Wala Shihilɛ He Sane

Misɔmɔɔ yɛ He Fɛɛ He ni Mihe Baahia Yɛ

TAAKƐ JAMES B. BERRY GBA

Afi lɛ ji afi 1939. No mli lɛ, Shihilɛ ni Mli Wa lɛ eha shihilɛ lɛ miifee nɔ ni wa yɛ United States, ni ta miihe afɛ yɛ Europa fɛɛ. Mi kɛ Bennett, ni ji minyɛmi nuu fioo lɛ fã gbɛ kɛjɛ wɔshia ni yɔɔ Mississippi lɛ mli kɛtee Houston, yɛ Texas, koni wɔyatao nitsumɔ.

GBI ko beni hulutsoo be lɛ heɔ aba naagbee lɛ, wɔnu adafitswaa ko ni gbalaa mɔ jwɛŋmɔ ni egbɛɛmɔ lɛ mli tseee yɛ redio lɛ nɔ akɛ: Hitler asraafoi lɛ ebote Poland maŋ lɛ mli. Minyɛmi nuu lɛ bo akɛ: “Harmagedon eje shishi!” Amrɔ nɔŋŋ lɛ, wɔshĩ nitsumɔ ni wɔtsuɔ lɛ. Wɔtee wɔ klɛŋklɛŋ kpee yɛ Maŋtsɛyeli Asa ni bɛŋkɛ wɔ fe fɛɛ lɛ mli. Mɛni hewɔ Maŋtsɛyeli Asa lɛ nɔ? Hã maje shishi kɛjɛ shishijee.

Afɔ́ mi yɛ Hebron, Mississippi, yɛ afi 1915 mli. Wɔyɛ akrowa ko mli. Biblia Kaselɔi lɛ, taakɛ atsɛɔ Yehowa Odasefoi yɛ nakai beaŋ lɛ, baa akutso lɛ mli shikome yɛ afi mli ni amɛhaa maŋshiɛmɔ wiemɔ yɛ mɔ ko shia. No hewɔ lɛ, mifɔlɔi yɛ Biblia kasemɔ woji babaoo. Mi kɛ Bennett he nɔ ni woji nɛɛ tsɔɔ lɛ wɔye: Ákɛ, hɛl jeee he ko ni edɔ, ákɛ, susuma lɛ gboɔ, ni ákɛ, jalɔi lɛ baahi shi kɛya naanɔ yɛ shikpɔŋ lɛ nɔ. Ni kɛlɛ, babaoo yɛ lolo ni wɔbaakase. Beni migbe skul naa be fioo ko sɛɛ lɛ, mi kɛ minyɛmi nuu lɛ shĩ kɛtee Texas koni wɔyatao nitsumɔ.

Beni naagbee lɛ wɔnine shɛ Odasefoi lɛ anɔ yɛ Maŋtsɛyeli Asa lɛ nɔ lɛ, amɛbi kɛji wɔji gbɛgbalɔi. No mli lɛ wɔlé kwraa akɛ gbɛgbalɔ ji Yehowa Odasefoi abe-fɛɛ sɔɔlɔ. Kɛkɛ ni amɛbi wɔ kɛji akɛ wɔbaasumɔ ni wɔshiɛ. Wɔha hetoo akɛ: “Hɛɛ!” Wɔsusu akɛ, amɛkɛ mɔ ko baafata wɔhe koni mɔ lɛ atsɔɔ wɔ bɔ ni ashiɛɔ. Yɛ no najiaŋ lɛ, amɛkɛ shikpɔŋkuku lɛ he wolo ko kɛkɛ ha wɔ, ni amɛkɛɛ wɔ akɛ, “Nyɛtsua nii yɛ biɛ!”  Ojogbaŋŋ, mi kɛ Bennett lé nɔ ko kwraa yɛ shiɛmɔ he, ni wɔsumɔɔɔ ni awoɔ wɔ hiɛgbele. No hewɔ lɛ, wɔkɛ shikpɔŋkuku he wolo lɛ yawo post ɔfis adeka lɛ mli kɛmaje asafo lɛ, ni wɔku wɔsɛɛ kɛtee Mississippi!

