‘Kuo Mau Fai Pē ʻa e Meʻa Naʻe Totonu ke Mau Faí’

FAKAMATALA FAI ʻE GEORGE COUCH

Hili ʻema fakamoleki ʻa e pongipongí ʻi he ngāue fakafaifekau fale-ki-he-falé, naʻe toʻo hake ʻe hoku kaungāfeohí ha sanuisi ʻe ua. ʻI he ʻosi ʻema kaí, naʻá ku tohoʻi hake ha foʻi sikaleti ke u ifi. “Ko e hā hono fuoloa ʻo hoʻo ʻi he moʻoní?” naʻá ne ʻeke mai. “Ko ʻanepō ko e ʻuluaki fakataha ia kuó u maʻú,” naʻá ku tala ange kiate ia.

NAʻE fāʻeleʻi au ʻi Maʻasi 3, 1917, ʻi ha faama kilomita nai ʻe 50 ʻi he hahake ʻo Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., ofi ki he kiʻi kolo ko Avonmore. Naʻe tauhi hake ai ʻe heʻeku ongo mātuʻá ʻa hoku fanga tokoua ʻe toko fā, ko ha tuofefine, pea mo au.

Naʻe ʻikai te mau maʻu ha ako fakalotu lahi. Naʻe ō ʻeku ongo mātuʻá ki he lotú ʻi he taimi ʻe taha, ka naʻe ʻikai te na toe maʻu ia ʻi he taimi naʻa mau kei iiki ai ʻa kimautolu fānaú. Neongo ia, naʻa mau tui ki he Tokotaha-Fakatupú, pea naʻa mau muimui ʻi heʻemau moʻui fakafāmilí ki he ngaahi tefitoʻi moʻoni tefito ʻa ia naʻe maʻu ʻi he Tohitapú.

Ko e ako lelei taha naʻá ku maʻu mei heʻeku ongo mātuʻá naʻe fekauʻaki ia mo e fatongiá​—ʻa e founga ke tali mo fakahoko iá. Ko e meʻa kotoa pē ia naʻe fekauʻaki mo e moʻui ʻi he fāmá. Ka naʻe ʻikai te mau moʻui ngāue ʻataʻatā pē. Naʻa mau fiefia ʻi he ngaahi vaʻinga lelei, hangē ko e pasiketipolo mo e peisipolo, heka hoosi, mo e kaukau tahi. Naʻe hāhāmolofia ʻa e paʻangá ʻi he ngaahi ʻaho ko iá, ka naʻe fakafiefia ʻa e moʻui ʻi he fāmá. Naʻa mau kau ki ha akoʻanga ʻi ha fale ako loki taha lolotonga ʻemau ʻi he ako siʻí pea ako ʻi kolo lolotonga homau ngaahi taʻu he akoʻanga māʻolungá.

ʻI he pō ʻe taha naʻá ku luelue atu ai ʻi kolo mo hoku kaumeʻa. Naʻe hū mai ki tuʻa ha taʻahine fakaʻofoʻofa mei hono ʻapí ke fakalea mai ki hoku kaumeʻá. Naʻá ne fakafeʻiloaki au kia Fern Prugh. Ko e meʻa mālié, he naʻá ne nofo ʻi he poloka ʻa ia naʻe tuʻu ai ʻa e akoʻanga māʻolungá. ʻI heʻeku faʻa fakalaka atu ʻi hono ʻapí, naʻe ʻi tuʻa ʻa Fern ʻo fai ʻa e ngaahi ngāue. Naʻe hā mahino, ko ha tokotaha ngāue mālohi ia, ʻa ia naʻe maongo ia kiate au. Naʻá ma fakatupulekina ha kaumeʻa vāofi mo feʻofaʻaki peá ma mali ʻi ʻEpeleli ʻo e 1936.

Fetuʻutaki mo e Moʻoni ʻo e Tohitapú

Ki muʻa ke fāʻeleʻi aú, naʻe ʻi ai ha fefine taʻumotuʻa ʻa ia naʻe ngaohikoviʻi ʻe he kakai ʻi he koló koeʻuhi ko ʻene tuí. Naʻe ʻaʻahi kiate ia ʻa ʻeku faʻeé ʻi he ngaahi ʻaho Tokonakí ʻi heʻene ʻalu ki kolo ke fakataú. Naʻe fakamaʻa ʻe he fineʻeikí hono falé mo tokoniʻi ia ʻi heʻene ngaahi fekaú, ʻo fai pehē pē ʻo aʻu ki he mate ʻa e fefiné. ʻOku ou tui naʻe tāpuakiʻi ʻe Sihova ʻa e fineʻeikí koeʻuhi he naʻá ne mātuʻaki anga-ʻofa ki he fefiné ni, ʻa ia ko ha tokotaha Ako Tohitapu, hangē ko ia ko hono ui ʻo e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová ʻi he taimi ko iá.

