Wala Shihilɛ He Sane

Akɛ Gboshinii Krɛdɛɛ ko Ejɔɔ Mi

TAAKƐ CAROL ALLEN GBA

Mihiɛ miwolo hee fɛfɛo lɛ kɛdamɔ shi mikome too. Gbeyei mɔ mi, ni yaafonui bɔi shishwiemɔ kɛjɛ mihiŋmɛiiaŋ. Nɔ ni fe fɛɛ lɛ, miji gbekɛ yoo fioo ni eye afii kpawo pɛ ni elaaje yɛ maŋtiase ko ni mileee mli, ni gbɔmɛi akpei nyɔŋmai abɔ ebɔle lɛ!

YƐ NƆ ni miihe ashɛ afii 60 sɛɛ lɛ, mikai nakai migbekɛbiiashi niiashikpamɔi lɛ jogbaŋŋ ekoŋŋ beni mikɛ miwu Paul tee wɔyasara Watchtower Educational Center ni yɔɔ fɛo lɛ, yɛ Patterson, New York lɛ. Afɔ̃ lɛ nine kɛtee jɛmɛ koni eya skul kɛha Yehowa Odasefoi nɔkwɛlɔi gbɛfalɔi aklas ni ji enyɔ lɛ.

Be mli ni wɔkwɛɔ nii kɛbɔleɔ asa fioo ni hulu kpɛɔ yɛ mli lɛ, miyɔse mfoniri wulu ko ni akɛkpɛtɛ shi ni aŋma yɛ nɔ akɛ “KPEEI.” Kɛmiibɛŋkɛ tsũ lɛ teŋgbɛ lɛ, mfoniri momo ko ni asha lɛ ediŋ kɛ eyɛŋ ni tsɔɔ gbekɛbii ni kɛ miishɛɛ miifɔ̃ woji ni amɛnine eshɛ nɔ ni ji wolo ni miyɔɔ eko beni miji gbekɛ lɛ yɛ jɛmɛ! Mikɛ oyaiyeli kane niŋmaa ni yɔɔ mfoniri lɛ he lɛ: “Afi 1941—Yɛ St. Louis, Missouri, be mli ni aje leebi nifeemɔ lɛ shishi kɛ gbekɛbii 15,000—ni amɛye kɛjɛ afii 5 kɛyashi 18 mli—ní ebua amɛhe naa yɛ shwɛmɔhe wulu lɛ yɛ wiemɔ kpoku lɛ hiɛ tuuntu. . . . Nyɛminuu Rutherford ji mɔ ni jie wolo hee ni ji Children (Gbekɛbii) lɛ kpo.”

Aha gbekɛ fɛɛ gbekɛ lɛ diɛŋtsɛ enɔ̃. Kɛkɛ ni gbekɛbii lɛ ku amɛsɛɛ kɛtee hei ni amɛfɔlɔi tara lɛ—ja mi pɛ. Milaaje! Sɔɔlɔ ko ni yɔɔ naanyobɔɔ su bawo mi ni ekɛ mi damɔ tooyeli adeka kakadaŋŋ ko nɔ ni ekɛɛ mi akɛ mikwɛ akɛ mana mɔ ko ni mile lɛ lo. Mikɛ oyaiyeli kwɛ mɛi babaoo ni yiɔ shi yɛ atrakpoi lɛ anɔ lɛ mli jogbaŋŋ. Amrɔ nɔŋŋ ni mina mɔ ko ni mile! “Tsɛkwɛ̃ Bob! Tsɛkwɛ̃ Bob!” Ána mi! Bob Rainer wo mi kɛtee he ni mifɔlɔi ehao kɛmiimɛ yɛ lɛ.

Mra Be Mli Nifeemɔi ni Tsake Mishihilɛ

Nakai mfoniri lɛ kwɛmɔ ha mikai nibii babaoo—nifeemɔi ni tsake mishihilɛ ni hã wɔyɔɔ Patterson  tsũ fɛfɛo lɛ mli lɛ. Misusumɔi lɛ tsɔ kɛtee nifeemɔi ni fe afii oha ni eho nɛ, nibii ni minu titri kɛjɛ miniimɛi kɛ naamɛi kɛ mifɔlɔi anaa.

