Afɔ mi afi 1954 yɛ St. Paul, yɛ Minnesota, yɛ U.S.A. Mifɔlɔi fɔ wɔ yi enumɔ, ni miji mɔ ni ji enyɔ nɔ. Wɔweku lɛ bɛ nɔ ko tsɔ, shi wɔbɛ lɛ butuu hu. Katolikbii ji wɔ, ni mitee Katolikbii askul yɛ migbekɛbiiashi. Agbɛnɛ hu, kɛ́ atee sɔlemɔ lɛ, mifata gbekɛbii hii ni nyiɛɔ osɔfo lɛ hiɛ lɛ ahe. Shi nakai beiaŋ fɛɛ lɛ, mileee Biblia lɛ mli tsɔ ko. No mli lɛ, mile akɛ Nyɔŋmɔ ko yɛ ni bɔ nibii fɛɛ, shi miheee miyeee akɛ sɔlemɔ lɛ baanyɛ aye abua mi ni majá lɛ.

Be ko lɛ, Yehowa Odasefoi ba mishĩa lɛ. No mli lɛ, mibɔi lɔyafoi askul yaa etsɛko; mináko afi po. Be ni amɛba lɛ, miifɔ nii ahe. No hewɔ lɛ, mikɛɛ amɛ akɛ amɛya ni amɛba, ni amɛkpɛlɛ nɔ. Be ni amɛku amɛsɛɛ amɛba lɛ, mibi amɛ saji enyɔ. Nomɛi ji: “Mɛni hewɔ mɛi fɔji moŋ shwereɔ yɛ je lɛ mli lɛ?” kɛ “Mɛni kɛ́ mɔ ko fee lɛ, ebaaná miishɛɛ diɛŋtsɛ?” Amɛhã mi wolo ni ji, Anɔkwale Ni Kɛ Mɔ Yaa Naanɔ Wala Mli Lɛ, kɛ Ŋmalɛ Krɔŋkrɔŋ Lɛ​—Jeŋ Hee Shishitsɔɔmɔ lɛ, nɔ ni kɛ esɛɛ baaŋmɔŋ su lɛ. Agbɛnɛ hu, amɛbi mi kɛji masumɔ ni amɛkɛ mi akase Biblia lɛ, ni mikpɛlɛ nɔ. Mibale nibii pii. Adesa nɔyelii ehã mɛi epiŋ, amɛna nɔ, ni aye  amɛ sane fɔŋ, ni mi diɛŋtsɛ mina enɛ faŋŋ. Mina akɛ gbɔmɔ adesa nyɛŋ aye enyɛmi gbɔmɔ nɔ ni nɔ fɛɛ nɔ aya lɛ jogbaŋŋ. No hewɔ lɛ, be ni mikase akɛ Nyɔŋmɔ Maŋtsɛyeli lɛ baaye adesai anɔ ni ebaatsu amɛhiamɔ nii fɛɛ ahe nii lɛ, miná miishɛɛ waa.

Yɛ afi 1982 shishijee gbɛ lɛ, mijɔɔ mihe nɔ mihã Yehowa, ni sɛɛ mli yɛ nakai afi lɛ nɔŋŋ mli lɛ, abaptisi mi yɛ “Maŋtsɛyeli Lɛ He Anɔkwale Lɛ” Kpee Wulu lɛ shishi. Afee kpee lɛ yɛ St. Paul Civic Center lɛ. Enɔ otsi lɛ, mitee he ni afee kpee lɛ yɛ lɛ ekoŋŋ koni miyaŋma kaa ni mɛi ni miitao amɛtsɔmɔ lɔyafoi lɛ ŋmaa lɛ. Yɛ October shishijee gbɛ lɛ, ahã mile akɛ mibɔ mɔdɛŋ yɛ kaa lɛ mli, ni tsɔɔ akɛ, manyɛ matsu nii akɛ lɔyafonyo.