Hili ha taimi mei ai, naʻe mate fakafokifā ʻa e finemui ko e tama ʻa hoku mehikitangá. Naʻe ʻikai ʻoange ʻe he siasí ki hoku mehikitangá ha fuʻu loko fakafiemālie, ka ko ha kaungāʻapi ʻa ia ko ha tokotaha Ako Tohitapu naʻá ne fai iá. Naʻe fakamatalaʻi ange ʻe he tokotaha Ako Tohitapú kiate ia ʻa e meʻa ʻoku hokó ʻi he taimi ʻoku mate ai ha taha. (Siope 14:​13-​15; Koheleti 9:​5, 10) Ko ha matavai ʻeni ʻo e fakafiemālie lahi. Ko hoku mehikitangá leva, naʻá ne talanoa ki he fineʻeikí fekauʻaki mo e ʻamanaki ʻo e toetuʻú. Naʻe kamata heni ʻa e mahuʻingaʻia ʻa e fineʻeikí, koeʻuhi he naʻe mate ʻene ongo mātuʻá ʻi he taimi naʻá ne kei siʻi aí pea naʻá ne loto-moʻua ke ʻilo ki he meʻa ʻoku hoko ki ha taha ʻi he maté. ʻI he meʻa ko ia naʻe hokosiá naʻe maongo ai kiate au ʻa e mahuʻinga ʻo e ngāue ʻaonga maʻu pē ʻaki ʻa e ngaahi faingamālié ke fakamoʻoni ʻikai ʻi he founga anga-mahení.

ʻI he 1930 tupú, naʻe kamata fanongo ai ʻa e fineʻeikí ki he letiō he pongipongi Sāpaté ʻi hono fakamafola ai ʻa e ngaahi malanga ʻa Joseph F. Rutherford, ko e palesiteni ʻo e Sōsaieti Taua Leʻo Tohitapu mo e Tuleki ʻi he taimi ko iá. Lolotonga ʻa e ngaahi taʻu ko iá, naʻe toe kamata ai ʻa e ngāue fale-ki-he-fale ʻa e Kau Fakamoʻoní ʻi he feituʻu naʻa mau nofo aí. Naʻa nau fokotuʻu ha kalamafoni takitaki ʻi he loto ʻapí ʻi ha lalo ʻakau malumalu ʻo tā ʻa e ngaahi malanga kuo hiki ʻa Tokoua Rutherford. Ko e ngaahi hiki ko iá mo e ongo makasini Taua Leʻo pea mo e Golden Age (ko e Awake! ia he taimi ní) naʻá ne tauhi ke moʻui ʻa e mahuʻingaʻia ʻa e fineʻeikí.

ʻI ha ngaahi taʻu siʻi ki mui ai, ʻi he 1938, naʻe ʻoatu ai ha pousikaati ki he kau maʻu tukuhau he Taua Leʻo ʻo fakaafeʻi kinautolu ki ha fakataha makehe ʻi ha ʻapi fakatāutaha naʻe kilomita nai ʻe 25 hono mamaʻó. Naʻe fie kau ki ai ʻa e fineʻeikí, ko ia ko Fern mo au mo e toko ua ʻi hoku fanga tokouá naʻa mau ō fakataha mo ia. Ko John Booth mo Charles Hessler, ko e ongo ʻovasia fefonongaʻaki ʻa e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová, naʻá na fai ʻa e malanga ki he tōseni nai ʻo kimautolu. Hili iá, naʻá na kamata fokotuʻutuʻu maau ha kulupu ke kau ʻi he ngāue fakafaifekaú ʻi he pongipongi hono hokó. Naʻe ʻikai pole ha taha ke ʻalu mo kinaua, ko ia, naʻe filiʻi au ʻe Tokoua Hessler peá ne ʻeke mai, “Fēfē ke ke ʻalu mo kimaua?” Naʻe ʻikai te u ʻilo ʻa e meʻa tonu ko ia naʻe teu ke na faí, ka naʻe ʻikai lava ke u fakakaukau ki ha ʻuhinga naʻe ʻikai totonu ai ke u tokoniʻi kinaua.