Yɛ December afi 1894 mli lɛ, be-fɛɛ shiɛlɔ ko ni ji Biblia Kaselɔi lɛ ateŋ mɔ kome, taakɛ ale Yehowa Odasefoi yɛ nakai beaŋ lɛ, ba minii ni ji mitsɛ papa Clayton J. Woodworth ŋɔɔ, yɛ eshia ni yɔɔ Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.A lɛ mli. No mli lɛ Clayton ebote gbalashihilɛ mli ehee. Eŋma wolo eyaha Buu Mɔɔ Biblia kɛ Woji Bibii Asafo lɛ sɛinɔtalɔ Charles Taze Russell, ni akala awo June 15, 1895 Watchtower lɛ mli. Etsɔɔ mli akɛ:

“Wɔji wu kɛ ŋa ni darako ni ehi Protestant jamɔ lɛ mli nɔ ni miihe ashɛ afii nyɔŋma; shi amrɔ nɛɛ, wɔkɛ hekɛnɔfɔɔ miishi eduŋ shihilɛ lɛ mli kɛmiiba gbi hee lɛ la ni jeɔ shishi etsoɔ bianɛ kɛha Ŋwɛi Flooflonyo lɛ bii ni ejɔɔ amɛhe nɔ amɛha lɛ lɛ he. . . . Jeeŋmɔ dani wɔkɛ wɔhe baakpe lɛ no mli lɛ eji wɔsuɔmɔnaa nii akɛ wɔbaasɔmɔ Nuntsɔ lɛ, akɛ maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛlɔi yɛ maŋsɛɛ shikpɔŋ nɔ, kɛji akɛ heniianaa lɛ eji esuɔmɔnaa nii.”

Sɛɛ mli yɛ afi 1903 lɛ, mimami nii kɛ naa, Sebastian kɛ Catherine Kresge, kɛ miishɛɛ bo Biblia mli shɛɛ sane ni Buu Mɔɔ Asafo lɛ najiaŋdamɔlɔi enyɔ komɛi kɛbaha yɛ ŋmɔ wulu ni amɛyɔɔ nɔ lɛ mli, yɛ Pocono Mountains fɛfɛji ni yɔɔ Pennsylvania lɛ nɔ. Amɛbiyei Cora kɛ Mary hu kɛ amɛwumɛi Washington kɛ Edmund Howell yɛ jɛmɛ. Buu Mɔɔ Asafo lɛ najiaŋdamɔlɔi ni ji Carl Hammerle kɛ Ray Ratcliffe, kɛ amɛ hi shi otsi muu fɛɛ, ní amɛmiitsɔɔ amɛ nibii babaoo. Weku lɛ mli bii ekpaa nɛɛ fɛɛ bo toi, amɛkase nii, ni etsɛɛɛ ni amɛbatsɔmɔ Biblia Kaselɔi ni yɔɔ ekãa.

Yɛ nakai afi lɛ nɔŋŋ mli, ni ji afi 1903 mli lɛ, Cora kɛ Washington Howell fɔ́ biyoo ni amɛwo lɛ Catherine. Bɔ ni fee ni ekɛ mitsɛ Clayton J. Woodworth Jr., bote gbalashihilɛ mli lɛ ji nɔ ni yɔɔ miishɛɛ, ni miheɔ miyeɔ akɛ eji sane ni shishinumɔ yɔɔ he. Enɛ tsɔɔ sɛɛyoomɔ ni suɔmɔ yɔɔ mli kɛ mɔ he susumɔ ni minii Clayton J. Woodworth Sr. yɔɔ.

Mitsɛ Nine Shɛ Yelikɛbuamɔ ni Suɔmɔ Yɔɔ Mli Nɔ

Afɔ́ mitsɛ ni ji Clayton fioo lɛ yɛ Scranton yɛ afi 1906 mli, nɔ ni miihe ashɛ kilomitai 80 jɛkɛmɔ kɛjɛ Howell ŋmɔ lɛ nɔ. Yɛ nakai shishijee afii lɛ amli lɛ, Minii Woodworth bale Howell weku ni da lɛ jogbaŋŋ, ni yɛ be kɛ beaŋ lɛ enáa amɛ gbɔfeemɔ su ni ale jogbaŋŋ lɛ mli ŋɔɔmɔ. Ebafee yelikɛbualɔ kpele kɛha Biblia Kaselɔi asafo ni yɔɔ nakai akutso lɛ mli lɛ. Yɛ be ni sa mli lɛ, atsɛ Minii koni ebakwɛ gbalashihilɛ gbɛjianɔtoo ni kɔɔ Howell bihii etɛ lɛ he lɛ nɔ, ni akɛni lɛ diɛŋtsɛ ebi lɛ hilɛ-kɛhamɔ yɛ ejwɛŋmɔ mli hewɔ lɛ, ekpɛ eyiŋ akɛ ekɛ lɛ baaya yookpeemɔi nɛɛ ateŋ eko fɛɛ eko shishi.