Ní Wɔɔha Biblia Mli Anɔkwale lɛ Atsɔ Wɔnɔ̃

Beni wɔku wɔsɛɛ kɛtee shia lɛ, daa gbi lɛ wɔkaneɔ Odasefoi awoji lɛ nɔ ni miihe ashɛ afi sɔŋŋ. No mli lɛ, wɔbɛ sarawa hewalɛ yɛ wɔshia lɛ, no hewɔ lɛ kɛ eshɛ gbɛkɛ lɛ, wɔtaa lai ni ashɛre he kɛkaneɔ nii. Yɛ nakai gbii lɛ amli lɛ, shikpɔŋ wuji anɔkwɛlɔi, loo nɔkwɛlɔi gbɛfalɔi saraa Yehowa Odasefoi asafoi kɛ Odasefoi ni yɔɔ hei ni etse amɛhe banee lɛ koni amɛwo amɛ hewalɛ yɛ mumɔŋ. Nɛkɛ sɔɔlɔi nɛɛ ateŋ mɔ kome, Ted Klein, basara wɔ asafo lɛ ni eha mi kɛ Bennett fata ehe kɛtsu nii yɛ shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli, bei babaoo lɛ, ehaa wɔ fɛɛ wɔfataa ehe yɛ be kome too lɛ nɔŋŋ mli. Egbála nɔ diɛŋtsɛ ní gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ tsɔɔ lɛ mli etsɔɔ wɔ.

Ehe ní wɔfata lɛ ha wɔsusu bɔ ni wɔɔfee ni wɔfee babaoo kɛsɔmɔ Nyɔŋmɔ lɛ he diɛŋtsɛ. No hewɔ lɛ, yɛ April 18, 1940 lɛ, Nyɛminuu Klein baptisi mi, Bennett, kɛ wɔnyɛmi yoo Velva. Wɔfɔlɔi ba amɛbakwɛ wɔ beni abaptisiɔ wɔ lɛ, ni amɛná miishɛɛ waa yɛ wɔyiŋ ni wɔkpɛ lɛ hewɔ. Aaafee afii enyɔ sɛɛ lɛ, abaptisi amɛ hu. Amɛ fɛɛ amɛye anɔkwa kɛyashi amɛgbele mli—Ataa gbo yɛ afi 1956 mli, ni Awo gbo yɛ afi 1975 mli.

Beni Nyɛminuu Klein bi mi kɛji manyɛ ni mikɛ mihe awo gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli lɛ, mikɛɛ lɛ akɛ masumɔ ni mafee nakai, shi mibɛ shika, mibɛ atadei, mibɛ nɔ ko nɔ ko kwraa. Ekɛɛ akɛ: “Kaaye otsui kwraa, matsu he nii maha bo.” Ni etsu he nii hu. Klɛŋklɛŋ lɛ, ekɛ migbɛbimɔ wolo kɛha gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ maje. Kɛkɛ ni ekɛ mi tee New Orleans, aaafee kilomitai 300 jɛkɛmɔ, ni ekɛ tsũi fɛfɛji komɛi ni yɔɔ Maŋtsɛyeli Asa ko yiteŋ lɛ tsɔɔ mi. Ejwere shi kɛha gbɛgbalɔi. Etsɛɛɛ tsɔ̃ ni mifã kɛyahi jɛmɛ, ni mije minitsumɔ ákɛ gbɛgbalɔ lɛ shishi. Odasefoi ni yɔɔ New Orleans lɛ yeɔ amɛbuaa gbɛgbalɔi lɛ kɛtsɔ atadei, shika, kɛ niyenii ní amɛkɛhaa amɛ lɛ nɔ. Kɛ je tsɛre lɛ, nyɛmimɛi kɛ niyenii baa ni amɛshiɔ yɛ shinaa lɛ naa loo amɛkɛwoɔ friji lɛ mli po amɛhaa wɔ. Nyɛminuu ko ni ji niyelihe ko ni bɛŋkɛ jɛmɛ lɛ nɔtsɛ lɛ fɔ̃ wɔ nine koni wɔba daa yɛ kpamɔ be mli kɛha niyenii—tamɔ loo, bodobodo, shitɔ ni ŋɔɔ, kɛ kaakloi ni awo mli loo—ní eshwɛ yɛ gbi lɛ mli lɛ.

