɔ etswaa wiemɔi ni amɔmɔ awo plɛtei anɔ kɛkɛ, shi moŋ eyɛ hei komɛi yɛ he ni anyɛɔ akɛ woji bibii kɛ ekolɛ bodobodo woɔ jɛmɛ. Mina hegbɛ akɛ matsɔɔ bɔ ni akɛ nɛkɛ tsɔne hee nɛɛ tsuɔ nii ahaa yɛ kpee wulu ni afee yɛ Detroit, yɛ Michigan, yɛ 1940 mli lɛ shishi.

Shi kɛlɛ, wɔmiifee babaoo fe tsɔnei ni wɔkɛ ŋaalee feɔ lɛ kɛkɛ. No mli lɛ, wɔmiifee mumɔŋ tsakemɔi ni he hiaa waa hu. Akɛ nɔkwɛmɔ nɔ lɛ, tsutsu ko lɛ, Yehowa Odasefoi kɛ krɔs kɛ akekre pin ko tsɛɔ amɛtsitsi nɔ. Shi wɔbanu shishi yɛ nakai beaŋ akɛ agbe Yesu yɛ tso ni ma shi jaŋŋ nɔ, shi jeee yɛ krɔs nɔ. (Bɔfoi lɛ Asaji 5:30) No hewɔ lɛ wɔkpa nakai pin lɛ kɛ wɔtsitsi nɔ tsɛɛ. Mibana hegbɛ akɛ majie nibii ni akɛtsɛɔ lɛ kɛjɛ nakai tsitsinaatsɛɛ nii lɛ ahe. Sɛɛ mli lɛ, asere shika tsuru ni ana lɛ fɛɛ ni ahɔ̃ɔ.

Eyɛ mli akɛ wɔyɛ daa otsi ni ji gbii enumɔ kɛ fã nitsumɔ gbɛjianɔtoo ni deka bɛ mli kwraa moŋ, shi wɔkɛ wɔhe woɔ Kristofoi asɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli yɛ otsii lɛ anaagbee. Gbi ko lɛ, amɔmɔ wɔyi 16 ni akɛ wɔ yawo tsuŋ yɛ Brooklyn. Mɛni hewɔ? Ojogbaŋŋ, nakai beaŋ lɛ, wɔbuɔ jamɔi fɛɛ akɛ no nɔŋŋ ji apasa jamɔ lɛ. No hewɔ lɛ wɔhiɛɔ okadii ni wɔŋma yɛ fã kome akɛ “Jamɔ Tsɔɔ Tsɔne ni Etswaa Ojo” kɛ fã kroko lɛ hu akɛ “Sɔɔmɔ Nyɔŋmɔ kɛ Kristo ni Ji Maŋtsɛ Lɛ.” Nɛkɛ okadii ni wɔhiɛ nɛɛ hewɔ lɛ, akɛ wɔ yawo tsuŋ, shi Hayden Covington, ni ji Buu Mɔɔ Asafo lɛ mlalelɔ lɛ, badamɔ wɔsɛɛ ni ajie wɔ. No mli lɛ, aaye saji babaoo ni kɔɔ jamɔ mli heyeli he lɛ yɛ United States Kojomɔ He Wulu Fe Fɛɛ lɛ, ni eyɛ miishɛɛ waa akɛ wɔyɛ Betel ni wɔnuɔ amaniɛbɔi ni tsɔɔ bɔ ni wɔyeɔ kunim yɛ saji ni ayeɔ nɛɛ amli lɛ tɛɛ.

