“Nɔ ni Ji Wɔgbɛnaa akɛ Wɔtsuɔ lɛ, No Pɛ Wɔtsu Nɛɛ”

TAAKƐ GEORGE COUCH GBA

Beni wɔtsu nii leebi yɛ shia-kɛ-shia sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli lɛ sɛɛ lɛ, minaanyo lɛ jie bodobodo enyɔ ni awo mli nibii. Ní wɔgbe niyeli lɛ naa lɛ mijie sigaret koni mashɛre. Kɛkɛ ni ebi akɛ: “Mɛɛ be nɛ ni obale anɔkwale lɛ.” Mikɛɛ lɛ akɛ: “Nyɛ gbɛkɛ ji klɛŋklɛŋ kpee ni mitee.”

AFƆ́ mi March 3, 1917 yɛ kosɛɛ ko ni bɛŋkɛ Avonmore maŋ bibioo lɛ, yɛ Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. bokagbɛ he ni jɛkɛmɔ shɛɔ kilomitai 50 lɛ. Jɛmɛ mifɔlɔi tsɔse mi kɛ minyɛmimɛi hii ejwɛ kɛ minyɛmiyoo kome lɛ yɛ.

Wɔnáaa jamɔŋ tsɔsemɔ babaoo. Yɛ be ko mli lɛ, mifɔlɔi tee sɔlemɔ, shi amɛkpa yaa beni wɔji gbekɛbii lolo. Shi wɔheɔ wɔyeɔ akɛ Bɔlɔ ko yɛ, ni wɔweku lɛ kɛ shishitoo mlai ni anaa yɛ Biblia lɛ mli lɛ tsuɔ nii.

Tsɔsemɔ ni hi fe fɛɛ ni miná kɛjɛ mifɔlɔi adɛŋ ji nɔ ni kɔɔ gbɛnaa nii he nitsumɔ he—bɔ ni afeɔ akpɛlɛɔ nɔ, kɛ bɔ ni atsuɔ he nii ahaa. No nɔŋŋ ji kosɛɛ shihilɛ. Shi jeee nii pɛ wɔtsuɔ yɛ wɔshihilɛ mli. Wɔnáa hiɛtserɛjiemɔi ni sa mli ŋɔɔmɔ, tamɔ bɔɔl ni akɛ niji tswaa, okpɔŋɔ nɔtamɔ, kɛ seremɔ. Nakai beaŋ lɛ shika bɛ moŋ, shi kosɛɛ shihilɛ ŋɔɔ. Wɔtee skul yɛ skul ko ni tsũ kome pɛ yɔɔ mli lɛ mli, ni wɔkɛ afii komɛi yatsa nɔ yɛ maŋ wulu lɛŋ skul ko mli.

Gbi ko gbɛkɛ lɛ, mikɛ minaanyo ko nyiɛ shisharamɔ yɛ maŋ wulu lɛ mli. Gbekɛ yoo fɛfɛo ko je kpo kɛjɛ eshia, ni ebaŋa minaanyo lɛ. Ekɛ mi tsɔɔ Fern Prugh. Nɔ ni hi ji akɛ, eyɛ gbɛ ni kã shi kɛyaa wɔskul lɛ nɔ. Bei pii kɛ miyatsɔ amɛshia lɛ, minaa akɛ Fern yɛ agbo lɛ naa eetsu nii. Yɛ anɔkwale mli lɛ, etsuɔ nii waa, ni enɛ sa mihiɛ jogbaŋŋ. Naanyobɔɔ ni mli wa bakã wɔteŋ, ni wɔsumɔ wɔhe, ni wɔbote gbalashihilɛ mli yɛ April 1936.

Biblia Anɔkwale lɛ Lee

Dani abaafɔ́ mi lɛ, no mli lɛ yoomo ko yɛ maŋ wulu lɛ mli ní jamɔ mli ni eyɔɔ hewɔ lɛ, gbɔmɛi kɛ lɛ yeee yɛ gbɛ kpakpa nɔ. Minyɛ yasaraa lɛ daa Hɔɔ kɛ eeya eyahé nibii yɛ maŋ wulu lɛ mli. Awo yasaa etsũ mli ehaa lɛ, ni etsuɔ lɛ, efee enɛ aahu kɛyashi yoo lɛ gbo. Miheɔ miyeɔ akɛ Yehowa jɔɔ Awo, ejaakɛ ejie mlihilɛ kpo waa etsɔɔ yoo nɛɛ, mɔ ni ji Biblia Kaselɔ, taakɛ atsɛɔ Yehowa Odasefoi yɛ nakai beaŋ lɛ.