Yɛ kpee lɛ shishi lɛ, mikɛ nyɛmi nuu ko ni tsuɔ nii yɛ Betel yɛ Brooklyn, ni atsɛɔ lɛ Mike Richardson lɛ kpe. Mike kɛɛ mi akɛ ato nitsumɔhe ko he gbɛjianɔ yɛ nitsumɔhe yitso lɛ koni akɛtsu mla saji ahe nii. Mikai nɔ ni Etiopia piafonyo lɛ wie ni abɔ he amaniɛ yɛ Bɔfoi 8:36 lɛ, ni mibi mihe akɛ, ‘Mɛni tsĩɔ mi gbɛ koni mikayatsu nii yɛ nitsumɔhe ni tsuɔ mla saji ahe nii lɛ?’ No hewɔ lɛ, miŋmala Betel sɔɔmɔ gbɛbimɔ wolo nɔ nii.

Be ni mibatsɔ Yehowa Odasefonyo lɛ, mifɔlɔi nyaaa he kwraa. Mipapa bi mi kɛji nitsumɔ ni miyatsu yɛ Betel lɛ baaye abua mi ni maya mihiɛ yɛ minitsumɔ akɛ lɔyafonyo lɛ mli. Mikɛɛ lɛ akɛ, nitsumɔ lɛ ni miyatsu lɛ, awoŋ mi nyɔmɔ. Moŋ lɛ, daa nyɔɔŋ nɔ lɛ, abaahã mi dɔlai 75. Nakai beiaŋ lɛ, no ji shika abɔ ni ahãa Betelbii koni amɛkɛwo amɛhe nyɔji.

No mli lɛ, mikpɛlɛ nɔ akɛ mayatsu nii yɛ kɔɔtu ko, ni no hewɔ lɛ, minyɛɛɛ maya Betel amrɔ nɔŋŋ. Be ni migbe mikɔɔtu nitsumɔ lɛ naa yɛ afi 1984 lɛ, mibɔi sɔɔmɔ yɛ Brooklyn Betel, yɛ New York. Ahã miyatsu nii yɛ nitsumɔhe ni tsuɔ mla saji ahe nii lɛ. Bɔ ni nibii tee lɛ ehã sɛɛ mli lɛ hã mina akɛ, be ni mikɛba Betel lɛ hi waa.

Yɛ November 1983 lɛ, asafo lɛ hé Stanley Theater ni yɔɔ Jersey City, yɛ New Jersey lɛ. No sɛɛ lɛ, amɛŋma wolo kɛbi gbɛ koni amɛsaa ilɛtriki nibii kɛ paipi nibii ni yɔɔ tsũ lɛ he lɛ. No hewɔ lɛ, amɛkɛ maŋ lɛ onukpai lɛ kpe koni asusu sane lɛ he. Be ni sanegbaa lɛ yaa nɔ lɛ, nyɛmimɛi lɛ hã amɛle akɛ amɛmiitao amɛkɛ Stanley Theater lɛ afee Yehowa Odasefoi Akpee Asa. Shi maŋ onukpai lɛ ekpɛlɛɛɛ, ejaakɛ yɛ maŋ lɛ mlai anaa lɛ, esaaa akɛ amaa sɔlemɔtsũi loo jamɔhei yɛ hei ni nitsumɔhei yɔɔ, ni he ni Stanley Theater lɛ yɔɔ lɛ, nitsumɔhei pii yɛ jɛmɛ. Nyɛmimɛi lɛ kɛ sane lɛ yafɔ̃ amɛhiɛ ekoŋŋ, shi amɛkpɛlɛɛɛ nɔ.

