WODZIM le ƒe 1926 me le Crooksville, Ohio, si le Amerika. Papa kple Dada melɔ̃ mawusubɔsubɔ o, gake woɖe mɔ na mí ɖevi enyiawo be míade tsɔtsi. Medea Metodist. Esi mexɔ ƒe 14 la, nunɔlaa na nunanam le esi mede tsɔtsi Kwasiɖagbe ɖe sia ɖe tsiã ɖe enu ƒe ɖeka blibo ta.

Ɣemaɣi lɔƒoe míaƒe aƒelika aɖe si ŋkɔe nye Margaret Walker, si nye Yehowa Ðasefo, va nɔ Biblia me dzrom kple nɔnye. Gbe ɖeka la, meva nɔ anyi be nye hã masrɔ̃ nua. Dada susu be mava ɖe fu na ye, eya ta enyam. Gake menɔ agbagba dzem be maɖo to nya si gblɔm wonɔ. Esi Margaret gava zi eve aɖewo megbe la, ebiam be, “Ènya Mawu ƒe ŋkɔa?” Meɖo eŋu be, “Ame sia ame nya ɖe—eŋkɔe nye Mawu.” Egblɔ be, “Ʋu Biblia nàxlẽ Psalmo 83:18.” Mexlẽe eye mekpɔe be Mawu ƒe ŋkɔe nye Yehowa. Meƒu du yi xɔ̃nyewo katã gbɔ hegblɔ na wo ɖekaɖeka be, “Ne èɖo aƒe me fiẽ sia la, xlẽ Psalmo 83:18 le Biblia me ne nàkpɔ Mawu ƒe ŋkɔ ɖa.” Ne míagblɔe la, medze ɖaseɖiɖi na amewo gɔme enumake.

Mesrɔ̃ Biblia hexɔ nyɔnyrɔ le ƒe 1941 me. Ema megbe kpuie la, wode dɔ asi nam be makpɔ hame ƒe agbalẽ me nusɔsrɔ̃ dzi. Mede dzi ƒo na nɔnye kple nɔvinyewo be woanɔ vavam, eye wo katã wote agbalẽ me nusɔsrɔ̃ si dzi mekpɔna la dede. Gake metsɔ fu le lãme na Papa ya o.

Wode dɔ geɖe asi nam le hamea me eye mexɔ agbalẽ siwo Yehowa Ðasefowo ta dometɔ geɖe. Gbe ɖeka Papa fia asi nye agbalẽawo hegblɔ be: “Èkpɔ nu mawoa? Lɔ wo do goe le aƒea me, eye wò hã àte ŋu ayi kpli wo faa.” Meʋu le aƒea me heyi ɖanɔ Zanesville, Ohio, gake mevaa aƒe me edziedzi va dea dzi ƒo na nye ƒometɔawo.

Papa dze agbagba be yeaxe mɔ na Dada be wòagayi kpekpeawo o. Ɣeaɖewoɣi ne edze mɔ yina la, Papa ƒua du kplɔnɛ ɖo yina ɖahenɛ gbɔna va aƒe me. Gake Dada sina toa ʋɔtru bubu nu yia kpekpea. Megblɔ na Dada be: “Mègatsi dzi o. Ðeɖi ava te eŋu ale be magaƒu du akplɔ wò ɖo azɔ o.” Mlɔeba  la, Papa na ta, eye Dada tea ŋu dea kpekpeawo faa.

Esime wodze Teokrasi Subɔsubɔ Sukua gɔme le ƒe 1943 me la, medze dɔdeasiwo wɔwɔ gɔme le sukua me. Aɖaŋu siwo woɖona nam le dɔa wɔwɔ megbe kpe ɖe ŋunye mebi ɖe nuƒoƒo me.

Le Xexemeʋa II lia wɔɣi le ƒe 1944 me la, wobia tso asinye be maɖo asrafoha me. Wona agbalẽm meyi Fort Hayes le Columbus, Ohio, afi si wodom kpɔ eye mekpe agbalẽwo ɖo le. Megblɔ na amegãwo be nyemele asrafo zu ge o. Woɖe asi le ŋunye meyi aƒeme. Gake ŋkeke ʋɛ aɖewo megbe la, asrafomegã aɖe va nye xɔ mɔnu hegblɔ nam be, “Corwin Robison, setɔwo be mava lé wò.”