Be ko sɛɛ lɛ, minyɛkwɛ̃ biyoo fioo lɛ gbo trukaa. Sɔlemɔ lɛ ebashɛjeee minyɛkwɛ̃ lɛ mii bɔ ni sa, shi akutsoŋnyo ko ni ji Biblia Kaselɔ lɛ fee nakai. Biblia Kaselɔ lɛ tsɔɔ lɛ nɔ ni baa mɔ ko nɔ kɛ́ egbo. (Hiob 14:13-15; Jajelɔ 9:5, 10) Enɛ bafee miishɛjemɔ kpele jɛɛhe. Kɛkɛ ni minyɛkwɛ̃ lɛ hu gba Awo gbohiiashitee hiɛnɔkamɔ lɛ he sane. Akɛni Awo fɔlɔi gboi yɛ be mli ni eji gbekɛ ni eesumɔ ni ele nɔ ni baa mɔ ko nɔ kɛ́ egbo hewɔ lɛ, enɛ tee emiishɛɛ shi. Nakai niiashikpamɔ lɛ kanya mi ni eha mina bɔ ni ehe hiaa ni mikɛ hegbɛ fɛɛ hegbɛ ni maná lɛ atsu nii kɛye trukaa odase.

Yɛ 1930 afii lɛ amli lɛ, Awo bɔi Joseph F. Rutherford, mɔ ni ji Buu Mɔɔ Biblia kɛ Woji Bibii Asafo lɛ sɛinɔtalɔ yɛ nakai beaŋ lɛ redio nɔ wiemɔi ni atswaa Hɔgbaa lɛ toiboo. Yɛ nakai afii lɛ amli lɛ, Odasefoi lɛ je shia-kɛ-shia nitsumɔ lɛ shishi yɛ he ni wɔyɔɔ lɛ. Amɛtoɔ gramafoŋ ni da bɔ ni sa amɛmaa tso ko shishi yɛ kpo lɛ nɔ, ni amɛtswaa Nyɛminuu Rutherford shiɛmɔi ni amɔmɔ awo kpãa nɔ lɛ. Nakai wiemɔi ni amɔmɔ awo kpãai anɔ lɛ kɛ Buu-Mɔɔ lɛ kɛ Golden Age (bianɛ Awake!) woji tɛtrɛbii lɛ tee nɔ ewaje Awo miishɛɛ ni eyɔɔ yɛ wiemɔ lɛ he lɛ.

Afii fioo komɛi asɛɛ yɛ afi 1938 lɛ, akɛ wolo bibioo ko maje kɛfɔ̃ mɛi ni shɛɔ Buu-Mɔɔ lɛ anine kɛha kpee krɛdɛɛ ko ni abafee yɛ mɔ ko shia ni kɛ jɛmɛ jɛkɛmɔ shɛɔ kilomitai 25 lɛ. Akɛni Awo miisumɔ ni eya eko hewɔ lɛ, Fern kɛ mi kɛ minyɛmimɛi hii lɛ enyɔ fata ehe. John Booth kɛ Charles Hessler, mɛi ni ji Yehowa Odasefoi anɔkwɛlɔi gbɛfalɔi lɛ wie amɛtsɔɔ wɔteŋ mɛi aaashɛ nyɔŋma kɛ enyɔ. No sɛɛ lɛ amɛto kuu ko ni kɛ amɛhe baawo sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli enɔ leebi lɛ he gbɛjianɔ. Mɔ ko mɔ ko sumɔɔɔ akɛ efataa amɛhe kɛyaa, no hewɔ lɛ Nyɛminuu Hessler tsɛ mi, ni ebi akɛ, “Mɛni hewɔ okɛ wɔ eyaaa?” Mileee nɔ tuuntu ni amɛyaafee, shi kɛlɛ, minaaa nɔ hewɔ ni esaaa akɛ miyayeɔ mibuaa amɛ.

