Ko Te Tofiʼa Faka Kilisitiano ʼe Maʼugataʼa

ʼE FAKAMATALA E BLOSSOM BRANDT

E lahi te nive neʼe tō ʼi San Antonio, ʼi te Texas, ʼi te ʼaho 17 ʼo sanualio 1923, ko te ʼaho ʼaia neʼe ʼau tupu ai. Neʼe momoko ʼi tuʼa, kae neʼe ʼau nofo māfana ʼi te ʼu nima ʼo taku ʼu mātuʼa kilisitiano ʼofa, ko Judge mo Helen Norris. ʼI te ʼu meʼa ʼaē ʼe ʼau ʼuluaki manatuʼi, ko taku ʼu mātuʼa neʼe nā tuku ia meʼa fuli pe ki te tauhi ʼaē kia Sehova ʼAtua.

ʼI TE taʼu 1910 ʼi te taʼu valu ʼo taku faʼe, ko tana ʼu mātuʼa neʼe hiki ʼo fakaōvi ki Pittsburgh, ʼi Pennsylvanie, ki te fale gāue kele ʼi tuʼa atu ʼo Alvin, ʼi te Texas. ʼI te koga meʼa ʼaia neʼe nātou fakafiafia ʼi tanatou ako te ʼu moʼoni ʼo te Tohi-Tapu ʼaki tonatou vāhaʼa fale. Ko mama neʼe ina faigaʼi ʼi tona maʼuli katoa ke fia logo te hahaʼi ki te falala ʼaē ki te Puleʼaga. Neʼe papitema ʼi te taʼu 1912 ʼosi ʼaia pea nātou hiki ki Houston, ʼi te Texas.

Ko taku faʼe pea mo tana ʼu mātuʼa neʼe nātou ʼuluaki felāveʼi mo Charles T. Russell, ʼuluaki pelesitā ʼaia ʼo te Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, ʼi tana ʼaʼahi ʼaē ʼo tanā kokelekasio ʼi Houston. Ko te famili neʼe tautau fakafiafia mo te kau fakafofoga ʼo te Sosiete ʼi tonatou famili, ʼaē ki muli age neʼe higoaʼi nātou ko te ʼu hahaʼi feʼaluʼaki. ʼE mole faʼa fualoa kiai, ko taku faʼe mo tana ʼu mātuʼa neʼe nātou hiki ki Chicago, Illinois, pea ko te tēhina ko Russell neʼe toe fai ʼaʼahi ki te kokelekasio ʼo te koga meʼa ʼaia.

ʼI te taʼu 1918, ko taku kui fafine neʼe ina maʼu te taʼi mahaki faka sepania pea neʼe malave kovi ki tona maʼuli mālōlō, ʼo fakatotonu age ai e te kau tōketā ke nofo ʼi he koga meʼa māfana. Kae ki taku kui tagata neʼe gāue ia maʼa te ʼu sosiete ʼo te ʼu saliote afi, ʼi te taʼu 1919 neʼe ina maʼu tona lapalasi ʼi Texas. ʼI San Antonio, neʼe felāveʼi ia mama mo te tūpulaga ko Judge Norris, ko te tūpulaga faka mafola fakamalotoloto ʼo te kokelekasio. Neʼe nā feʼofaʼaki aipe, pea nā ʼohoana, pea ko Judge ʼaē neʼe liliu ko taku tāmai.