Esi míeyi ʋɔnu le kwasiɖa eve megbe la, ʋɔnudrɔ̃laa gblɔ be: “Ne nye ɖeɖee la, mana nàku atsi gaxɔ me. Nya aɖe le asiwòa?” Meɖo eŋu nɛ be: “Aƒetɔ Bubunatɔ, ɖe wòle be woabum abe mawununɔla ene. Metɔna ɖe amewo ƒe ʋɔtru nu abe ale si ko wotɔna ɖe kplɔ̃ta ene hegblɔa Fiaɖuƒea ŋuti nya nyuia na ame geɖe.” Ʋɔnudrɔ̃laa gblɔ na ʋɔnunyamedzroha la be: “Menye ɖe mieva afi sia be yewoadzro eme akpɔ be ɖekakpui sia nye mawununɔla loo alo menyee o. Ke boŋ be miakpɔe ɖa be ewɔ ɖe se si wode nɛ be wòaɖo asrafoha me dzi loo alo mewɔ ɖe edzi o.” Mede miniti 30 hafi ʋɔnunyamedzroha la tso nya me be meɖi fɔ o. Ʋɔnudrɔ̃laa ka ƒe atɔ̃ nam be matsɔ anɔ gaxɔ me le Ashland, Kentucky.

Le kwasiɖa eve gbãtɔawo me la, menɔ gaxɔ me le Columbus, Ohio, gake le ŋkeke gbãtɔa dzi la, menɔ ameɖekɛgaxɔ me. Gbe ma gbe medo gbe ɖa na Yehowa be: “Oo, nye ɖeka nyemate ŋu anɔ gaxɔ sia me ƒe atɔ̃ sɔŋ o. Nyemenya nu si mawɔ o.”

Le ŋufɔke la, dzɔlawo va ɖem le gaxɔ ma me. Wona mezɔ yi gamenɔla kɔkɔ dzɔatsu akɔtagbadza aɖe gbɔ, eye míetɔ ɖi nɔ nu kpɔm to fesre nu. Ebiam be, “Zukpui, nu kae kplɔ wò va afi sia?” Meɖo eŋu nɛ be, “Yehowa Ðasefoe menye.” Egblɔ be, “Nenemaa? Ke nu ka tae wokplɔ wò va afi sia?” Meɖo eŋu be, “Nu si tae nye be Yehowa Ðasefowo medea aʋa o eye womewua ame hã o.” Egblɔ be, “Aa, wode wò gaxɔ me le esi mèdi be yeawu ame o ta. Evɔ wode ɖekakpui bubuwo gaxɔ me le esi wowu ame ta. Susu le nya sia me fifia?” Meɖo eŋu be, “Kura o.”

Egblɔ kpee be, “Menɔ gaxɔ bubu aɖe me ƒe 15, eye mɔnukpɔkpɔ su asinye mexlẽ miaƒe agbalẽ aɖewo.” Enumake medo gbe ɖa be, “Yehowa, kpe ɖe ŋunye be ŋutsu sia nade dzinye.” ‘Ne lo lé ame la, loviwo ɖe wotsaa nu le ame ŋu,’ eya ta gamenɔla sia si ŋkɔe nye Paulo gblɔ nam be: “Ne gamenɔla aɖe be yeaɖe fu na wò la, wò ya do ɣli ko, mava tu  nu kplii.” Eya ta mevo le ame 50 siwo le gakpɔ ma me la si me.

Esi amegãwo ɖem yi Ashland gakpɔ me la, meva tu nɔviŋutsu kpɔnuteƒe bubuwo le afi ma. Nɔvi mawo kpe ɖe nye kple ame bubuwo ŋu míete ɖe Yehowa ŋu. Wodea Biblia ƒe akpa aɖe asi na mí kwasiɖa sia kwasiɖa be míaxlẽe adi biabiawo kple woƒe ŋuɖoɖowo da ɖi na Biblia Me Numedzodzrowo. Míenɔ gaxɔ gã aɖe si me woɖo abatiwo ɖe gliawo ŋu godoo va kpe la me. Nɔviŋutsu aɖe maa anyigbamama na mí. Le kpɔɖeŋu me, agblɔ nam be: “Robison, wòe aɖe gbeƒã na abati sia kple ekemɛ. Gbeƒãɖeɖe na ame sia ame si amlɔ abati ma dzi la kpɔ ŋkuwòme. Dze agbagba nàɖi ɖase nɛ hafi wòadzo.” Aleae míeɖea gbeƒã ɖe ɖoɖo nu.