Wɔtsu nii yɛ shia-kɛ-shia aahu kɛyashi shwane, ni Nyɛminuu Hessler jie bodobodo enyɔ ni awo mli nibii. Wɔta shi yɛ sɔlemɔtsũ lɛ atrakpoi lɛ anɔ ni wɔbɔi yeli. Nakai be lɛ mli ni mijie nakai sigaret lɛ dani Nyɛminuu Hessler ná ele akɛ shikome pɛ mitee kpee. Nakai gbi gbɛkɛ lɛ, lɛ diɛŋtsɛ eba wɔshia lɛ kɛha niyeli, ni ebi mi koni mifɔ̃ wɔnanemɛi anine kɛha Biblia mli sanegbaa. Yɛ niyeli lɛ sɛɛ lɛ, ekɛ wɔ fee Biblia mli nikasemɔ, ni ewie etsɔɔ kuu ni shɛɔ nyɔŋma ni ba lɛ. Ekɛɛ wɔ akɛ esa akɛ wɔkase Biblia lɛ daa otsi. Eyɛ mli akɛ wɔnanemɛi lɛ ekpɛlɛɛɛ enɛ nɔ moŋ, shi mi kɛ Fern to gbɛjianɔ koni wɔkase Biblia lɛ daa otsi yɛ shia.

Hiɛyaa yɛ Anɔkwale lɛ Mli

No sɛɛ etsɛɛɛ nɔŋŋ ni mi kɛ Fern bɔi shiɛmɔ yaa. Wɔtara kar lɛ sɛɛ wɔsu sigaretii ni wɔbaashɛre nɔŋŋ ni minyɛmi nuu lɛ tsɔ ehe ni ekɛɛ wɔ akɛ: “Bianɛ nɔŋŋ miná mile akɛ Odasefoi lɛ shɛreee sigaret.” Amrɔ nɔŋŋ ni Fern shɛ esigarɛt lɛ efɔ̃ kɛtsɔ samflɛ lɛ mli—mi lɛ mishɛre minɔ lɛ mitã. Eyɛ mli akɛ sigaret shɛremɔ ŋɔɔ wɔnaa moŋ, shi wɔkpa sigarɛt shɛremɔ kwraa.

Yɛ 1940 beni abaptisi wɔ sɛɛ lɛ, mi kɛ Fern yɛ kpee ko shishi beni akaseɔ sane ko ni woɔ hewalɛ ni akɛ he awo gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli lɛ, taakɛ atsɛɔ be-fɛɛ shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ. Beni wɔyaa shia lɛ, nyɛminuu ko bi akɛ: “Mɛni hewɔ bo kɛ Fern tsɔɔ gbɛgbalɔi? Nɔ ko bɛ ni baatsĩ nyɛnaa.” Akɛni wɔnyɛŋ wɔkɛɛ akɛ wɔkɛ lɛ kpãaa gbee hewɔ lɛ, wɔkɛ wɔhe ha. Mikɛ gbii 30 tsɔ hiɛ miha ale yɛ he ni mitsuɔ nii yɛ lɛ, ni wɔto gbɛjianɔ koni wɔkɛ wɔhe awo gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli.

Wɔkɛ Buu Mɔɔ Asafo lɛ yasusu he ni esa akɛ wɔyasɔmɔɔ yɛ lɛ he, kɛkɛ ni wɔshi kɛtee Baltimore, yɛ Maryland. Aná shia kɛha gbɛgbalɔi yɛ jɛmɛ, ni niyeli kɛ wɔɔhe fɛɛ kɛha nyɔŋ kome lɛ jara ji dɔlai 10. No mli lɛ, wɔyɛ shika ko kã shi ni wɔsusuɔ akɛ wɔbaanyɛ wɔye aahu kɛyashi Harmagedon aaaba. (Kpojiemɔ 16:14, 16) Daa gbi lɛ nɔ̃ he ni wɔsusuɔ nɔŋŋ ji akɛ, etsɛŋ kwraa ni Harmagedon baaba. No hewɔ lɛ, beni wɔje gbɛgbamɔ lɛ shishi lɛ, wɔshi wɔshia lɛ ni wɔkpa nibii fɛɛ asɛɛtiumɔ.

