BE NI miye afii 12 lɛ, wɔtee kpokpaa nɔ kpee ko. Yɛ kpee lɛ shishi lɛ, nyɛmi nuu ko bi mi kɛji masumɔ ni mashiɛ. Eyɛ mli akɛ mishiɛko dã moŋ, shi mikɛɛ lɛ akɛ, “Masumɔ.” No hewɔ lɛ, wɔtee shikpɔŋkuku lɛ mli, ehã mi woji bibii komɛi ni wieɔ Nyɔŋmɔ Maŋtsɛyeli lɛ he, ni ekɛɛ mi akɛ: “Jee shishi yɛ biɛ gbɛ, mi hu maje shishi yɛ nɛkɛ gbɛ.” Mitsui fã fioo, shi mikɛ woji lɛ tee shĩai lɛ amli, ni be ni mihɛleɔ shi lɛ, mihã woji lɛ fɛɛ. Nakai gbi lɛ, mibayɔse akɛ miyɛ nɔ ko ni jara wa ni manyɛ mikɛhã mɛi, ni akɛ mɛi babaoo miisumɔ ni mikɛhã amɛ.

Afɔ mi yɛ afi 1923, yɛ Chatham, ni ji maŋ ko ni yɔɔ England kpokpai lɛ ateŋ ekome ni atsɛɔ lɛ Kent lɛ nɔ lɛ mli. Mɛi pii, ni mifɔlɔi hu fata he lɛ, kpa gbɛ akɛ Jeŋ Ta I lɛ baahã jeŋ shihilɛ afee mlɛo ni amɛhe ajɔ amɛ, shi eyabaaa lɛ nakai, ni enɛ hã amɛnijiaŋ je wui. Nɔ kroko ni hã amɛnijiaŋ je wui ji bɔ ni Baptist osɔfoi lɛ peleɔ gbɛhei wuji ahe yɛ sɔlemɔ lɛ mli lɛ. Be ni miye aaafee afii nɛɛhu lɛ, mimami kɛ Yehowa Odasefoi bɔi bɔɔ. No mli lɛ, amɛkpeɔ yɛ asa ko ni International Bible Students Association lɛ gbɛ́i kã nɔ lɛ mli kɛhã “nikasemɔ,” loo asafoŋ kpeei. Nyɛmi yoo ko kɛ mi kɛ gbekɛbii krokomɛi ni baa jɛmɛ lɛ bɔi Biblia lɛ kasemɔ kɛtsɔ wolo ni ji The Harp of God lɛ nɔ, ni minya nibii ni mikaseɔ lɛ ahe waa.

Be ni miji oblanyo fioo lɛ, nɔ kome ni hã miná miishɛɛ ji ni matsɔɔ mɛi nibii kpakpai ni Nyɔŋmɔ ewie yɛ Biblia lɛ mli akɛ ebaafee wɔsɛɛ lɛ. Bei pii lɛ, mi kome miyaa shĩa fɛɛ shĩa shiɛmɔ, shi bei komɛi lɛ, mikɛ mɛi krokomɛi yaa, ni kɛ́ mikɛ amɛ tee lɛ, mikaseɔ nii kɛjɛɔ amɛŋɔɔ. Akɛ nɔkwɛmɔnɔ lɛ, gbi ko lɛ mikɛ nyɛmi nuu onukpa ko ta baisiko kɛmiiya ni wɔyashiɛ. Be ni wɔyaa lɛ, wɔho osɔfo ko he ni miwie akɛ: “Abotiai lɛ eko ni yaa yɛ jɛmɛ lɛ.” Nyɛmi nuu lɛ hã wɔyi shi kɛjɛ baisiko lɛ nɔ wɔyata tso ko ni afó afɔ̃ shi lɛ nɔ, ni ebi mi akɛ: “Namɔ hã bo hegbɛ akɛ okojo mɛi ni otsɛ amɛ abotiai? Esa akɛ wɔhiɛ asɔ hegbɛ ni ahã wɔ akɛ wɔshiɛ sane kpakpa lɛ, ni wɔshi kojomɔ lɛ wɔhã Yehowa.” Anɔkwa, be ni miji oblanyo lɛ, mikase nibii pii yɛ nɔhamɔ kɛ miishɛɛ ni jɛɔ mli kɛbaa lɛ he.​—Mat. 25:31-33; Bɔf. 20:35.