Kuu ni Feɔ Basabasa Anaakpeemɔ

Yɛ be ko sɛɛ lɛ, aha miyatsu gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ yɛ Jackson, Mississippi. Mi kɛ mihefatalɔ fioo lɛ kɛ kuu ko ni feɔ basabasa kpe yɛ jɛmɛ, ni etamɔ nɔ ni mɛi ni kwɛɔ koni aye mla nɔ yɛ maŋ lɛ mli lɛ miifi basabasafeemɔ kui lɛ asɛɛ! Etamɔ nakai nɔŋŋ yɛ wɔnitsumɔ ni nyiɛ sɛɛ lɛ mli—Columbus, Mississippi. Akɛni wɔshiɛɔ wɔhaa gbɔmɛi ni jɛ maŋ kɛ hewolonɔ sui srɔtoi amli hewɔ lɛ, blɔfomɛi lɛ ateŋ mɛi komɛi nyɛ̃ɔ wɔ. Mɛi pii heɔ yeɔ akɛ wɔyeɔ fɔ yɛ maŋjwaa mli. Sɛinɔtalɔ kɛha tsutsu Amɛrika Asraafoi agbɛjianɔtoo lɛ, ni ji maŋhedɔɔ gbɛjianɔtoo lɛ, hiɛ jwɛŋmɔ ni tamɔ nɛkɛ. Ekanya basabasafeemɔ kui ni mli efu lɛ shii abɔ koni amɛtutua wɔ.

Klɛŋklɛŋ kwraa beni atutua wɔ yɛ Columbus lɛ, basabasafeemɔ kuu ko nyiɛ wɔsɛɛ be mli ni wɔjaa woji tɛtrɛbii yɛ gbɛjegbɛ lɛ nɔ lɛ. Amɛtsirɛ wɔ kɛkpɛtɛ shwapo ko samfɛlɛ ni akɛ glase fee lɛ he. Asafo babaoo babua amɛhe naa koni amɛkwɛ nɔ ni yaa nɔ lɛ. Etsɛɛɛ tsɔ ni polisifoi lɛ ba ni amɛbamɔ wɔ kɛtee saneyelihe lɛ. Akɛni  basabasafeemɔ kuu lɛ nyiɛ wɔsɛɛ kɛtee saneyelihe lɛ hewɔ lɛ, amɛtswa adafi yɛ onukpai ni yɔɔ jɛmɛ lɛ fɛɛ ahiɛ akɛ kɛji wɔshi maŋ lɛ mli yɛ be ko mli lɛ, wɔbaahi wala mli. Kɛji wɔshi yɛ nakai be lɛ sɛɛ lɛ, ekolɛ abaagbe wɔ! Wɔna akɛ ehi jogbaŋŋ akɛ wɔbaashi maŋ lɛ mli be fioo. Shi otsii komɛi asɛɛ lɛ, wɔku wɔsɛɛ ni wɔbaje shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ shishi ekoŋŋ.

No sɛɛ etsɛɛɛ tsɔ ni hii kpaanyɔ akuu ko batutua wɔ ni amɛnyɛ wɔnɔ amɛwo amɛtsɔnei enyɔ lɛ amli. Amɛkɛ wɔ tee kooi lɛ amli, amɛjie wɔ atadei yɛ wɔhe, ni amɛkɛ mihɛmlifiinɔ lɛ yi wɔteŋ mɔ fɛɛ mɔ shii 30! Amɛhiɛ tui kɛ kpaai po, ni kɛ makɛɛ lɛ, wɔshe gbeyei. Misusu akɛ amɛbaafimɔ wɔ koni amɛshɛrɛ wɔ amɛwo faa lɛ mli. Amɛtserɛ wɔwoji lɛ amli ni amɛgbɛ amɛshwã, amɛkɛ wɔ gramafoŋ lɛ po tswa tsoku ko ni ejwara dukuduku.

Beni amɛyi wɔ amɛta sɛɛ lɛ, amɛkɛɛ wɔ akɛ wɔwo wɔ atadei lɛ koni wɔnyiɛ gbɛ ko ni yɔɔ kooi lɛ amli lɛ nɔ ni wɔkakwɛ wɔsɛɛ. Beni wɔnyiɛɔ lɛ, wɔsusu lɛɛlɛŋ akɛ kɛji wɔka akɛ wɔbaatsɔ wɔhe lɛ, amɛbaatswa wɔ tu amɛbaagbe wɔ—ní amɛnaŋ toigbalamɔ ko! Shi yɛ minitii fioo ko asɛɛ lɛ, wɔnu akɛ amɛfã tsɔne lɛ amɛtee.