Wɔtsu gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ yɛ Baltimore kɛjɛ 1942 kɛyashi 1947. Yehowa Odasefoi anitsumɔ lɛ he shitee-kɛ-woo naa wa waa yɛ nakai afii lɛ amli. Yɛ nɔ najiaŋ ni wɔɔta wɔkar lɛ mli kɛya wɔ shia Biblia mli nikaselɔi lɛ aŋɔɔ lɛ, bei komɛi lɛ wɔhaa mɔ ko yayiɔ wɔ shi. Yɛ nakai feemɔ mli lɛ, afolɔŋ wɔkar lɛ tai lɛ. Mɔ ko mɔ ko sumɔɔɔ shitee-kɛ-woo ni tamɔ nakai, shi manyɛ makɛɛ akɛ, daa gbi lɛ wɔnáa shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ he miishɛɛ. Yɛ anɔkwale mli lɛ, wɔkpaa gbɛ akɛ wɔɔná miishɛɛ fioo ko yɛ Nuntsɔ lɛ nitsumɔ lɛ mli.

Etsɛɛɛ ni wɔye shika ni wɔyɔɔ lɛ fɛɛ wɔtã. Wɔkar lɛ tai lɛ ye, wɔtadei ahiɛ kwa, ni wɔspaatrei fite. Hela ni sɛɛ tsɛɔ saŋŋ mɔ wɔ shii enyɔ loo shii etɛ. Shihilɛ lɛ bɛ mlɛo, shi wɔsusuuu he kɔkɔɔkɔ akɛ wɔɔkpa nitsumɔ lɛ. Wɔwieee he po. Wɔha wɔshihilɛ fee mlɛo, bɔni afee ni wɔnyɛ wɔhi gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli.

Nitsumɔi Tsakemɔ

Yɛ 1947 lɛ, wɔtee Los Angeles kpee lɛ yɛ California. Beni wɔyɔɔ jɛmɛ lɛ, aŋma mi kɛ minyɛminuu William fɛɛ wolo ni miitsɔɔ nitsumɔ ni aha wɔ akɛ nɔkwɛlɔi gbɛfalɔi, koni wɔyasara ni wɔye wɔbua asafoi lɛ. Nakai beaŋ lɛ akɛ tsɔsemɔ krɛdɛɛ ko kwraa haaa wɔ. Wɔkpɛlɛ nɔ. Yɛ afii kpawo ni nyiɛ sɛɛ lɛ mli lɛ, mi kɛ Fern sɔmɔ yɛ Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, kɛ New York. Yɛ afi 1954 mli lɛ, afɔ̃ wɔ nine kɛtee Gilead klas ni ji 24 lɛ, ni ji skul kɛha maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛlɔi atsɔsemɔ. Beni wɔyɔɔ jɛmɛ lɛ, Fern ye kuumɔ hela. Miishɛɛ sane ji akɛ, ená hewalɛ kwraa ekoŋŋ, ni aha wɔ nitsumɔ akɛ nɔkwɛlɔi gbɛfalɔi yɛ New York kɛ Connecticut.

Beni wɔsɔmɔɔ yɛ Stamford, Connecticut lɛ, Nathan H. Knorr ni no mli lɛ eji Buu Mɔɔ Asafo lɛ sɛinɔtalɔ lɛ bi koni wɔkɛ lɛ kɛ eŋa Audrey abaye otsi lɛ naagbee lɛ. Amɛha wɔ tsinaloo ni awo lɛ nibii jogbaŋŋ ni ŋɔɔ ni afolɔ lɛ bibiibibii. No mli lɛ, wɔle amɛ momo, ni mile Nyɛminuu Knorr jogbaŋŋ aahu akɛ, miyɔse akɛ nɔ̃ kroko yɛ ejwɛŋmɔ mli fe naanyobɔɔ kɛ gbɛkɛ nii ni wɔyeɔ lɛ kɛkɛ. Sɛɛ mli yɛ nakai gbi gbɛkɛ lɛ, ebi mi akɛ: “Ani obaasumɔ ni oba Betel?”

Mihere nɔ akɛ: “Minyɛŋ mama nɔ mi; mileee Betel he saji babaoo.”

Beni wɔkɛ otsii abɔ esusu enɛ he sɛɛ lɛ, wɔkɛɛ Nyɛminuu Knorr akɛ, kɛji akɛ eesumɔ lɛ no lɛ wɔbaaba. Otsi ni nyiɛ sɛɛ lɛ, wɔnine shɛ wolo nɔ ni miitsɔɔ be ni esa akɛ wɔba Betel, ni ji April 27, 1957, wɔyookpeemɔ lɛ afii 21 gbijurɔyeli be ni.