 No hewɔ lɛ, asafo lɛ kɛ sane lɛ tee kɔɔtu. No mli lɛ, kpaako miyaná otsi yɛ Betel. Saji ni tamɔ nɛkɛ lɛ jeee sane hee kɛhã mi, ejaakɛ mikɛ afii enyɔ tsu nii yɛ kɔɔtu ni yɔɔ St. Paul, yɛ Minnesota lɛ migbe naa nɔŋŋ ni miba Betel lɛ. Be ni ayeɔ sane lɛ, wɔlɔyafoi lɛ ateŋ mɔ kome wie akɛ, afee henaabuamɔi pii ni yɔɔ hoo yɛ Stanley Theater lɛ. No hewɔ lɛ, kɛ́ wɔkɛɛ wɔbaakpe yɛ jɛmɛ ni wɔjá Nyɔŋmɔ lɛ, mɛni hewɔ esa akɛ atsĩ wɔnaa? Kɔɔtu lɛ susu sane lɛ he ni amɛbua akɛ, Jersey City maŋ onukpai lɛ enaanaa hegbɛ ni wɔyɔɔ akɛ wɔkpeɔ ni wɔjá Nyɔŋmɔ lɛ nɔ. Amɛfã maŋ onukpai lɛ akɛ amɛhã wɔ gbɛŋmɛɛ woji fɛɛ ni he hiaa wɔ kɛhã nitsumɔ lɛ. Enɛ kɛ nibii krokomɛi hã mina akɛ, Yehowa miitsɔ saji ni akɛyaa kɔɔtu kɛ saneyelihei anɔ eeye eebua esafo lɛ koni enitsumɔ lɛ ashwere. Miná miishɛɛ waa akɛ miye mibua ni atsu nakai sane lɛ he nii.

Nyɛmimɛi lɛ bɔi tsũ lɛ saamɔ gidigidi, ni eshɛɛɛ afi ni amɛgbe naa. Yɛ September 8, 1985 lɛ, Gilead skul lɛ klas ni ji 79 lɛ fee amɛgradueshɛŋ lɛ yɛ Jersey City Kpee Asa lɛ, ni ji tsutsu Stanley Theater lɛ nɔ. Miná miishɛɛ waa akɛ mifata lɔyafoi ni yanyiɛ sane nɛɛ he amɛhã Yehowa lɛ ahe. Anɔkwa, nibii ni mitsu akɛ lɔyafonyo dani miba Betel lɛ eko kwraa bɛ ni hã miná miishɛɛ waa nakai. Asomoaŋ, Yehowa baahã maná hegbɛi pii ni tamɔ nakai ni mikɛfã esafo lɛ kɛ ewebii lɛ ahe.

Kɛjɛ afi 1980 kɛmiimɔ afi 1990 lɛ, datrɛfoi kɛ onukpai ni yɔɔ helatsamɔhei pii hã Odasefoi lá, eyɛ mli akɛ nyɛmimɛi lɛ hã amɛle akɛ amɛsumɔɔɔ ni ahãa amɛ lá. Mɛi titri ni kɛ naagba nɛɛ kpe ji yeihɔlɔi, ejaakɛ kojolɔi lɛ nu he akɛ, yɛ mla naa lɛ, yeihɔlɔi bɛ hegbɛ ni amɛkɛɔ akɛ akahã amɛ lá. Amɛkɛɛ kɛ́ yeihɔlɔi ekpɛlɛɛɛ ni ahãa amɛ lá lɛ, ekolɛ amɛbaagboi amɛshi amɛbii lɛ.

Yɛ December 29, 1988 lɛ, lá ho nyɛmi yoo ko ni atsɛɔ lɛ Denise Nicoleau lɛ waa be ni efɔɔ ebinuu lɛ. Elá ba shi waa diɛŋtsɛ, ni datrɛfonyo ni kwɛɔ lɛ lɛ kɛɛ lɛ akɛ esa akɛ ekpɛlɛ ni ahã lɛ lá, kɛjeee nakai lɛ, ebaagbo. Shi Nyɛmiyoo Nicoleau ekpɛlɛɛɛ. No hewɔ lɛ, enɔ leebi lɛ, onukpai ni yɔɔ helatsamɔhe lɛ kɛ sane lɛ tee kɔɔtu koni ahã amɛ wolo ni baaŋmɛ amɛ gbɛ ni amɛhã nyɛmi yoo lɛ lá. Kojolɔ ni ye sane lɛ hãaa Nyɛmiyoo Nicoleau kɛ ewu lɛ hegbɛ ni amɛtsɔɔ amɛsusumɔ yɛ sane lɛ he nɔŋŋ ni ehã onukpai ni yɔɔ helatsamɔhe lɛ hegbɛ ni amɛyahã lɛ lá, ni no po diɛŋtsɛ lɛ, ebɔɔɔ ekɛ ewu lɛ amaniɛ.

