Kamataʻanga Masiva​—Ikuʻanga Fakakoloa

LOLOTONGA ʻa e ngaahi taʻu ʻo ʻeku akó, naʻe ʻikai ke lahi ai ha liliu. Ko ho kaungā-kalasi ʻi he ʻuluaki taʻú ʻa e faʻahinga tatau pē ʻoku mou ʻosi fakataha mei he akó ʻi he taʻu fakaʻosí. Naʻá ke ʻiloʻi lelei ʻa e hingoa ʻo e tokolahi taha ʻo e kakai ʻi he koló, pea naʻa nau ʻiloʻi ho hingoá.

Naʻe takatakaiʻi ʻa e kolo ko Liberty ʻe ha fanga kiʻi faama, pea ko e ngoue tefitó ko e koane. ʻI he taimi naʻe fāʻeleʻi ai aú, naʻe ngāue ʻa ʻeku tamaí ki ha tokotaha faama ʻi he feituʻú. ʻI heʻeku taʻu hongofulu tupú, naʻá ku ako ai ke fakaʻuli ʻi ha palau pea fai mo e ngāue kehe ʻi he fāmá.

Naʻe ʻosi motuʻa ʻa ʻeku tamaí. Naʻá ne taʻu 56 ʻi hono fāʻeleʻi aú, pea naʻe taʻu 35 ʻa ʻeku faʻeé. Neongo ia, naʻe mālohi mo moʻui lelei ʻa ʻeku tamaí. Naʻá ne manako ke ngāue mālohi peá ne akoʻi ʻa ʻene fānaú kotoa ke nau manako foki ai. Naʻe ʻikai ʻaupito ke ne maʻu ha paʻanga lahi, ka naʻá ne tokonaki ha nofoʻanga ke mau nofo ai, vala ke tui, mo e meʻakai feʻunga ke mau kai. Pea naʻá ne fakamoleki maʻu pē ha taimi mo kimautolu. Naʻe taʻu 93 ʻa ʻeku tamaí ʻi heʻene maté. Naʻe mate ʻa ʻeku faʻeé ʻi hono taʻu 86. Naʻe ʻikai ha taha ʻo kinaua ʻe tauhi kia Sihova. Kae kehe, ko e taha ʻo hoku fanga tokouá, naʻá ne hoko ko ha mātuʻa faitōnunga talu mei he 1972.

NGAAHI TAʻU ʻI HEʻEKU KEI SIʻÍ

Naʻe lotu fefeka ʻaupito ʻa ʻeku faʻeé. Naʻá ne ʻave kimautolu ki he siasi Papitaisó ʻi he Sāpate kotoa pē. ʻI heʻeku taʻu 12, naʻá ku ʻuluaki fanongo ai ʻi he tokāteline Tolu-Tahaʻi-ʻOtuá. Ko ia naʻá ku ʻeke ange ki heʻeku faʻeé: “ʻE lava fēfē ke hoko fakatouʻosi ʻa Sīsū ko e ʻAlo mo e Tamai ʻi he taimi tatau?” ʻOku ou manatuʻi ʻa ʻene talí: “Tamasiʻi, ko ha misiteli ia. Naʻe ʻikai fakataumuʻa ia ke tau mahinoʻi.” Ko ha misiteli moʻoni ia kiate au. Kae kehe, ʻi heʻeku taʻu 14 nai, naʻá ku papitaiso ai ʻi ha kiʻi vaitafe ʻi he feituʻú. Naʻa nau fakauku tuʻo tolu au ʻi he vaí, ko e taha ki he Tamaí, taha ki he ʻAló, pea taha ki he laumālie māʻoniʻoní!

Lolotonga ʻeku ʻi he akoʻanga māʻolungá, naʻe ʻi ai hoku kaumeʻa ko ha tokotaha fuhu, pea naʻá ne fakaʻaiʻai au ke u ʻahiʻahi kau ʻi he fuhú. Ko ia naʻá ku kamata ako fuhu, peá u hoko ko ha mēmipa ʻi ha kautaha fuhu, ko e Golden Gloves. Naʻe ʻikai ke fuʻu sai ʻa ʻeku fuhú, ko ia ʻi he hili ʻeku kau ʻi ha ngaahi fuhu, naʻá ku tuku ange ia. Ki mui ai, naʻe ui au ki he Kau Tau ʻAmeliká pea naʻe ʻave au ki Siamane. Lolotonga ʻeku ngāue aí, naʻe ʻave au ʻe hoku kau māʻolungá ki ha ʻapiako fakakautau koeʻuhí naʻa nau fakakaukau ʻe lava ke u hoko ko ha taki lelei. Naʻa nau loto ke u ʻai ʻa e ngāue fakakautaú ko ʻeku ngāue tuʻumaʻú ia. Kae kehe, naʻe ʻikai te u loto ke nofo maʻu ʻi he ngāue fakakautaú, ko ia ʻi he hili ʻeku fakaʻosi ʻa hoku fatongia ʻi he taʻu ʻe uá, naʻá ku mavahe mei he kau taú ʻi he 1956. Kae kehe, ʻikai fuoloa mei ai, naʻá ku kau ʻi ha kau tau kehe ʻaupito.