Nyɛmi nuu onukpa kroko hã mina akɛ, bei komɛi lɛ, dani wɔbaaná miishɛɛ ni jɛɔ nɔhamɔ mli kɛbaa lɛ, esa akɛ wɔto wɔtsui shi yɛ shihilɛi ni jaraa amli. Nyɛmi nuu nɛɛ ŋa sumɔɔɔ Yehowa Odasefoi. No hewɔ lɛ, gbi ko be ni ekɛ mi tee shĩa koni wɔyatao nɔ ko fioo wɔye lɛ, eŋa lɛ fɔ̃ tii baa adekai etswia wɔ, ejaakɛ emli efu ewu lɛ waa akɛ etee shiɛmɔ. Shi yɛ nɔ najiaŋ ni  ekɛ lɛ baawie waa yɛ nɔ ni efee lɛ hewɔ lɛ, ekɛ miishɛɛ to tii adekai lɛ fɛɛ ewo he ni yoo lɛ jie kɛjɛ lɛ. Afii komɛi asɛɛ lɛ, etsuishitoo lɛ wo yibii. Eŋa lɛ batsɔ nyɛmi.

Yɛ September 1939, be ni Britain fã Germany nɔ ta lɛ, no mli lɛ, miye afii 16. Yɛ March 1940 lɛ, abaptisi mi kɛ mimami yɛ Dover. Nakai afi lɛ nɔŋŋ mli, yɛ June mli lɛ, midamɔ wɔshinaa lɛ shi mikwɛ asraafoi akpei abɔ ni miiho yɛ tsɔji wuji amli. Asraafoi nɛɛ ji mɛi ni yi ná wala yɛ ta ni awu yɛ Dunkirk lɛ mli. Mina akɛ amɛfee shwɛm, ni mishwe akɛ magba amɛ Nyɔŋmɔ Maŋtsɛyeli lɛ he sane. Sɛɛ mli yɛ nakai afi lɛ nɔŋŋ mli lɛ, Germanbii lɛ ŋmɛɛŋmɛɛ okplɛmii ahe amɛshwie Britain nɔ. Daa gbɛkɛ lɛ, German kɔɔyɔɔ lɛji ni kɛ okplɛmii lɛ baa lɛ batsɔɔ wɔkutso lɛ mli. Kɛ́ amɛŋmɛɛ okplɛmii lɛ ahe, ni amɛmiigbɛɛ kɛmiiba nɛkɛ lɛ, wɔtsui fãa waa. Be ni je baatsɛre ni wɔbaaje kpo lɛ, okplɛmii lɛ ekumɔ tsũi babaoo eshwie shi. Nibii nɛɛ hã mikɛ mihiɛ fɔ̃ Maŋtsɛyeli lɛ nɔ waa fe tsutsu lɛ po.

Yɛ afi 1941 lɛ, mibɔi be fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ, ni mihiɛ mli aahu kɛbashi ŋmɛnɛ. Nitsumɔ nɛɛ ehã mimii eshɛ mihe waa. Dani mabɔi be fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ, no mli lɛ miikase bɔ ni afeɔ meelei yɛ Royal Dockyard ni yɔɔ Chatham lɛ. Eji nitsumɔ ko ni yɔɔ nyam waa, ni mɛi pii shwe akɛ amɛkase. Kɛjɛ jeeŋmɔ beebe lɛ, Yehowa tsuji le akɛ esaaa ni Kristofoi kɛ amɛhe woɔ tawuu mli. Be ni shɛɔ afi 1941 lɛ, amɛbana hu akɛ, esaaa akɛ amɛtsuɔ nii yɛ hei ni afeɔ tawuu nibii yɛ. (Yoh. 18:36) Akɛni no mli lɛ afeɔ nu shishi lɛji ni akɛyaa ta yɛ he ni mitsuɔ nii yɛ lɛ hewɔ lɛ, mikpa nitsumɔ lɛ, ni mikɛ mihe wo be fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli. He klɛŋklɛŋ ni ahã miyashiɛ yɛ ji, blema maŋ fɛfɛo ko ni yɔɔ Cotswolds gɔji lɛ anɔ ni atsɛɔ lɛ Cirencester lɛ.