Sohaa, December 30 lɛ, datrɛfoi lɛ kɛ nɛɛsifoi lɛ hã wɔnyɛmi yoo lɛ lá, eyɛ mli akɛ ewu kɛ ewekumɛi krokomɛi ni damɔ emasɛi yɛ helatsamɔhe lɛ hã  amɛle faŋŋ akɛ amɛbɛ hegbɛ ni amɛfeɔ nakai. Nakai gbɛkɛ lɛ, polisifoi mɔmɔ wɔnyɛmi yoo lɛ wekumɛi komɛi kɛ asafoŋ onukpai komɛi, ejaakɛ akɛɛ be ni datrɛfoi kɛ nɛɛsifoi lɛ yaahã lɛ lá lɛ, amɛtsĩ amɛ gbɛ. Enɔ jetsɛremɔ lɛ, kɛ́ osu TV, loo redio, loo ohé adafitswaa wolo yɛ New York City kɛ Long Island lɛ, no sɔŋŋ he awieɔ.

Ju leebi lɛ, miyana Milton Mollen, ni ji kojolɔ ko ni tsuɔ nii yɛ kɔɔtu ko ni nɔ kwɔ fe kɔɔtu ni ye sane lɛ. Migba lɛ anɔkwale fɛɛ ni yɔɔ sane lɛ mli, ni mihã ele faŋŋ akɛ, kojolɔ ni yɔɔ kɔɔtu bibioo lɛ booo sane lɛ mli toi nɔŋŋ ni ehã hegbɛ akɛ ayahã nyɛmi yoo lɛ lá lɛ. Kojolɔ Mollen to mi nakai shwane lɛ ni mibana lɛ yɛ enitsumɔhe lɛ koni wɔwie sane lɛ jogbaŋŋ ni wɔkwɛ mlai ni kɔɔ he. Nyɛminuu Philip Brumley, ni ji mɔ ni kwɛɔ wɔnitsumɔhe lɛ nɔ yɛ Betel lɛ, fata mihe kɛtee ni wɔyana Kojolɔ Mollen yɛ enitsumɔhe lɛ nakai gbɛkɛ lɛ. Asomoaŋ, etsɛ helatsamɔhe lɛ lɔyafonyo lɛ ni lɛ hu eba. Be ni wɔbɔi sane lɛ he susumɔ lɛ, baakwɛ jɛmɛ; jeee shwɛmɔ sane kwraa! Eshɛ he ko po ni Nyɛminuu Brumley ŋma sane fioo ko yɛ ewolo lɛ nɔ ni eekɛɛ mi akɛ miná tsui. Kɛ́ misusu bɔ ni nibii tee lɛ nakai gbɛkɛ lɛ he lɛ, minaa akɛ ŋaa kpakpa ewo mi lɛ, ejaakɛ mitsui ba waa miwo lɔyafonyo lɛ.

Aaafee ŋmɛlɛtswaa kome sɛɛ lɛ, Kojolɔ Mollen wie akɛ wɔsane lɛ baafee klɛŋklɛŋ sane ni abaatsɛ yɛ kɔɔtu lɛ enɔ jetsɛremɔ. Be ni wɔshiɔ enitsumɔhe lɛ, ewie nɔ ko ni hã wɔna akɛ, ebaawa akɛ helatsamɔhe lɛ lɔyafonyo lɛ baaye kunim yɛ sane ni abaaye lɛ mli. Ewie yɛ ehe akɛ, “Wɔ́ lɛ, eyɛ sane mli waa.” Minu he tamɔ nɔ ni Yehowa miihã mi tsui akɛ mikashe gbeyei, wɔbaaye kunim. Mina akɛ, Yehowa kɛ wɔ, ni wɔjeee mɛi komɛi nɛɛ, miitsu nii koni afee esuɔmɔnaa nii.