Nakai beaŋ lɛ Ataa jeee mɔ ni kɛ ekãa woɔ Biblia Kaselɔi lɛ asɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Eji anɔkwale akɛ ekɛ tsɔne woɔ Minii koni eyafee esɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli sɛɛ kuu kɛ saramɔi moŋ, shi yɛ Minii hewalɛwoo lɛ fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, Ataa diɛŋtsɛ kɛ ehe wooo mli kɛ ekãa. Yɛ nakai beaŋ lɛ, miishɛɛ ni mitsɛ yɔɔ yɛ lalatswaa mli lɛ baye nibii krokomɛi fɛɛ anajiaŋ, ni eeya nɔ etsu he nii koni ekɛ lalatswaa afee enitsumɔ kwraa.

Catherine, ni ji Cora kɛ Washington Howell biyoo lɛ hu ebatsɔ lalafolɔ ni he esa jogbaŋŋ, ni tswaa saŋku ni etsɔɔ hu. Shi be mli ni nitsumɔ wulu pɔtɛɛ ko naa gbeleɔ kɛhaa lɛ lɛ, ekɛ nakai nɔ lɛ sɛɛtiumɔ lɛ fɔ̃ afã ni eje shishi ekɛ ehe wo be-fɛɛ  sɔɔmɔ lɛ mli. Kɛ hoo lɛ yɛ mi niiashishinumɔ naa lɛ—Minii yɛ hefatalɔ ko ni hi fe fɛɛ yɛ ejwɛŋmɔ mli kɛha ebinuu lɛ! Abaptisi Ataa, ni ekɛ Awo bote gbalashihilɛ mli nyɔji ekpaa sɛɛ, yɛ June afi 1931 mli.

Minii mii shɛɔ ehe be fɛɛ be akɛni ebi lɛ he esa waa yɛ lalatswaa mli lɛ hewɔ. Ená miishɛɛ waa beni abi ni Ataa atsɔse kpee wulu lɛ lalɔi akuu fioo lɛ kɛha afi 1946 majimaji ateŋ kpee lɛ yɛ Cleveland, Ohio lɛ. Yɛ afii ni nyiɛ sɛɛ lɛ amli lɛ, Ataa kwɛ lalɔi akuu lɛ nɔ yɛ Yehowa Odasefoi akpeei krokomɛi babaoo ashishi.

Kaa ni Minii Kɛkpe kɛ Tsuŋwoo Mli Shihilɛ

Yɛ Patterson asa fioo lɛ nɔ lɛ, mi kɛ Paul hu yana mfoniri ni akɛtsɔɔ ni onaa yɛ biɛ yɛ baafa ni nyiɛ sɛɛ lɛ mli. Amrɔ nɔŋŋ ni miyɔse mfoniri lɛ, akɛni Minii kɛ mfoniri lɛ eko maje mi nɔ ni fe afii 50 ni eho nɛ lɛ hewɔ. Lɛ ji mɔ ni damɔ ninejurɔ gbɛ shɔŋŋ lɛ.

Yɛ maŋhedɔɔ ni woɔ mɔ he gbeyei waa ni bɔle Jeŋ Ta 1 lɛ hewɔ lɛ, awo nɛkɛ Biblia Kaselɔi kpaanyɔ nɛɛ—ní Joseph F. Rutherford (ni ta teŋ lɛ), ni ji Buu Mɔɔ Asafo lɛ sɛinɔtalɔ—lɛ fata he lɛ tsuŋ yɛ gbɛ ni ejaaa nɔ ni akpɛlɛɛɛ ni mɔ ko jieɔ amɛ. Naafolɔmɔi ni akɛshi amɛ lɛ damɔ saji ni yɔɔ Studies in the Scriptures lɛ kpo ni ji kpawo lɛ ni yitso ji The Finished Mystery lɛ nɔ. Ayɔse saji lɛ yɛ gbɛ ni ejaaa nɔ akɛ eji nɔ ni jeɔ United States nijiaŋ wui yɛ ehe ni ekɛwo Jeŋ Ta 1 lɛ mli lɛ hewɔ.

Charles Taze Russell kɛ afii babaoo ŋma Studies in the Scriptures lɛ klɛŋklɛŋ kpoi ekpaa lɛ, shi egbo dani be ni ekɛbaaŋma nɔ ni ji kpawo lɛ shɛ. No hewɔ lɛ akɛ ewoji lɛ ha Minii kɛ Biblia Kaselɔ kroko, ni amɛji mɛi ni ŋma kpo ni ji kpawo lɛ. Ajie enɛ kpo yɛ afi 1917 mli, dani ta lɛ ba naagbee. Yɛ kojomɔ lɛ shishi lɛ, abu Minii kɛ mɛi krokomɛi lɛ ateŋ mɛi babaoo fɔ kɛha tsuŋwoo ni tsara nɔ shii ejwɛ ni feɔ afii 20 kɛha amɛteŋ mɔ fɛɛ mɔ.