Be kroko hu, basabasafeemɔ kuu ko ni mli efu wo wɔ foi, ni ehe bahia ni wɔkɛ wɔtadei lɛ afimɔ wɔkuɛi koni wɔwu faa lɛ bɔni afee ni wɔjo foi. Yɛ no sɛɛ etsɛɛɛ kwraa lɛ, amɔ wɔ kɛ naafolɔmɔ ni ji maŋjwaa. Wɔye otsii etɛ yɛ tsuŋwoohe lɛ dani aje sane lɛ yeli shishi. Atswa nifeemɔ lɛ he adafi jogbaŋŋ yɛ Columbus. Aŋmɛ skulbii ni yɔɔ kɔleji ni bɛŋkɛ jɛmɛ lɛ po gbɛ koni amɛshi amɛ klas mra kɛba nifeemɔ lɛ shishi. Beni gbi lɛ shɛ lɛ, saneyelihe lɛ yi obɔ—eji tsũ ni sɛii bɛ mli! Mɛi ni fata mɛi ni kɛ odaseyeli haa kɛha Nɔyeli lɛ he ji shiɛlɔi enyɔ, maŋtiase lɛ nɔkwɛlɔ lɛ, kɛ polisifoi lɛ.

Atsu Odasefonyo ko ni ji mlalelɔ ni atsɛɔ lɛ G. C. Clarke kɛ ehefatalɔ koni amɛbadamɔ mli amɛha wɔ. Amɛbi koni aŋmɛɛ maŋjwaa he saji ni akɛfolɔ wɔnaa lɛ he ejaakɛ odaseyeli nɔ ko bɛ. Eyɛ mli akɛ mlalelɔ ni kɛ Nyɛminuu Clarke tsuɔ nii lɛ jeee Yehowa Odasefoi lɛ ateŋ mɔ kome moŋ, shi ewie saji ni hewalɛ yɔɔ mli waa kɛha wɔ. Beni shɛ he ko lɛ ekɛɛ kojolɔ lɛ akɛ, “Mɛi kɛɔ akɛ Yehowa Odasefoi eye sɛkɛ. Sɛkɛ? Thomas Edison eye sɛkɛ!” Kɛkɛ ni ekɛ enine tsɔɔ kane he nibii lɛ ni ekɛɛ akɛ, “Shi kwɛmɔ kane lɛ!” Ekolɛ mɛi komɛi buɔ Edison ni fee kane ni asuɔ lɛ akɛ eye sɛkɛ, shi mɔ ko mɔ ko nyɛŋ aje nibii ni enyɛ efee lɛ ahe ŋwane.

Beni kojolɔ ni kwɛɔ kpokpaa saneyeli lɛ nɔ lɛ nu odaseyeli lɛ sɛɛ lɛ, etswa mlalelɔ lɛ adafi akɛ: “Obɛ odaseyeli bibioo ko po ni tsɔɔ maŋjwaa, amɛyɛ hegbɛ akɛ amɛtsuɔ nitsumɔ nɛɛ. Okɛ amɛ akaku sɛɛ kɛba saneyelihe nɛɛ dɔŋŋ ni okɛbafite Nɔyeli lɛ be kɛ shika kɛ mi diɛŋtsɛ hu mibe kɛyashi obaaná odaseyeli nɔ ko!” Eji kunimyeli kɛha wɔ!

Shi no sɛɛ lɛ, kojolɔ lɛ tsɛ wɔ kɛtee tsũ ni etsuɔ nii yɛ mli lɛ mli. Ele akɛ maŋ muu lɛ fɛɛ fiii eyiŋkpɛɛ lɛ sɛɛ. No hewɔ lɛ ebɔ wɔ kɔkɔ akɛ: “Nɔ ni mikɛɛ lɛ ji nɔ ni mla kpɛlɛɔ nɔ, shi miŋaawoo kɛha nyɛyi enyɔ lɛ fɛɛ ji akɛ: Nyɛshia biɛ nyɛyaa, kɛ jeee nakai lɛ amɛbaagbe nyɛ!” Wɔle akɛ esane ja, no hewɔ lɛ wɔshi maŋ lɛ mli.

Kɛjɛ jɛmɛ lɛ, miyafata Bennett kɛ Velva ni miisɔmɔ yɛ Clarksville, Tennessee, ákɛ gbɛgbalɔi krɛdɛɛi lɛ ahe. Nyɔji fioo komɛi asɛɛ lɛ, aha wɔ nitsumɔ yɛ Paris, Kentucky. Afi kɛ fã sɛɛ lɛ,  wɔmiihe wɔto asafo shishi yɛ jɛmɛ beni Mi kɛ Bennett nine shɛ ninefɔɔ krɛdɛɛ ko nɔ.

