Wala Shihilɛ He Sane

Wɔka Yehowa Wɔkwɛ

TAAKƐ PAUL SCRIBNER GBA

“Ojekoo, Awula Stackhouse. Miiŋmala mɛi agbɛii leebi nɛɛ koni mibaha amɛ keekii kɛha Easter, ni miheɔ miyeɔ akɛ ebaaŋɔɔ onaa akɛ oooná eko oha oweku lɛ.” No mli lɛ eji afi 1938 agbiɛnaa be lɛ mra be mli, ni miyɛ Atco yɛ New Jersey, U.S.A., beni mikɛ mɛi ni mikɛ nibii ni General Baking Company lɛ hɔɔ lɛ yahaa amɛ ni amɛyeɔ mi jara fe fɛɛ lɛ ateŋ mɔ kome wieɔ lɛ. Nɔ ni ha minaa kpɛ mihe ji akɛ, Awula Stackhouse kpoo nɔ ni mijieɔ yi mihaa lɛ lɛ.

EKƐƐ akɛ: “Efeee mi akɛ eko he baahia mi. Wɔyeee Easter.”

Shi mileee bɔ ni masusu sane lɛ he maha. Amɛyeee Easter? Ojogbaŋŋ, nihɔɔmɔ mli klɛŋklɛŋ mla ji akɛ, nihelɔ lɛ ji mɔ ni sane ja be fɛɛ be. No hewɔ lɛ te mifeɔ tɛŋŋ bianɛ? Mifee ekãa ni mikɛɛ akɛ: “Ojogbaŋŋ, keeki lɛ ŋɔɔ waa, ni mile akɛ osumɔɔ nibii ni wɔfeɔ wɔhɔɔ lɛ. Ani osusuuu akɛ oweku lɛ baanyã eyeli he waa, kɛ́ ɛɛm, nyɛyeee Easter po?”

Ewie ekoŋŋ akɛ: “Misusuuu he nakai, shi miisumɔ ni mikɛo awie nɔ ko he, Owula Scribner, ni enɛ baanyɛ afee be ni hi jogbaŋŋ kɛha enɛ.” Nakai sanegbaa lɛ ji nɔ ko ni baatsake mishihilɛ kwraa! Awula Stackhouse, ni ji Berlin ni yɔɔ New Jersey lɛ Yehowa Odasefoi Asafo lɛ mlinyo lɛ tsɔɔ he ni Easter gbijurɔyeli lɛ je shishi kɛjɛ, ni eha mi woji bibii etɛ. Woji lɛ agbɛii ji Safety, Uncovered, kɛ Protection. Mikɛ woji bibii lɛ tee shia, miitao male nibii amli shi miishe gbeyei fioo hu. Mile nɔ ko ni tamɔ nɔ ni Awula Stackhouse ewie lɛ, nɔ ko ni mile kɛjɛ migbekɛbiiashi.

Biblia Kaselɔi ni Mikɛ Amɛ Kpe Mra

Afɔ́ mi yɛ January 31, 1907, ni yɛ afi 1915 beni miye afii kpaanyɔ lɛ, kansa gbe mitsɛ. No hewɔ lɛ, Awo kɛ mi yahi efɔlɔi aŋɔɔ yɛ shia wulu ko mli yɛ Malden, Massachusetts. Benjamin Ransom ni ji minyɛ nyɛmi nuu kɛ eŋa hu yɛ jɛmɛ, yɛ ŋsɔɔdo  ni ji etɛ lɛ nɔ. Tsɛkwɛ̃ Ben kɛ Majimaji Ateŋ Biblia Kaselɔi taakɛ ale Yehowa Odasefoi yɛ nakai beaŋ lɛ bɔɔ dani afii ohai nyɔŋmai enyɔ ni eho lɛ je shishi. Misumɔɔ Tsɛkwɛ̃ Ben sane waa, shi Awo weku lɛ mli bii krokomɛi ni amɛji Methodistbii lɛ susuɔ akɛ enifeemɔ yɛ srɔto kwraa tsɔ̃. Afii komɛi asɛɛ dani eŋa lɛ kɛ lɛ aaatse gbala mli lɛ, eŋa lɛ ye omanye akɛ ekɛ lɛ aaaya jwɛŋmɔŋ helatsamɔhe be fioo ko yɛ ewu lɛ jamɔŋ hemɔkɛyelii ahewɔ! Akɛni datrɛfoi ni yɔɔ helatsamɔhe lɛ yɔse amrɔ nɔŋŋ akɛ nɔ ko nɔ ko gbaaa Tsɛkwɛ̃ Ben jwɛŋmɔ naa hewɔ lɛ, amɛkpa lɛ fai, ni amɛjie lɛ kɛjɛ jɛmɛ.