KAMATA HA MOʻUI FOʻOU

Ki muʻa ke u ako ʻa e moʻoní, naʻá ku maʻu ha fakakaukau hala ki he tuʻunga ʻoku totonu ke ʻi ai ha tangata moʻoni. Naʻe tākiekina au ʻe he ngaahi faivá mo e faʻahinga takatakai ʻiate aú. Naʻá ku fakakaukau au ko e kau tangata naʻe talanoa fekauʻaki mo e Tohi Tapú naʻe ʻikai te nau ngali tangata. Ka naʻe kamata ke u ako ha ngaahi meʻa ʻa ia naʻe liliu ai ʻeku moʻuí. ʻI he ʻaho ʻe taha, lolotonga ʻeku fakaʻuli ʻi heʻeku kā sitaila lanu kulokula ʻi he loto koló, naʻe taʻalo mai kiate au ha ongo finemui ke u ʻalu ange. Ko e ongo tuofefine iiki kinaua ʻo e tangata naʻe mali mo hoku tuofefine lahí. Ko e ongo finemui ko ení ko e ongo Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihova. Naʻá ku tali ki muʻa meiate kinaua ha ngaahi makasini Taua Leʻo mo e ʻĀ Hake!, ka naʻá ku ongoʻi naʻe kiʻi faingataʻa ke u mahinoʻi ʻa e Taua Leʻo. Kae kehe, ʻi he taimi ko ení, naʻá na fakaafeʻi au ki ha Ako Tohi ʻa e Fakatahaʻangá, ko ha kiʻi fakataha ki ha ako Tohi Tapu mo e fetalanoaʻaki ʻa ia naʻe fai ʻi hona ʻapí. Naʻá ku tala ange te u fakakaukau ki ai. Naʻá na malimali mo ʻeke mai, “Palōmesi?” Naʻá ku pehē ange, “Palōmesi atu.”

Naʻá ku fakatomala ʻi hono leaʻaki iá, ka naʻá ku ongoʻi heʻikai lava ke u maumauʻi ʻa ʻeku palōmesí. Ko ia naʻá ku ʻalu ʻi he pō ko iá ki he fakatahá. Naʻe maongo lahi taha kiate au ʻa e fānaú. Naʻe ʻikai lava ke u tui ki he lahi ʻo ʻenau ʻilo fekauʻaki mo e Tohi Tapú! Neongo naʻá ku ʻalu ki he lotú mo ʻeku faʻeé ʻi he Sāpate kotoa pē, naʻe kei siʻisiʻi ʻaupito ʻa ʻeku ʻilo fekauʻaki mo e Tohi Tapú. Naʻá ku loto moʻoni he taimi ko ení ke u ako lahi ange, ko ia naʻá ku tali ai ke u ako Tohi Tapu. Ko e taha ʻo e ngaahi meʻa naʻá ku fuofua akó ko e huafa fakafoʻituitui ʻo e ʻOtua Māfimafi-Aoniú ko Sihova. ʻI he ngaahi taʻu ki muʻá, ʻi heʻeku fehuʻi ki heʻeku faʻeé fekauʻaki mo e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová, naʻá ne pehē mai pē, “ʻOo, ʻoku nau lotu ki ha tangataʻeiki ko Sihova.” Ka naʻá ku ongoʻi ʻi he taimi ko ení naʻe ʻā ʻa hoku matá!