Yɛ naagbee lɛ, aha mi nitsumɔi ni mikɛ minitɛŋmɔ niiashikpamɔ lɛ baatsu. Wɔyɛ wɔ redio nitsumɔ he ni ji WBBR lɛ yɛ Staten Island, ni ji New York City shihilɛi hei lɛ ekome mli. Nitsumɔ he lɛ redio tsɔnei lɛ mamɔ dadei ni nɔ kwɔlɔ waa fe mitai 60 nɔ, ni amɛyɛ dade kpãai kui sɔrɔtoi etɛ ni akɛmɔmɔ kɛjɛ ŋwɛigbɛ koni enyɛ edamɔ shi jaŋŋ. Mita ŋmoŋmlo ni kɛlɛ ji ninetalɔi etɛ, kɛ elɛɛmɔ hu ninetalɔ fã nɔ, ni mihefatalɔi nitsulɔi lɛ ekome kɛ tsɔne kɛ kpãa wo minɔ kɛtee ŋwɛi. Mita nakai ŋmoŋmlo bibioo lɛ nɔ yɛ ŋwɛi shɔŋŋ, ni mipɛnte dade kpãai kɛ dade diɛŋtsɛ ni ma shi jaŋŋ ni redio tsɔne lɛ ma nɔ lɛ fɛɛ he. Mɛi komɛi biɔ mi akɛ ani wɔsɔle babaoo beni wɔtsuɔ nakai nitsumɔ lɛ lo!

Latsaa be mli nitsumɔ ko ni mihiɛ kpaŋ nɔ ji woji afeemɔ nitsumɔ he tsũ lɛ he samfɛji lɛ ahe fɔmɔ kɛ amɛ flɛntsei lɛ ahe pɛntemɔ. Wɔtsɛɔ lɛ akɛ latsaa be mli hejɔɔmɔ. Wɔfeɔ wɔ tsei ni wɔkɛmamɔ atswere lɛ kɛyaa ŋwɛigbɛ fiofio, ni wɔkɛ tsɔne ni akɛgbalaa kpãa holeɔ wɔkɛ wɔnibii lɛ kɛyaa ŋwɛigbɛ loo kɛbaa shikpɔŋ gbɛ, yɛ tsu ni kwɔlɛ ji ŋsɔɔdoi kpaanyɔ lɛ he.

Weku ni Ye Bua Mi

Yɛ 1932 mli lɛ, mitsɛ bagbo, ni mibasusu akɛ ani esa akɛ maya shia ni miyaye mibua ni wɔkɛkwɛ Awo lo. No hewɔ lɛ, gbi ko beni eshɛko shwane niyeli be lɛ, mikɛ wolo bibioo ko yafɔ mɔ ni taa okpɔlɔ yitso lɛ okpɔlɔ lɛ nɔ, he ni Nyɛminuu Rutherford, ni ji Asafo lɛ sɛinɔtalɔ lɛ taa lɛ. Miŋma yɛ wolo lɛ mli akɛ miitao mikɛ lɛ awie. Beni ena ele bɔ ni misusuɔ shihilɛ lɛ he, ni ena ele hu akɛ miyɛ nyɛmimɛi hii kɛ yei ni amɛyɛ shia lolo lɛ, ebi mi akɛ, “Ani oosumɔ ni ohi Betel ni otsu Nuntsɔ lɛ nitsumɔ lɛ?”

Mijie lɛ naa akɛ: “Hɛɛ, miisumɔ.”

No hewɔ lɛ ewo mi ŋaa akɛ miŋma wolo miyaha Awo ni mikɛkwɛ akɛ ani ekɛ miyiŋkpɛɛ lɛ kpaa gbee lo. Mifee nakai, ni lɛ hu eha mi hetoo ni tsɔɔ akɛ ekɛ miyiŋkpɛɛ lɛ kpaa gbee kɛmɔ shi. Mihiɛ sɔ Nyɛminuu Rutherford mlihilɛ kɛ ŋaa ni ewo mi nɛɛ waa diɛŋtsɛ.

Afii babaoo ni miye yɛ Betel lɛ mli fɛɛ lɛ, miŋmaa miweku lɛ wolo nɔtonɔto ni miwoɔ amɛ hewalɛ ni amɛsɔmɔ Yehowa, taakɛ Awo hu wo mi hewalɛ lɛ. Awo gbo yɛ July 1937 mli. Kwɛ hewalɛwoo ni eji kɛha wɔ weku lɛ! Minyɛmi nuu onukpa kɛ minyɛmi yoo onukpa, Paul kɛ Esther, kɛ minyɛmi yoo fioo Lois pɛ ebafeee Odasefoi. Shi kɛlɛ, Paul jieɔ suɔmɔ kpo yɛ wɔ nitsumɔ lɛ he, ni eha wɔ shikpɔŋ po ni wɔkɛma wɔ klɛŋklɛŋ Maŋtsɛyeli Asa.