Niŋmaa ni yɔɔ mfoniri ni yɔɔ Patterson asa fioo lɛ nɔ lɛ tsɔɔ mli akɛ: “Beni awo Rutherford kɛ ehefatalɔi lɛ tsuŋ lɛ, nyɔji nɛɛhu sɛɛ—ní ta lɛ sɛɛ fo—yɛ March 21, 1919 lɛ, saneyelihe ni akɛ sane lɛ ebaha lɛ yeli ekoŋŋ lɛ fã ni ajie mɛi kpaanyɔ ni asama amɛ lɛ fɛɛ, ni yɛ March 26 lɛ, ajie amɛ yɛ Brooklyn yɛ shika ni ji dɔlai 10,000 ni abiɔ yɛ amɛteŋ mɔ fɛɛ mɔ dɛŋ lɛ naa. Yɛ May 5, 1920 lɛ, aŋmɛɛ J. F. Rutherford kɛ mɛi krokomɛi lɛ ahe kwraa.”

Dani akɛ amɛ baaya nɔyeli lɛ tsuŋwoohe ni yɔɔ Atlanta, Georgia lɛ yɛ be mli ni abu amɛ fɔ sɛɛ lɛ, mɛi kpaanyɔ lɛ ye amɛ tsuŋwoo lɛ klɛŋklɛŋ gbii fioo lɛ yɛ Raymond Street tsuŋwoohe ni yɔɔ Brooklyn, New York lɛ mli. Minii ŋma kɛjɛ jɛmɛ  ni etsɔɔ bɔ ni tsuŋwoohe ni dalɛ ji mitai 1.8 lɛɛmɔ kɛ ekɛlɛ 2.4 ni akɛ lɛ wo mli “yɛ muji ni yɔɔ nyaŋemɔ mli ni emli efee basabasa” lɛ mli yɔɔ ha. Ekɛɛ akɛ: “Oyɛ adafitswaa woji ni abua naa babaoo, ni kɛ oyasusu adafitswaa woji lɛ ahe kɛjɛ shishijee akɛ ehe ehiaaa lɛ, etsɛŋ ni obaayɔse akɛ hegbɛ kome pɛ ni oyɔɔ ji ni okɛ woji ni akɛyaa niiasɛɛ kɛ samala kɛ hejuu papam nɛɛ aaatsu hetsemɔ kɛ bulɛ ni oyɔɔ lɛ he nii.”

Ni kɛlɛ, Minii kpaaa mɔ naaŋmɔlɔwoo, beni etsɛ tsuŋwoohe lɛ akɛ “Hôtel de Raymondie” lɛ, ni ekɛɛ akɛ, “Mashi biɛ amrɔ nɔŋŋ kɛji shika ni mikɛwoɔ biɛ ni miyɔɔ lɛ he nyɔmɔ lɛ tã.” Etsɔɔ bɔ ni kpo lɛ teŋ ni enyiɛɔ lɛ hu yɔɔ ha lɛ mli. Be ko beni ewa kɛdamɔ shi fioo koni ashwã eyitsɔi aha lɛ lɛ, mɔ ko ni shaa nii kɛjɛɔ mɛi akotokui amli lɛ basha ewatsi ni ekɛwoɔ kotoku mli lɛ, shi taakɛ eŋma lɛ, “Kɔsɔŋkɔsɔ lɛ tse ni mishɔ̃ yɛ edɛŋ.” Beni misaraa Brooklyn Betel lɛ yɛ afi 1958 mli lɛ, Grant Suiter ni ji woloŋmalɔ kɛ shikatolɔ kɛha Buu Mɔɔ Asafo lɛ yɛ nakai beaŋ lɛ, tsɛ mi kɛtee e-ɔfis ni ekɛ nakai watsi lɛ ha mi. Mibuɔ watsi lɛ lolo akɛ ejara wa.

Hewalɛ ni Ená yɛ Ataa Nɔ

Be mli ni awo Minii tsuŋ yɛ gbɛ ni ejaaa nɔ yɛ afi 1918 mli lɛ, no mli lɛ mitsɛ eye afii 12 pɛ. Minaa ŋamɔ amɛshia lɛ ni eŋɔ lɛ kɛtee koni ekɛ enyɛ kɛ enyɛmimɛi yei etɛ lɛ ayahi shi. Weku gbɛi ni Minaa hiɛ ji Arthur, ni weku lɛ kɛ miishɛɛ babaoo kɛɔ akɛ amɛwekumɛi lɛ ateŋ mɔ kome, Chester Alan Arthur, ji United States nɔyelɔ ni ji 21 mɔ.