ʼE ako e taku matuʼa te moʼoni ʼo te Tohi-Tapu

Judge (tuʼi fakamāu) ko he higoa faikehe neʼe foaki age kia ia ʼi tana tupu. ʼI te ʼuluaki sio ʼo tana matuʼa kia ia, neʼe ʼui maʼana: “Ko te tamasiʼi ʼaenī ʼe fakapotopoto ʼosi ia ohage ko he tuʼi fakamāu”, pea neʼe ko tona higoa ʼaia. ʼI te taʼu 1917, ʼi te taʼu 16 ʼo papa, neʼe foaki age kia ia te ʼu kiʼi pepa lotu ʼE ʼolo koa kifea te kau mate? pea Koteā koa te nefesi? neʼe tā e te Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Ko te matuʼa ʼa papa neʼe kua mate ia taʼu e lua ki muʼa atu, pea ʼaki te ʼu kiʼi pepa lotu neʼe ina maʼu ai te ʼu tali ʼaē neʼe ina kumi ʼo ʼuhiga mo te ʼaluʼaga ʼo te kau mate. Mole faʼa fualoa kiai, neʼe kamata ʼalu ki te ʼu fono ʼo te kau Ako ʼo te Tohi-Tapu, ʼi te temi nei kua nātou higoa ko te kau Fakamoʼoni ʼa Sehova.

Neʼe fia kau aipe papa ki te ʼu gāue ʼo te kokelekasio. Neʼe foaki age kia ia te telituale neʼe feala ke fai faka mafola ai, pea ka ʼosi tana ako neʼe ʼalu lelue ia ki te telituale ʼaia ʼo tufa te ʼu kiʼi pepa lotu. Neʼe manako ʼosi ia ki te vaevae ʼaē ʼo te falala ki te Puleʼaga, pea ʼi te ʼaho 24 ʼo malesio 1918, neʼe ina fakahā tana foaki ʼaē ʼo tona maʼuli kia Sehova, ʼo papitema.

Hili te taʼu katoa ki tona papitema pea haʼu mama ki San Antonio, neʼe ʼofa aipe papa kia ia, ohage ko tana ʼui, “ko te malimali goʼegoʼe ia pea mo te ʼu kanoʼi mata ʼuʼui ia” hoki sioe kiai. Neʼe mole tuai tana fakahā ʼaē ʼo tanā fia ʼohoana, kae neʼe ko he meʼa faigataʼa kia nāua ia te temi ʼaē neʼe nā fakahā ai ki te ʼu mātuʼa ʼo taku faʼe. Kae, ʼi te ʼaho 15 ʼo ʼapelili 1921, neʼe hoko tonā ʼohoana. Ko tanā fakatuʼutuʼu ʼa nāua tokolua, ko tanā minisitelio katoa.

Ko te kamataʼaga ʼo te minisitelio

ʼI te temi ʼaē neʼe fakatuʼutuʼu ai ia mama mo papa ke nā kau ki te fakatahi ʼaē ʼi Cedar Point, ʼi Ohio ʼi te taʼu 1922, neʼe nā ʼiloʼi ai ko mama ʼe fakatalitali fānau ia ʼau. Mole faʼa fualoa ki toku ʼosi fānauʼi, neʼe ko te taʼu 22 pe ʼaia ʼo papa, neʼe fakanofo ia ʼi te kokelekasio ko te taupau gāue faka mafola. Ko ia ʼaē ʼe ina fai fuli te ʼu fakatuʼutuʼu ki te gāue faka mafola. Hili te ʼu kiʼi vāhaʼa ki toku ʼosi fānauʼi, neʼe ʼave ʼau e mama ki te minisitelio ʼaē ʼi te ʼu ʼapi. Tahi ʼaē, ko taku ʼu kui neʼe nā loto foki ke ʼau kau mo nāua ʼi te minisitelio.

ʼI toku taʼu lua, ko taku ʼu mātuʼa neʼe hiki ki Dallas, ʼi te Texas, pea neʼe nā kamata te minisitelio katoa ʼo nā pionie ia taʼu e tolu ki muli age. ʼI te pōʼuli neʼe nā momoe ʼi te kiʼi palepale ʼi te ala pea neʼe nā tuku ia ʼau ʼi te hekaʼaga taumuli ʼo te motokā. ʼIo, kia ʼau neʼe ko he meʼa noa ia, kae mole tuai te ʼiloga ʼaē ko taku ʼu mātuʼa ʼe mole heʼeki nā ʼaoga ki te maʼuli pionie. Koia ʼaē neʼe kamata gāue ai leva ia papa. ʼAki te temi, neʼe ina laga te kiʼi fale feʼāveʼaki, ʼo teuteu ki te toe kamata ʼo te pionie.