Yɛ 1936 mli lɛ, minyɛmi yoo fioo Eva batsɔ gbɛgbalɔ, loo be-fɛɛ shiɛlɔ. Nakai afi lɛ mli nɔŋŋ lɛ, ekɛ Ralph Thomas bote gbalashihilɛ mli, ni 1939 mli lɛ, aha amɛ nitsumɔ yɛ gbɛfaa nitsumɔ lɛ mli koni amɛyasɔmɔ Yehowa Odasefoi asafoi. Yɛ sɛɛ mli lɛ, amɛfã kɛyahi Mexico, ni amɛye afii 25 yɛ jɛmɛ ni amɛkɛye amɛbua Maŋtsɛyeli nitsumɔ lɛ.

Yɛ 1939 mli lɛ, minyɛmimɛi yei bibii ni ji Alice kɛ Frances hu kɛ amɛhe wo gbɛgbamɔ sɔɔmɔ lɛ mli. Kwɛ miishɛɛ ni eji akɛ mana akɛ Alice damɔ okpɔlɔ ko sɛɛ yɛ St. Louis kpee wulu ni wɔfee yɛ 1941 mli lɛ shishi, ni eetsɔɔ bɔ ni akɛ gramafon tsɔne ni miye mibua ni akɛfee lɛ tsuɔ nii ahaa! Eyɛ mli akɛ bei komɛi lɛ ehe hiaa ni Alice afolɔ egbɛgbamɔ sɔɔmɔ lɛ mli yɛ weku mli gbɛnaa nii komɛi ahewɔ moŋ, shi kɛ abua fɛɛ naa lɛ, eye fe afii 40 yɛ be-fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ lɛ mli. Frances tsa nɔ kɛtee Buu Mɔɔ Biblia Gilead Skul lɛ yɛ 1944 mli, ni ekɛ be saŋŋ sɔmɔ akɛ maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛlɔ yɛ Puerto Rico.

Joel kɛ Elwood, ni ji gbekɛbii fe fɛɛ yɛ weku lɛ mli lɛ batsɔmɔ gbɛgbalɔi yɛ Montana yɛ 1940 afii lɛ shishijee gbɛ. Joel ehi shi aahu akɛ Odasefonyo anɔkwafo, ni amrɔ nɛɛ eesɔmɔ akɛ asafoŋ sɔɔlɔ. Elwood bafata mihe yɛ Betel yɛ 1944 mli, ni eha mitsui na miishɛɛ waa. Beni mishi shia lɛ, no mli lɛ eyeko afii enumɔ. Taakɛ miwie kɛtsɔ hiɛ momo lɛ, wɔfee ekome kɛtsu nii, ni wɔŋma okadi ni yɔɔ woji afeemɔ nitsumɔ he tsu lɛ he, ni kaneɔ akɛ, “Kanemɔ Nyɔŋmɔ Wiemɔ ni Ji Biblia lɛ Daa.” Bei pii lɛ, misusuɔ mɛi abɔ ni ena niŋmaa nɛɛ yɛ afii abɔ ni eho lɛ mli fɛɛ ni ewo amɛ hewalɛ ni amɛkane Biblia lɛ ayifalɛ he.

Elwood sɔmɔ aahu yɛ Betel kɛyashi 1956 kɛkɛ ni ekɛ Emma Flyte bote gbalashihilɛ mli. Elwood kɛ Emma fɛɛ kɛ amɛhe wo be-fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli afii babaoo, ni amɛyasɔmɔ fioo yɛ Kenya, yɛ Afrika, kɛ Spain hu. Elwood ná kansa ni egbo yɛ Spain yɛ 1978 mli. Emma etee nɔ ehi Spain yɛ gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli aahu kɛbashi ŋmɛnɛ.