Xexemeʋa II lia ke le ƒe 1945 me, gake meganɔ gaxɔ me vie le ema megbe. Metsi dzi ɖe míaƒe ƒomea ŋu, elabe Papa gblɔ nam be, “Ne mete ŋu bu mo na wò la, ke mate ŋu akpe akɔ kple ame susɔewo bɔbɔe.” Gake esi woɖe asi le ŋunye la, meva se dzidzɔnya aɖe. Ƒomea me tɔ adre le kpekpeawo dem, eye le Papa ƒe tsitretsiɖeŋu mawo katã megbe la, nɔvinyenyɔnu ɖeka xɔ nyɔnyrɔ.

Esi Korea-ʋa dze egɔme le ƒe 1950 me la, mexɔ agbalẽ be magava wɔ asrafodɔ ake. Wogblɔ nam be matrɔ va Fort Hayes afɔtsɔtsɔe. Wodom kpɔ, eye amegã la gblɔ nam be, “Ŋusẽ le ŋuwò wu ɖekakpuiawo dometɔ geɖe.” Meɖo eŋu be, “Enyo, gake nyemele dukɔa ƒe asrafo zu ge o.” Meyɔ nya tso 2 Timoteo 2:3 hegblɔ be, “Menye Kristo ƒe asrafo xoxo.” Eyi ŋugble me ʋuu, eyome wògblɔ be, “Wò ya heyi.”

Ema megbe kpuie la, mede kpekpe si wowɔna le takpekpe me na ame siwo di be yewoasubɔ le Betel la le Cincinnati, Ohio. Nɔviŋutsu Milton Henschel gblɔ be wohiã nɔviŋutsu siwo adi be yewoawɔ dɔ sesẽ le Fiaɖuƒea ta. ‘Nu ka dim ŋɔti le wu gbɔgbɔ’! Mekpe Betel dɔbiagbalẽa ɖo enumake, eye wokpem be mava. Meyi Brooklyn Betel le August 1954 me, eye mekpɔtɔ le afi sia va se ɖe egbea.

Dɔ geɖe li mawɔ le Betel. Mewɔ dɔ le tsi dzodzoe ɖomɔ̃ siwo le agbalẽtaƒea kple dɔwɔƒeawo ŋu ƒe geɖe, mewɔ mɔ̃ŋutidɔwo, eye medzra ʋɔtruwo ƒe gametiwo hã ɖo. Mewɔ dɔ le Takpexɔwo hã ŋu le New York City.

Mekpɔa dzidzɔ ɖe Betel ƒe ɖoɖowo, abe ŋdi subɔsubɔ wɔnawo kple Betel ƒomea ƒe Gbetakpɔxɔ Nusɔsrɔ̃ kpakple gbeadzidede kple hamea ɖekae ene, ŋu ŋutɔ. Le nyateƒe me la, ele vevie be Yehowa Ðasefowo ƒe ƒome ɖe sia ɖe nanɔ nu vevi siawo wɔm edziedzi. Ne dzilawo kple wo viwo wɔa gbe sia gbe  mawunyakpukpuia ɖekae, wowɔa Ƒometadedeagu, wodea hame ƒe kpekpewo, eye wotsɔa dzo ɖe nya nyuia gbɔgblɔ ŋu la, esia ate ŋu ate ƒomea me tɔwo katã ɖe Yehowa ŋu.

Medze xɔlɔ̃ geɖewo le Betel kple hamea me. Wo dometɔ aɖewo nye amesiaminawo, eye woyi dziƒo. Ðewo hã menye amesiaminawo o. Gake ‘tre eve le tsi dzi megbea ŋuikaka wo nɔewo o,’ eye esia nye nyateƒe le Yehowa subɔla, siwo dome Beteltɔwo hã le, gome. Eya ta ne nya aɖe ɖo nye kple nɔvi aɖe dome la, medze agbagba wɔa ŋutifafa kplii. Medea ŋugble le Mateo 5:23, 24, si ku ɖe ale si míakpɔ masɔmasɔwo gbɔe ŋu la ŋuti ɣesiaɣi. Menɔa bɔbɔe be míagblɔ be “Tɔnye medzɔ o,” gake nya sia gbɔgblɔ kpɔa kuxi geɖe gbɔ.