Nakai klɛŋklɛŋ gbi lɛ nɔ yɛ Betel lɛ, Nyɛminuu Knorr tsɔɔ mi nɔ ni akpaa gbɛ yɛ midɛŋ lɛ mli faŋŋ. Ekɛɛ mi akɛ: “Jeee kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔ ji bo dɔŋŋ; oba ni obatsu nii yɛ Betel. Nitsumɔ ni he hiaa fe fɛɛ ni esa akɛ otsu lɛ nɛ, ni wɔmiisumɔ ni okɛ obe kɛ ohewalɛ atsu nii yɛ tsɔsemɔ ni akɛbaaha bo yɛ biɛ ni ji Betel lɛ mli. Wɔmiisumɔ ni ohi biɛ.”

Sɛɛnamɔ yɛ Betel Shihilɛ Mli

Magazine and Mailing Department (Woji Tɛtrɛbii lɛ kɛ Nibii Majemɔ Nitsumɔhe) lɛ ji he klɛŋklɛŋ ni mitsu nii yɛ. Aaafee afii etɛ sɛɛ lɛ, Nyɛminuu Knorr tsu abatsɛ mi kɛtee ɔfis he ni eyɔɔ lɛ. Ekɛɛ mi akɛ yiŋtoo titri hewɔ ni akɛ mi ba Betel lɛ ji ni mibatsu nii yɛ shia lɛ mli. Famɔi ni ekɛha lɛ yɛ tɛ̃ɛ, “Oba koni obakwɛ Betel Shia lɛ nɔ.”

Betel Shia lɛ kwɛmɔ lɛ ha mikai nibii ni mifɔlɔi tsɔɔ mi beni miyɔɔ kosɛɛ lɛ. Betel Shia tamɔ weku shia pɛpɛɛpɛ. Atadei yɛ ni abaafɔ he, niyenii ni abaahoo, tsɛŋsii ni abaasha mli, saa ni abaaŋmɛ, kɛ ekrokomɛi. Shia lɛ he gbɛjianɔtoo haa Betel feɔ he ni hi jogbaŋŋ ni abaanyɛ ahi, he ko ni mɔ ko baanyɛ atsɛ jɛmɛ akɛ eshia.

Miheɔ miyeɔ akɛ, nibii pii yɛ ni wekui baanyɛ akase kɛjɛ bɔ ni atsuɔ nii ahaa yɛ Betel lɛ mli. Wɔteɔ shi leebi mra ni wɔkɛ mumɔŋ nibii ahe susumɔ jeɔ shishi kɛtsɔ daa Biblia ŋmalɛi lɛ ahe susumɔ nɔ. Aakpa gbɛ akɛ wɔbaatsu nii waa, ni wɔŋmɛ pɛpɛɛpɛ yɛ wɔshihilɛ mli, shi moŋ wɔfee mɛi ni bɛ dekã yɛ wɔshihilɛ mli. Betel tamɔɔɔ mɔ kome shihilɔi ashia, taakɛ mɛi komɛi baasusu akɛ eji lɛ. Yɛ bɔ ni wɔto wɔshihilɛ gbɛ he gbɛjianɔ wɔha hewɔ lɛ, wɔnyɛɔ wɔtsuɔ nibii pii ahe nii. Mɛi pii kɛɔ akɛ tsɔsemɔ ni amɛnine shɛ nɔ yɛ biɛ lɛ eye ebua amɛ yɛ sɛɛ mli koni amɛkpɛlɛ gbɛnaa nii babaoo nɔ, ni amɛye amɛbua yɛ amɛwekui amli kɛ Kristofoi asafo lɛ mli.

Anyɛɔ akɛ nitsumɔ woɔ oblahii kɛ oblayei ni baa Betel lɛ adɛŋ koni amɛtsumɔ nibii ahe, amɛfɔ atadei ahe, aloo amɛtsu nii yɛ woji afeemɔhe lɛ. Ekolɛ je lɛ baaha wɔnu he akɛ nitsumɔ dɛŋdɛŋ ni tamɔ nakai lɛ baa shi tsɔ, ni esaaa wɔ. Shi oblahii kɛ oblayei ni yɔɔ Betel lɛ bale akɛ nitsumɔ ni tamɔ enɛɛmɛi ahe miihia kɛha wɔweku lɛ nɔyaa jogbaŋŋ yɛ miishɛɛ mli.