Naʻá ma ō fale-ki-he-fale ʻo aʻu nai ki he hoʻataá, pea toki toʻo hake leva ʻe Tokoua Hessler ʻa e ongo sanuisí. Naʻá ma tangutu hifo he sitepu ʻo e falelotú ʻo kamata kai. Ko e hili ʻeku tohoʻi hake ko ia ʻa e foʻi sikaletí naʻe toki ʻilo ai ʻe Tokoua Hessler naʻá ku maʻu ha fakataha pē ʻe taha. Naʻá ne haʻu ki homau ʻapí ki he kai efiafi he efiafi pē ko iá peá ne kole mai kiate kimautolu ke fakaafeʻi mai homau ngaahi kaungāʻapí ki ha fetalanoaʻaki faka-Tohitapu. Hili ʻa e kai efiafí, naʻá ne fai ha ako Tohitapu mo kimautolu pea fai ha malanga ki ha kulupu ko e toko hongofulu nai naʻe haʻú. Naʻá ne tala mai kiate kimautolu ʻoku totonu ke mau ako Tohitapu he uike kotoa pē. Neongo naʻe ʻikai loto ki ai ʻa homau ngaahi kaungāʻapí, ko Fern mo au naʻá ma fokotuʻutuʻu ke fai ha ako Tohitapu ʻi ʻapi fakauike.

Fakalakalaka ʻi he Moʻoní

ʻIkai fuoloa hili iá, ko Fern mo au naʻá ma ō ʻi he ngāue fakamalangá. Naʻá ma ʻi he sea mui ʻo e kaá, pea ko e tutu hake pē ia ʻema foʻi sikaletí mo e hanga mai hoku tokouá kiate kimaua ʻo pehē mai: “Ko ʻeku toki ʻilo ʻeni ʻoku ʻikai ke ifi ʻa e Kau Fakamoʻoní.” ʻI he taimi pē ko iá, naʻe lī ki tuʻa he matapaá ʻe Fern ʻa ʻene foʻi sikaletí​—naʻá ku fakaʻosi haʻakú. Neongo naʻá ma fiefia he ifí, naʻe ʻikai ʻaupito te ma toe ala ki ha foʻi sikaleti.

Hili ʻema papitaiso ʻi he 1940, ko au mo Fern naʻá ma ʻi ha fakataha ʻa ia naʻá ma ako ai ha kupu ʻa ia naʻe fakaʻaiʻai ai ʻa e tāimuʻá, hangē ko ia ʻoku uiʻaki ʻa e ngāue fakamalanga taimi-kakató. ʻI heʻema fononga ki ʻapí, naʻe ʻeke mai ʻe ha tokoua: “Ko e hā ʻoku ʻikai te ke tāimuʻa ai mo Fern? ʻOku ʻikai ha meʻa ke taʻofi ai kimoua.” Naʻe ʻikai lava ke ma taʻelototatau mo ia, ko ia ai naʻá ma fakafaingamālieʻi kimaua. Naʻá ku tuku ha fakatokanga ʻaho ʻe 30 ki hoku feituʻu ngāueʻangá, pea naʻá ma fai ʻa e ngaahi fokotuʻutuʻu ke tāimuʻa.

Naʻá ma maʻu faleʻi mei he Sōsaieti Taua Leʻó fekauʻaki mo e feituʻu naʻe totonu ke ma ngāue aí, peá ma toki hiki leva ki Baltimore, Maryland. Naʻe tauhi ai ha ʻapi maʻá e kau tāimuʻá, pea ko e fakamole ki he nofoʻangá mo e meʻakaí naʻe U.S.$10 he māhina. Naʻe ʻi ai ʻema paʻanga talifaki ʻa ia naʻá ma fakakaukau ʻe faingofua pē ʻene fakaaʻu kimaua ki ʻĀmaketoné. (Fakahā 16:​14, 16) Koeʻuhí, naʻá ma fakakaukau maʻu pē naʻe ofi ʻaupito ʻa ʻĀmaketone. Ko ia ʻi heʻema kamata ke tāimuʻá, naʻá ma tukuange homa ʻapí pea liʻaki ʻa e meʻa kehe kotoa pē.