ʼI muʼa ʼo taku kamata ako, neʼe ʼau ako mo taku faʼe te lautohi pea mo te faitohi, neʼe ʼau ʼiloʼi te tānaki liuliuga, ʼo te numelo tahi ki te fā. Neʼe tokaga tuʼumaʼu pe ia ki taku ako. Neʼe ina fakaheka ʼau ki te hekaʼaga e ōvi age pe kia ia, ʼo feala ai kia te ʼau ke ʼau holoholoʼi te ʼu pa ʼaē ʼe ina fufulu, pea neʼe ina ako fakaʼatamai kia te ʼau te ʼu vaega ʼo te Tohi-Tapu pea mo hiva te ʼu lau ʼo te Puleʼaga, ʼaē ʼe tou higoaʼi ʼi te temi nei ko te ʼu katiko.

Gāue ki te ʼAtua mo taku ʼu mātuʼa

ʼI te taʼu 1931 ko mātou fuli neʼe mātou kau ki te fakatahi fakaofoofo ʼi Columbus, ʼi Ohio, ʼo higoaʼi ai mātou ko te kau Fakamoʼoni ʼa Sehova. Kae neʼe ko toku taʼu valu pe ʼaia, ʼi taku manatu neʼe ko te higoa matalelei pe ʼaia e tahi hoki ʼau logoe kiai. Mole faʼa fualoa ki tamatou liliu ki fale, neʼe vela te gāue ʼa papa, pea ko papa mo mama neʼe nā faka ʼuhiga te tuʼutāmaki ʼaia ohage “ko te finegalo ʼo te ʼAliki” koteʼuhi ke nā toe kamata te selevisi pionie. Koia, ʼi te kamataʼaga ʼo te temi vela ʼo te taʼu 1932, neʼe mātou fiafia ia taʼu e fualoa ʼi te minisitelio katoa.

Ko taku ʼu mātuʼa neʼe nā pionie ʼi te lotomālie ʼo te Texas ke tupu ʼaki ai hamatou nonofo ōvi pe ki te ʼu mātuʼa ʼa mama, ʼaē neʼe kei nonofo pe ʼi San Antonio. Mai te hinoʼi ki he koga meʼa ki he tahi koga meʼa, ʼe mahino ia neʼe mole ʼau ako ʼi he faleako pe e tahi. ʼI ʼihi temi ko te kau Fakamoʼoni heʼe fakakaukau neʼe ʼui maʼa nātou: “He koʼe koa ʼe mole koulua nonofo maʼu la ʼi he koga meʼa e tahi pea ke maʼu he ʼapi ʼo te tamasiʼi ʼaenā”, ʼuhi foki he neʼe mole lelei toku ʼu mutuʼi meʼa vala. Kae ʼi taku manatu ko tomatou maʼuli ʼe fakaofoofo pea ko ʼau ʼe ʼau toe tokoni foki kia papa mo mama ʼi tanā minisitelio. ʼI tona fakahagatonu, neʼe akoʼi ʼau pea mo teuteuʼi ʼau ki te meʼa ʼaē ka liliu ki muli age ko toku maʼuli.

Lolotoga ʼo te ʼu māhina, neʼe ʼau ʼui age kia papa mo mama, kua ʼau fia papitema, pea tuʼumaʼu pe neʼe nā palalau mai ʼo ʼuhiga mo te faʼahi ʼaia. Neʼe nā fia ʼiloʼi papau pe kua ʼau mahino lelei ki te tonu ʼaē kua ʼau fai. ʼI te ʼaho 31 ʼo tesepeli 1934, kua aʼu mai leva te ʼaho maʼuhiga ʼaia ʼo toku maʼuli. Kae, ʼi te po pea ʼala uhu age ki te ʼaho ʼaia, neʼe tokaga aipe ia papa ke ʼau falala kia Sehova ʼaki te faikole. Pea neʼe ina fai te meʼa matalelei. Neʼe ina fakatuʼutuli fuli ia mātou, pea neʼe ina fai te kole. Neʼe ina tala kia Sehova ʼe ko he toe meʼa fakafiafia ia te tonu neʼe fai e tana kiʼi taʼahine ʼaē ke ina foaki tona maʼuli kia te Ia. Ke mahino kia koutou, ʼi te ʼu taʼu fuli neʼe hoa mai kiai, neʼe mole galo pe la kia ʼau ʼi he temi te po ʼaia!