Naʻe vave ʻeku fakalakalaká, he naʻá ku ʻiloʻi kuó u maʻu ʻa e moʻoní. ʻI Maʻasi 1957, ko e māhina pē ia ʻe hiva mei heʻeku ʻuluaki maʻu fakatahá, naʻá ku papitaiso ai. Naʻe liliu ʻa ʻeku fakakaukaú. ʻOku ou fiefia lahi ʻi heʻeku ako ʻa e meʻa ʻoku akoʻi ʻe he Tohi Tapú fekauʻaki mo e tangata moʻoní. Ko Sīsuú ko ha tangata haohaoa. Naʻe lahi ange hono mālohí mo e mafaí ʻi ha toe tangata pē. Ka naʻe ʻikai te ne kau ʻi ha fuhu. ʻI hono kehé, “naʻá ne tuku atu ia ke ngaohikoviʻi,” ʻo hangē pē ko ia naʻe tomuʻa talá. (ʻAi. 53:2, 7) Naʻá ku ʻiloʻi ko ha tokotaha muimui moʻoni ʻia Sīsū “ʻoku fiemaʻu ke ne hoko ʻo anga-fakaalaala ki he tokotaha kotoa pē.”​—2 Tīm. 2:24.

Naʻá ku kamata tāimuʻa ʻi he taʻu hono hokó, ʻi he 1958. Kae kehe, naʻe vave ʻa e pau ke taʻofi ia ʻi ha taimi nounou. Ko e hā hono ʻuhingá? Naʻá ku fili ke mali mo Gloria, ko e taha ʻo e ongo finemui naʻá na fakaafeʻi au ki he ako tohí! Kuo ʻikai ʻaupito ke u fakaʻiseʻisa ʻi he fili ko iá. Ko ha foʻi siueli ʻa Gloria ʻi he taimi ko iá, pea ko ha foʻi siueli ia ʻi he ʻahó ni. Kiate au ʻokú ne mahuʻinga ange ʻi he taiamoni mahuʻinga tahá, pea ʻoku ou fiefia ʻaupito ʻi heʻeku mali mo iá! Tuku ke ne fakamatala atu ha meʻa fekauʻaki mo ia:

“Naʻe toko 16 ʻa hoku fanga tuongaʻané mo e fanga tokouá. Ko ʻeku faʻeé ko ha Fakamoʻoni faitōnunga. Naʻá ne mate ʻi heʻeku taʻu 14. Hili iá naʻe kamata ke ako Tohi Tapu ʻa ʻeku tamaí. Koeʻuhi ko e ʻikai ke toe ʻi ai ʻemau faʻeé, naʻe fai ʻe heʻeku tamaí ha fokotuʻutuʻu mo e pule akó. ʻI he taimi ko iá ko hoku tokoua lahi tahá naʻe ʻi hono taʻu fakaʻosi ʻi he akoʻanga māʻolungá, pea naʻe kole ʻe heʻema tamaí pe ʻe lava ke ma ako ʻi ha ngaahi ʻaho ʻo taufetongi. ʻI he founga ko iá, ʻe lava ke ʻi ʻapi ai ha taha ʻo kimaua ʻo tokangaʻi ʻa e fanau iiki angé. Naʻe toe lava foki ke ma teuteu ʻa e kai efiafi ʻa e fāmilí ke maau ʻi he taimi ʻe foki mai ai ʻemau tamaí mei he ngāué. Naʻe loto-lelei ki ai ʻa e pule akó, pea naʻá ma fai hokohoko ia ʻo aʻu ki he ʻosi ʻa e ako ʻa hoku tokouá. Naʻe ako mo kimautolu ha ongo fāmili Fakamoʻoni, pea ko e toko 11 ʻo kimautolu fānaú naʻa mau hoko ko e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihova. Naʻá ku fiefia ʻi he ngāue fakamalangá, neongo naʻá ku mātuʻaki mā maʻu pē. Kuo tokoniʻi au ʻe hoku husepānití, ʻe Sam, ʻi he meʻa ko iá ʻi he faai mai ʻa e ngaahi taʻú.”

Naʻá ku mali mo Gloria ʻi Fepueli 1959. Naʻá ma fiefia ʻi he tāimuʻa fakatahá. ʻI Siulai ʻo e taʻu ko iá, naʻá ma tohi kole ai ki he ngāue ʻi he Pētelí. Naʻá ma loto moʻoni ke ngāue ʻi he ʻuluʻi ʻapitanga ʻi he māmaní. Naʻe fakaʻekeʻeke kimaua, ʻe ha tokoua ʻofeina ko Simon Kraker. Naʻá ne tala mai ʻoku ʻikai ke tali ʻa e ngaahi hoa malí ki Pēteli ʻi he taimi ko iá. Naʻá ma kei loto pē ke ngāue ʻi Pēteli, ka naʻe feʻunga mo e ngaahi taʻu lahi ki muʻa peá ma toki aʻu ki ai.