Be ni miye afii 18 lɛ, awo mi tsuŋ nyɔji nɛɛhu yɛ mihe ni mikɛwooo asraafoi anitsumɔ lɛ mli lɛ hewɔ. Be ni aŋa tsuŋwoohe lɛ shinaa lɛ awo mi, ni eshwɛ mikome too lɛ, minii fee mi mɔbɔ waa. Shi, eyeee be ko ni bulɔi lɛ kɛ mɛi krokomɛi ni awo amɛ tsuŋ lɛ kɛ mi bɔi sanegbaa. Amɛbi mi nɔ hewɔ ni awo mi tsuŋ, ni miná he miishɛɛ akɛ magbala nibii amli matsɔɔ amɛ.

Be ni ajie mi yɛ tsuŋwoohe lɛ, ahã miyafata Leonard Smith * he kɛshiɛ yɛ maji srɔtoi ni yɔɔ Kent kpokpaa lɛ nɔ lɛ amli. Kent kpokpaa lɛ nɔ mi kɛ Leonard jɛ. Yɛ afi 1944 lɛ, Nazibii lɛ kpɛ amɛyiŋ akɛ amɛkɛ okplɛmii komɛi ni atsɛɔ amɛ doodlebugs lɛ baafite London maŋ lɛ, ni Kent kpokpaa lɛ kã he ni okplɛmii lɛ jɛɔ kɛbaa lɛ kɛ London teŋ. No hewɔ lɛ, okplɛmii lɛ  akpei abɔ gbeegbee maji ni yɔɔ kpokpaa nɛɛ mli lɛ anɔ. Okplɛmii nɛɛ tamɔ kɔɔyɔŋ lɛji bibii, shi mɔ ko mɔ ko taaa mli. Amɛnyiɛɔ kɔɔyɔɔ lɛ mli aahu kɛyashi amɛ-injin lɛ baagboi. Kɛ́ ená egbo pɛ, kɔɔyɔŋ lɛlɛ lɛ kpɔɔ ebatswaa shi, kɛkɛ lɛ efɛ. No hewɔ lɛ, kɛ́ wɔnu ni kɔɔyɔŋ lɛlɛ ko injin egbo pɛ, kɛkɛ lɛ wɔtsui efã, ejaakɛ wɔle akɛ oshara nyiɛ gbɛ kɛmiiba. Nakai beiaŋ lɛ, wɔkɛ nuu ko kɛ eŋa, kɛ amɛbii etɛ kaseɔ Biblia lɛ. Bei komɛi lɛ, wɔtaa dade okpɔlɔ ko ni yɔɔ shĩa lɛ mli lɛ shishi kɛkaseɔ nii lɛ, koni kɛ́ aleenɔ tsũ lɛ aaawule lɛ, wɔhiɛ akakpãtã. Amɛ fɛɛ amɛtee amɛhiɛ ni abaptisi amɛ.

Yɛ ta lɛ sɛɛ lɛ, mikɛ afii enyɔ sɔmɔ akɛ gbɛgbalɔ yɛ Ireland wuoyigbɛ. Esoro Ireland shihilɛ kwraa yɛ England nɔ he, ni Katolik osɔfoi ni yɔɔ jɛmɛ lɛ yɛ mɛi anɔ hewalɛ waa. Shi no mli lɛ wɔleee. No hewɔ lɛ, kɛ́ wɔtee mɛi aŋɔɔ wɔyaabi he ko ni wɔbaawɔ lɛ, wɔkɛɔ amɛ akɛ wɔji shiɛlɔi ni jɛ maŋsɛɛ. Kɛfata he lɛ, wɔhã mɛi magazin yɛ gbɛjegbɛi lɛ ahe. Eji wɔle bɔ ni jɛmɛ shihilɛ lɛ yɔɔ lɛ jogbaŋŋ kulɛ, mikpaaa shi akɛ wɔbaafee nakai! Be ko be ni nuu ko wie akɛ ebaapila wɔ ni wɔyabɔ polisifonyo ko amaniɛ lɛ, nɔ ni ekɛɛ wɔ ji akɛ, “Ni kulɛ mɛni nyɛtaoɔ ni efee?” Anɔkwa, osɔfoi lɛ hã ashwie mɛi ni he wɔwoji lɛ eko lɛ kɛje amɛnitsumɔi amli, ni amɛhã afã wɔ kɛjɛ he ni wɔyato lɛ.