Ko te ako mai taku ʼu kui

ʼI te taʼu 1928 pea mo te taʼu 1938, neʼe lahi taku ʼu ʼaʼahi ki taku ʼu kui ʼi San Antonio. Neʼe tatau pe taku ʼu agamāhani ʼaē kia nāua mo taku ʼu mātuʼa. Ko taku kui fafine neʼe pionie, pea ki muli age neʼe ko te pionie vaeluaʼi temi. Ko taku kui tagata neʼe pionie ʼi te māhina ʼo tesepeli 1929, pea ko te gāue faka mafola neʼe ko te meʼa takimuʼa tuʼumaʼu pe ʼaia ʼi te ʼaho fuli pe.

Ko taku kui tagata neʼe ina puke ʼau ʼi tona ʼu nima ʼi te pōʼuli pea ina akoʼi mai te ʼu higoa ʼo te ʼu fetuʼu. Neʼe ina lau fakaʼatamai kia ʼau te ʼu talanoa fakatuketuke. Neʼe lahi taku ʼu haʼele mo ia ʼi te ʼu saliote afi ʼi tana ʼu temi gāue. Tuʼumaʼu pe neʼe feala ke ʼau ʼalu ki ai mokā neʼe ʼau tuʼania ki he meʼa; neʼe ina fakafimālieʼi ʼau pea ina holoholoʼi ʼoku ʼu loʼimata. Kae, kapau neʼe akonakiʼi ʼau ʼi haku aga neʼe kovi pea mo ʼau ʼalu kia ia ke ina fakapelepeleʼi ʼau, neʼe mole lahi tana ʼu palalau (ko te ʼu palalau neʼe mole mahino lelei kia ʼau ʼi te temi ʼaia, kae ko te leʼo ʼo tana ʼu palalau neʼe mahino mai aipe kia ʼau te meʼa ʼaē ke ʼau fai): “Ko te ala ʼo he tahi ʼe talagataʼa ʼe faigataʼa ʼaupito.”

Ko te ʼu taʼu ʼo te fakataga

ʼI te taʼu 1939, neʼe kamata ai te Lua Tau faka malamanei, ko te hahaʼi ʼa Sehova neʼe nātou mamahi ʼi te fakataga pea mo te agamālohi ʼa te kaugamālie. ʼI te fakaʼosi ʼo te taʼu 1939, neʼe mahaki kovi ia mama pea neʼe tonu ke tafa, koia neʼe mātou mavae ai leva ki San Antonio.

ʼE kaugamālie te hahaʼi ʼaē neʼe fakapupu mokā mātou tufa tamatou ʼu nusipepa ʼi te ʼu ala ʼo San Antonio. Kae ʼi te vāhaʼa fuli, neʼe mātou ʼolo faka famili ki te koga meʼa ʼaia, ʼo mātou tahi tuʼu ʼi tona koga meʼa. Neʼe ʼau tautau sioʼi mokā nātou puke papa ʼo ʼave ki te fale polisi.

Neʼe pionie pe ia papa logope la te mole kei pionie ʼa mama. Kae, neʼe mole lahi te falā ʼaē neʼe ina maʼu ʼi tana gāue vaeluaʼi temi, koia ʼaē mo ia pe la neʼe mole toe pionie ki muli mai. Neʼe ʼosi taku ako ʼi te taʼu 1939, pea neʼe ʼau maʼu foki mo taku gāue.