Be mli ni aha Minii Woodworth tsuŋwoo be kakadaŋŋ akɛ eje gbɛ eye awui eshi United States lɛ sɛɛ lɛ, Arthur weku lɛ nu he akɛ ekɛ hiɛshishwiemɔ eba gbɛi ni amɛweku lɛ hiɛ lɛ nɔ. Eji be ko ni enɛ gba mitsɛ naa waa yɛ henumɔŋ. Ekolɛ niseniianii ni tamɔ nɛkɛ bafee nɔ titri hewɔ ni shishijee lɛ eshashaoɔ shi akɛ ekɛ ehe baawo maŋ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli lɛ.

Beni ajie Minii kɛjɛ tsuŋwoo mli lɛ, ekɛ eweku lɛ shi kɛtee shia agbo ko ni akɛ plasta ni akɛsaa tsũ mli kɛ ehewɔ eha mli ni yɔɔ Quincy Street yɛ Scranton lɛ mli. Ákɛ gbekɛ lɛ, mile enɛ—kɛ Minaa sũ yɛŋ tsɛŋsii ni yɔɔ fɛo lɛ—jogbaŋŋ. Wɔtsɛɔ amɛ etsɛŋsii ni yɔɔ krɔŋŋ ejaakɛ ahaaa mɔ ko mɔ ko asha mli akɛ ja Minaa pɛ. Be mli ni Minaa gbo yɛ afi 1943 sɛɛ lɛ, Awo ŋmɛɔ gbɛ bei babaoo ni ekɛ nakai tsɛŋsii fɛfɛo lɛ feɔ nii.

Enáaa Dekã Kwraa yɛ Maŋtsɛyeli Sɔɔmɔ lɛ Mli

Yɛ gbi kroko nɔ yɛ Patterson lɛ, miyana mfoniri ko ni kɔɔ Nyɛminuu Rutherford he, ni eewie yɛ afi 1919 Cedar Point, Ohio, kpee lɛ shishi. Jɛmɛ ji he ni ewo mɛi fɛɛ hewalɛ yɛ koni amɛkɛ amɛhe awo Nyɔŋmɔ Maŋtsɛyeli lɛ he adafitswaa lɛ mli kɛ ekãa, ní amɛkɛ wolo hee tɛtrɛɛ ni ji The Golden Age ni ajie lɛ kpo yɛ nakai kpee lɛ shishi lɛ atsu nii. Ahala Minii akɛ eŋmalɔ, eŋmala saji pii kɛye bua kɛyabote afi 1940 afii lɛ amli, beni eshwɛ fioo ni ebaagbo lɛ. Atsake wolo tɛtrɛɛ lɛ gbɛi yɛ afi 1937 mli afee lɛ Consolation ni yɛ afi 1946 lɛ afee lɛ Awake!

Minii ŋmalaa enibii lɛ yɛ shia yɛ Scranton kɛ Buu Mɔɔ Asafo lɛ nitsumɔhe yitso ni miihe ashɛ kilomitai 240 jɛkɛmɔ yɛ Brooklyn, ni eyeɔ otsii enyɔ yɛ nɛkɛ hei nɛɛ eko fɛɛ eko. Ataa kɛɛ ekaiɔ akɛ minii taip-raita lɛ gbɛɛɔ bei pii yɛ leebi ŋmɛji enumɔ mli. Ni kɛlɛ, Minii kɛ hiɛdɔɔ hu tsuɔ gbɛnaa nii ni kã enɔ akɛ ekɛ ehe awo maŋ shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli lɛ he nii. Yɛ anɔkwale mli lɛ, ekpɛ nuu atade ni awoɔ ashwieɔ nɔ ko nɔ ni hiɛ mligbɛ kotokui wuji ni Biblia kasemɔ woji baanyɛ aya mli. Mimami nyɛmi nuu fioo ŋa Naomi Howell, ni eye afii 94 lɛ yɛ eko lolo. Efee yei abaagi ni akɛ woji woɔ mli hu.

Be ko beni Biblia mli sanegbaa ni yɔɔ miishɛɛ etee nɔ sɛɛ lɛ, Minii hefatalɔ sɔɔlɔ lɛ kɛɛ: “C. J., otɔ̃ tɔmɔ kome.”

 Minii bi akɛ “Mɛɛ tɔmɔ?” Ekwɛ atade ni ewo eshwie nɔ lɛ. Nɔ ko bɛ kotokui enyɔ lɛ fɛɛ mli.

“Ohiɛ kpa nɔ ni obaaha eshɛ The Golden Age.” Amɛŋmɔ yɛ niŋmalɔ ni hiɛ ekpa nɔ akɛ ekɛ ewoji tɛtrɛbii lɛ baaha lɛ he aahu.