Fifia le tsitsi ta la, ele sesẽm nam be maɖe gbeƒã tso ʋɔtru nu yi ʋɔtru nu, gake nyemena ta o. Mesrɔ̃ Mandarin Chinagbe vi aɖe eye wònyea dzidzɔ nam be maɖi ɖase na Chinatɔwo le ablɔ dzi. Ɣeaɖewoɣi menaa Gbetakpɔxɔ kple Nyɔ! 30 alo 40 le ŋdi me ɖeɖe.

Mewɔ tɔtrɔyi aɖe le China gɔ̃ hã! Gbe ɖeka ɖetugbui aɖe ko alɔgbɔnu ɖem dzidzɔtɔe esime wònɔ amewo yɔm be woava ƒle atikutsetse siwo yetsɔ ɖo asii. Nye hã meko alɔgbɔnu eye mena Chinagbe me Gbetakpɔxɔ kple Nyɔ! aɖee. Exɔ wo, eye wògblɔ be yeƒe ŋkɔe nye Katie. Ema megbe la, ɣesiaɣi si Katie kpɔm ko la, etena ɖe ŋunye míeɖoa dze. Mefia atikutsetse kple amagbe vovovowo ƒe ŋkɔwoe le Eŋlisigbe me, eye wòyɔa ŋkɔawo ɖekaɖeka kplɔam ɖo. Meɖe mawunyakpukpuiwo hã me nɛ, eye wòxɔ Biblia ƒe Nufiafia gbalẽa. Gake kwasiɖa aɖewo megbe la, medii do kpoe.

Ɣleti aɖewo megbe la, mena magazinewo ɖetugbui bubu si hã nɔ amewo yɔm be woava ƒle nu na ye, eye wòxɔe. Esi meyi egbɔ le kwasiɖa si kplɔe ɖo me la, etsɔ eƒe asitelefon nam hegblɔ be, “Ƒo nu na China.” Megblɔ be, “Nyemedze si ame aɖeke le China o ɖe.” Gake ebe maxɔe kokoko, eya ta mexɔ fon la hegblɔ be, “Robison ye nye esia.” Amea gblɔ be, “Ee, Robby, Katie ye ya. Metrɔ va China.” Mebia be, “China?” Katie ɖo eŋu be, “Ɛ̃. Robby, ènya ɖetugbui si tsɔ fon la na wòa? Nɔvinyee. Èfia nu nyui geɖewom. Meɖe kuku, fia nu eya hã nenema ke.” Megblɔ nɛ be, “Katie, mawɔ tɔnye sinua. Akpe na wò be èna menya afi si nèle.” Gake eteƒe medidi o, Katie nɔvinyɔnua hã ʋu dzo. Afi ka kee ɖetugbui eve mawo le fifia o, mele mɔ kpɔm be woasrɔ̃ nu geɖe tso Yehowa ŋu.

Ƒe 73 ye nye esia mele Yehowa subɔm, eye mekpɔ dzidzɔ ŋutɔ be ekpe ɖe ŋunye melé akpaɖekedzimademade me ɖe asi hewɔ nuteƒe le gaxɔ me. Nɔvinyewo gblɔna nam be ale si medo dzi le Papa ƒe tsitretsiɖeŋua me eye nyemena ta o la de dzi ƒo na yewo ŋutɔ. Mlɔeba Dada kple nɔvinye ade xɔ nyɔnyrɔ. Papa hã ƒe nɔnɔme va trɔ vie ale be wòde kpekpe ʋɛ aɖewo hafi ku.

Ne Mawu lɔ̃ la, agbɔ agbe nye ƒometɔ kple xɔlɔ̃ siwo ku la le xexe yeyea me. Kpɔ ale si gbegbe míakpɔ dzidzɔe ɖa ne mía kple ame siwo míelɔ̃ la míeva le Yehowa subɔm ɖekae tegbee! *​—Kpɔ etenuŋɔŋlɔa.