Naʻá ma tāimuʻa ʻi Baltimore he 1942 ki he 1947. Ko e fakafepaki ki he ngāue ʻa e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová naʻe lahi ʻaupito lolotonga ʻa e ngaahi taʻu ko iá. ʻI he ʻikai ke fakaʻuli heʻema kaá ki he ngaahi ʻapi ʻo ʻema kau ako Tohitapú, ʻi he ngaahi taimi ʻe niʻihi naʻe ʻave kimaua ʻe ha taha. ʻI he founga ko iá naʻe ʻikai ke hifi ai ʻa e ngaahi vaʻe ʻo ʻema kaá. ʻOku ʻikai saiʻia ha taha ʻi he fakafepaki peheé, ka ʻoku lava ke u leaʻaki naʻá ma fiefia maʻu pē ʻi he ngāue fakamalangá. Ko hono moʻoní, naʻá ma fakatuʻotuʻa maʻu pē ki ha kiʻi meʻa fakatoʻoaloto ʻi hono fai ʻa e ngāue ʻa e ʻEikí.

Naʻe ʻikai fuoloa kuó ma ʻosi ngāueʻaki ʻa e paʻanga kotoa naʻá ma tuku talifakí. Naʻe taʻeʻaonga ʻa e ngaahi vaʻe ʻo ʻema kaá, pea pehē foki ki homa valá mo e suú. Naʻá ma puke tuʻo ua pe tuʻo tolu ʻi ha vahaʻa taimi fuoloa. Naʻe ʻikai faingofua ke hokohoko atu, ka naʻe ʻikai ʻaupito ke ma fakakaukau ke liʻaki. Naʻe aʻu ʻo ʻikai ʻaupito te ma talanoa fekauʻaki mo ia. Naʻá ma tuʻutuʻu ʻa e ngaahi meʻa kehe ʻi he moʻuí koeʻuhi ke lava ʻo ma kei ʻi he ngāue tāimuʻá.

Ngaahi Liliu ʻo e Vāhenga-Ngāué

ʻI he 1947 naʻá ma ō ai ki he fakataha-lahi ʻi Los Angeles, Kalefōnia. Lolotonga e ʻi aí, ko au mo hoku taʻokete ko William naʻe ʻomai ha tohi taki taha kiate kimaua ʻa ia naʻe vaheʻi mai ai kimaua ki he ngāue fefonongaʻakí ke ʻaʻahi ʻo tokoniʻi ʻa e ngaahi fakatahaʻangá. Naʻe ʻikai te ma maʻu ha ako makehe ki he ngāue ko iá he taimi ko iá. Ka naʻá ma ō pē. Lolotonga ʻa e taʻu ʻe fitu hono hokó, naʻá ku ngāue mo Fern ʻi Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, mo Niu ʻIoke. ʻI he 1954 naʻe fakaafeʻi ai kimaua ke kau ki he kalasi hono 24 ʻa Kiliatí, ko ha akoʻanga ki hono akoʻi ʻo e kau misinalé. Lolotonga ʻema ʻi aí, naʻe maʻu ʻa Fern ʻe he polioó. Naʻe fakafiefiá, he naʻá ne fakaakeake lelei, pea naʻe vaheʻi kimaua ki he ngāue fefonongaʻakí ʻi Niu ʻIoke mo Connecticut.

Lolotonga ʻa ʻema ngāue ʻi Stamford, Connecticut, naʻe fakaafeʻi kimaua ʻe Nathan H. Knorr, ko e palesiteni ia ʻo e Sōsaieti Taua Leʻó he taimi ko iá ke ma nofo he fakaʻosinga ʻo e uiké mo ia mo hono uaifí, ko Audrey. Naʻá na fafangaʻaki kimaua ha siteiki ifo he kai efiafí fakataha mo hono ngaahi teuteú hono kotoa. Naʻá ma maheni mo kinaua ki muʻa ange, pea naʻá ku ʻiloʻi lelei ʻa Tokoua Knorr ʻo ʻiloʻi naʻe ʻi ai ʻa e meʻa ʻi heʻene fakakaukaú tuku kehe ʻemau feohí mo e kai efiafí. Ki mui ai he efiafi ko iá naʻá ne ʻeke mai, “Te ke saiʻia ke haʻu ki Pēteli?”

“ʻOku ʻikai moʻoni ke u fakapapauʻi; ʻoku ʻikai te u ʻilo lahi fekauʻaki mo e moʻui ʻi Pētelí,” ko ʻeku talí ange ia.