Etsɛɛɛ ni wɔbayɔse akɛ, kɛ́ wɔyato akutso hee mli lɛ, ehi akɛ wɔbaayashiɛ yɛ hei ni kɛ jɛmɛ jekɛ lɛ klɛŋklɛŋ dani wɔba shĩa gbɛ, bɔ ni afee ni osɔfoi lɛ akagba wɔnaa tsɔ. Yɛ Kilkenny lɛ, wɔkɛ oblanyo ko kase nii shii etɛ yɛ otsi lɛ mli. Eyɛ mli akɛ mɛi wo wɔhe gbeyei akɛ amɛbaayi wɔ moŋ, shi wɔtee nɔ wɔkɛ lɛ kase nii. Kɛ́ mikɛ mɛi miikase Biblia lɛ, mináa miishɛɛ waa. No hewɔ lɛ, miŋmala woji anɔ nii ni ahã mitee Gilead Skul lɛ eko.

Skul lɛ he nyɔji enumɔ, ni be ni wɔgbe naa lɛ, ahã mi kɛ mɛi etɛ krokomɛi ni ba skul lɛ yasɔmɔ yɛ ŋshɔkpɔi bibii ni yɔɔ Caribbean Ŋshɔ lɛ mli lɛ anɔ. Yɛ November 1948 lɛ, wɔta lɛlɛ ko mli kɛjɛ New York City kɛtee Bahamas ŋshɔkpɔ lɛ nɔ. Atsɛɔ lɛlɛ nɛɛ Sibia ni ekɛlɛ ji mitai 18. Miyako ŋshɔ hiɛ dã, no hewɔ lɛ mimii shɛ mihe waa. Nyɛmimɛi ni kɛ wɔ tee lɛ ateŋ mɔ kome ji Gust Maki, ni ehe esa waa kɛ lɛlɛ kudɔmɔ. Etsɔɔ wɔ nibii komɛi yɛ bɔ ni akudɔɔ lɛlɛ ahãa lɛ he. Akɛ nɔkwɛmɔnɔ lɛ, etsɔɔ wɔ bɔ ni ashiɔ abalai, bɔ ni akpaa abalai, bɔ ni akɛ kɔmpase tsuɔ nii ahãa, kɛ bɔ ni akɛ lɛlɛ kpeɔ kɔɔyɔɔ yɛ ŋshɔ hiɛ. Gust hiɛ wɔlɛlɛ lɛ shweshweeshwe kɛtsɔ ahum ni naa wala amli kɛyashi wɔyashɛ. Gbɛfãa lɛ he wɔ gbii 30.

Be ni wɔkɛ nyɔji fioo komɛi eshiɛ yɛ ŋshɔkpɔi bibii ni yɔɔ Bahamas lɛ anɔ lɛ, wɔkɛ wɔhiɛ tsɔɔ Leeward Islands kɛ Windward Islands ŋshɔkpɔi lɛ. Ŋshɔkpɔi bibii nɛɛ kã Virgin Islands kɛ Trinidad teŋ, ni emli jekɛmɔ miihe ashɛ kilomitai 800. Wɔkɛ afii enumɔ shiɛ yɛ ŋshɔkpɔi bibii nɛɛ anɔ, titri lɛ yɛ hei ni etse amɛhe banee ni Odasefonyo ko kwraa bɛ lɛ. Bei komɛi lɛ, wɔnyɛɔ wɔhiɔ shi otsii abɔ ni wɔnyɛɛɛ wɔŋma mɛi wolo lɛ, wɔnine shɛɛɛ wolo nɔ hu. Shi wɔmii shɛ wɔhe waa akɛ wɔmiigba mɛi ni yɔɔ ŋshɔkpɔi lɛ anɔ lɛ Yehowa wiemɔ lɛ.​—Yer. 31:10.