Ekolɛ je lɛ baaha onu he hu akɛ, gbɛhe ni nɔ kwɔ he miihia bɔni afee ni oná miishɛɛ diɛŋtsɛ. Enɛ jeee anɔkwale. Kɛ wɔtsu nɔ ni atuu awo wɔdɛŋ akɛ wɔtsu lɛ he nii lɛ, belɛ “nɔ ni ji wɔgbɛnaa akɛ wɔtsuɔ lɛ, no pɛ wɔtsu nɛɛ”, ni Yehowa jɔɔ wɔ. (Luka 17:10) Kɛ wɔkai yiŋtoo ni yɔɔ wɔnitsumɔ lɛ sɛɛ—akɛ, ni wɔfee Yehowa suɔmɔnaa nii, ni wɔha Maŋtsɛyeli lɛ he nibii aya hiɛ lɛ, no lɛ wɔtsui banyɛ anyɔ wɔmli, ni wɔbaana anɔkwa miishɛɛ. Kɛ wɔha enɛ hi wɔjwɛŋmɔ mli lɛ, no lɛ, wɔtsui baanyɔ wɔmli yɛ nitsumɔ fɛɛ nitsumɔ ni akɛhaa wɔ lɛ mli, ni wɔbaaná mli ŋɔɔmɔ.

Hegbɛ ko ni Miná yɛ Nitsumɔ Mligbelemɔ Mli

Yɛ 1942, yɛ Cleveland, Ohio kpee lɛ shishi lɛ, aaafee nɔ ni fe afii nyɔŋma ni eho nɛ dani wɔba Betel lɛ, Nyɛminuu Knorr ha wiemɔ ko ni yitso ji “Toiŋjɔlɛ—Ani Esɛɛ Baanyɛ Atsɛ?” Eha efee faŋŋ akɛ Jeŋ Ta II ni awuɔ yɛ nakai beaŋ lɛ baaba naagbee, ni toiŋjɔlɛ be ko baaba ní baaha wɔná hegbɛ kɛha shiɛmɔ lɛ mlilɛɛmɔ he nitsumɔ. Yɛ 1943 mli lɛ, ato Gilead Skul ni akɛtsɔseɔ maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛlɔi lɛ, kɛ Teokrase Sɔɔmɔ Skul lɛ ni akɛyeɔ abuaa nyɛmimɛi koni amɛhe asa yɛ maŋshiɛmɔ mli lɛ shishi. Ato kpeei wuji hu ahe gbɛjianɔ. Nɔ ni ale jogbaŋŋ yɛ 1950 afii lɛ amli lɛ ji nɔ ni afee yɛ Yankee Stadium, New York lɛ. Kɛha kpeei lɛ afeemɔ yɛ 1950 kɛ 1953 mli lɛ, miná hegbɛ akɛ maye mabua kɛto Trailer City ni da waa ni gbɔmɛi akpei nyɔŋmai abɔ ni yaa mli lɛ he gbɛjianɔ kɛha gbii kpaanyɔ kpeei lɛ ateŋ eko fɛɛ eko.

Yɛ nakai kpeei ni amɛteŋ nɔ ni da fe fɛɛ ni afee yɛ 1958 nɔ lɛ fata he lɛ sɛɛ lɛ, aná hiɛyaa babaoo yɛ Maŋtsɛyeli shiɛlɔi agbɛfaŋ. Enɛ sa nii ni wɔtsuɔ yɛ Betel lɛ he tɛ̃ɛ. Yɛ 1960 afii lɛ anaagbee mli kɛ 1970 afii lɛ ashishijee mli lɛ wɔna akɛ jɛmɛ edaaa kwraa kɛha nitsulɔi lɛ. Bɔni afee ni aná he ko aha weku ni shwereɔ lɛ, ehe bahia ni wɔná saatsei pii, kpatashi babaoo, kɛ niyelihei pii.