Hili ʻa e fakakaukau fekauʻaki mo e meʻá ni ʻi ha ngaahi uike ʻe niʻihi, naʻá ma tala ange kia Tokoua Knorr te ma ō ange kapau ʻokú ne fiemaʻu ke ma fai pehē. ʻI he uike hono hokó, naʻá ma maʻu ai ha tohi ke fakafeʻiloaki ange ki Pēteli ʻi ʻEpeleli 27, 1957, ko e ʻaho fakamanatu ia ʻo e taʻu 21 ʻo ʻema nofo malí.

ʻI he ʻuluaki ʻaho ko ia ʻi Pētelí, naʻe ʻomai ai ʻe Tokoua Knorr kiate au ʻa e fakahinohino maʻalaʻala fekauʻaki mo e meʻa naʻe ʻamanekiná. Naʻá ne tala mai: “ʻOku ʻikai te ke toe hoko ko ha sevāniti fakafeituʻu; ko hoʻo ʻi hení ke ngāue ʻi he Pētelí. Ko e ngāue mahuʻinga taha ʻeni kuo pau ke ke faí, pea ʻoku mau fiemaʻu koe ke tuku ho taimí mo e iví ki hono ngāueʻaki ʻa e ako ʻokú ke maʻu heni ʻi Pētelí. ʻOku mau loto ke ke nofo.”

Mohu ʻUhinga ʻa e Moʻui ʻi Pētelí

Ko e ʻuluaki vāhenga-ngāue naʻá ku maʻú naʻe ʻi he ongo Potungāue Makasiní mo e Meilí. Ki mui ai, hili ia ʻa e taʻu nai ʻe tolu, naʻe fekau mai ʻa Tokoua Knorr kiate au ke fakafeʻiloaki ange ki hono ʻōfisí. Naʻá ne fakamatala mai kiate au ʻi he taimi ko iá ko e ʻuhinga moʻoni naʻe ʻoange ai au ki Pētelí ke ngāue ʻi he ʻapí. Ko ʻene ngaahi fakahinohinó naʻe mātuʻaki fakahangatonu, “Ko hoʻo ʻi hení ke fakalele ʻa e ʻApi Pētelí.”

Ko hono fakalele ʻa e ʻApi Pētelí naʻe fakamanatu mai ai kiate au ʻa e ngaahi lēsoni naʻe akoʻi kiate au ʻe heʻeku ongo mātuʻá lolotonga ʻa ʻeku tupu hake ʻi he fāmá. Ko ha ʻApi Pēteli ʻoku hangē pē ia ha nofoʻanga ʻo ha fāmili tuʻumaʻú. ʻOku ʻi ai ʻa e ʻū vala ke fō, ngaahi kai ke teuteu, ipu ke fufulu, ngaahi mohenga ke fakamaau, mo e alā meʻa pehē. ʻOku feinga ʻa e fokotuʻutuʻu ʻo e ʻapí ke ʻai ʻa Pēteli ko ha feituʻu fakafiemālie ia ke nofo ai, ko e taha ʻe lava ke ui ʻe ha taha ko hano ʻapi.

ʻOku ou tui ʻoku lahi ʻa e ngaahi lēsoni ʻe lava ke ako ʻe he ngaahi fāmilí mei he anga ʻo hono fakalele ʻo e Pētelí. ʻOku mau ʻā pongipongia hake ʻo kamataʻaki homau ʻahó ha fakakaukau fakalaumālie ʻaki hono vakaiʻi ʻo e konga Tohitapu fakaʻahó. ʻOku ʻamanekina kimautolu ke ngāue mālohi pea moʻui ʻi he moʻui palanisi kae femoʻuekina. ʻOku ʻikai hangē ʻa Pēteli ko ha monasitelioó, ʻo hangē nai ko e fakakaukau ʻa e niʻihi. ʻOku mau lavaʻi ʻa e meʻa lahí koeʻuhi ko e fakataimitēpileʻi ʻa e founga ʻo ʻemau moʻuí. Kuo pehē ʻe he tokolahi ko e ako kuo nau maʻu ʻi hení kuó ne tokoniʻi ai kinautolu ki mui ange ke tali ʻa e ngaahi fatongia ʻi honau fāmilí pea ʻi he fakatahaʻanga faka-Kalisitiané.

Ko e kau talavou tangata mo e fefine ʻoku nau haʻu ki Pētelí ʻoku vaheʻi nai ke nau fai ʻa e fakamaʻá, foó, pe ngāue ʻi he fale ngāué. ʻE ʻai nai ʻe he māmaní kitautolu ke tui ko e ngāue fakasino peheé ʻoku māʻulalo mo taʻefeʻunga ia kiate kitautolu. Ka, ko e kau talavou ʻi Pētelí ʻoku nau hoko ʻo houngaʻia ai he ko e ngaahi ngāue kuo vaheʻi peheé ʻoku fiemaʻu ia ki homau fāmilí ke lele lelei mo fiefia.