Ko te higoa ʼo papa Judge (tuʼi fakamāu) neʼe ʼaoga ʼi te ʼu taʼu ʼaia. Ohage la, ko te kūtuga kau Fakamoʼoni neʼe nātou faka mafola ʼi te kolo ʼe tuʼu pe ʼi te potu tokelau ʼo San Antonio, pea ko te pule ʼo te kau polisi neʼe ina ʼave fuli ia nātou ʼaia ki te fale pilisoni. Neʼe ina puke lagi ko te toko 35, ʼo kau ai mo taku ʼu kui. Neʼe nātou fakaʼau te logo kia papa, pea neʼe haʼu aipe ki te koga meʼa ʼaia. Neʼe ʼalu ki te pilō ʼo te pule ʼo te kau polisi pea mo ina ʼui age: “Ko ʼau ko Judge Norris mai San Antonio.”

“Ei, Tuʼi fakamāu, koteā te meʼa ʼe feala ke ʼau fai maʼa koe?” ko te fehuʼi age ʼaia ʼa te pule ʼo te kau polisi.

“Neʼe ʼau haʼu ko te faka ʼāteaina ʼo te hahaʼi ʼaenī ʼi te fale pilisoni”, ko te tali age ʼaia ʼa papa. ʼO tuku mai aipe nātou e te pule ʼo te kau polisi, ʼo mole fakamaʼua he pepa ki te faʼahi ʼaia — pea mole ina toe fai atu he tahi ʼu fehuʼi!

Ko papa neʼe fia faka mafola ʼi te ʼu pilō ʼaē ʼi te kolo, tāfito la neʼe ina fia ʼaʼahi te ʼu tuʼi fakamāu pea mo te kau avoka. Neʼe ʼui maʼana kia ia ʼaē ʼe gāue ʼi te fakatalitali: “Ko ʼau ko Judge Norris, pea neʼe ʼau haʼu ki te Judge ko...”

Pea ʼi tana felāveʼi ʼaē mo te tuʼi fakamāu, ʼuluaki neʼe ina ʼui age tuʼumaʼu, ʼo fēnei: “ ʼI te temi nei, ia muʼa ʼo taku fakahā atu taku haʼu, ʼe ʼau fia fakamahino atu ko ʼau ko te tuʼi fakamāu kua fualoa age ia koe. ʼE ʼau tuʼi fakamāu ʼau ʼi toku maʼuli katoa.” Pea neʼe ina fakamahino age leva pe neʼe feafeaʼi tana maʼu ʼo te higoa ʼaia. Neʼe ko he faʼahi ia ke nā felogoi lelei ai, pea neʼe ina maʼu tona ʼu vāhaʼa lelei mo te ʼu tuʼi fakamāu ʼo te ʼu temi ʼaia.

Fakafetaʼi ki te taki ʼo taku ʼu mātuʼa

Neʼe ʼau maʼuli ʼi te ʼu taʼu logogataʼa ʼo toku temi tūpulaga, pea ʼe ʼau ʼiloʼi ko papa mo mama neʼe nā manavahe ʼaupito mokā nā sio pea mo nā fakakaukauʼi te meʼa ʼaē ka ʼau fai anai. Ohage ko te fānau fuli, neʼe ʼau ʼahiʼahiʼi ia papa mo mama ʼi te ʼu temi fuli pe, ʼo kole kia nāua ke ʼau fai he meʼa peʼe ko haku ʼalu ki he faʼahi kae neʼe ʼau ʼiloʼi fakatomuʼa pe ʼe mole nā tali anai. ʼI ʼihi lakaga, neʼe ʼau tagi. Kae, neʼe ʼau lotomamahi anai mo ka na pau la neʼe nā ʼui tuʼumaʼu mai: “ ʼAlu, fai te meʼa ʼaē ʼe ke loto ki ai. ʼE mole ma tokaga kia koe.”