Tsɛkwɛ̃ Ben kɛ mi yaa Majimaji Ateŋ Biblia Kaselɔi akpeei yɛ Boston, titri lɛ kɛ́ gbɔi ba koni amɛbaha wiemɔ loo nifeemɔi krɛdɛɛi komɛi baaya nɔ. Yɛ be ko mli lɛ, gbɔ ni ba koni ebaha wiemɔ lɛ jeee mɔ ko mɔ ko fe Charles Taze Russell ni kwɛɔ shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ nɔ yɛ nakai beaŋ lɛ. Be kroko lɛ, nifeemɔ krɛdɛɛ ni tee nɔ ji “Photo-Drama of Creation” ni ajie atsɔɔ lɛ. Eyɛ mli akɛ nakai be lɛ ji afi 1915 tɔ̃ɔ moŋ, shi mikaiɔ mfoniri ni ajie atsɔɔ lɛ jogbaŋŋ kɛbashi amrɔ nɛɛ, nɔ ni tsɔɔ Abraham ni kɛ Isak miiya gɔŋ lɛ nɔ koni ekɛ lɛ ayashã afɔle lɛ. (1 Mose, yitso 22) Manyɛ mafee Abraham kɛ Isak ni nyiɛ kɛ tɔlɛ kɛkwɔɔ gɔŋ lɛ kɛ lai ni atere beni Abraham kɛ ehe fɔ̃ɔ Yehowa nɔ kwraa lɛ he mfoniri yɛ mijwɛŋmɔŋ lolo. Akɛni miji gbekɛ ni etsɛ egbo hewɔ lɛ, minya he waa diɛŋtsɛ.

Tsɛkwɛ̃ Ben kɛ eŋa shi yɛ sɛɛ mli kɛtee Maine, ni Awo bote gbalashihilɛ mli ekoŋŋ ni ekɛ wɔ fã kɛtee New Jersey. No hewɔ lɛ, mikɛ Tsɛkwɛ̃ Ben ekpeee dɔŋŋ yɛ be kakadaŋŋ mli. Beni miyɔɔ New Jersey ni miyeko afii nyɔŋmai enyɔ lɛ, mikɛ Marion Neff ni ji gbekɛbii kpaanyɔ ni yɔɔ Presbyteria weku ko mli lɛ ateŋ mɔ kome lɛ kpe, ni mináa esaramɔ he miishɛɛ. Mikɛ nakai weku lɛ kɛ amɛsɔlemɔ lɛŋ oblahii kɛ oblayei akuu lɛ bɔɔ daa Hɔgbaa gbɛkɛ aahu akɛ yɛ naagbee lɛ, mi diɛŋtsɛ mibatsɔ Presbyterianyo. Mikaiɔ nibii komɛi ni mikase yɛ Biblia Kaselɔi akpeei ashishi lɛ lolo. Mikɛ Marion bote gbalashihilɛ mli yɛ afi 1928, ni wɔfɔ wɔbiyei Doris kɛ Louise yɛ afi 1935 kɛ afi 1938. Akɛni gbekɛ bibioo kɛ bi ŋmɔŋ eba weku lɛ mli hewɔ lɛ, wɔ fɛɛ wɔnu he akɛ ehe miihia ni wɔná mumɔŋ gbɛtsɔɔmɔ kɛha wɔbii lɛ atsɔsemɔ.

