AFƆ mi yɛ akrowa ko ni atsɛɔ lɛ Crooksville, ni yɔɔ Ohio yɛ United States lɛ yɛ afi 1926. Mipapa kɛ mimami eyaaa sɔlemɔ, shi amɛkɛɛ mi kɛ minyɛmimɛi kpawo ni eshwɛ lɛ akɛ wɔya sɔlemɔ. No hewɔ lɛ, mitee Methodist. Mikaiɔ akɛ be ko lɛ, osɔfo lɛ ke mi nii, ejaakɛ nakai afi lɛ, Hɔgbaa ko hooo ni miyaaa sɔlemɔ. No mli lɛ, miye afii 14.

Nɛkɛ beiaŋ ni Yehowa Odasefonyo ko ni yɔɔ wɔkutso lɛ mli, ni atsɛɔ lɛ Margaret Walker lɛ kɛ mimami bɔi Biblia lɛ kasemɔ. Gbi ko lɛ, miyata nikasemɔ lɛ mli. Shi mimami shwie mi, ejaakɛ eyasusu akɛ magba amɛnaa. Kɛ̃lɛ, kɛ́ Margaret ba lɛ, mibɔɔ mɔdɛŋ akɛ mabo nɔ ni ekɛ mimami kaseɔ lɛ toi. No hewɔ lɛ, be ko lɛ, ebi mi akɛ, “Ani ole Nyɔŋmɔ gbɛ́i?” Mihere nɔ akɛ, “No lɛ, bɛ mɔ fɛɛ mɔ le​—atsɛɔ lɛ Nyɔŋmɔ.” Ekɛɛ mi akɛ, “Yaakɔ o-Biblia lɛ, ni okane Lala 83:19.” Mifee nakai, ni mina akɛ, Nyɔŋmɔ gbɛ́i ji Yehowa. Migba shi kɛtee agbo lɛ naa ni miyakɛɛ minanemɛi lɛ akɛ, “Kɛ́ nyɛshɛ shĩa gbɛkɛ nɛɛ, nyɛkanea Lala 83:19 ni nyɛbaana Nyɔŋmɔ gbɛ́i.” Yɛ gbɛ ko nɔ lɛ, mibɔi shiɛmɔ amrɔ nɔŋŋ.

Akɛ mi bɔi Biblia lɛ kasemɔ, ni yɛ afi 1941 lɛ, abaptisi mi. No sɛɛ etsɛɛɛ lɛ, ahã mibɔi asafoŋ wolo nikasemɔ lɛ nɔkwɛmɔ. Mifɔ̃ mimami kɛ minyɛmimɛi lɛ nine ni amɛba wolo nikasemɔ lɛ shishi, ni amɛ fɛɛ amɛba. Shi, mipapa baaa eko.

Akɛ sɔ̃i krokomɛi wo midɛŋ yɛ asafo lɛ mli, ni mibɔ mɔdɛŋ akɛ maná asafo lɛ woji lɛ fɛɛ. Shi gbi ko lɛ, mipapa kɛ enine tsɔɔ miwoji lɛ, ni ewie akɛ: “Oona nɔ ni bua jɛmɛ? Misumɔɔɔ ni mana dɔŋŋ yɛ shĩa nɛɛ mli, ni kɛ́ okɛtee lɛ, kaaba dɔŋŋ.” No hewɔ lɛ, mifã kɛjɛ shĩa lɛ ni miyahi maŋ ko ni atsɛɔ lɛ Zanesville lɛ mli. Maŋ nɛɛ bɛŋkɛ wɔkrowa lɛ, no hewɔ lɛ, miyawoɔ mimami kɛ minyɛmimɛi lɛ hewalɛ.

Mipapa bɔ mɔdɛŋ akɛ ebaatsĩ mimami naa, koni ekanyɛ etee asafoŋ kpeei. Bei komɛi kɛ́ eyi gbɛ akɛ eeya lɛ, etsaa lɛ shi ni eyamɔɔ lɛ kɛbaa shĩa lɛ. Shi Awo tsɔɔ tsũ lɛ sɛɛ, kɛkɛ lɛ etee. Mikɛɛ Awo akɛ: “Kaaye otsui. Ebaatɔ lɛ kɛ osɛɛ nyiɛmɔ.” Sɛɛ mli lɛ, etɔ mipapa kɛ esɛɛnyiɛmɔ, ni Awo ná hegbɛ etee asafoŋ kpeei ni mɔ ko gbaaa enaa.