ʼI taku ʼiloʼi ʼaē ʼe mole feala ke ʼau fai he meʼa moʼo fetogi ʼo tanā ʼu lekula, neʼe ko he meʼa fakafimālie kia ʼau. Neʼe ko he faʼahi ia neʼe faigafua kia ʼau ke ʼau ʼui age ai ki te kau tūpulaga ʼaē ʼe nātou fakaneke ʼau ki he ʼu fakafiafia ʼe mole faʼa lelei, ʼo fēnei: “Ko taku matuʼa ʼe mole ina tuku anai ʼau ke ʼau ʼalu.” ʼI toku taʼu 16, neʼe fakahā mai e papa ʼe ʼau ako ki te taki motokā pea neʼe ʼau maʼu toku pelemi. Koia, ʼi te temi ʼaia neʼe ina foaki mai ai leva te kalavi ʼo te fale. Neʼe ʼau punamaʼuli ʼosi ʼi tana falala ʼaē kia ʼau. Kua hage kia ʼau ku ʼau lahi, pea neʼe hage kia ʼau ʼe ʼi ai toku maʼua pea neʼe mole ʼau fia kākāʼi tanā falala ʼaē kia ʼau.

ʼI te ʼu temi ʼaia neʼe mole lahi te ʼu tokoni ʼaē neʼe fai ʼo ʼuhiga mo te ʼohoana, kae neʼe ʼiloʼi e papa te Tohi-Tapu pea mo tana manatu ʼaē ʼo ʼuhiga mo te ʼohoana “ ʼi te ʼAliki pe”. (1 Kolonito 7:39.) Neʼe ina fakahā fakalelei mai kia ʼau, kapau ʼe ʼau ʼaumai anai he tama ʼo te mālama ki fale, peʼe ʼau fakatahi mo ia, ʼe lotomamahi ʼaupito anai ia. Neʼe ʼau ʼiloʼi ko tana fakatuʼutuʼu ʼe totonu, koteʼuhi neʼe ʼau sio ki te manuʼia pea mo te logo tahi ʼi tonā maʼuli faka taumatuʼa, he neʼe nā ʼohoana “ ʼi te ʼAliki pe”.

ʼI te taʼu 1941, ʼi toku taʼu 18, neʼe ʼau ʼofa ki te talavou ʼi te kokelekasio. Neʼe pionie pea neʼe ako ke liliu ʼo avoka. Neʼe ʼau fiafia faikehe ʼosi. ʼI tamā fakahā ʼaē ki taku ʼu mātuʼa tomā loto ʼaē ke ma ʼohoana, neʼe mole nā fakahā mai e nā ʼiʼita peʼe mo faka lotovaivai māua, neʼe nā ʼui mai pe, ʼo fēnei: “ ʼE ma fia fai atu anai pe hamā kole kia koulua, Blossom. ʼI tamā manatu kei koulua tūpulaga fau, pea ʼe ma fakaʼamu pe ʼo kole atu ke koulua toe talitali atu muʼa he taʼu katoa. Kapau ʼe koulua feʼofaʼaki moʼoni, ʼe mole he ʼuhiga ʼo he taʼu e tahi.”

ʼE ʼau fakafetaʼi ʼaupito ʼi taku fakalogo ki te tokoni poto ʼaia. ʼI te lolotoga ʼo te taʼu, neʼe katoa taku fakakaukau pea neʼe ʼau kamata mahino ko te talavou ʼaia neʼe mole ina maʼu te ʼu kalitate ʼaē ke liliu anai ko hoku ʼohoana lelei. Pea neʼe mavae ʼi te kautahi, pea kia ʼau neʼe ʼau hāo mai te meʼa ʼaē neʼe feala ke liliu ko he tuʼutāmaki ʼi toku maʼuli. ʼE ko he meʼa fakaofoofo ha kita maʼu ʼo he ʼu mātuʼa fakapotopoto ʼaē ʼe feala ke tou falala ai ki tanatou fakasiosio poto!

ʼOhoana pea mo gāue feʼaluʼaki

ʼI te temi momoko ʼo te taʼu 1946, kua hili taʼu e ono ʼo taku pionie pea mo taku gāue vaeluaʼi temi ʼo ʼuhiga mo toku maʼuli fakasino, ko te toe tama talavou hoki ʼau sioe ki ai ʼe haʼele ʼi tomatou Fale ʼo te Puleʼaga. Ko Gene Brandt neʼe hinoʼi ko te kaugā fagona ki tomatou tagata feʼaluʼaki pea mo te ʼu tēhina, ʼe toʼo ʼi te temi nei ko te tagata taupau fakakolo. Neʼe ma feʼofani, pea ʼi te ʼaho 5 ʼo ʼaukusito 1947, neʼe ma ʼohoana ai.