Nyɛminuu Knorr kɛɛ Nyɛminuu Max Larson, ni ji woji akalamɔhe lɛ nɔkwɛlɔ lɛ, kɛ mi akɛ wɔyatao shikpɔŋ ni sa kɛha nitsumɔ mligbelemɔ nɛɛ. Yɛ 1957 beni miba Betel lɛ, no mli lɛ gbɔmɛi aaafee 500 ni yɔɔ wɔweku lɛ mli lɛ yɛ wɔɔhe tsũ agbo kome mli. Shi beni afii lɛ hoɔ yaa lɛ, Asafo lɛ yahé gbɔiatoohei agboi etɛ ni bɛŋkɛ—ni gbɛi ji Towers, Standish kɛ Bossert lɛ—kɛ agbɛnɛ hu tsũi bibii pii hu ni esaa. Yɛ 1986 mli lɛ, Asafo lɛ yahé shikpɔŋ ni Hotel Margaret fɛfɛo lɛ ma nɔ lɛ, ni etsake tsũ hee fɛfɛo ni ama yɛ jɛmɛ lɛ ekɛfee shia ni mɛi aaafee 250 baahi mli. Kɛkɛ ni yɛ 1990 afii lɛ shishijee mli lɛ, ama wɔɔhe tsũ ni hiɛ nsɔdoi 30 ni nitsulɔi krokomɛi 1,000 baanyɛ ahi mli. Amrɔ nɛɛ Brooklyn Betel baanyɛ alɛ gbɔmɛi ni fa fe 3,300 ni ji wɔweku lɛ mli bii, ni amɛbaanyɛ amɛhi jɛmɛ.

Ayahé shikpɔŋ hu yɛ Wallkill, New York, he ni kɛ Brooklyn Betel jɛkɛmɔ shɛɔ kilomitai 160 lɛ. Beni afii lɛ hoɔ lɛ, kɛjɛ 1960 naagbee afii lɛ amli kɛyaa lɛ amamɔ wɔɔhei kɛ woji akalamɔhe wulu. Bianɛ lɛ aaafee wɔ-Betel weku lɛ mli bii 1,200 hiɔ jɛmɛ ni amɛtsuɔ nii hu yɛ jɛmɛ. Yɛ 1980 lɛ abɔi shikpɔŋ ni dalɛ shɛɔ ekai 600 taomɔ yɛ New York gbɛ, he ni gbɛjegbɛ wulu kpakpa kã shi kɛyaa jɛmɛ. Mɔ ni nyiɛ wɔhiɛ kɛtaoɔ shikpɔŋ lɛ ŋmɔ ni ekɛɛ akɛ: “Nɛgbɛ nyɛbaana shikpɔŋ ni tamɔ nakai yɛ? Enɛ lɛ, nyɛnaŋ eko kwraa.” Shi enɔ jetsɛremɔ lɛ, etswa wɔ ni ekɛɛ akɛ: “Miná shikpɔŋ ni nyɛtao lɛ eko.” Ŋmɛnɛ, atsɛɔ jɛmɛ akɛ, Watchtower Educational Center (Buu Mɔɔ Wolokasemɔhe) ni yɔɔ Patterson, New York. Ayaa skul yɛ jɛmɛ, ni sɔɔlɔi fe 1,300 yɔɔ weku lɛ mli.

Nibii ni Mikase

Mikase akɛ, nɔkwɛlɔ kpakpa ji mɔ ni baanyɛ aná saji ni he hiaa kɛjɛ mɛi krokomɛi adɛŋ. Jwɛŋmɔi srɔtoi ni mináa hegbɛ mikɛtsuɔ nii akɛ Betel nɔkwɛlɔ lɛ ji nɔ ni mináa kɛjɛɔ mɛi krokomɛi adɛŋ.

Beni miba Betel lɛ, no mli lɛ mɛi pii yɛ jɛmɛ ni amɛdara taakɛ miji ŋmɛnɛ lɛ. Amɛteŋ mɛi pii eshi bianɛ. Namɛi baaye mɛi ni gbɔlɔɔ ni amɛgboi lɛ anajiaŋ? Bei pii lɛ jeee mɛi ni yɔɔ nyɛmɔ waa lɛ ni. Shi moŋ mɛi ni yɔɔ jɛmɛ lolo, ni amɛtsuɔ nii yɛ anɔkwale mli ni amɛkɛ amɛhe haa lɛ ni.