Naʻá ma tohi ki he ʻuluʻi ʻapitanga ʻi he māmaní ʻo kole ke ʻave kimaua ki he feituʻu naʻe fiemaʻu ai ha kau malanga tokolahi angé. Naʻa nau ʻomai ha fili pē ʻe taha ke ma fai: Ko e ʻalu ki Pine Bluff, Arkansas. ʻI he ngaahi ʻaho ko iá, naʻe ʻi ai ha fakatahaʻanga ʻe ua ʻi Pine Bluff. Ko e fakatahaʻanga ʻe taha naʻe ʻi ai ʻa e kau malanga pālangi, pea ko e fakatahaʻanga ʻe tahá naʻe ʻi ai ʻa e kau malanga ʻuliʻuli. Naʻe ʻave kimaua ki he fakatahaʻanga ʻuliʻulí, ʻa ia naʻe ʻi ai ʻa e kau malanga pē ʻe toko 14.

NGAAHI FAINGATAʻA KOEʻUHI KO E MĀVAHEVAHÉ MO E LAU-LANÚ

Te ke fifili nai pea ko e hā naʻe fakamavahevaheʻi ai ʻe he Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová ʻa e kau malanga ʻuliʻulí mei he kau malanga pālangí. Pea ko e talí naʻe ʻikai haʻamau fili ke toe fai ʻi he ngaahi ʻaho ko iá. Naʻe taʻefakalao ke fakatahataha ha ongo matakali, pea naʻe ʻi ai foki mo e palopalema ʻi he fakamālohí. ʻI he ngaahi feituʻu lahi, naʻe ilifia ai ʻa e fanga tokouá naʻa fakaʻauha honau Fale Fakatahaʻangá kapau ʻe fakataha ai ke lotu ha ongo matakali ʻe ua. Naʻe hoko moʻoni ha ngaahi meʻa pehē. Kapau naʻe malanga fale ki he fale ʻa e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻuliʻulí ʻi he feituʻu ʻo e kau pālangí, naʻe puke kinautolu pea ʻoku ngalingali naʻe haha kinautolu. Ko ia koeʻuhi ke ʻosi ʻa e ngāue fakamalangá, naʻa mau talangofua ki he ngaahi laó pea ʻamanaki ʻe liliu ʻo toe lelei ange ʻa e ngaahi meʻá.

Naʻe ʻikai ke faingofua maʻu pē ʻemau ngāue fakafaifekaú. ʻI heʻemau malanga ʻi ha feituʻu ngāue ʻo e kau ʻuliʻulí, naʻa mau tukituki fāinoa atu ai ʻi he taimi ʻe niʻihi ʻi ha matapā ʻo ha fāmili pālangi. Naʻe pau ke mau fili fakavavevave: Te mau ʻahiʻahi fai ha kiʻi tuʻuaki Fakatohitapu nounou pe kole fakamolemole pē pea hiki ki he fale hono hokó? Naʻe pehē ʻa e ngaahi meʻá ʻi he ngaahi ʻaho ko iá.

Ko e moʻoni, ʻi he tuʻunga ko e ongo tāimuʻá, naʻe kei fiemaʻu ke ma ngāueʻi ha paʻanga ke moʻui ai. Ko e lahi taha ʻo ʻema ngaahi ngāué naʻe tola ʻe tolu ʻi he ʻaho ʻa e totongí. Naʻe ʻi ai ha fanga kiʻi ngāue tauhi ʻapi ʻa Gloria. Naʻe fakaʻatā au ke tokoni kiate ia ʻi he ʻapi ʻe taha koeʻuhi ke lava ʻo ʻosi vave ange ʻene ngāué. Naʻe ʻomai ʻe he fāmilí ʻema kai hoʻatā, ʻa ia naʻá ma kai mo Gloria ki muʻa ke ma mavahé. ʻI he uike taki taha, naʻe fai ai ʻe Gloria ʻa e haiane ʻa ha fāmili ʻe taha. Naʻá ku ngāue ʻi he ngoué, fufulu matapā sioʻata, pea tokangaʻi ʻa e ngaahi ngāue kehe ʻi he ʻapí. ʻI he ʻapi ʻo ha fāmili pālangi ʻe taha, naʻá ma fufulu matapā sioʻata ai. Lolotonga ʻa e fufulu ʻe Gloria ʻa e tafaʻaki ʻi lotó, naʻá ku fufulu ʻe au ʻa e tafaʻaki ʻi tuʻá. Naʻe feʻunga ia mo e ʻaho kakato, ko ia naʻa nau ʻomai ʻema kai hoʻatā. Naʻe kai ʻa Gloria ʻi loto ʻi he falé ka naʻe pau ke ne nofo mavahe mei he fāmilí. Naʻe pau ke u kai ʻi tuʻa ʻi he tauʻanga meʻalelé, ka naʻe ʻikai te u tokanga ki ai. Ko ha foʻi kai lelei moʻoni ia. Ko ha fāmili lelei ia, ka naʻe uesia kinautolu ʻe he kakai takatakai ʻiate kinautolú. ʻOku ou manatuʻi ʻa e taimi ʻe taha naʻá ma tuʻu ai ʻi ha pausa. Hili hono ʻutu ʻema kaá, naʻá ku kole ange ki he pālangi naʻá ne tokangaʻí pe ʻe lava ke ngāueʻaki ʻe Gloria ʻa e falemālōloó. Naʻá ne sio mata ʻita mai mo pehē, “ʻOku loka ia.”