Kɛ́ wɔyaŋmɛ sɛkɛ yɛ he ko lɛ, maŋ lɛ mli bii lɛ ahiɛ feɔ amɛ yaa fioo, no hewɔ lɛ, amɛbaa lɛjiadaamɔhe lɛ koni amɛbakwɛ mɛi ni wɔji. Amɛteŋ mɛi komɛi enako lɛlɛ henɔ ni wɔhiɛ lɛ loo blɔfonyo dã. Mɛi ni yɔɔ ŋshɔkpɔi lɛ anɔ lɛ sumɔɔ mɔ waa, ni amɛle Biblia lɛ mli jogbaŋŋ. Bei pii lɛ, amɛhãa wɔ loo ŋmɔŋ, paya, kɛ ŋkatiɛ. Wɔlɛlɛ lɛ mli edaaa tsɔ moŋ, shi wɔnyɛ wɔhoo nii, wɔfɔ wɔnibii ahe, ni wɔná he ko wɔwɔ.

 Kɛ́ wɔyaŋmɛ lɛ, wɔkɛ lɛlɛ bibioo yaa ŋshɔkpɔ lɛ nɔ ni wɔkɛ mɛi lɛ yagbaa Biblia lɛ mli sane gbi muu lɛ fɛɛ, ni wɔfɔ̃ɔ amɛ nine kɛhãa Biblia mli wiemɔ ni wɔbaahã lɛ. Kɛ́ shɛ gbɛkɛ lɛ, wɔtswaa lɛlɛ lɛ ŋmɛlɛ lɛ ni mɛi lɛ baa. Kɛ́ amɛmiiba ni ona ni amɛhiɛ amɛkanei lɛ, eyɛ fɛo waa. Efeɔ tamɔ nɔ ni ŋulamii miikpeleke shi kɛmiijɛ gɔji lɛ anɔ kɛmiiba. Bei komɛi lɛ, mɛi oha baa, ni amɛbiɔ wɔ saji aahu kɛyashi gbɛkɛnaashi tɔ̃ɔ. Amɛsumɔɔ lala waa, no hewɔ lɛ, wɔkɛ taipraita tswaa Maŋtsɛyeli lalai lɛ ekomɛi amli wiemɔi ni wɔjaraa wɔhãa amɛ. Wɔyi ejwɛ lɛ wɔbɔɔ mɔdɛŋ akɛ wɔbaalá lalai lɛ, ni amɛkɛ amɛgbei ŋɔɔmɔŋɔɔmɔi lɛ fataa wɔhe kɛláa. Ehãa wɔmii shɛɔ wɔhe waa!

Mɛi ni wɔkɛkaseɔ nii lɛ ekomɛi yɛ ni kɛ́ wɔkɛ amɛ kase nii wɔgbe naa lɛ, amɛfataa wɔhe kɛyaa mɛi krokomɛi ni wɔkɛyaakase nii lɛ aŋɔɔ ni amɛboɔ nikasemɔ lɛ toi. Wɔyeɔ otsii fioo komɛi pɛ yɛ he kome. No hewɔ lɛ, kɛ́ wɔmiishi lɛ, bei pii lɛ wɔhãa mɛi ni nya wiemɔ lɛ he waa lɛ kɛ mɛi krokomɛi ni eshwɛ lɛ kaseɔ nii kɛyashi wɔbaaba ekoŋŋ. Amɛteŋ mɛi komɛi kɛ hiɛdɔɔ tsu sɔ̃ nɛɛ he nii, ni ehã wɔmii shɛ wɔhe waa.