Wɔshi kpe ni wɔbua nibii ni wɔbaawie kɛ́ atsɛ sane lɛ enɔ jetsɛremɔ lɛ anaa. Saneyelihe lɛ kɛ Brooklyn Betel jekɛɛɛ, no hewɔ lɛ, nyɛmimɛi ni yɔɔ wɔnitsumɔhe lɛ ateŋ mɛi pii nyiɛ kɛtee jɛmɛ. Kojolɔi ejwɛ ni bo sane lɛ toi, ni amɛbua akɛ kulɛ esaaa akɛ afãa ni ayahã nyɛmi yoo lɛ lá, no ji, amɛye sane lɛ amɛhã Nyɛmiyoo Nicoleau. Amɛwie akɛ, yɛ mla naa lɛ, kɔɔtu ko kɔɔtu ko bɛ hegbɛ ni efãa akɛ ahã mɔ ko lá, kɛji atsɔko hiɛ aboko mɔ lɛ toi, loo ahãko ele.

No sɛɛ etsɛɛɛ lɛ, saneyelihe wulu fe fɛɛ ni yɔɔ New York lɛ ma nɔ mi akɛ, Nyɛmiyoo Nicoleau yɛ hegbɛ ni ekɛɔ akɛ akahã lɛ lá. Enɛ ji saji ejwɛ ni kɔɔ lá hamɔ he ni akɛtee saneyelihei wuji ni yɔɔ Amerika ni miná hegbɛ akɛ mafata he ni atsu  he nii lɛ ateŋ ekome. (Kwɛmɔ akrabatsa ni yitso ji, “ Saji Ni Wɔkɛtee Saneyelihei Wuji Ni Wɔye Kunim.”) Agbɛnɛ hu, mifata lɔyafoi krokomɛi ni yɔɔ Betel lɛ ahe kɛyatsu shikpɔŋ kɛ tsũ saji, saji ni kɔɔ mɔ ni esa akɛ gbekɛ ko ayahi eŋɔɔ, kɛ saji ni kɔɔ gbalatsemɔ he lɛ ahe nii.

Klɛŋklɛŋ be ni mikɛ Dawn, mɔ ni mikɛbote gbalashihilɛ mli lɛ, kpe lɛ, no mli lɛ, ewu etse lɛ gbãla ni ekome eekwɛ bii etɛ. Eetsu nii kɛmiikwɛ ehe, ni yɛ nakai beiaŋ nɔŋŋ lɛ, gbɛgbalɔ ji lɛ. Yɛ shihilɛ ni mli wa ni ekɛkpe lɛ fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, etswa efai shi akɛ ebaasɔmɔ Yehowa, ni enɛ fee mi fɛo waa. Yɛ afi 1992 lɛ, wɔtee “La Hiɛlɔi” Kpokpaa Wulu nɔ kpee lɛ yɛ New York City, ni mihã ele akɛ masumɔ ni wɔle wɔhe jogbaŋŋ. Afi sɛɛ lɛ, wɔbote gbalashihilɛ mli. Dawn sumɔɔ Yehowa waa ni ehe yɛ miishɛɛ. Eji Yehowa dɛŋ nikeenii diɛŋtsɛ. Kɛjɛ be ni wɔbote gbalashihilɛ mli nɛɛ, manyɛ makɛɛ akɛ, nibii kpakpai sɔŋŋ efeɔ ehãa mi.​—Abɛi 31:12.