NGAAHI NGĀUE ANGA-ʻOFA FAKANGALONGATAʻA

ʻI he tafaʻaki ʻe tahá, naʻá ma maʻu ha ngaahi taimi fakalata mo e fanga tokouá, pea naʻá ma ʻofa ʻi heʻema ngāue fakafaifekaú! ʻI heʻema ʻuluaki aʻu ki Pine Bluff, naʻá ma nofo mo e tokoua ʻa ia ko e sevāniti ia ʻa e fakatahaʻangá ʻi he taimi ko iá. Naʻe teʻeki ai ke kau ʻa hono uaifí ʻi he moʻoní, pea naʻe kamata ke ako Tohi Tapu mo ia ʻa Gloria. Lolotonga ení, naʻá ku kamata ha ako mo e ʻofefine ʻo e ongo meʻá pea mo hono husepānití. Ko e faʻeé mo ʻene taʻahiné naʻá na fakatou fili ke tauhi kia Sihova peá na papitaiso.

Naʻe ʻi ai homa ngaahi kaumeʻa ʻofeina ʻi he fakatahaʻanga pālangí. Naʻa nau faʻa fakaafeʻi kimaua ki honau ʻapí ki ha kai efiafi, ka naʻe toki lava pē ke ma ʻalu ki ai ʻi heʻene fakapoʻulí koeʻuhi ke ʻoua naʻa sio mai ha taha ki heʻemau fakatahatahá. Ko e Ku Klux Klan (KKK), ko ha kautaha ʻokú ne pouaki ʻa e lau-lanú mo e fakamālohí, naʻe longomoʻui ʻaupito ʻi he taimi ko iá. ʻI he pō Halouini ʻe taha ʻoku ou manatuʻi ai ʻeku sio ki ha tangata ʻokú ne tangutu mai ʻi hono falefakatoló, ʻokú ne laukauʻaki hono tui ʻa e teunga ʻoku angamaheniʻaki hono tui ʻe he kau mēmipa ʻo e KKK. Kae kehe, ko e ngaahi hokosia ʻikai leleí, naʻe ʻikai ke taʻofi ai hono fakahāhā ʻe he fanga tokouá ʻa e anga-ʻofá. ʻI he faʻahitaʻu māfana ʻe taha, naʻá ma fiemaʻu ai ha paʻanga koeʻuhí ke ma ō ki he fakataha-lahí, pea naʻe loto-lelei ha tokoua ke ne fakatau ʻema meʻalele Ford 1950 ke malava ai ʻo ma ō. ʻI he ʻaho ʻe taha, ko e māhina ia ʻe taha mei ai, naʻá ma helaʻia ʻaupito hili ʻema luelue ʻi he fale ki he fale ʻi he velá ʻo fai ha ngaahi ako Tohi Tapu lahi. Naʻá ma foki leva ki ʻapi peá ma ʻohovale. Ko ʻema kaá ē naʻe tau mai ʻi muʻa ʻi he falé! ʻOku ʻi ai ha kiʻi tohi ʻi he sioʻatá naʻe pehē mai ai, “ʻE lava ke mo toe maʻu hoʻomo kaá ko e meʻaʻofa ia meiate au. Mei homo tokoua.”