Ŋmɛnɛ lɛ, mɛi babaoo yasharaa shi yɛ ŋshɔkpɔi nɛɛ pii anɔ. Shi be ni wɔyɔɔ jɛmɛ lɛ no mli lɛ ebɛ lɛ nakai. No mli lɛ, jɛmɛ fɛɛ ejɔ diŋŋ, ni nɔ pɛ ni onaa ji kpaakpoi fɛfɛji ni mli tse, ŋshɔnaa shia ni bua shi fɛfɛo, kɛ akooshi tsei. Bei pii lɛ, gbɛkɛ dani wɔfãa gbɛ kɛjɛɔ ŋshɔkpɔ kome nɔ kɛyaa ekroko nɔ. Kɛ́ wɔmiiya lɛ, atii shwɛɔ yɛ lɛlɛ lɛ he, ni onuɔ ni lɛlɛ lɛ nyiɛ nu lɛ hiɛ kɛmiiya. Kɛ́ nyɔŋtsere lɛ kpɛ yɛ nu lɛ hiɛ lɛ, nu lɛ hiɛ feɔ tamɔ lɔle gbɛ kakadaŋŋ ko ni akɛ jwiɛtɛi fee.

Be ni wɔkɛ afii enumɔ eshiɛ yɛ ŋshɔkpɔi nɛɛ anɔ lɛ, wɔkɛ wɔlɛlɛ lɛ tee Puerto Rico koni wɔkɛyatsake lɛlɛ ni yɔɔ injin. Be ni wɔyashɛ lɛ, mikɛ nyɛmi yoo maŋsɛɛ sɔɔlɔ ko ni he yɔɔ fɛo ni atsɛɔ lɛ Maxine Boyd lɛ kpe, ni mitsui mɔ lɛ. Maxine kɛ ekãa eshiɛ sane kpakpa lɛ kɛjɛ egbekɛbiiashi tɔ̃ɔ. Sɛɛ mli lɛ, esɔmɔ akɛ maŋsɛɛ sɔɔlɔ yɛ Dominican Republic kɛyashi be ni Katolik nɔyeli lɛ shwie lɛ kɛjɛ maŋ lɛ mli yɛ afi 1950. Akɛni mitsuɔ nii yɛ lɛlɛ lɛ mli hewɔ lɛ, aŋmɛ mi gbɛ koni mahi Puerto Rico nyɔɔŋ kome pɛ. Shi mile akɛ, kɛ́ nyɔɔŋ kome lɛ ba naagbee pɛ lɛ, maku misɛɛ kɛya ŋshɔkpɔi lɛ anɔ, ni kɛ́ mitee lɛ mináko maba ja afii fioo komɛi dã. No hewɔ lɛ, mikɛɛ mihe akɛ, ‘Ronald, kɛ́ oosumɔ oblayoo nɛɛ lɛ, belɛ kaashwɛ yɛ kpãa nɔ.’ Otsii etɛ sɛɛ lɛ, mibi lɛ suɔmɔ, ni ekpɛlɛ. Otsii ekpaa sɛɛ lɛ, wɔbote gbalashihilɛ mli. Ahã mi kɛ Maxine sɔmɔ akɛ maŋsɛɛ sɔɔlɔi yɛ Puerto Rico, no hewɔ lɛ mináaa maku misɛɛ kɛya ŋshɔkpɔi lɛ anɔ dɔŋŋ.

Yɛ afi 1956 lɛ, mibɔi sɔɔmɔ akɛ kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔ. Nyɛmimɛi ni wɔyasara lɛ ateŋ mɛi babaoo miiye ohia, shi fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ wɔná he miishɛɛ waa akɛ wɔbaasara amɛ. Akɛ nɔkwɛmɔnɔ lɛ, yɛ akrowa ko ni atsɛɔ lɛ Potala Pastillo lɛ mli lɛ, no mli lɛ Odasefoi awekui enyɔ komɛi kɛ amɛbii babaoo yɛ jɛmɛ, ni kɛ́ efee lɛ miyakpãa bɛlɛ mihãa amɛ. Mibi gbekɛbii lɛ ateŋ mɔ kome ni atsɛɔ lɛ Hilda lɛ kɛji ebaasumɔ ni ekɛ wɔ aya shiɛmɔ. Ehã hetoo akɛ: “Masumɔ, shi minyɛŋ, ejaakɛ mibɛ tokota.” No hewɔ lɛ, wɔhe tokota wɔhã lɛ, ni efata wɔhe kɛtee shiɛmɔ. Yɛ afi 1972 lɛ, mikɛ Maxine yasara Brooklyn Betel. Be ni wɔtee lɛ, nyɛmi yoo ko ni egbe Gilead Skul lɛ naa lɛ tsi ebɛŋkɛ wɔ, ni ekɛɛ wɔ akɛ: “Mile akɛ nyɛkaiŋ mi. Miji gbekɛ yoo fioo lɛ ni bɛ tokota, ni nyɛkɛkpe yɛ Pastillo lɛ.” Asomoaŋ Hilda ni! No mli lɛ, eeya eyasɔmɔ yɛ Ecuador. Wɔmii shɛ wɔhe aahu akɛ wɔfo!