Be Mli ni Midaa lɛ He Kaimɔi

Mikaiɔ ní mitá Minii shuɔ nɔ akɛ gbekɛ, minine bibioo lɛ yɛ edɛŋ yɛ be mli ni egbaa mi “Wao he Adesã” lɛ. Be mli ni ejeɔ shishi kɛ “Tommy Thumb” (Gɔŋti ni Ji Tommy) ni etsaa nɔ kɛyaa “Peter Pointer” (Wao Gbɛtsɔɔlɔ ni Ji Peter) nɔ lɛ, ekɛɛ mi nɔ ko krɛdɛɛ ko ni kɔɔ waobii lɛ ateŋ eko fɛɛ eko he. Kɛkɛ ni ekɛ henɔkwɛmɔ jogbaŋŋ mua waobii lɛ fɛɛ anaa efee lɛ ekome be mli ni etsɔɔ nikasemɔ ni yɔɔ mli lɛ, akɛ: “Amɛtsuɔ nii ni fe fɛɛ yɛ ekomefeemɔ mli, mɔ fɛɛ mɔ yeɔ ebuaa mɛi krokomɛi lɛ fɛɛ.”

Beni mifɔlɔi bote gbalashihilɛ mli sɛɛ lɛ, amɛshi kɛtee Cleveland, Ohio, ni amɛkɛ Ed kɛ Mary Hooper batsɔmɔ nanemɛi ni bɛŋkɛ kpaakpa. Amɛwekui lɛ ji Biblia Kaselɔi kɛjɛ be mli ni afii oha lɛ baa naagbee lɛ tɔɔ. Mifɔlɔi kɛ Tsɛkwɛ Ed kɛ Nyɛkwɛ̃ Mary, taakɛ mifɔɔ amɛ tsɛmɔ lɛ, ji nanemɛi ni kɛ amɛhe bɔɔ gbagbalii. Hooper weku lɛ biyoo koome pɛ ni ji abifao lɛ bɛ jeŋ, no hewɔ lɛ beni afɔ́ mi yɛ afi 1934 mli lɛ, mibatsɔ amɛ “biyoo” ni amɛshwɛɛɛ ehe kwraa. Akɛni atsɔse mi yɛ mumɔŋ niiatsɛmɛi ashihilɛhe nɛɛ hewɔ lɛ, mijɔɔ mihe nɔ miha Nyɔŋmɔ ni abaptisi mi dani miye afii kpaanyɔ.

Biblia kanemɔ ji mi shishijee afii lɛ fã. Bɔ ni atsɔɔ bɔ ni shihilɛ baaji ehã yɛ Nyɔŋmɔ jeŋ hee lɛ mli yɛ Yesaia 11:6-9 lɛ ji ŋmalɛ lɛ mli saji ni misumɔɔ lɛ ateŋ ekome. Beni mibɔ mɔdɛŋ klɛŋklɛŋ kwraa koni makane Biblia lɛ fɛɛ ji afi 1944 mli, be mli ni minine shɛ American Standard Version lɛ ni eji shishitsɔɔmɔ krɛdɛɛ ko ni ajie lɛ kpo yɛ Buffalo, New York, kpee lɛ shishi lɛ eko nɔ lɛ. Kwɛ bɔ ni miná miishɛɛ waa akɛ makane nɛkɛ shishitsɔɔmɔ nɛɛ ni aku sɛɛ akɛ Nyɔŋmɔ gbɛi ni ji Yehowa lɛ ewo egbɛhe ni sa lɛ mli nɔ ni miihe ashɛ shii 7,000 sɔŋŋ yɛ “Kpaŋmɔ Momo” lɛ mli lɛ!

Otsii lɛ anaagbee ji miishɛɛ bei. Mifɔlɔi kɛ Hooper weku lɛ kɛ mi fataa amɛhe kɛyaa shiɛmɔ yɛ akrowai lɛ amli. Wɔbuaa shwane niyenii anaa ni wɔyeɔ yɛ faa ko naa. Kɛkɛ lɛ wɔyaa mɔ ko ŋmɔ mli kɛha agbo naa Biblia mli wiemɔ ko ní wɔfɔ̃ akutsoŋbii lɛ fɛɛ nine lɛ toiboo. Shihilɛ lɛ yɛ mlɛo. Wɔná miishɛɛ akɛ wekui. Sɛɛ mli lɛ nɛkɛ mra be mli weku nanemɛi nɛɛ batsɔmɔ nɔkwɛlɔi gbɛfalɔi, mɛi ni fata he ji Ed Hooper, Bob Rainer, kɛ ebihii enyɔ lɛ. Richard Rainer kã he eetsu nitsumɔ nɛɛ lolo, ni eŋa Linda fata ehe.