ʻE toe ʻohake nai ʻe he māmaní ʻa e fakakaukau ʻokú ke fiemaʻu ʻa e tuʻungá mo e ongoongó ke hoko ʻo fiefia moʻoni. ʻOku hala ia. ʻI heʻetau fai ʻa e meʻa kuo vaheʻi mai ke tau faí, ʻoku tau ‘fai pē ʻa e meʻa naʻe totonu ke tau faí,’ pea ʻoku tau maʻu ai ʻa e tāpuaki ʻa Sihová. (Luke 17:10) ʻE lava ke tau maʻu ʻa e fiemālie mo e fiefia moʻoní kapau pē ʻoku tau manatuʻi ko e taumuʻa ʻo ʻetau ngāué​—ke fai ʻa e finangalo ʻo Sihová pea fakalahi atu ʻa e ngaahi meʻa mahuʻinga ʻo e Puleʻangá. Kapau ʻoku tau tauhi ia ʻi hotau ʻatamaí, ʻe lava ke fakafiefia mo fakafiemālie ha faʻahinga vāhenga-ngāue pē.

Ko ha Monū ʻa e Kau ʻi he Fakalahi Atú

ʻI he fakataha-lahi ʻi Cleveland, Ohio, ʻi he 1942, laka hake ʻi ha hongofuluʻi taʻu ki muʻa ke ma ō mai ki Pētelí, naʻe fai ai ʻe Tokoua Knorr ʻa e malanga ko e “Melinó​—ʻE Lava ke Tuʻuloa?” Naʻá ne fakamaʻalaʻala ai ko e Tau II ʻa Māmaní, ʻa ia naʻe fakautuutu ʻi he taimi ko iá, ʻe ngata pea ʻe ʻi ai ha taimi ʻo e melino ʻa ia ʻe tokonaki mai ai ha faingamālie ki ha feingatau fakaemalanga fakalahi atu. Ko e Akoʻanga Kiliatí ke akoʻi ai ʻa e kau misinalé pea mo e Akoʻanga Fakafaifekau Fakateokalatí ke fakaleleiʻi ai ʻa e pōtoʻi fakaelea ʻa e fanga tokouá ki he kakaí naʻe fokotuʻu ia ʻi he 1943. Naʻe toe fokotuʻutuʻu foki mo e ngaahi fakataha-lahi lalahi. Naʻe tautefito ʻa e ʻiloa he lolotonga ʻo e 1950 tupú ʻa ia ko ē naʻe ʻi he Yankee Stadium, ʻi Niu ʻIoké. ʻI he felāveʻi mo e ngaahi fakataha-lahi ʻi ai he 1950 mo e 1953, naʻá ku maʻu ai ha faingamālie ke tokoni ʻi he fokotuʻutuʻu ki he fuʻu Kolo Taulani ko ia naʻe feʻunga ki he laui mano ʻi he ʻaho taki taha ʻe valu ʻo e ngaahi fakataha-lahi ko iá.

Hili ʻa e ngaahi fakataha-lahi ko iá, kau ai ʻa e fakataha lahi taha ʻo kinautolú kotoa ʻi he 1958, naʻe ʻi ai ʻa e tupulekina lahi ʻi he kau malanga ʻo e Puleʻangá. Naʻe uesia fakahangatonu ʻe he meʻá ni ʻemau ngāue ʻi Pētelí. ʻI he konga ki mui ʻo e 1960 tupú mo e muʻaki 1970 tupú, naʻa mau ʻi ha tuʻunga ʻo e fiemaʻu moʻoni ha ʻatā mo ha ngaahi loki ke nofo ai ʻa e kau ngāué. Ke fakafeʻunga ki homau fāmili tupulekiná, naʻe pau ke mau maʻu ha ngaahi loki mohe lahi ange, ko e ngaahi peito, mo ha ngaahi loki kai.