Yɛ afi 1960 lɛ, ahã wɔyasɔmɔ yɛ nitsumɔhe nine ni yɔɔ Puerto Rico lɛ. Nitsumɔhe nine lɛ yɛ ŋwɛitsũ bibioo ko ni yɔɔ Santurce, yɛ San Juan lɛ nɔ. Shishijee mli lɛ, mi kɛ Lennart Johnson ni tsu nitsumɔ lɛ fã kpotoo. Lɛ kɛ eŋa lɛ ji mɛi klɛŋklɛŋ ni batsɔmɔ Yehowa Odasefoi yɛ Dominican Republic, ni sɛɛ mli yɛ afi 1957 lɛ, amɛba Puerto Rico. Sɛɛ mli lɛ, nitsumɔ ni Maxine tsu yɛ Betel ji, kɛ́ mɛi bi ni abahã amɛ magazin lɛ, lɛ ji mɔ ni kɛmajeɔ amɛ. Yɛ otsi mli lɛ, ekɛ magazin fe akpe majeɔ mɛi. Enya nitsumɔ nɛɛ he waa, ejaakɛ esusu mɛi abɔ ni miikase Yehowa he nii kɛtsɔ woji nɛɛ anɔ lɛ ahe.

Misumɔɔ Betel sɔɔmɔ lɛ waa, ejaakɛ ehãa minyɛɔ misɔmɔɔ Yehowa kɛ mihewalɛ fɛɛ. Shi jeee be fɛɛ be eyɔɔ mlɛo. Akɛ nɔkwɛmɔnɔ lɛ, be klɛŋklɛŋ ni afee majimaji ateŋ kpee yɛ Puerto Rico yɛ afi 1967 lɛ, minu he akɛ sɔ̃i ni jwere minɔ lɛ fa fe mi. No mli lɛ, Nathan Knorr ji mɔ ni nyiɛ Yehowa Odasefoi lɛ ahiɛ, ni eba Puerto Rico. Eyasusu akɛ mitoko tsɔne he gbɛjianɔ mihãko maŋsɛɛ sɔɔlɔi ni baa kpee lɛ, shi no mli lɛ mifee nakai momo. Sɛɛ mli lɛ, ekɛ mi wie waa ni ewo mi ŋaa ni mikase bɔ ni atoɔ nibii ahe gbɛjianɔ jogbaŋŋ. Ekɛɛ mi akɛ mihã enine enyɛ shi waa. Bɔ ni ekɛ mi ye ehã lɛ gba minaa fioo, shi no mli lɛ misumɔɔɔ ni mikɛ lɛ taa saji anaa. Fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, be kroko ni  mi kɛ Maxine kɛ Nyɛminuu Knorr kpe lɛ, efɔ̃ wɔ nine kɛtee etsũ lɛ mli ni ehoo nii ehã wɔ.

Be ni wɔyɔɔ Puerto Rico lɛ, wɔtee England wɔyasara miwekumɛi lɛ shii abɔ. Nakai beiaŋ fɛɛ lɛ, mimami kã he eji Odasefonyo, shi mipapa bɛ anɔkwale lɛ mli. Kɛ̃lɛ, bei pii lɛ kɛ́ nyɛmimɛi ni sɔmɔɔ yɛ Betel lɛ basara asafoi ni yɔɔ wɔkutso lɛ mli lɛ, mimami hãa amɛbatoɔ wɔshĩa lɛ. Nyɛmimɛi nɛɛ ni sɔmɔɔ akɛ nɔkwɛlɔi yɛ Betel lɛ baa amɛhe shi waa, ni kɛ́ mipapa kɛ enɛ to nɔ ni ena yɛ osɔfoi lɛ ahe afii komɛi ni eho lɛ he lɛ, enaa akɛ esoro amɛ kwraa. Abaptisi mipapa yɛ afi 1962.