Naʻe mātuʻaki maongo kiate au ha toe ngāue anga-ʻofa ʻe taha. ʻI he 1962, naʻe fakaafeʻi ai au ke u kau ʻi he Ako Fakafaifekau ʻo e Puleʻangá ʻi South Lansing, Niu ʻIoke. Ko ha māhina kakato ia ʻo e ako ki he kau ʻovasia ʻo e ngaahi fakatahaʻangá, ngaahi sēketí, mo e ngaahi vahefonuá. ʻI he taimi ko iá naʻe ʻikai haʻaku ngāue, pea naʻe siʻi ʻaupito ʻa e paʻanga naʻá ma maʻú. Kae kehe, naʻe fakaʻekeʻeke au ʻe ha kautaha telefoni ʻi Pine Bluff ki ha ngāue. Kapau te nau haea au, te u hoko ai ko e fuofua tangata ʻuliʻuli ke ngāue ʻi he kautaha ko iá. Naʻe faifai pē ʻo nau tala mai ʻoku nau loto ke u maʻu ʻa e ngāué. Ko e hā te u faí? Naʻe ʻikai haʻaku paʻanga ke folau ki Niu ʻIoke. Naʻá ku fakakaukau fakamātoato ke tali ʻa e ngāué pea tuku ange ʻa e fakaafe ki he akó. ʻI heʻeku teu ke tohi ki Pētelí naʻe hoko ai ha meʻa heʻikai ʻaupito ke ngalo ʻiate au.

Ko ha tuofefine ʻi heʻemau fakatahaʻangá, ʻa ia naʻe ʻikai ke ʻi he moʻoní hono husepānití, naʻá ne tukituki mai ʻi he pongipongi ʻe taha ʻi homa matapaá peá ne ʻomai kiate au ha sila. Naʻe fonu ia ʻi he paʻangá. Ko ia mo e niʻihi ʻo ʻene fānau īkí naʻa nau ʻā pongipongia ʻo ʻalu ki he ngaahi ngoueʻanga vavaé ʻo taʻataʻaki vao ai. Naʻa nau fai eni koeʻuhí ke maʻu ha paʻanga feʻunga koeʻuhi ke u lava ʻo ʻalu ki Niu ʻIoke. Naʻá ne tala mai, “ʻAlu ki he akó ʻo ako ʻa e meʻa lahi taha te ke malavá, peá ke foki mai ʻo akoʻi kimautolu!” Ki mui ai, naʻá ku kole ange ki he kautaha telefoní pe ʻe lava ke u kamata ngāue maʻanautolu ʻi ha uike ʻe nima ki mui ange ʻi he meʻa naʻe fai ki ai ʻa e palaní. Naʻe papau ʻa e talí, ko e “ʻIkai!” Ka naʻe ʻikai fai ha tokanga ki ai. Kuo ʻosi fai ʻeku filí. ʻOku ou fiefia lahi ʻi he ʻikai te u tali ʻa e ngāue ko iá!

Ko e anga eni ʻo e manatu ʻa Gloria ki homa taimi ʻi Pine Bluff: “Naʻá ku ʻofa ʻi he feituʻu ngāué! Naʻe ʻi ai ʻeku ako Tohi Tapu ʻe 15 ki he 20. Ko ia naʻá ma faʻa ō ai ʻi he ngāue fale ki he falé ʻi he pongipongí pea toki fai leva ʻa e ngaahi ako Tohi Tapú ʻi he toenga ʻo e ʻahó, ʻo aʻu ʻi he taimi ʻe niʻihi ki he 11 poʻulí. Naʻe fakalata ʻaupito ʻa e malangá! Naʻá ku mei fiefia ke nofo pē ai. Kuo pau ke u fakahaaʻi naʻe ʻikai moʻoni te u loto ke fetongi ʻa hoku vāhenga-ngāué pea kau ʻi he ngāue fakasēketí, ka naʻe ʻi ai ʻa e meʻa kehe naʻe ʻi he fakakaukau ʻa Sihová.” Ko e moʻoni naʻe pehē.

MOʻUI ʻI HE NGĀUE FEFONONGAʻAKÍ

Lolotonga ʻema tāimuʻa ʻi Pine Bluff, naʻá ma tohi kole ai ke ma tāimuʻa makehe. Naʻá ma ʻamanekina moʻoni ʻe fili kimaua. Ko e hā hono ʻuhingá? Koeʻuhí naʻá ma ʻiloʻi ko ʻemau ʻovasia fakavahé naʻá ne fiemaʻu ke ma tokoni ki ha fakatahaʻanga ʻi Tekisisi, pea naʻá ne fiemaʻu ke ma ngāue ai ko e ongo tāimuʻa makehe. Naʻá ma saiʻia ʻi he fakakaukau ko ení. Ko ia naʻá ma tatali mo tatali, ʻi he ʻamanaki ke fai mai ha tali, ka naʻe ʻikai pē ke ʻi ai ha tohi ʻi he puha meilí. Faifai atu pē, naʻe maʻu ha tohi. Naʻe vaheʻi kimaua ki he ngāue fefonongaʻakí! Naʻe hoko ia ʻi Sanuali 1965. Ko Tokoua Leon Weaver, ʻa e sea ʻo e Kōmiti Vaʻa ʻi ʻAmeliká ʻi he taimi ko iá, naʻe fili ia ke ne ngāue ko ha ʻovasia sēketi ʻi he taimi tatau.