Kɛtee Maŋsɛɛ Sanekpakpa Sɔɔmɔ lɛ Mli

Beni wɔna ninefɔɔ wolo akɛ wɔba Buu Mɔɔ Biblia Gilead Skul klas ni ji enyɔ lɛ, wɔsusu akɛ, ‘Tɔtɔmɔ ko eba amɛgbɛfaŋ! Mɛni hewɔ esa akɛ amɛfɔ̃ nine kɛtsɛ Mississippi gbekɛbii hii enyɔ ni darako ni jɛ shihilɛ ni baa shi mli kɛya nakai skul lɛ?’ Wɔsusuɔ akɛ amɛmiitao mɛi ni le woloŋ, shi fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ wɔtee. Nikaselɔi ni naa shɛɔ 100 yɔɔ klas lɛ, ni nikasemɔ lɛ he nyɔji enumɔ. Skul lɛ naagbee he nifeemɔ lɛ baaba nɔ January 31, 1944, ni wɔmiishwe ni wɔyasɔmɔ yɛ maŋsɛɛ. Shi yɛ nakai beaŋ lɛ, ákɛ abaaná gbɛfaa he woji lɛ eheɔ be babaoo, no hewɔ lɛ ahaa nikaselɔi lɛ tsuɔ nii fioo yɛ United States. Mi kɛ Bennett nine shɛ wɔnitsumɔ nɔ yɛ—Barbados, West Indies, beni wɔtsu nii be fioo ákɛ gbɛgbalɔi yɛ Alabama kɛ Georgia lɛ sɛɛ.

Jeŋ Ta ni ji II lɛ miiya nɔ lolo, ni águ Yehowa Odasefoi lɛ anitsumɔ kɛ woji lɛ yɛ hei babaoo, ni Barbados fata he. Yɛ maŋ lɛ mli nitsumɔhe ni kwɛɔ mɛi anibii amli lɛ, nitsulɔi lɛ gbele ni amɛkwɛ wɔjatsui lɛ amli ni amɛna woji ni wɔkɛto yɛ mli lɛ. Wɔsusu nɛkɛ akɛ, ‘Akɛ wɔ egbe naa.’ Yɛ no najiaŋ lɛ, onukpai lɛ ateŋ mɔ kome kɛɛ wɔ kɛkɛ akɛ: “Edɔ wɔ waa akɛ wɔgbɛ́lɛ nyɛjatsui lɛ amli; agu woji nɛɛ ateŋ ekomɛi yɛ Barbados.” Ni kɛlɛ, eha wɔkɛ woji fɛɛ ni wɔto lɛ bote Barbados! Sɛɛ mli beni wɔshiɛ wɔtsɔɔ nɔyeli lɛ mli onukpai lɛ, amɛkɛɛ amɛleee nɔ hewɔ ni agu woji lɛ. Yɛ nyɔji komɛi asɛɛ lɛ, ajie naatsii lɛ.

Wɔye omanye babaoo yɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli yɛ Barbados. Wɔteŋ mɔ fɛɛ mɔ fee kɛ hoo kwraa lɛ Biblia mli nikasemɔi ni shɛɔ 15, ni nikaselɔi lɛ ateŋ mɛi pii tee amɛhiɛ yɛ mumɔŋ. Wɔyɛ he miishɛɛ akɛ wɔɔna akɛ amɛteŋ mɛi komɛi miiba kpeei. Shi kɛlɛ, akɛni agu woji lɛ be saŋŋ hewɔ lɛ, shishinumɔ hee miihia nyɛmimɛi ni yɔɔ jɛmɛ lɛ yɛ bɔ ni ebiɔ ni akwɛ kpeei anɔ aha lɛ he. Shi etsɛɛɛ ni wɔnyɛ wɔtsɔse nyɛmimɛi hii ni he esa lɛ ateŋ mɛi saŋŋ. Wɔná he miishɛɛ akɛ wɔɔye wɔbua wɔ nikaselɔi lɛ ateŋ mɛi babaoo koni amɛje Kristofoi asɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ shishi, ni wɔna asafo lɛ shweremɔ.