Naʻe kole ʻa Tokoua Knorr kia Tokoua Max Larson, ko e ʻovasia ʻo e fale ngāué, pea mo au ke kumi ha konga kelekele feʻunga ki ha fakalahi. ʻI he 1957, ʻi heʻeku haʻu ki Pētelí, ko homau fāmilí ko e toko 500 nai naʻe nofo ʻi ha fale nofoʻanga lahi pē ʻe taha. Ka ʻi he faai mai ʻa e ngaahi taʻú, naʻe fakatau mai ai ʻe he Sōsaietí ʻo fakaleleiʻi ʻa e ngaahi fuʻu hōtele lalahi ofi mai ʻe tolu​—ko e Towers, ko e Standish, pea mo e Bossert​—pehē foki ki he ngaahi ʻapaatimeni lahi naʻe siʻisiʻi ange. ʻI he 1986 naʻe fakatau ai ʻe he Sōsaietí ʻa e konga kelekele naʻe tuʻu ai ʻa e Hōtele Margaret pea fulihi ʻa e fale fakaʻofoʻofa foʻou naʻe tuʻu aí ko ha ʻapi ki he toko 250 nai. ʻI he muʻaki taʻu 1990 tupú leva, naʻe langa ai ha fale nofoʻanga fungavaka ʻe 30 ke nofo ai ha toe kau ngāue ʻe toko 1,000. ʻOku lava he taimí ni ʻa e Pēteli ʻi Brooklyn ke tauhi mo fafanga ʻa e kau mēmipa laka hake he toko 3,300 ʻo homau fāmilí.

Naʻe toe fakatau ha kelekele ʻi Wallkill, Niu ʻIoké, ko e meimei kilomita ia ʻe 160 mei he Pēteli ʻi Brooklyn. ʻI he faai mai ʻa e ngaahi taʻú, kamata ʻi he konga ki mui ʻo e 1960 tupú, naʻe langa ai ha ngaahi ʻapi nofoʻanga mo ha fale pulusi lahi. Ko e kau mēmipa nai ʻe 1,200 he taimí ni ʻo homau fāmili Pētelí ʻoku nofo mo ngāue ʻi aí. ʻI he 1980 naʻe kamata ai ha kumi ki ha konga kelekele ʻeka nai ʻe 600 ofi ange ki he Kolo Niu ʻIoké pea naʻe lelei ʻa e fehūʻaki ʻo hono halá. Naʻe kata ʻa e fakafofonga kelekelé mo ne pehē: “Ko fē te mou maʻu ai ha konga kelekele pehē? ʻE ʻikai pē ke ala lava ia.” Ka ʻi he pongipongi hono hokó naʻá ne tā mai ai ʻo ne pehē: “Kuó u maʻu hamou konga kelekele.” ʻI he ʻahó ni, ʻoku ʻiloa ia ko e Senitā Fakaeako Taua Leʻó ʻi Patterson, Niu ʻIoke. ʻOku fakalele ai ʻa e ngaahi akoʻanga pea ʻoku ʻi ai ha fāmili ʻo e kau faifekau laka hake he toko 1,300.

Ngaahi Lēsoni Kuó u Ako

Kuó u ako ko ha ʻovasia lelei ko ha tokotaha ia ʻa ia ko ē ʻoku lava ke ne toʻo mai ha fakamatala mahuʻinga mei he niʻihi kehé. Ko e lahi taha ʻo e ngaahi fakakaukau kuó u maʻu ʻa e monū ke fakahoko ʻi he tuʻunga ko e ʻovasia ʻo e Pētelí ko e haʻu ia mei he niʻihi kehé.

ʻI heʻeku haʻu ki Pētelí, ko e tokolahi ai naʻe taʻumotuʻa ange, ʻo hangē ko au he ʻaho ní. Ko e tokolahi tahá kuo nau puli atu he taimí ni. Ko hai ʻokú ne fetongi ʻa e faʻahinga ko ia kuo nau tupu ʻo motuʻa pea maté? ʻOku ʻikai maʻu pē ko e faʻahinga ko ē ʻoku nau pōtoʻi tahá. Ko e faʻahinga ko ia ʻoku nau ʻi heni, ʻo ngāue anga-tonu ʻi he ngāué, ʻo ʻai kinautolu ke ala faingamālié.