Gbalashihilɛ kɛ Weku

Yɛ September 1953 mli lɛ, mishi Betel ni mikɛ Alice Rivera, ni eji gbɛgbalɔ yɛ Brooklyn Center Asafo ni mikɛbɔɔ lɛ mli lɛ bote gbalashihilɛ mli. Miha Alice le akɛ miyɛ ŋwɛi hiɛnɔkamɔ, shi kɛlɛ ena miishɛɛ akɛ ekɛ mi baabote gbalashihilɛ mli.—Filipibii 3:14.

Beni wɔhi Betel aahu afii 23 sɛɛ lɛ, ebafee tsakemɔ kpele diɛŋtsɛ akɛ maje heloonaa nitsumɔ shishi akɛ nitɛŋlɔ koni mikɛkwɛ Alice kɛ mi diɛŋtsɛ mihe yɛ gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Alice fiɔ misɛɛ waa be fɛɛ be, kɛ bei ni ehe bahiaa ni ekpa gbɛgbamɔ lɛ fioo yɛ gbɔmɔtsoŋ helai ahewɔ lɛ po mli. Yɛ 1954 mli lɛ, no mli lɛ wɔbaafɔ wɔ klɛŋklɛŋ bi. Gbekɛ lɛ fɔmɔ he bajara fioo, shi kɛlɛ wɔbi nuu, John, na hewalɛ jogbaŋŋ. La ho Alice saŋŋ yɛ opireshɛn feemɔ lɛ mli, aahu akɛ enɛ ha datrɛfoi lɛ susu akɛ eyi naŋ wala. Eshɛ he ko po ni amɛnuuu etsui-tswaa he dɔŋŋ yɛ enine shi. Shi, je tsɛre lɛ kɛ̃, ni ena hewalɛ kwraa yɛ be ni sa mli.

Afii fioo sɛɛ, beni Alice tsɛ gbo lɛ, wɔfã kɛtee hiɛ saŋŋ ekoŋŋ kɛyahi Long Island koni wɔkɛ emami ayahi shi. Akɛni wɔbɛ kar hewɔ lɛ, minyiɛɔ loo mitaa bɔs kɛ shikpɔŋ shishi oketekei bibii amli kɛyaa kɛbaa. Enɛ hewɔ lɛ minyɛ mitsa gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ nɔ, ni minyɛ mikwɛ miweku lɛ hu. Miishɛɛ ni mina yɛ be-fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ lɛ mli lɛ fa kwraa fe nibii ni mikɛsha afɔle lɛ. Gbɔmɛi ni miye mibua—tamɔ Joe Natale, ni ŋmɛɛ ewala be mli nitsumɔ ni shika yɔɔ mli waa akɛ mɔ ni tswaa baseball lɛ he, koni ebatsɔ Odasefonyo lɛ—ebafee jɔɔmɔi babaoo ni mina lɛ ateŋ ekome kɛkɛ.

Yɛ 1967 mli, beni shihilɛ lɛ mli bawo wu yɛ New York niiaŋ lɛ, mikpɛ miyiŋ akɛ mikɛ Alice kɛ John baaku wɔsɛɛ kɛya wɔmaŋ, ni ji Ellensburg ni wɔyahi jɛmɛ. Amrɔ nɛɛ minaa miishɛɛ waa akɛ mana akɛ mimami nabii kɛ enanakansowai babaoo kɛ amɛhe ewo be-fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Amɛteŋ mɛi komɛi po miisɔmɔ yɛ Betel. John kɛ eŋa kɛ ebii lɛ hu kɛ anɔkwayeli miisɔmɔ Yehowa.

Dɔlɛ sane ji akɛ, milaaje miŋa Alice, ni misumɔɔ waa lɛ yɛ gbele mli yɛ 1989 mli. Mideka fɛɛ ni mikɛtsuɔ nii yɛ be-fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli eye ebua mi ni minyɛ mikpee egbele lɛ naa. Amrɔ nɛɛ mikɛ minyɛmi yoo Alice naa gbɛgbamɔ sɔɔmɔ lɛ mli miishɛɛ kutuu. Kwɛ miishɛɛ ni eji akɛ wɔɔhi shia kome mli ekoŋŋ, ni wɔkɛ wɔdeka fɛɛ miitsu nɛkɛ nitsumɔ ni he hiaa waa nɛɛ!