Weku Namɔ

Aaafee nyɔji 18 sɛɛ yɛ Barbados lɛ, ehe bahia ni afee mi opireshɛn, ni ebaabi ni maku sɛɛ kɛya United States. Be mli ni miyɔɔ jɛmɛ lɛ, mikɛ Odasefonyo ko ni atsɛɔ lɛ Dorothy ni mi kɛ lɛ ŋmalaa wɔhe woji lɛ bote gbalashihilɛ mli. Nakai beaŋ lɛ mi kɛ miŋa tsuɔ gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ yɛ Tallahassee, Florida, shi nyɔji ekpaa sɛɛ lɛ wɔshi kɛtee Louisville, Kentucky, he ni Odasefonyo ko ha mi nitsumɔ yɛ lɛ. Minyɛmi nuu Bennett tsa esɔɔmɔ lɛ nɔ yɛ Barbados afii babaoo. Sɛɛ mli lɛ ekɛ hefatalɔ maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛlɔ ko bote gbalashihilɛ mli ni esɔmɔ yɛ gbɛfaa nitsumɔ lɛ mli yɛ ŋshɔkpɔi anɔ. Yɛ naagbee lɛ, ebabi ni amɛku amɛsɛɛ kɛya United States yɛ gbɔmɔtsoŋ hewalɛ ni amɛbɛ hewɔ. Amɛtee  nɔ amɛsɔmɔ asafoi ni wieɔ Spanish lɛ yɛ gbɛfaa nitsumɔ lɛ mli kɛyashi Bennett gbo yɛ afi 1990 beni eye afii 73.

Yɛ afi 1950 mli lɛ, Dorothy fɔ́ wɔ klɛŋklɛŋ bi lɛ, biyoo ní wɔtsɛ lɛ Daryl lɛ. Beni bei shwieɔ mli lɛ, wɔfɔ́ bii enumɔ. Spinal meningitis (hela ni feɔ jwɛŋmɔ kɛ sɛɛ wu lɛ) gbe wɔbi ni ji enyɔ, Derrick, beni eye afii enyɔ kɛ fã pɛ. Shi afɔ́ Leslie yɛ afi 1956 mli, ni Everett nyiɛ sɛɛ yɛ afi 1958 mli. Mi kɛ Dorothy bɔ mɔdɛŋ koni wɔtsɔse wɔbii lɛ yɛ Biblia mli anɔkwale gbɛ lɛ nɔ. Wɔbɔɔ mɔdɛŋ koni wɔto gbɛjianɔ kɛha daa otsi weku Biblia mli nikasemɔ koni wɔha efee nɔ ni miishɛɛ yɔɔ mli kɛha gbekɛbii lɛ fɛɛ. Beni Daryl, Leslie kɛ Everett kã he amɛji gbekɛbii lolo lɛ, wɔhaa amɛ sanebimɔi daa otsi ni amɛtao mli koni amɛha hetoo yɛ otsi ni nyiɛ sɛɛ lɛ mli. Amɛfeɔ nɔkwɛmɔnɔ hu ní miitsɔɔ gbɛfaŋnɔ ni amɛnáa yɛ shia-kɛ-shia shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Mɔ kome boteɔ atadei adeka lɛ mli ni efeɔ tamɔ nɔ ni eji shiatsɛ. Mɔ kroko lɛ damɔɔ agbo lɛ naa ni eshiɔ. Amɛkɛ naaŋmɔlɔwoo nifeemɔi tsuɔ nii kɛwoɔ amɛhe gbeyei, shi enɛ ye ebua amɛ koni amɛná suɔmɔ kɛha shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ. Wɔkɛ amɛ hu feɔ ekome kɛshiɛɔ daa.

Beni afɔ́ wɔbinuu fioo kwraa, Elton yɛ afi 1973 mli lɛ, Dorothy miibote afii 50 mli ni mi hu miibɛŋkɛ afii 60. Amɛtsɛɔ wɔ Abraham kɛ Sara yɛ asafo lɛ mli! (1 Mose 17:15-17) Bei pii lɛ bihii onukpai lɛ kɛ Elton fataa amɛhe yɛ shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Wɔnu he akɛ eji odaseyeli ni hewalɛ yɔɔ mli kɛha mɛi akɛ amɛaana wekui—nyɛmimɛi hii kɛ nyɛmimɛi yei, fɔlɔi kɛ gbekɛbii—ni efee ekome, ni amɛmiigba mɛi krokomɛi Biblia mli anɔkwalei lɛ. Elton nyɛmimɛi hii onukpai lɛ woɔ lɛ amɛhiɛɔ lɛ fio fio yɛ amɛkɔji anɔ ni amɛkɛ Biblia mli dɛhiɛmɔ wolo woɔ edɛŋ. Mɛi boɔ amɛtoi daa kɛji amɛgbele amɛshinaai ní amɛna gbekɛ nuu bibioo ni he yɔɔ fɛo lɛ ta enyɛmi nuu onukpa lɛ kɔji anɔ lɛ. Gbekɛbii hii lɛ tsɔɔ Elton koni ekɛ dɛhiɛmɔ wolo lɛ aha mɔ lɛ kɛji agbe sanegbaa lɛ naa koni ewie wiemɔi fioo ko. Nɛkɛ gbɛ nɔ etsɔ eje shiɛmɔ shishi.