Mitao Anɔkwale lɛ yɛ Nakai Woji Bibii lɛ Amli

Mi kɛ Marion miitao sɔlemɔ ko ni wɔkɛ wɔhe baawo mli, ni wɔtsɔ̃ ŋaa ko. Akɛni daa Hɔgbaa lɛ, mɔ ni eshɛɔ enɔ lɛ yaa hewɔ lɛ, wɔteŋ mɔ kome kɛ gbekɛbii lɛ hiɔ shia yɛ be mli ni mɔ kroko lɛ yaa sɔlemɔ ni ekolɛ wɔɔkpɛlɛ nɔ lɛ. Hɔgbaa ko lɛ, ebashɛ Marion nɔ koni ehi shia, shi mikɛ mihe ha akɛ mi moŋ makwɛ gbekɛbii lɛ yɛ shia bɔni afee ni makane wolo bibioo ni ji Safety ni ji woji bibii etɛ ni Awula Stackhouse kɛha mi lɛ ateŋ klɛŋklɛŋ nɔ̃ lɛ. Beni mije ekanemɔ shishi lɛ, minyɛɛɛ makpa! Mibaná nɔmimaa shii abɔ akɛ mina nɔ ko ni sɔlemɔi krokomɛi lɛ leee he nɔ ko. Enɔ otsi lɛ, nakai pɛpɛɛpɛ ji bɔ ni eba lɛ, ni miisumɔ ni makwɛ gbekɛbii lɛ beni mikaneɔ wolo bibioo ni ji enyɔ ni ji Uncovered lɛ. Etamɔ nɔ ni mína nɔ ni mikaneɔ lɛ yɛ he ko pɛŋ. Ani enɛ ji nɔ ni Tsɛkwɛ̃ Ben heɔ eyeɔ lɛ? Wɔweku lɛ susu akɛ ejamɔ lɛ ji sɛkɛyeli. Te Marion baasusu tɛŋŋ? Ehe ehiaaa ni mahao mihe. Beni mijɛ nitsumɔ miba shia ni mikɛ gbii fioo komɛi ekane Uncovered lɛ, Marion ha minaa kpɛ mihe yɛ kɛɛmɔ ni ekɛɛ mi akɛ, “Mikane nakai  woji bibii lɛ ni okɛba shia lɛ. Amɛmli ŋɔɔ waa.” No ha mihe jɔ mi!

Nɔ ni aŋma yɛ woji bibii lɛ asɛɛ ji sane ni kɔɔ wolo ni ji Enemies lɛ he, ní ji wolo ni ajie lɛ kpo etsɛko ni akɛkpaa apasa jamɔ he mama waa lɛ. Wɔkpɛ wɔyiŋ akɛ wɔbaaha wɔnine ashɛ nɔ. Shi kɛlɛ, dani wɔkɛ wolo aaamaje kɛbi eko lɛ, Odasefonyo ko batswa wɔ shinaa lɛ ni ekɛ nakai wolo lɛ nɔŋŋ ha wɔ. Nakai wolo lɛ tsu he nii! Wɔkpa sɔlemɔi lɛ yaa ni wɔbɔi kpeeiyaa yɛ Yehowa Odasefoi Asafo lɛ mli yɛ Camden, New Jersey. Nyɔji fioo pɛ sɛɛ lɛ, wɔteŋ mɛi aaafee 50 ni ji kuu lɛ kpe yɛ Hɔgbaa, July 31, 1938 yɛ Nyɛmiyoo Stackhouse shia lɛ kpo lɛ nɔ—ni ji shia ni kulɛ mibɔɔ mɔdɛŋ ni mahɔɔ Easter keekii yɛ mli lɛ—ni mibo baptisimɔ wiemɔ ni amɔmɔ awo kpãa nɔ ní Judge Rutherford ha lɛ toi. Kɛkɛ ni wɔtsake wɔhe yɛ shia lɛ mli, ni abaptisi wɔteŋ mɛi 19 yɛ buko ko ni bɛŋkɛ jɛmɛ lɛ mli.