 Be ni aje Teokrase Sɔɔmɔ Skul lɛ shishi yɛ afi 1943 lɛ, mikɛ mihe wo mli. Ŋaa ni awo mi yɛ miskul nifeemɔi lɛ asɛɛ lɛ ye ebua mi ni mibatsɔ wielɔ ni he esa.

Yɛ afi 1944, be ni awuɔ Jeŋ Ta II lɛ, atsɛ mi ni mibafata United States Asraafoi lɛ ahe. No hewɔ lɛ, mitee Fort Hayes, ni yɔɔ Columbus, yɛ Ohio lɛ. Akwɛ kɛji miyɛ gbɔmɔtsoŋ hewalɛ bɔ ni sa, ni ahã miŋmala woji komɛi anɔ nii. Shi mihã onukpai ni yɔɔ jɛmɛ lɛ le akɛ, mikɛ mihe woŋ asraafoi anitsumɔ lɛ mli. Amɛhã mitee shĩa. Shi gbii fioo komɛi asɛɛ lɛ, polisifonyo ko ba mishĩa lɛ, ni ekɛɛ mi akɛ, “Corwin Robison, akɛɛ mibamɔ bo kɛba.”

Otsii enyɔ sɛɛ lɛ, akɛ mi tee saneyelihe. Kojolɔ lɛ kɛɛ mi akɛ: “Kɛ́ ka mikome too kulɛ, abaawo bo tsuŋ kɛyashi obaagbo. Ani oyɛ nɔ ko kɛɛmɔ?” Mihere nɔ akɛ: “Onukpa, kulɛ esa akɛ abu mi akɛ osɔfo. Miyashiɛɔ mihãa mɛi yɛ amɛshĩai amli, ni mishiɛ Maŋtsɛyeli lɛ he sane kpakpa lɛ mihã mɛi babaoo.” Kojolɔ lɛ kɛɛ mɛi ni baabua sane lɛ akɛ: “Akɛ nyɛ baaa biɛ ni nyɛbatsɔɔ kɛji oblanyo nɛɛ ji osɔfo aloo ejeee osɔfo. Akɛ nyɛ ba ni nyɛbatsɔɔ kɛji ekpɛlɛ nɔ akɛ ebaatsu asraafoi anitsumɔ lɛ aloo ekpɛlɛɛɛ nɔ.” Eyeee minitii 30 ni amɛbua akɛ miyeɔ fɔ. Kojolɔ lɛ hã mile akɛ, abaawo mi tsuŋ afii enumɔ yɛ tsuŋwoohe ko ni yɔɔ Ashland yɛ Kentucky lɛ.

Dani akɛ mi baaya Ashland lɛ, awo mi tsuŋ otsii enyɔ yɛ tsuŋwoohe ko ni yɔɔ Columbus yɛ Ohio lɛ. Yɛ klɛŋklɛŋ gbi lɛ nɔ lɛ, ahãaa maje kpo yɛ he ni akɛ mi hɔ lɛ gbi muu lɛ fɛɛ. Misɔle mihã Yehowa, ni mikɛɛ lɛ akɛ: “Minyɛŋ mahɔ biɛ afii enumɔ. Shi mileee nɔ ni mafee.”

Enɔ jetsɛremɔ lɛ, ahã mije kpo fioo. Minyiɛ kɛtee nuu ko ni lɛ hu awo lɛ tsuŋ lɛ ŋɔɔ. Nuu nɛɛ kwɔ ni eti diɛŋtsɛ. No mli lɛ, edamɔ samfɛlɛ ko naa eekwɛ kpo lɛ nɔ, ni miyafata ehe yɛ jɛmɛ. Ebi mi akɛ, “Shɔtii, mɛni oyafee?” Mihã hetoo akɛ, “Yehowa Odasefonyo ji mi.” Etsa nɔ akɛ, “Oo, nakai? Belɛ, mɛni hewɔ akɛ bo ba biɛ?” Mikɛɛ lɛ akɛ, “Yehowa Odasefoi eyaaa ta ni amɛgbeee mɛi.” Ehere nɔ akɛ, “Bo ni ogbeee mɛi lɛ, amɛwo bo tsuŋ. Ni gbɔmɔgbelɔi lɛ hu amɛwo amɛ tsuŋ. Enɛ lɛ, jwɛŋmɔ yɛ mli?” Mito he akɛ, “Dabi, jwɛŋmɔ bɛ mli.”