Be ni wɔbote gbalashihilɛ mli lɛ, gbekɛbii lɛ ateŋ mɔ ni edako kwraa lɛ eye afii 11, teŋ mɔ lɛ eye afii 13, ni onukpatsɛ lɛ eye afii 16. Akɛni miisumɔ ni matsɔ tsɛ kpakpa hewɔ lɛ, mikane nibii fɛɛ ni asafo lɛ woji lɛ etsɔɔ akɛ fɔlɔi ni yɔɔ banuma weku mli lɛ baanyɛ afee koni weku lɛ aná miishɛɛ lɛ jogbaŋŋ ni mikɛtsu nii. Eyɛ mli akɛ wɔkɛ naagbai kpe moŋ, shi gbekɛbii lɛ bana mi akɛ amɛnaanyo kpakpa kɛ amɛtsɛ ni sumɔɔ amɛ, ni enɛ hã miná miishɛɛ waa. Wɔhã wɔbii lɛ le akɛ amɛbaanyɛ amɛkɛ amɛnanemɛi aba shĩa be fɛɛ be, ni amɛkɛ amɛ ba pii diɛŋtsɛ. No hewɔ lɛ, be fɛɛ be lɛ, wɔshĩa lɛ esɔ.

Yɛ afi 2013 lɛ, wɔfã kɛtee Wisconsin koni wɔyaye wɔbua kɛ wɔfɔlɔi ni egbɔlɔ lɛ akwɛmɔ. Misusu akɛ mináŋ hegbɛ matsu nii yɛ Betel dɔŋŋ. Shi miishɛɛ sane ji akɛ, nakai hegbɛ lɛ eŋmɛɛɛ mi; minyɛ mitee nɔ miye mibua kɛ asafo lɛ mla saji ahe nitsumɔ.

Yɛ September 2018 lɛ, miyɔse akɛ mifɔɔ misɛŋ kpɛkpɛlɛmɔ waa. Mikɛtee wɔdatrɛfonyo lɛ ŋɔɔ, shi enaaa nɔ ni naagba lɛ ji. Sɛɛ mli lɛ, miyana datrɛfonyo kroko, ni ekɛɛ mi akɛ miyana datrɛfonyo ko ni ekase ansɔ lɛ he nii. Yɛ January 2019 lɛ, datrɛfonyo lɛ ni ekase ansɔ lɛ he nii lɛ kɛɛ mi akɛ, etamɔ nɔ ni miná hela ko ni fiteɔ ansɔ lɛ ni efɔɔɔ mɛi mɔmɔ kwraa, ni akɛ, hela lɛ baanyɛ asa migbɔmɔtso muu lɛ fɛɛ he.

No sɛɛ gbii etɛ lɛ, migbee shi be ni mishwɛɔ shwɛmɔ ko ni misumɔɔ waa lɛ, ni minine ku. Mishwɛ shwɛmɔ nɛɛ kɛjɛ migbekɛbiiashi tɔ̃ɔ, ni mihe ekpɔ yɛ mli. No hewɔ lɛ, be ni migbee shi lɛ, mina akɛ mi-ansɔ lɛ nyɛɛɛ akudɔ mifãji lɛ jogbaŋŋ dɔŋŋ. Hela lɛ mli wo wu oyayaayai diɛŋtsɛ. Mina akɛ minyɛɛɛ mawie jogbaŋŋ, manyiɛ, loo mami nii.

Eji hegbɛ kpele ni miná akɛ mikɛ niiashikpamɔ ni miyɔɔ akɛ lɔyafonyo lɛ baaye abua Yehowa asafo lɛ kɛ ewebii lɛ. Eŋɔɔ minaa waa akɛ, miná hegbɛ miŋmala saji pii yɛ woji ni datrɛfoi, lɔyafoi, kɛ kojolɔi kaneɔ lɛ amli. Agbɛnɛ hu, mihã wiemɔi yɛ nifeemɔi srɔtoi ashishi yɛ je lɛŋ hei srɔtoi ni mikɛfã hegbɛ ni Yehowa webii yɔɔ akɛ amɛbiɔ ni atsa amɛ loo afee amɛ opireshɛŋ ni akɛ lá tsuuu nii lɛ he. Shi tamɔ bɔ ni awie yɛ Luka 17:10 lɛ, ‘nyɔŋ ni he bɛ sɛɛnamɔ ko ji mi; nɔ ni ji migbɛnaa akɛ mitsuɔ lɛ, no pɛ mitsu nɛɛ.’