Mitswa Mifai Shi akɛ Matsɔ Gbɛgbalɔ

Beni abaptisi mi lɛ, etsɛɛɛ ni nyɛmimɛi yei ni wɔkɛ amɛ yɔɔ asafo lɛ mli lɛ ateŋ mɔ kome gba mi mɛi ni atsɛɔ amɛ gbɛgbalɔi, ní amɛji mɛi ni kɛ amɛhe woɔ shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli yɛ bei babaoo mli lɛ ahe sane. Mibasumɔ ni male nibii amli amrɔ nɔŋŋ, ni etsɛɛɛ ni mibale gbɛgbalɔi aweku  ko. Gbɛgbalɔi ji nuumo ko ni ji Nyɛminuu Konig, eŋa, kɛ ebiyoo ni eda lɛ fɛɛ yɛ asafo ko ni bɛŋkɛ lɛ mli. Akɛni miji tsɛ kɛha weku ni baa kpaako hewɔ lɛ, bɔ ni Konig weku lɛ yɔɔ miishɛɛ waa yɛ shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli lɛ sa mihiɛ waa. Bei pii lɛ, miwáa amɛshia lɛ hiɛ, ni mikɛ tsɔne ni mikɛyajaraa keekii lɛ maa shi, ni mikɛ amɛ náa gbɛfaŋnɔ yɛ shia kɛ shia shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Etsɛɛɛ ni mibasumɔ ni mi diɛŋtsɛ matsɔ gbɛgbalɔ. Shi te mafee tɛŋŋ? Mi kɛ Marion hiɛ gbekɛbii bibii enyɔ, ni nii ni mitsuɔ lɛ heɔ mibe waa. Yɛ anɔkwale mli lɛ, be mli ni Jeŋ Ta II lɛ jeɔ shishi yɛ Europa ní oblahii ni fá kɛ amɛhe yawoɔ asraafoi anitsumɔ mli be fɛɛ be yɛ United States lɛ, nitsumɔ ni maŋbii foji ni eshwɛ lɛ náa amɛtsuɔ lɛ yaa nɔ efáa babaoo. Awo mi hewalɛ koni matao mɛi babaoo ni mahɔɔ nii maha, ni mile akɛ minyɛŋ mikɛ gbɛjianɔtoo ni tamɔ nakai atsu nii koni mikɛ mihe awo gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli.

Beni mikɛɛ Nyɛminuu Konig bɔ ni misumɔɔ ni mikɛ mihe awo gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli lɛ, ekɛɛ akɛ: “Bo lɛ yaa nɔ otsu nii waa yɛ Yehowa sɔɔmɔ mli, ni okɛ nɔ ni osumɔɔ ni ofee lɛ afɔ̃ ehiɛ yɛ sɔlemɔ mli. Ebaaye ebua bo koni oshɛ he.” Mitee nɔ mikɛ nɔ ni fe afi kome fee nakai pɛpɛɛpɛ. Bei pii lɛ misusuɔ ŋmalɛ tamɔ Mateo 6:8 he, nɔ ni haa wɔnáa nɔmimaa akɛ Yehowa le wɔhiamɔ nii dani wɔbiɔ lɛ po lɛ. Ni mibɔ mɔdɛŋ be fɛɛ be akɛ mikɛ ŋaawoo ni yɔɔ Mateo 6:33 lɛ atsu nii koni maya nɔ matao Nyɔŋmɔ Maŋtsɛyeli lɛ kɛ ejalɛ lɛ sɛɛ tsutsu. Nyɛminuu Melvin Winchester ni eji zone servant (amrɔ nɛɛ kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔ) lɛ hu wo mi hewalɛ.

Mikɛ Marion gba otii ni mikɛmamɔ mihiɛ lɛ he sane. Wɔgba wiemɔi ni yɔɔ Maleaki 3:10 lɛ he sane, nɔ ni woɔ wɔ hewalɛ ni wɔka Yehowa wɔkwɛ ní wɔna kɛji efɔseŋ jɔɔmɔ eshwieŋ wɔnɔ lo lɛ. Bɔ ni ehere sane lɛ nɔ eha lɛ wo mi hewalɛ, akɛ: “Kɛ oosumɔ ni otsu gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ, kaashashao shi yɛ mihewɔ. Manyɛ makwɛ gbekɛbii yei lɛ anɔ beni otsuɔ gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ. Heloonaa nii babaoo he ehiaaa wɔ tsɔ̃.” Beni wɔye afii 12 yɛ gbalashihilɛ mli lɛ, mibaná mibale akɛ Marion ji yoogbayoo ni fiteee shika babaoo ni susuɔ nii ahe jogbaŋŋ. Yɛ afii ni eho lɛ amli lɛ, efee hefatalɔ gbɛgbalɔ ni tsuɔ nii waa, ni nibii diɛŋtsɛ ni ha wɔye omanye aaafee afii 60 ni eho nɛ yɛ be-fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli lɛ ji nibii fioo ni enyɛɔ ehaa esaa ehiɛ lɛ ni ehaa efeɔ tamɔ nɔ ni wɔyɛ babaoo.