Kɛkɛ ni ekɛɛ mi akɛ, “Awo mi tsuŋ afii 15 yɛ he ko dani akɛ mi ba biɛ. Ni be ni miyɔɔ jɛmɛ lɛ, mikane nyɛwoji lɛ ekomɛi.” Be ni ewie nakai lɛ, misɔle mikɛɛ Yehowa akɛ, “Yehowa, ye obua mi ni mikɛ nuu nɛɛ abɔ naanyo.” Nɔŋŋ ni ekɛɛ mi akɛ: “Kɛ́ hii nɛɛ eko ta ohe lɛ, bo lɛ, bolɔmɔ kɛkɛ. Matsɔɔ amɛ nɔ ko naa.” Atsɛɔ nuu nɛɛ Paul, ni otsii enyɔ ni mikɛhi nakai tsuŋwoohe lɛ, mɛi 50 ni awo amɛ tsuŋ yɛ he ni wɔyɔɔ lɛ ateŋ mɔ ko mɔ ko etaaa mihe.

Be ni ajie mi kɛtee tsuŋwoohe lɛ ni yɔɔ Ashland lɛ, miyanina nyɛmimɛi hii komɛi yɛ jɛmɛ. Nyɛmimɛi nɛɛ  edara yɛ mumɔŋ, ni amɛye amɛbua mi kɛ nyɛmimɛi krokomɛi ni awo amɛ tsuŋ yɛ jɛmɛ lɛ koni wɔya nɔ wɔhi Yehowa masɛi. Amɛhã wɔ Biblia lɛ fãi komɛi ni wɔkane daa otsi, ni wɔŋmala sanebimɔi komɛi kɛ amɛhetoi wɔshwie shi, koni wɔsusu he yɛ kpeei ni wɔfeɔ lɛ ashishi. Tsũ lɛ mli he ni akɛ wɔ wo lɛ da, ni ato saatsei lɛ yɛ gbogboi lɛ ashishi. Ahala nyɛmi ko ni ekwɛ wɔshikpɔŋkuku lɛ nɔ. Ekɛɛ mi akɛ: “Robison, wɔkɛ saatso nɛɛ kɛ saatso nɛɛ ewo odɛŋ. Bɔɔ mɔdɛŋ ni oye mɔ fɛɛ mɔ ni baabakã saatsei nɛɛ anɔ lɛ odase dani eshi. No ji oshikpɔŋkuku.” Nɛkɛ ji bɔ ni wɔto wɔshiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ he gbɛjianɔ.

Jeŋ Ta II lɛ ba naagbee yɛ afi 1945, shi aŋmɛɛɛ mihe amrɔ nɔŋŋ. Etsɛ fioo dani aŋmɛɛ mihe. Be ni awo mi tsuŋ lɛ, miye mitsui waa yɛ mimami kɛ minyɛmimɛi lɛ ahewɔ, ejaakɛ be ko lɛ, mipapa kɛɛ mi akɛ, “Kɛ́ minyɛ mijie bo kɛjɛ migbɛ nɔ pɛ, mɛi ni eshwɛ lɛ jeee naagba.” Be ni aŋmɛɛ mihe lɛ, nɔ ni miyana yɛ shĩa lɛ hã mimii shɛ mihe waa. Yɛ mipapa shiteekɛwoo lɛ fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, mimami kɛ minyɛmimɛi lɛ fɛɛ miiya asafoŋ kpeei, ni abaptisi minyɛmimɛi yei lɛ ateŋ mɔ kome po.

Yɛ afi 1950 lɛ, ta ko fɛ yɛ Korea, ni atsɛ mi kɛtee Fort Hayes ekoŋŋ, nɔ ni ji shii enyɔ nɔ, kɛ jwɛŋmɔ lɛ akɛ, akɛ mi baafata asraafoi lɛ ahe. Be ni akwɛ migbɔmɔtsoŋ hewalɛ kɛ nibii krokomɛi agbe naa lɛ, asraafoi lɛ ateŋ mɔ kome kɛɛ mi akɛ, “Ofata mɛi ni bɔ mɔdɛŋ waa lɛ ahe.” Mihere lɛ nɔ akɛ, “Yoo, shi mitsuŋ asraafoi anitsumɔ lɛ eko.” Mitsɛ 2 Timoteo 2:3 lɛ yisɛɛ, ni mikɛɛ lɛ akɛ, “Kristo asraafonyo ji mi momo.” Efee diŋŋ be saŋŋ, kɛkɛ ni ekɛɛ mi akɛ, “Obaanyɛ oya.”