Naʻá ku manavasiʻi ʻi he hoko ko ha ʻovasia sēketí. ʻI ha taʻu nai ʻe taha ki muʻa ai, naʻe vakaiʻi ai ʻe he ʻovasia fakavahé, ko A. Thompson, Jr., ʻa ʻeku tohi kolé. Naʻá ne fakamatalaʻi anga-ʻofa mai ʻa e meʻa ʻe lava ke u fakaleleiʻí, ʻo ne fakahaaʻi mai ʻa e ngaahi pōtoʻi ʻoku fiemaʻu ki ha ʻovasia sēketi lelei. ʻI heʻeku kamata pē ʻi he ngāue fakasēketí, naʻá ku ʻiloʻi ai ʻa e lahi ʻo ʻeku fiemaʻu ʻa e akonaki ko iá. Hili hono fili aú, ko Tokoua Thompson ʻa e ʻuluaki ʻovasia fakavahe naʻá ku ngāue mo iá. Naʻá ku ako ha meʻa lahi mei he tokoua faitōnunga ko iá.

ʻI he ngaahi ʻaho ko iá, naʻe siʻi ʻa e ako naʻe maʻu ʻe ha ʻovasia sēketi. Naʻá ku siofi ha ʻovasia sēketi ʻi he uike ʻe taha ʻi heʻene ʻaʻahi ki ha fakatahaʻanga. Hili iá naʻá ne siofi au ʻi he uike ʻe taha ʻi heʻeku ʻaʻahi ki ha fakatahaʻanga ʻe taha. Naʻá ne fai mai leva ha ngaahi fokotuʻu mo ha fakahinohino. Ka ʻi he hili iá naʻá ma toe toko ua pē. ʻOku ou manatuʻi ʻeku pehē ange kia Gloria, “ʻOku fiemaʻu koā ke ne mavahe he taimí ni?” Kae kehe, naʻe faifai pē peá u ʻiloʻi ha meʻa mahuʻinga. ʻE ʻi ai maʻu pē ʻa e fanga tokoua lelei ʻe lava ke nau tokoniʻi koe, ʻo kapau pē te ke fakaʻatā kinautolu ke nau tokoniʻi koe. ʻOku ou kei koloaʻaki pē ʻa e tokoni naʻá ku maʻu mei he fanga tokoua taukei hangē ko ia ko J. R. Brown, ko ha ʻovasia fefonongaʻaki ʻi he taimi ko iá, pea mo Fred Rusk mei he fāmili Pētelí.

Ko e lau-lanú naʻe ʻi he feituʻu kotoa pē ʻi he ngaahi ʻaho ko iá. ʻI he taimi ʻe taha, naʻe fai ai ʻe he KKK ha laka ʻi ha kolo naʻá ma ʻaʻahi ki ai ʻi Tennessee. ʻOku ou manatuʻi ʻa e taimi ʻe taha naʻa mau tuʻu ai ʻi ha falekai ke kiʻi mālōlō lolotonga ʻemau malangá. ʻI heʻeku ʻalu ki he falemālōloó, naʻe muimuiʻi au ʻe ha tangata mata ʻita naʻe tā tatau lau-lanu. Ka naʻe hū mai ha tokoua pālangi, ʻa ia naʻe kaukaua ange ia ʻiate kimaua. Naʻe ʻeke mai ʻe he tokouá kiate au, “ʻOkú ke sai pē, Tokoua Herd?” Naʻe mavahe fakavavevave ʻa e tangatá ʻo ʻikai te ne ngāueʻaki ʻa e falemālōloó. ʻI he faai mai ʻa e ngaahi taʻú, kuó u ʻiloʻi ko e tupuʻanga moʻoni ʻo e lau-lanú ʻoku ʻikai ko e lanu ʻo e kili ʻo ha taha ka ko e angahala ʻoku ʻiate kitautolú kotoa. Pea kuó u ʻilo ko e tokouá ko ha tokoua ʻo tatau ai pē pe ko e hā ʻa e lanu ʻo hono kilí, pea te ne mate koeʻuhi ko koe ʻo kapau ʻe fiemaʻu.