Beni shɛɔ afi 1941 hulutsoo be mli ní mikɛ sɔlemɔ eto gbɛjianɔ nyɔji babaoo sɛɛ lɛ, no mli lɛ mi kɛ Marion kɛ shika eto, ni wɔhé gbɛfaa shwiili ni kɛlɛ ji mitai 5.5 ní wɔweku lɛ baanyɛ ahi mli. Mifɔ̃ɔ nitsumɔ ni mitsuɔ lɛ, ni mibatsɔ daa gbɛgbalɔ yɛ July 1941, ni mihi be-fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli kɛjɛ no beaŋ kɛbaa. Nitsumɔ ni akɛha mi klɛŋklɛŋ ji hei nyɔŋma ni miyaa yɛ Route 50 (Kpokpaa ni ji 50) kɛjɛ New Jersey kɛyaa St. Louis yɛ Missouri, he ni abaafee wɔkpee lɛ yɛ, yɛ August mra be mli lɛ. Akɛ nyɛmimɛi ni yɔɔ gbɛ lɛ nɔ lɛ agbɛii kɛ adrɛs srɔtoi maje mi, ni mitsɔ hiɛ miŋma amɛ, ni mitsɔɔ amɛ be ni esa akɛ amɛkpa mi gbɛ. Beni wɔtee kpee lɛ, ehe bahia ni matao he ni gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ ɔfis lɛ yɔɔ lɛ koni aha mi nitsumɔ kroko.

“Miiya Koni Miyaka Yehowa Makwɛ”

Wɔkɛ woji wo wɔgbɛfãa shwiili bibioo lɛ mli obɔ, ni wɔtee wɔ naagbee kpee yɛ Camden koni wɔkɛ nyɛmimɛi lɛ ayaye shɛɛ. Akɛni wɔhiɛ gbekɛbii yei bibii enyɔ ní darako kwraa ni wɔbaakwɛ amɛ, ni wɔleee he ni wɔyaa kɛ́ agbe kpee lɛ naa hewɔ lɛ, eeenyɛ efee akɛ gbɛjianɔ ni wɔtoɔ lɛ bɛ faŋŋ kɛha nyɛmimɛi lɛ ateŋ mɛi komɛi, ni amɛteŋ mɛi babaoo kɛɛ akɛ: “Etsɛŋ ni nyɛbaaba.” Mikaiɔ bɔ ni mikɛɛ akɛ: “Ojogbaŋŋ, mikɛɛɛ akɛ mibaŋ. Yehowa kɛɛ ebaakwɛ mi, ni miiya koni miyaka Yehowa makwɛ.”

Beni wɔkɛ afii nyɔŋmai ekpaa etsu gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ yɛ maji 20 mli kɛjɛ Massachusetts kɛyashi Mississippi lɛ, wɔbaanyɛ wɔkɛɛ akɛ Yehowa eye eshiwoi anɔ fe bɔ ni wɔkpaa gbɛ. Jɔɔmɔi ni efɔse eshwie mi, Marion, kɛ wɔbiyei enyɔ lɛ anɔ lɛ fa kwraa fe nɔ fɛɛ nɔ ni manyɛ makpa gbɛ yɛ afi 1941 tɔ̃ɔ. Nɔ ni fata he ji wɔbiyei lɛ ni sɔmɔɔ akɛ gbɛgbalɔi anɔkwafoi yɛ asafoi ni bɛŋkɛ lɛ amli, ni (naagbee nɔ ni wɔkane lɛ) wɔyɛ aaafee mumɔŋ bihii kɛ biyei oha ni egbɛ eshwã United States East Coast lɛ fɛɛ nɔ. Mikɛ mɛi 52 ekase nii, ni amɛ́jɔɔ amɛwala nɔ amɛha Yehowa Nyɔŋmɔ ni Marion kɛ mɛi 48 ekase nii.