No sɛɛ etsɛɛɛ lɛ, afee kpee wulu ko yɛ maŋ ko ni atsɛɔ lɛ Cincinnati lɛ mli yɛ Ohio, ni mitee kpee ni afee kɛhã mɛi ni miitao aya Betel lɛ eko. Yɛ nakai kpee lɛ shishi lɛ, Nyɛminuu Milton Henschel kɛɛ wɔ akɛ, aatao nyɛmimɛi hii ni baatsu nii waa amɛhã Maŋtsɛyeli lɛ koni amɛbasɔmɔ yɛ Betel. Miŋmala wolo ni akɛhãa mɛi ni miitao ayasɔmɔ yɛ Betel lɛ nɔ nii, ni mikɛhã. Yɛ August 1954 lɛ, mibɔi sɔɔmɔ yɛ Betel ni yɔɔ Brooklyn lɛ, ni jɛmɛ misɔmɔ yɛ kɛbashi ŋmɛnɛ.

Be ko shɛko ni mináaa nitsumɔ matsu yɛ Betel. Mitsu tsɔji ni akɛtoɔ nula yɛ woji akalamɔhe lɛ kɛ hei krokomɛi lɛ ahe nii. Agbɛnɛ hu, mitsu tsɔji srɔtoi, kɛ klɔklɔi ahe nii. Mitsu nitsumɔi nɛɛ afii abɔ. Kɛfata he lɛ, mitsu nii yɛ Kpee Asai ni yɔɔ New York City lɛ.

Misumɔɔ gbɛjianɔi srɔtoi ni ato yɛ Betel lɛ waa, tamɔ leebi jamɔ, Buu-Mɔɔ Nikasemɔ lɛ kɛ ekrokomɛi ni fata he lɛ. Kɛfata he lɛ, mikɛ misafo lɛ mli bii yaa shiɛmɔ, ni no hu hãa mináa miishɛɛ waa. Yɛ anɔkwale mli lɛ, esa akɛ Yehowa Odasefoi awekui fɛɛ ato nibii ni tamɔ nɛkɛ he gbɛjianɔ daa. Kɛ́ fɔlɔi kɛ amɛbii fee ekome kɛsusu daa gbi ŋmalɛ lɛ he, amɛfee Weku  Jamɔ daa otsi, amɛhã saji ahetoo yɛ asafoŋ kpeei ashishi, ni amɛkɛ ekãa shiɛ sane kpakpa lɛ, ewaaa akɛ weku lɛ mli bii lɛ fɛɛ baaya nɔ ahi Yehowa masɛi.

Miná nanemɛi pii yɛ Betel kɛ misafo lɛ mli. Amɛteŋ mɛi komɛi yɛ ni afɔ amɛ mu, ni amrɔ nɛɛ amɛtee ŋwɛi. Amɛteŋ mɛi komɛi hu yɛ ni afɔko amɛ mu. Shi Yehowa tsuji fɛɛ yeee emuu, ni Betelbii hu fata he. Kɛ́ sane ba mi kɛ nyɛmi ko teŋ lɛ, mibɔɔ mɔdɛŋ akɛ masaa, koni toiŋjɔlɛ aba. Ŋmalɛ ko ni misusuɔ he waa ji Mateo 5:23, 24 lɛ. Ŋmalɛ nɛɛ tsɔɔ wɔ nɔ ni esa akɛ wɔfee kɛ́ sane ba wɔ kɛ mɔ ko teŋ. Ebɛ mlɛo akɛ wɔbaakpa fai yɛ wɔtɔmɔi ahewɔ, shi bei pii lɛ, no ji nɔ ni kɛ toiŋjɔlɛ baa.

Amrɔ nɛɛ migbɔ, no hewɔ lɛ, ewa hã mi akɛ maya mɛi aŋɔɔ yɛ shĩa koni mayashiɛ mahã amɛ. Shi mikpako shiɛmɔ. Mikase Mandarin Chinese fioo, ni mishiɛɔ yɛ gbɛjegbɛi lɛ ahe mihãa mɛi ni wieɔ Chinese. Enɛ hãa mimii shɛɔ mihe. Bei komɛi lɛ, leebi lɛ, minyɛɔ mihãa magazin 30 loo 40.