Yɛ afii ni eho lɛ amli lɛ, wɔnyɛ wɔye wɔbua mɛi krokomɛi ni amɛbale Yehowa. Yɛ afi 1970 afii lɛ naagbee gbɛ lɛ, wɔshi kɛtee Louisville kɛtee Shelbyville, Kentucky, koni wɔyasɔmɔ yɛ asafo ko ni hiamɔ yɔɔ mli lɛ mli. Beni wɔyɔɔ jɛmɛ lɛ, jeee akɛ wɔná shweremɔ yɛ asafo lɛ mli kɛkɛ shi moŋ wɔye wɔbua hu ni aná shikpɔŋ ni ama Maŋtsɛyeli Asa. Sɛɛ mli lɛ abi koni wɔyasɔmɔ yɛ asafo kroko ni kɛ jɛmɛ jɛkɛɛɛ lɛ mli.

Nibii ni Aleee ní Baa yɛ Weku Shihilɛ Mli

Miná ni kulɛ wɔbii lɛ fɛɛ hi shi yɛ Yehowa gbɛ lɛ nɔ, shi eyabaaa lɛ nakai. Be mli ni amɛdara ní amɛshi shia sɛɛ lɛ, wɔbii ejwɛ ni yɔɔ wala mli lɛ ateŋ mɛi etɛ je anɔkwale gbɛ lɛ nɔ. Shi kɛlɛ, wɔ binuu Everett nyiɛ mi nɔkwɛmɔnɔ lɛ sɛɛ ni ekɛ ehe wo be-fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Sɛɛ mli lɛ eyasɔmɔ yɛ Yehowa Odasefoi ajeŋ muu fɛɛ nitsumɔhe yitso lɛ yɛ New York ni yɛ afi 1984 mli lɛ afɔ̃ lɛ nine koni eba Gilead klas ni ji 77 lɛ. Beni egbe skul lɛ naa sɛɛ lɛ, etee he ni ebaatsu nii yɛ lɛ yɛ Sierra Leone, yɛ Afrika Anaigbɛ. Ekɛ Marianne ni ji gbɛgbalɔ ni jɛ Belgium lɛ bote gbalashihilɛ mli yɛ afi 1988 mli. Amɛ́fee ekome kɛsɔmɔ akɛ maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛlɔi kɛjɛ nakai beaŋ.

Taakɛ fɔlɔ fɛɛ fɔlɔ baanyɛ asusu lɛ, eji nijiaŋwujee kɛha wɔ akɛ wɔɔna ni wɔbii lɛ ateŋ mɛi etɛ eŋmɛɛ shihilɛ gbɛ ni haa mɔ tsui nyɔɔ emli amrɔ nɛɛ ni yɔɔ hiɛnɔkamɔ kpakpa ni ji naanɔ wala yɛ paradeiso shikpɔŋ nɔ yɛ wɔsɛɛ be mli lɛ he. Bei komɛi lɛ miishwaa mihe. Shi miná miishɛjemɔ yɛ le ni miná mile akɛ Yehowa diɛŋtsɛ mumɔŋbii, loo ŋwɛibɔfoi lɛ ateŋ mɛi komɛi po fɔ̃ɔ lɛ sɔɔmɔ—eyɛ mli akɛ Yehowa jɛɔ suɔmɔ kɛ mlihilɛ mli ekɛ tsɔsemɔ haa ni etɔ̃ɔɔ kɔkɔɔkɔ lɛ. (5 Mose 32:4; Yohane 8:44; Kpojiemɔ 12:4, 9) Enɛ ekanya mi ni eha mína akɛ bɔ fɛɛ bɔ ni fɔlɔi baamia amɛhiɛ koni amɛtsɔse amɛbii yɛ Yehowa gbɛ nɔ amɛha lɛ, kɛlɛ ekolɛ amɛteŋ mɛi komɛi baakpoo akɛ amɛaamɔ anɔkwale lɛ mli.