IKUʻANGA FAKAKOLOA

Naʻá ma fakamoleki ʻa e taʻu ʻe 12 ʻi he ngāue fakasēketí mo e taʻu ʻe 21 ʻi he ngāue fakavahé. Ko e ngaahi taʻu fakakoloa mo fakafiemālie ia, naʻe lahi ai ʻa e ngaahi hokosia fakalototoʻa. Ka naʻe ʻi ai ha pale ʻe taha naʻe tatali mai kiate kimaua. ʻI ʻAokosi 1997 ko ʻema misi ko ia ʻi he ngaahi taʻu lahí naʻe hoko moʻoni ai. Naʻe fakaafeʻi kimaua ke ma ngāue ʻi he Pēteli ʻi ʻAmeliká. Ko e taʻu ia ʻe 38 mei he ʻuluaki taimi naʻá ma tohi kole ai ki aí. ʻI he māhina hono hokó, naʻe kamata ai ʻema ngāue ʻi Pētelí. Naʻá ku fakakaukau au naʻe fiemaʻu pē ʻe he fanga tokoua fua fatongia ʻi Pētelí ke u tokoni ʻi ha taimi nounou, ka naʻe ʻikai ko e meʻa ia naʻe hokó.

Ko hoku ʻuluaki vāhenga-ngāué naʻe ʻi he Potungāue Ngāué. Naʻá ku ako ai ʻa e meʻa lahi ʻaupito! Naʻe maʻu ʻe he fanga tokoua ʻi aí ha ngaahi fehuʻi pelepelengesi mo faingataʻa mei he ngaahi kulupu ʻo e kau mātuʻá mo e kau ʻovasia sēketi takatakai ʻi he fonuá. ʻOku ou houngaʻia ʻi he anga-kātaki mo e tokoni lahi ʻa e fanga tokouá ʻi heʻenau akoʻi aú. Kapau naʻe vaheʻi au ke u toe ngāue ai, ʻe kei lahi pē ʻa e meʻa te u ako mei he fanga tokoua ko iá.

Ko au mo Gloria ʻokú ma saiʻia ʻi he moʻui ʻi Pētelí. Kuó ma saiʻia maʻu pē ʻi he ʻā pongipongiá, pea ʻoku tokoni moʻoni ʻi Pēteli ʻa e tōʻonga ko iá. Hili nai ha taʻu ʻe taha mei ai, naʻe kamata ke u ngāue ko ha tokoni ki he Kōmiti Ngāue ʻa e Kulupu Pule ʻa e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová. ʻI he 1999 leva, naʻe fili ai au ke u hoko ko ha mēmipa ʻo e Kulupu Pulé. Kuó u ako ʻa e ngaahi meʻa lahi ʻi he vāhenga-ngāue ko ení. Ka ko e lēsoni mahuʻinga tahá ko e ʻulu ʻo e fakatahaʻanga Kalisitiané ko Sīsū Kalaisi, ʻo ʻikai ko ha tangata.

ʻI heʻeku fakakaukau atu ki heʻeku moʻuí, ʻoku ou ongoʻi he taimi ʻe niʻihi ʻoku ou meimei hangē ko e palōfita ko ʻĒmosí. Naʻe fakatokangaʻi ʻe Sihova ʻa e tauhi-sipi anga-fakatōkilalo ko iá ʻa ia ko ʻene ngāue māʻulaló ko hono teleʻi ʻa e fua ʻo e sukaminó, ko ha meʻakai ʻa ia naʻe kai pē ʻe he kakai masivá. Kae kehe, naʻe fili ʻe he ʻOtuá ʻa ʻĒmosi ke ne hoko ko ha palōfita pea tāpuakiʻi lahi ia ʻi he vāhenga-ngāue ko iá. (ʻĒm. 7:14, 15) ʻI he tuʻunga meimei tatau, kuo fakatokangaʻi au ʻe Sihova, ko e foha ʻo ha tangata faama masiva ʻi Liberty, Indiana. Pea kuo tāpuakiʻi lahi au ʻe Sihova, ʻaki ʻa e ngaahi tāpuaki ʻoku fuʻu lahi fau ke lave ki ai ʻi heni! (Pal. 10:22) Naʻe kamata ʻeku moʻuí ʻi ha tuʻunga masiva fakamatelie, ka ʻoku ou ongoʻi moʻoni ko e ikuʻangá ʻoku fakakoloa mamaʻo ange ia ʻi ha meʻa pē ʻoku lava ke u sioloto atu ki ai!