Ko e toe meʻa mahuʻinga ʻe taha ke manatuʻi ko e mahuʻinga ʻo ha uaifi lelei. Ko e poupou ʻo siʻoku uaifí, ʻa Fern, kuo hoko ia ko ha tokoni lahi kiate au ʻi hono fakahoko ʻo hoku ngaahi vāhenga-ngāue fakateokalatí. Ko e ngaahi husepānití ʻoku nau maʻu ʻa e fatongia ke fakapapauʻi ʻoku fiefia ʻa honau uaifí ʻi heʻenau ngaahi vāhenga-ngāué. ʻOku ou feinga ke palani ʻa e meʻa ʻoku ou saiʻia ai mo Fern ke faí. ʻOku ʻikai fiemaʻu ia ke hoko ko ha meʻa mamafa, ko ha liliu pē mei he tuʻunga mahení. Ko e fatongia ia ʻo ha husepāniti ke fai ʻa e ngaahi meʻá ke ʻai hono uaifí ke fiefia. Ko hono taimi mo iá ʻoku mahuʻinga pea ʻoku hoko vave ia, ko ia ʻoku fiemaʻu ke ne ngāueʻaki ʻa e lahi tahá ʻo iá.

ʻOku ou fiefia ke moʻui ʻi he ngaahi ʻaho fakaʻosi naʻe talanoa ki ai ʻa Sīsuú. Ko e taimi fakaofo lahi taha ʻeni ʻi he hisitōlia kotoa ʻo e faʻahinga ʻo e tangatá. ʻOku tau malava ke mamata mo sioʻaki hotau mata ʻo e tuí ki he founga ʻo hono fakatupulekina ʻe he ʻEikí ʻa ʻene kautahá ʻi he teuteu atu ki he hoko mai ʻa e māmani foʻou naʻe talaʻofa maí. ʻI heʻeku sio ki mui ki heʻeku moʻui ʻi he ngāue ʻa Sihová, ʻoku lava ai ke u sio ko Sihova ʻa e tokotaha ʻokú ne fakalele ʻa e kautahá ni​—ʻikai ko ha kau tangata. Ko e kau sevāniti pē kitautolu ʻaʻana. ʻI he tuʻunga ko iá, kuo pau ke tau hanga maʻu pē kiate ia ki ha fakahinohino. ʻI he taimi pē ʻokú ne fakahā mai ai ʻa e meʻa ke tau faí, ʻoku totonu ke tau nima mo vaʻe ʻo fai fakataha ia.

Foaki atu koe ki he kautahá, pea ʻoku fakapapauʻi ai kiate koe ke ke maʻu ha moʻui kakato, mo fiefia. Ko e hā pē ʻokú ke faí​—pe ko e tāimuʻa, ngāue fakasēketi, ngāue fakataha mo e fakatahaʻangá ko ha tokotaha malanga, ngāue ʻi Pēteli, pe ngāue fakamisinale​—muimui he fakahinohino kuo fokotuʻu atú, pea mahuʻingaʻia ʻi ho vāhenga-ngāué. Feingaʻaki hoʻo lelei tahá ke fiefia ʻi he vāhenga-ngāue kotoa pē mo e ʻaho ngāue taki taha ʻi he ngāue ʻa Sihová. Te ke hoko ʻo helaʻia, pea te ke ngāue nai ʻo fuʻu tōtuʻa pe ongoʻi loto-siʻi ʻi ha ngaahi taimi. Ko e taimi ia kuo pau ai ke ke manatuʻi ʻa e taumuʻa ʻo hoʻo fakatapui hoʻo moʻuí kia Sihová. Ke fai hono finangaló, ʻo ʻikai ko hoʻoú.

Kuo ʻikai ʻi ai ha ʻaho kuó u haʻu ai ke ngāue pea ʻikai te u fiefia ʻi he meʻa naʻá ku faí. Ko e hā hono ʻuhingá? Koeʻuhi ʻi he taimi ʻoku tau foaki ʻaufuatō atu ai kitautolu kia Sihová, ʻoku tau maʻu ai ʻa e fiemālie ʻi he ʻiloʻi ‘kuo tau fai pē ʻa e meʻa naʻe totonu ke tau faí.’

[Fakatātā ʻi he peesi 19]

Ko e Potungāue Makasiní

[Fakatātā ʻi he peesi 19]

Kolo Taulaní, 1950

[Fakatātā ʻi he peesi 19]

Tāimuʻa ʻi Baltimore, 1946

[Fakatātā ʻi he peesi 19]

ʻI he Kolo Taulaní mo Fern ʻi he 1950

[Fakatātā ʻi he peesi 22]

Fakataha mo Audrey pea mo Nathan Knorr

[Fakatātā ʻi he peesi 23]

Senitā Fakaeako Taua Leʻó ʻi Patterson, Niu ʻIoke

[Fakatātā ʻi he peesi 24]

Fakataha mo Fern he ʻahó ni