ʼO mole tuai, ko papa mo Gene neʼe nā laga te matani gāue. Kae ko papa neʼe ʼui maʼana kia Gene: “Ko te ʼaho ʼaē ʼe haga ai te matani gāue ʼo tāʼofi taua ʼi he fono peʼe ko he gāue faka teokalatike, ʼe ʼau māpunuʼi anai te matani gāue.” Ko Sehova neʼe ina tapuaki te fakasiosio fakalaumālie ʼaia, pea ko te matani gāue neʼe fakafeauga pe ki tamatou ʼu meʼa fakasino pea mo faka fealagia he temi ki te pionie. Ko papa mo Gene neʼe ko te ʼu tagata fai gāue faiva, pea neʼe faigafua pe hamatou maʼu ʼo hamatou ʼu koloā, kae neʼe mole ko tanā fakatuʼutuʼu ʼaia.

ʼI te taʼu 1954, neʼe fakaafe ia Gene ki te gāue faka taupau kolo, ʼaē ʼe faka ʼuhiga ko he toe fetogi lahi ʼi tomatou maʼuli. Koteā anai te manatu ʼa taku ʼu mātuʼa? Neʼe nā fakamuʼamuʼa aipe te ʼu meʼa ʼo te Puleʼaga ʼo te ʼAtua feiā aipe mo te fīmālie fakalaumālie ʼo tanā ʼu fānau. Neʼe mole pe la he ʼaho ʼe nā ʼui mai kia māua: “He koʼe ʼe mole koulua foaki mai homā ʼu mokopuna?” Kailoa ia, tuʼumaʼu pe ʼe ʼui maʼa nāua: “Koteā te meʼa ʼe feala ke ma fai moʼo tokoni kia koulua ʼi te selevisi katoa?”

Pea ʼi te aʼu mai leva ʼo te ʼaho ʼaē ke ma mavae ai, neʼe ko te ʼu palalau fakaloto mālohi pe pea mo fakafiafia ki tomā pilivilesio lahi. Neʼe mole nā fakahā mai pe la ʼe ma līaki nāua, neʼe nā lagolago tuʼumaʼu aipe māua. ʼI tamā mavae ʼaē mai ia nāua, neʼe nā maʼumaʼua aipe ʼi te gāue pionie ia taʼu e hogofulu ki muli age. Neʼe hinoʼi papa ko te tagata taupau ki te kolo ʼo San Antonio, ʼaē neʼe fai ai tona maʼua ia taʼu e 30. Mai te taʼu 1920 ki te taʼu 1991 ʼaē neʼe mate ai, neʼe mamata fakafiafia ia papa ki te kua liliu te kokelekasio e tahi, ko kokelekasio e 71.

Kia Gene pea mo ʼau, ko tomā maʼuli neʼe fakaofoofo ʼaupito ʼosi. Neʼe ma maʼu te toe fiafia lahi ʼi tamā kaugana ki te ʼu tēhina pea mo te ʼu tuagaʼane ʼi te ʼu puleʼaga e 31 tupu, pea mahalo ʼi ʼoma ʼu fiafia fuli, ko te pilivilesio ʼaē ʼi tamā kau ʼaē ki te 29 kalasi ʼo te Faleako faka tohi-tapu ʼo Kalaate ʼo te Watchtower ʼi te taʼu 1957. Ki muli age neʼe ma toe maliu ki te gāue feʼaluʼaki. ʼI te taʼu 1984, ko taʼu e 30 kua hili ki te gāue faka taupau kolo pea mo faka tisitilike, neʼe hinoʼi leva ia Gene e te Sosiete ki te kolo ʼo San Antonio, koteʼuhi ko te hahaʼi ʼi te koga meʼa kua nātou taʼu 80 tupu pea ʼe mole nātou maʼuli mālōlō.