Latsaa bei ji bei ni miishɛɛ yɔɔ mli waa diɛŋtsɛ. Mikɛ minyɛkwɛ bii enyɔ hi shi yɛ Howell ŋmɔ lɛ mli. Minyɛkwɛ bi Grace kɛ Malcolm Allen bote gbalashihilɛ mli yɛ afi 1949 lɛ mli. Misusuuu he kwraa akɛ afii komɛi asɛɛ lɛ mikɛ Malcolm nyɛmi nuu fioo lɛ baabote gbalashihilɛ mli. Mitsɛkwɛ̃ biyoo fioo Marion ji maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛlɔ yɛ Uruguay. Ekɛ Howard Hilborn bote gbalashihilɛ mli yɛ afi 1966 mli. Nɛkɛ nyɛkwɛ biyei enyɔ nɛɛ fɛɛ kɛ amɛwumɛi sɔmɔ yɛ Brooklyn nitsumɔhe yitso lɛ afii babaoo.

Minii kɛ Beni Migbeɔ Skul Naa Lɛ

Yɛ minɔtsamɔ skul be lɛ mli lɛ, Minii jɛɔ esuɔmɔ mli eŋmalaa saji. Nɔ ni fata woji ni eŋmala lɛ ahe ji weku mfonirii memeji babaoo ni niŋmaai kɛ emlitsɔɔmɔ fitsofitso ni atswa awo sɛɛ yɔɔ mli, ni gbaa yinɔsane ni kɔɔ weku lɛ he. Nakai gbɛ nɔ mitsɔ ni minine shɛ efoniri ni kɔɔ lɛ kɛ mɛi krokomɛi ni awo amɛ tsuŋ yɛ gbɛ ni ejaaa nɔ lɛ nɔ yɛ.

Beni shɛɔ afi 1951 lɛ naagbee gbɛ lɛ, kansa fite Minii gbee. Ejwɛŋmɔŋ nilee ni ekɛfeɔ nii oya lɛ kã he eyɛ jogbaŋŋ lolo, shi ebiɔ ni aŋma ewiemɔi lɛ yɛ wolo bibioo ko ni ehiɛɔ lɛ nɔ. Miskul nɔtsamɔ klas lɛ baagbe skul naa yɛ nikasemɔ be lɛ teŋgbɛ, yɛ January afi 1952 mli. Mra mli yɛ December mli lɛ, miŋma wolo kɛmaje Minii yɛ nɔ ni tsɔɔ wiemɔ ni maha yɛ gbi ni akɛ yijiemɔ woji baaha wɔ lɛ shishi. Efee niŋmaai amli okadii komɛi kɛkɛ ni yɛ naagbee baafa lɛ mli lɛ eŋma wiemɔi enyɔ ni tee mitsui mli tɛ̃ɛ akɛ: “Onii mii eshɛ ehe.” Egbe eshikpɔŋ nɔ nitsumɔ naa beni eye afii 81, yɛ December 18, afi 1951. * Mibuɔ nakai niŋmaa ni ekwa ni tsɔɔ wiemɔ ni kɔɔ gbi ni abaaha mi nikasemɔ yijiemɔ wolo lɛ he kɛ nakai wiemɔi enyɔ lɛ ni yɔɔ naagbee baafa lɛ akɛ nɔ ni jara wa waa.

Beni migbe skul naa amrɔ nɔŋŋ lɛ, mikɛ mihe wo gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli, taakɛ Yehowa Odasefoi tsɛɔ be-fɛɛ shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ. Yɛ afi 1958 mli  lɛ, mitee kpee wulu ni afee yɛ New York City lɛ, he ni mɛi ayibɔ ni fe fɛɛ ni ba lɛ ji 253,922 ni jɛ maji 123 nɔ kɛba lɛ yi Yankee Stadium kɛ Polo Grounds lɛ obɔ lɛ. Yɛ jɛmɛ gbi ko lɛ, mikɛ mɔ ko ni jɛ Afrika ba kpee lɛ eko ni etsɛ tsitsinaa-tsɛɛ nii ni haa ayɔseɔ mɔ lɛ ni kaneɔ akɛ: “Woodworth Mills” lɛ kpe. Akɛ Minii gbɛi wo lɛ, yɛ afii 30 komɛi ni etsɔ hiɛ lɛ mli lɛ!

Miyɛ Miishɛɛ yɛ Mimumɔŋ Gboshinii lɛ He

Beni miye afii 14 lɛ, mimami je gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ shishi ekoŋŋ. Egbo afii 40 sɛɛ, yɛ afi 1988 mli, beni eji gbɛgbalɔ lolo! Ataa kɛ ehe woɔ gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli be mli ni ebaanyɛ. Egbo nyɔji nɛɛhu dani Awo gbo. Mɛi ni wɔkɛkase nii lɛ batsɔmɔ nanemɛi ni wɔsumɔɔ amɛ wɔwala gbii abɔ fɛɛ. Amɛbii lɛ ateŋ mɛi komɛi tee amɛyasɔmɔ yɛ nitsumɔhe yitso ni yɔɔ Brooklyn lɛ, ni mɛi krokomɛi kɛ amɛhe wo gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli.