Yɛ afi 2011 lɛ, misuɔlɔ Maxine gbo. Miishwe waa ni mikɛ lɛ akpe ekoŋŋ be ni atee lɛ shi kɛba wala mli lɛ. Be fɛɛ be ni masusu hiɛnɔkamɔ nɛɛ he lɛ, ehãa mináa miishɛɛ waa! Mikɛ Maxine hi shi akɛ gbalashihilɛ mli hefatalɔi afii 58. Yɛ afii nɛɛ amli lɛ, Yehowa webii ni yɔɔ Puerto Rico lɛ ayifalɛ tee hiɛ kɛjɛ 650 kɛyashɛ 26,000! Yɛ afi 2013 lɛ, aŋa Puerto Rico nitsumɔhe nine lɛ, ni akɛ nitsumɔ ni atsuɔ yɛ jɛmɛ lɛ yafata nitsumɔ ni atsuɔ yɛ United States nitsumɔhe nine lɛ he, ni abi ni miyasɔmɔ yɛ Wallkill yɛ New York. No mli lɛ mihi ŋshɔkpɔ nɛɛ nɔ afii 60 sɔŋŋ, ni minu he tamɔ nɔ ni mibatsɔ jɛmɛ nyo. Shi ehe bahia ni mashi kɛya he kroko.

Mikã he mikɛ miishɛɛ miisɔmɔ Yehowa yɛ Betel. Amrɔ nɛɛ miye fe afii 90, ni nitsumɔ ni mitsuɔ ji ni mawo mɛi ni sɔmɔɔ yɛ Betel lɛ hewalɛ. Kɛjɛ be ni miba Wallkill lɛ, misara Betel weku lɛ mli bii fe 600. Mɛi ni baa miŋɔɔ lɛ ateŋ mɛi komɛi kɛ mi basusuɔ amɛ diɛŋtsɛ amɛnaagbai aloo amɛweku mli naagbai ahe. Mɛi komɛi hu biɔ bɔ ni amɛbaafee amɛya nɔ amɛsɔmɔ yɛ Betel kɛ miishɛɛ. Ni mɛi ni ebote gbalashihilɛ mli etsɛko lɛ babiɔ ŋaawoo yɛ gbalashihilɛ he. Mɛi ni atsake amɛnitsumɔ lɛ hu baa miŋɔɔ kɛhã ŋaawoo. Miboɔ amɛ fɛɛ toi, ni bei pii lɛ, mikɛɔ amɛ akɛ: “‘Mɔ ni hãa nɔ kɛ miishɛɛ lɛ, lɛ Nyɔŋmɔ sumɔɔ.’ No hewɔ lɛ omii ashɛ nitsumɔ ni otsuɔ lɛ he. Yehowa nitsumɔ ni.”​—2 Kor. 9:7.

Kɛ́ ootao osɔmɔ Yehowa kɛ miishɛɛ yɛ Betel loo he kroko lɛ, esa akɛ okɛ ojwɛŋmɔ ama nɔ hewɔ ni nɔ ni ofeɔ lɛ he hiaa lɛ nɔ. Nitsumɔi fɛɛ ni atsuɔ yɛ Betel lɛ, Yehowa atsuɔ ahãa, ni eyeɔ ebuaa ni “nyɔŋ anɔkwafo kɛ hiɛshikalɔ lɛ” nyɛɔ elɛɔ Yehowa webii ni yɔɔ jeŋ fɛɛ lɛ yɛ mumɔŋ. (Mat. 24:45) Ekɔɔɔ he eko he ni wɔsɔmɔɔ Yehowa yɛ lɛ, wɔbaanyɛ wɔya nɔ wɔjie eyi. Nyɛhãa wɔyaa nɔ wɔtsua nitsumɔ fɛɛ nitsumɔ ni ekɛbaahã wɔ lɛ, ejaakɛ “mɔ ni hãa nɔ kɛ miishɛɛ lɛ, lɛ Nyɔŋmɔ sumɔɔ.”