Tokaga ki te ʼu mātuʼa

Ko te taʼu vaelua pe kua hili ki tamā toe liliu ʼaē ki San Antonio, pea mahaki ia mama ʼo mate aipe. ʼI te vave ʼo tona mate neʼe mole ʼau maʼu he temi moʼo ʼui age ki ai te ʼu meʼa ʼaē neʼe ʼau fia ʼui age. ʼO mahino mai kia ʼau ʼe tonu ke ʼau palalau lahi mo papa. Ia taʼu e 65 ʼo tana nofo ʼohoana, neʼe manatuʼi ʼaupito e papa ia mama, kae neʼe ma ʼofa pea mo lagolago kia ia.

Ko te maʼuli faʼifaʼitaki tuʼumaʼu ʼa papa ʼo kau ki te ʼu fono faka kilisitiano, ki te ako, pea mo te gāue faka mafola neʼe hoko aipe ʼo aʼu ki tona mate. Neʼe manako ki te lautohi. ʼI tana nofo tokotahi mokā ma ʼolo ʼo faka mafola, neʼe ʼau aʼu mai ki fale pea mo fehuʼi age: “ ʼE ke nofo tokotahi pe?” ʼI te lahi ʼo tana tokaga ki tana lautohi pea mo tana ako, neʼe mole hake pe la ʼi tona ʼatamai ʼe nofo tokotahi.

Neʼe ʼi ai te tahi agamāhani ʼe ma taupau tuʼumaʼu. Neʼe loto tuʼumaʼu e papa ke mātou kakai fuli fakatahi, tāfito la ʼi te temi ʼinu kafe, temi ʼaia ʼe vakaʼi ai te koga tohi ʼo te Tohi-Tapu ʼo te ʼaho. ʼI taku kei veliveli neʼe fakagafua ke ʼau mavae ʼi fale mokā kua lau te koga tohi ʼaia. ʼI ʼihi temi neʼe ʼau ʼui age: “Papa, ʼe ʼau tauhala anai ki te faleako (peʼe ki te gāue).”

“ ʼE mole ko te koga tohi ʼaē ʼe ke tauhala ai; e tuai pe tau ʼala”, ko tana ʼui mai ʼaia. Pea neʼe tonu ke ʼau nofo pea mo fagono ki te koga tohi. ʼO aʼu ki te ʼu ʼaho fakaʼosi ʼo tona maʼuli neʼe tokaga aipe ke fai te aga ʼaia. Ko te tahi ʼaenā tofiʼa neʼe ina tuku mai.

Neʼe nofo tokaga aipe papa ʼo aʼu ki tona temi mate. Neʼe faigafua tamā haga ʼaē ʼo gaohi ia ia he neʼe mole fakakinakina pe la ʼi he temi peʼe mo lāuga. ʼI ʼihi temi mokā talanoa ki te ʼu mamahi ʼo tona sino, neʼe ʼau fakamanatuʼi age ko ia neʼe ko te “hōloga ʼo Atama”, pea kata. Ko Gene pea mo ʼau neʼe ma nonofo ʼi ʼona tafa, neʼe mate fīmālie ia papa ʼi te uhu ʼo te ʼaho 30 ʼo novepeli 1991.

Ko toku taʼu 70 ʼi te temi nei pea kei ʼau maʼu pe te faʼifaʼitaki lelei ʼo taku ʼu mātuʼa kilisitiano ʼofa. Pea ko taku faikole fakamalotoloto, ko taku fakahā anai toku loto fakafetaʼi katoa ki te tofiʼa ʼaia ʼo fakaʼaogaʼi fakalelei ʼi te ʼu taʼu ka haʼu. — Pesalemo 71:17, 18.

[Paki ʼo te pasina 5]

Ko mama pea mo ʼau.

[Paki ʼo te pasina 7]

1. Taku ʼuluaki fakatahi: San Marcos, Texas, sepetepeli 1923.

2. Ko te fakatahi fakaʼosi ʼa papa: Fort Worth, Texas, sūnio 1991 (ko papa ʼaē ʼe heka).

[Paki ʼo te pasina 9]

Gene mo Blossom Brandt.