Afi 1959 lɛ ji afi ko ni yɔɔ srɔto kwraa kɛha mi. Nakai beaŋ ji beni akɛ mi tsɔɔ Paul Allen. Ahala lɛ akɛ nɔkwɛlɔ gbɛfalɔ yɛ afi 1946 lɛ mli beni egbe Gilead klas ni ji kpawo lɛ naa, ni ji skul ni akɛtsɔseɔ Yehowa Odasefoi maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛlɔi lɛ. Wɔteŋ mɔ ko mɔ ko leee akɛ be mli ni wɔkpeɔ lɛ Paul nitsumɔ ni nyiɛ sɛɛ akɛ nɔkwɛlɔ gbɛfalɔ lɛ baafee Cleveland, Ohio, he ni mitsuɔ gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ yɛ lɛ. Ataa sumɔɔ lɛ waa, ni nakai nɔŋŋ ji Awo. Wɔbote gbalashihilɛ mli yɛ July afi 1963 mli yɛ Howell ŋmɔ lɛ mli, wɔwekumɛi ebɔle wɔhe kɛkpe ni Ed Hooper ji mɔ ni ha wiemɔ lɛ. Eji lamɔ ni eba mli anɔkwale.

Paul heko tsɔne pɛŋ. Beni wɔshi Cleveland kɛmiiya he kroko ni wɔbaatsu nii yɛ lɛ, wɔ hewɔ nibii lɛ fɛɛ tee afi 1961 Volkswagen kar bibioo ni miyɔɔ lɛ mli. Bei pii lɛ nanemɛi taraa tsɔnei amli kɛbaa daa Ju, ni ji gbi ni wɔshiɔ kɛyaa asafo kroko mli lɛ, koni amɛbakwɛ wɔ kɛto wɔ nibii. Etamɔ shwɛmɔhe nifeemɔ ko akɛ abaana ni aaloo atadei abaagii, woji abaagii, woji adeka, taip-raita, kɛ ekrokomɛi aawo nakai kar bibioo lɛ mli.

Mikɛ Paul efee ekome kɛfã gbɛ kilomitai babaoo ni anyɛɛɛ akane, wɔnáa miishɛɛ yɛ bei kpakpai amli ni wɔŋmɛɔ wɔtsui shi yɛ amrɔmrɔ nɛɛ jaramɔ shihilɛ lɛ mli—wɔfeɔ nɔ fɛɛ nɔ yɛ hewalɛ ni Yehowa pɛ ji mɔ ni baanyɛ ekɛha lɛ mli. Afii lɛ efee nɔ ni miishɛɛ yɔɔ mli, ni eyi obɔ kɛ suɔmɔ kɛha Yehowa, suɔmɔ kɛha wɔteŋ mɔ fɛɛ mɔ, kɛ suɔmɔ kɛha nanemɛi memeji kɛ nanamɛi heei. Nyɔji enyɔ ni wɔye yɛ Patterson beni Paul naa tsɔsemɔ lɛ ji wɔshihilɛ lɛ mli nɔ ni he hiaa waa kɛbashi amrɔ nɛɛ. Yehowa shikpɔŋ nɔ gbɛjianɔtoo lɛ ni minaa akɛ ebɛŋkɛ kpaakpa lɛ saa emaa nɔ mi ehaa mi ekoŋŋ akɛ akpã hemɔkɛyeli ko mli aha mi akɛ mimumɔŋ gboshinii ni jara wa lɛ fã: Enɛ ji Nyɔŋmɔ gbɛjianɔtoo lɛ diɛŋtsɛ. Mɛɛ miishɛɛ eji nɛkɛ akɛ ooofee emli fã bibioo ko po nɛkɛ!

[Shishigbɛ niŋmaa]

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 25]

Mi kɛ Ed Hooper beni eshwɛ be fioo ni abaafee afi 1941 St. Louis kpee lɛ, he ni miná mi diɛŋtsɛ miwolo ni ji “Children” lɛ yɛ lɛ

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 26]

Minii yɛ afi 1948 mli

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 26]

Yɛ Howell ŋmɔ lɛ mli beni mifɔlɔi (ni akɛ no ko efo amɛhe kɛkpe) lɛ bote gbalashihilɛ mli

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 27]

Biblia kaselɔi kpaanyɔ ni awo amɛ tsuŋ yɛ gbɛ ni ejaaa nɔ yɛ afi 1918 lɛ (Minii damɔ ninejurɔgbɛ shɔŋŋ lɛ)

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 29]

Nibii ni wɔyɔɔ yɛ je lɛŋ lɛ fɛɛ bote wɔ Volkswagen lɛ mli

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 29]

Mi kɛ miwu, Paul