Be ko lɛ, mikɛ mɔ ko ni mishiɛ mihã lɛ wie ekoŋŋ, eyɛ mli akɛ etee China! Bɔ ni eba lɛ nɛ: Be ko lɛ, mina oblayoo fioo ko kɛ ehiɛ ŋmɔlɔŋmɔlɔ ní eejara woji bibii komɛi eehã mɛi. Woji lɛ miitsɔɔ mɛi lɛ he ko ni amɛbaanyɛ amɛhe aduawai yɛ. Mi hu mifee mihiɛ ŋmɔlɔŋmɔlɔ ni mihã lɛ Chinese Buu-Mɔɔ kɛ Awake! lɛ eko. Eŋɔ woji lɛ, ni etsɔɔ mi egbɛ́i. Atsɛɔ lɛ Katie. No sɛɛ lɛ, be fɛɛ be ni Katie baana mi lɛ, ebaa miŋɔɔ ni ekɛ mi bagbaa sane. Mitsɔɔ lɛ aduawai kɛ nibii tamɔ ameo, shitɔ, kɛ amɛhenɔi lɛ agbɛ́i yɛ Blɔfo mli. Mitsɛɔ gbɛ́i lɛ, kɛkɛ lɛ mihã lɛ hu etsɛ. Migbala ŋmalɛi srɔtoi hu amli mitsɔɔ lɛ, ni mihã lɛ Biblia lɛ Tsɔɔ wolo lɛ eko. Shi otsii komɛi asɛɛ lɛ, minaaa lɛ dɔŋŋ.

Nyɔji komɛi asɛɛ lɛ, mihã oblayoo kroko ni miijara woji bibii eehã mɛi lɛ wɔmagazin lɛ eko, ni eŋɔ. Enɔ otsi lɛ, ehã mi efoŋ lɛ, ni ekɛɛ mi akɛ, “Mɔ ko yɛ China miitao ekɛ bo awie.” Mikɛɛ lɛ akɛ, “Mileee mɔ ko yɛ China.” Shi ehiɛ mi doo akɛ mihe foŋ lɛ, no hewɔ lɛ, mihe ni mikɛ mɔ ni yɔɔ foŋ lɛ nɔ lɛ wie. Mikɛɛ, “Hɛloo, Robison nɛ.” Mɔ lɛ here nɔ akɛ, “Robby, Katie nɛ. Miku misɛɛ mitee China.” “China?” Katie hã hetoo akɛ, “Hɛɛ. Robby, ani ole oblayoo lɛ ni kɛ foŋ lɛ hã bo lɛ? Minyɛmi yoo ni. Otsɔɔ mi nibii kpakpai pii. Ofainɛ, tsɔɔmɔ lɛ nii tamɔ bɔ ni otsɔɔ mi nii lɛ.” Mikɛɛ lɛ akɛ, “Katie, mafee bɔ fɛɛ bɔ ni manyɛ kɛye mabua lɛ. Oyiwaladɔŋŋ akɛ ohã mile he ni oyɔɔ.” No sɛɛ etsɛɛɛ lɛ, minaaa Katie nyɛmi yoo lɛ dɔŋŋ. Mileee he ni oblayei enyɔ nɛɛ yɔɔ bianɛ. Shi misɔlemɔ ji akɛ, amɛbaaya nɔ amɛkase Yehowa he nii, ekɔɔɔ he eko he ni amɛyɔɔ.

Mikɛ afii 73 esɔmɔ Yehowa, ni eŋɔɔ minaa akɛ eye ebua mi koni mikɛ mihe akawo asraafoi anitsumɔ lɛ mli. Eŋɔɔ minaa hu akɛ, eye ebua mi ni miye lɛ anɔkwa be ni awo mi tsuŋ lɛ. Minyɛmimɛi lɛ kɛɔ mi akɛ, bɔ ni midamɔ shi shiŋŋ be ni mipapa te shi ewo mi lɛ, wo amɛ hewalɛ waa, ni enɛ ji nɔ kroko hu ni hãa mimii shɛɔ mihe. Sɛɛ mli lɛ, abaptisi mimami kɛ minyɛmimɛi lɛ ateŋ mɛi ekpaa. Mipapa po tsake esubaŋ, ni ebɔi asafoŋ kpeei lɛ ekomɛi yaa dani egbo.

Kɛ́ Nyɔŋmɔ aaasumɔ lɛ, abaatee miwekumɛi kɛ minanemɛi ni egboi lɛ ashi, ni amɛbaahi jeŋ hee lɛ mli. Kwɛ bɔ ni wɔmii baashɛ wɔhe, akɛ wɔkɛ wɔsuɔlɔi efee ekome kɛmiijá Yehowa kɛmiiya naanɔ! *​—Kwɛmɔ shishigbɛ niŋmaa lɛ.