Tamɔ tso ko ni kɔɔyɔɔ ni naa wa miitswa lɛ lɛ, ebiɔ ni wɔfee tsakemɔi yɛ shihilɛi ni mli wawai kɛ naagbai ni baa wɔ gbɛ nɔ lɛ amli. Yɛ afii ni eho lɛ amli lɛ, mina akɛ Biblia lɛ ní mikaseɔ daa kɛ kpeeiyaa ha mi nakai hewalɛ lɛ ni mikɛfee tsakemɔi lɛ koni maná yibaamɔ yɛ mumɔŋ. Be mli ni migbɔɔ ní minaa tɔmɔi ni mitɔ yɛ bei ni eho lɛ amli lɛ, mibɔɔ mɔdɛŋ koni maná emli nɔ ni hi  fe no lɛ ahe miishɛɛ. Yɛ fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, kɛji akɛ wɔhi shi yɛ anɔkwayeli mli kɛkɛ lɛ, niiashikpamɔi ni tamɔ enɛɛmɛi kɛ nɔyaa bafataa wɔ mumɔŋ hiɛyaa lɛ he. Kɛji akɛ wɔkase nii kɛjɛ amɛmli lɛ, shihilɛ mli nibii ni esaaa ni baa lɛ baanyɛ ekɛ nɔ kpakpa ko aba.—Yakobo 1:2, 3.

Amrɔ nɛɛ mi kɛ Dorothy fɛɛ bɛ gbɔmɔtsoŋ hewalɛ dɔŋŋ ni wɔkɛaafee nɔ ni wɔbaasumɔ ni wɔfee yɛ Yehowa sɔɔmɔ lɛ mli. Shi wɔdaa shi yɛ sɛɛfimɔ ni wɔnyɛmimɛi Kristofoi hii kɛ yei ni yɔɔ suɔmɔ lɛ kɛhaa wɔ lɛ he. Etamɔ nɔ ni yɛ kpee fɛɛ kpee shishi lɛ, nyɛmimɛi lɛ kɛɔ wɔ bɔ ni amɛhiɛ sɔɔ jɛmɛ ni wɔyɔɔ lɛ he. Ni amɛbɔɔ mɔdɛŋ koni amɛye amɛbua wɔ yɛ gbɛ fɛɛ gbɛ nɔ—yɛ shia lɛ kwramɔ kɛ kar lɛ saamɔ mli tete po.

Kɛ yɛ mli aahu lɛ, wɔkɛ wɔhe woɔ gbɛgbalɔi awalɔ sɔɔmɔ lɛ mli, ni wɔkɛ mɛi ni yɔɔ wiemɔ lɛ he miishɛɛ lɛ kaseɔ nii. Nɔ kɛdrɛɛ ko ni wɔnáa he miishɛɛ daa ji adafitswaa ni wɔnine shɛɔ nɔ kɛjɛɔ wɔbinuu ni sɔmɔɔ yɛ Afrika lɛ dɛŋ. Wɔfeɔ wɔweku Biblia mli nikasemɔ lɛ lolo, eyɛ mli akɛ amrɔ nɛɛ wɔyi enyɔ lɛ pɛ wɔfeɔ moŋ. Wɔyɛ he miishɛɛ waa akɛ wɔkɛ afii babaoo wo Yehowa sɔɔmɔ lɛ mli. Emaa nɔ mi ehaa wɔ akɛ ‘ehiɛ kpaŋ wɔnitsumɔ kɛ suɔmɔ deŋme ni wɔgbo yɛ egbɛi lɛ ahewɔ lɛ nɔ.’—Hebribii 6:10.

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 25]

Mi, Velva, kɛ Bennett ní Ted Klein miibaptisi wɔ yɛ April 18, 1940

[Mfonirii ni yɔɔ baafa 26]

Mi kɛ miŋa, Dorothy, yɛ 1940 afii lɛ shishijee gbɛ kɛ yɛ 1997 mli

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 27]

Aatswa maŋshiɛmɔ ni ji, “Toiŋjɔlɛ Lumɔ Lɛ,” he adafi yɛ Barbados maŋ lɛ mli bɔɔs ko mli

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 27]

Minyɛmi nuu Bennett yɛ maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛlɔi ashia lɛ hiɛ