Yɛ 1994 agbiɛnaa mli lɛ, mitee miyashɛra shi yɛ Betel klɛŋklɛŋ kwraa yɛ aaafee afii 25 mli. Kwɛ miishɛɛ ni eji beni mina mɛi ni mikɛ amɛ tsu nii nɔ ni fe afii 40 ni eho lɛ ateŋ mɛi nyɔŋmai abɔ! Beni mitee Betel yɛ afi 1930 mli lɛ, no mli lɛ mɛi 250 pɛ yɔɔ weku lɛ mli, shi ŋmɛnɛ Betel weku ni yɔɔ Brooklyn lɛ yi fa fe mɛi 3,500!

Mumɔŋ Niyenii Ewaje Mi

Bei babaoo lɛ, minyiɛɔ kɛshɛraa shi leebi maaŋkpa, yɛ Yakima Faa lɛ naa, yɛ wɔshia lɛ masɛi. Mijɛɔ jɛmɛ minaa Rainier Gɔŋ fɛfɛo ni nɔ kwɔ waa fe mitai 4,300, ni snoo eha nɔ fɛɛ lɛ. Ŋa mli kooloi babaoo yɛ jɛmɛ. Bei komɛi lɛ minaa ofrote, ni mina jɛmɛ adowai wuji lɛ eko shikome pɛŋ.

Nɛkɛ be ni jeŋ feɔ dioo, yɛ hei ni yɔɔ banee nɛɛ haa minaa hegbɛ mikɛjwɛŋɔ nibii ni yɔɔ naakpɛɛ ni Yehowa fee lɛ ahe. Misɔleɔ ni mana hewalɛ ni mikɛsɔmɔ wɔ-Nyɔŋmɔ, Yehowa yɛ anɔkwayeli mli. Misumɔɔ hu ni mala beni minyiɛɔ kɛyaa lɛ, titri lɛ lala ni ji “Ni Wɔɔha Yehowa Tsui Anya kɛ Miishɛɛ,” ni mli wiemɔi lɛ kɛɔ akɛ: “Nyɔŋmɔ kpele, wɔkã kita akɛ wɔbaafee osuɔmɔnaa nii; wɔɔtsu onitsumɔ lɛ yɛ nilee mli. Ejaakɛ no haa wɔleɔ akɛ wɔɔna gbɛfaŋnɔ yɛ osuɔmɔ tsui ni wɔɔha enya kɛ miishɛɛ lɛ mli.”

Eŋɔɔ minaa waa akɛ mihala akɛ matsu nitsumɔ ni haa Yehowa tsui naa miishɛɛ. Misɔleɔ ni manyɛ maya nɔ matsu nitsumɔ nɛɛ aahu kɛyashi be mli ni minine baashɛ ŋwɛi nyɔmɔwoo ni awo shi lɛ nɔ. Mishwee ji akɛ, saji ni miwie nɛɛ baatsirɛ mɛi krokomɛi hu ni amɛkɛ amɛwala ‘atsu ŋmaa ni fiteee lɛ he nii.’—Yohane 6:27.

[Mfonirii ni yɔɔ baafa 23]

Elwood ni eepɛnte niŋmaa ni kaneɔ akɛ “KANEMƆ NYƆŊMƆ WIEMƆ NI JI BIBLIA LƐ DAA”

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 24]

Mikɛ Grant Suiter kɛ John Kurzen, ni wɔmiitsɔɔ bɔ ni akɛ gramafon tsɔne hee lɛ tsuɔ nii ahaa yɛ kpee wulu ni afee yɛ 1940 lɛ shishi

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 25]

Yɛ 1944 mli lɛ, no mli lɛ wɔteŋ mɛi ni yɔɔ anɔkwale lɛ mli lɛ yɛ be-fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ lɛ mli: David, Alice, Joel, Eva, Elwood, kɛ Frances

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 25]

Mikɛ minyɛmimɛi lɛ ateŋ mɛi ni yɔɔ wala mli, kɛjɛ abɛku gbɛ: Alice, Eva, Joel, David, kɛ Frances