Nɔ kroko ni esa akɛ akai hu ji nɔ ni kɔɔ bɔ ni ŋa kpakpa jara wa ha lɛ he. Sɛɛfimɔ ni Fern ni ji miŋa ni misumɔɔ lɛ kɛhaa mi lɛ ebafee yelikɛbuamɔ kpele kɛha mi, ni mikɛtsu miteokrase nitsumɔi lɛ ahe nii. Sɔ̃ kã wumɛi anɔ akɛ amɛkwɛ koni amɛŋamɛi aná nii ni amɛtsuɔ lɛ ahe miishɛɛ. Mibɔɔ mɔdɛŋ koni mato nɔ ko ni mi kɛ Fern fɛɛ náa efeemɔ he miishɛɛ he gbɛjianɔ. Esaaa akɛ efeɔ nɔ ko ni abaafite shika pii yɛ he, shi moŋ shihilɛ mlitsakemɔ kɛkɛ. Ekã wu lɛ nɔ akɛ efee nibii ni baaha eŋa aná miishɛɛ. Be ni enáa ehaa lɛ lɛ jara wa waa, ni ehoɔ eyaa oya, no hewɔ lɛ, ehe miihia ni etsu he nii jogbaŋŋ.

Eŋɔɔ minaa akɛ miyɛ shihilɛ mli yɛ naagbee gbii ni Yesu wie he lɛ mli. Be ni yɔɔ naakpɛɛ fe fɛɛ yɛ adesai ayinɔsane mli nɛ. Wɔnyɛɔ wɔkɛ wɔhemɔkɛyeli hiŋmɛii kwɛɔ nii, ni wɔnaa bɔ ni Nuntsɔ lɛ eha egbɛjianɔtoo ni ekɛtsuɔ nii kɛha jeŋ hee ni ewo shi yɛ he lɛ etee nɔ eha. Kɛ miikwɛ bei ni miye yɛ mishihilɛ mli yɛ Yehowa sɔɔmɔ lɛ mli lɛ, minyɛɔ minaa akɛ Yehowa ji mɔ ni kudɔɔ gbɛjianɔtoo lɛ—jeee gbɔmɛi. Etsuji kɛkɛ ji wɔ. Enɛ hewɔ lɛ, esa akɛ wɔtao gbɛtsɔɔmɔ kɛjɛ edɛŋ daa gbi. Shii abɔ ni etsɔɔ wɔ nɔ ni esa akɛ wɔfee lɛ, esa akɛ wɔkɛ oyaiyeli afee ekome kɛfee.

Okɛ gbɛjianɔtoo lɛ afee ekome kɛmɔ shi, ni obaaná shihilɛ mli miishɛɛ babaoo. Nɔ fɛɛ nɔ ni ofeɔ lɛ—kɛ́ gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ, kpokpaa nitsumɔ, sɔɔmɔ akɛ shiɛlɔ yɛ asafo ko mli, Betel sɔɔmɔ, aloo maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛlɔ jio—nyiɛmɔ gbɛtsɔɔmɔ ni akɛha lɛ sɛɛ, ni obu onitsumɔ lɛ akɛ eji nɔ ko ni jara wa. Bɔɔ mɔdɛŋ ni oná nitsumɔ fɛɛ he miishɛɛ, kɛ gbi fɛɛ gbi ni okɛtsuɔ nii yɛ Yehowa sɔɔmɔ lɛ mli lɛ. Ebaatɔ bo, ni ekolɛ yɛ bei komɛi amli lɛ obaatsu nii fe nine aloo obaanu nijiaŋwujee he. Nakai be mli esa akɛ okaiɔ yiŋtoo hewɔ ni ojɔɔ owala nɔ oha Yehowa lɛ. No ji akɛ, koni ofee esuɔmɔnaa nii, jeee nɔ ni bo diɛŋtsɛ osumɔɔ.

Be ko bɛ ni kɛ mitee nitsumɔ lɛ mináaa nii ni mitsu lɛ he miishɛɛ. Mɛni hewɔ? Ejaakɛ kɛ wɔkɛ wɔsusuma fɛɛ ha Yehowa lɛ, wɔtsui nyɔɔ wɔmli kɛ́ wɔná wɔle akɛ “nɔ ni ji wɔgbɛnaa akɛ wɔtsuɔ lɛ, no pɛ wɔtsu nɛɛ” lɛ.

[Mfonirii ni yɔɔ baafa 19]

Woji Tɛtrɛbii Akalamɔhe lɛ

Trailer City, yɛ 1950

Gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ yɛ Baltimore, yɛ 1946

Mi kɛ Fern yɛ Trailer City, yɛ 1950

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 22]

Wɔ kɛ Audrey kɛ Nathan Knorr

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 23]

Watch Tower Educational Center yɛ Patterson, New York

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 24]

Mi kɛ Fern ŋmɛnɛ