Yɛ August 1941 lɛ, wɔtee St. Louis, ni mikɛ Nyɛminuu T. J. Sullivan ni jɛ Betel kpe yɛ jɛmɛ. Lɛ ji  mɔ ni hiɛ wolo ni akɛhalaa mi akɛ jamɔŋ sɔɔlɔ lɛ, ni ehe miihia mi yɛ ta ni miihe afɛ kɛ mɛi ni agbalaa amɛ awoɔ asraafoi anitsumɔ mli lɛ hewɔ. Mikɛɛ Nyɛminuu Sullivan akɛ miŋa kɛ be ni shɛɔ minɔ̃ lɛ miitsu nii yɛ shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli ni ákɛ ebaasumɔ ni ekɛ mi atsu gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ. Eyɛ mli akɛ no mli lɛ afeko gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ ɔfis lɛ yɛ kpee lɛ shishi lolo moŋ, shi Nyɛminuu Sullivan kɛ Marion gbɛi wo wolo nɔ amrɔ nɔŋŋ akɛ gbɛgbalɔ, ni ebi wɔ akɛ: “Nɛgbɛ ji he ni nyɛbaaya ni nyɛyatsu gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ yɛ kɛ́ agbe kpee lɛ naa lɛ?” Wɔleee. Ekɛɛ akɛ: “Ojogbaŋŋ, nyɛkahaoa. Nyɛkɛ mɔ ko baakpe yɛ kpee lɛ shishi ni jɛ he ko ni gbɛgbalɔi ahe hiaa yɛ jɛmɛ, ni abaatsu nibii ahe nii jogbaŋŋ. Nyɛ lɛ nyɛŋmaa wɔ wolo, ni nyɛkɛa wɔ he ni nyɛyɔɔ, ni wɔbaaha nyɛ nitsumɔ.” Nakai eba lɛ. Nɔ ni ba ji akɛ Nyɛminuu Jack DeWitt, ni ji tsutsu zone servant lɛ le mɛi komɛi yɛ New Market yɛ Virginia, ni yɔɔ gbɛgbalɔi ashia ni gbɛgbalɔi fioo komɛi ahe hiaa amɛ. No hewɔ lɛ, beni agbe kpee lɛ naa lɛ, wɔyi mli kɛtee New Market.

Wɔná miishɛɛ krɛdɛɛ ko yɛ New Market. Namɔ esa akɛ ejɛ Philadelphia koni ebafata wɔhe yɛ gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli akɛ ja Benjamin Ransom! Hɛɛ, Tsɛkwɛ̃ Ben. Mɛɛ miishɛɛ eji akɛ mikɛ lɛ aaatsu nii yɛ shia kɛ shia nitsumɔ lɛ mli nɔ ni fe afii 25 beni edu nakai anɔkwale dumɔwui lɛ ewo mitsui mli momo yɛ Boston tɔ̃ɔ! Yɛ shikpilikpiifeemɔ, fɛoyeli, kɛ yiwaa po ni Tsɛkwɛ̃ Ben kɛkpe yɛ weku lɛ mli lɛ fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, ekã he ehiɛ suɔmɔ ni eyɔɔ kɛha Yehowa kɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli lolo.

Wɔná nyɔji kpaanyɔ ni wɔye yɛ gbɛgbalɔi ashia ni wɔhi mli yɛ New Market lɛ mli ŋɔɔmɔ. Kɛfata nibii krokomɛi ahe lɛ, wɔkase bɔ ni akɛ wuɔbii kɛ wuɔwɔji tsakeɔ woji yɛ nakai be lɛ mli. Kɛkɛ ni aha mi, Tsɛkwɛ̃ Ben, Marion, kɛ mɛi krokomɛi etɛ hu nitsumɔ koni wɔyasɔmɔ akɛ gbɛgbalɔi krɛdɛɛi yɛ Hanover, Pennsylvania—nitsumɔi ekpaa ni wɔná yɛ Pennsylvania kɛjɛ afi 1942 kɛyashi afi 1945 lɛ mli klɛŋklɛŋ nɔ̃.

Gbɛgbalɔi Krɛdɛɛi yɛ Jeŋ Ta II lɛ Mli

Yɛ Jeŋ Ta II lɛ mli lɛ, bei komɛi yɛ ni ehe bahia ni wɔdamɔ yiwaa naa yɛ maŋkwramɔ ni wɔkɛ wɔhe wooo mli lɛ hewɔ, shi Yehowa fĩɔ wɔ sɛɛ be fɛɛ be. Be ko beni wɔyɔɔ Provincetown yɛ Massachusetts lɛ, wɔ tsɔne momo ni ji Buick lɛ nyɛɛɛ nii atsu, ni ehe bahia ni manyiɛ kilomitai babaoo kɛtsɔ Katolikbii ni waa mɔ yi waa ni yɔɔ akutso lɛ mli lɛ ateŋ kɛyafee sɛɛsaramɔ. Mitsɔ yiwalɛ oblahii akuu ko he kɛho, ni amɛyɔse mi ni amɛbɔi bolɔmɔ. Miye mihe oyai kɛho be mli ni tɛi gbɛɛɔ kɛtsɔɔ mitoinaa kɛhoɔ kɛ hiɛnɔkamɔ akɛ oblahii lɛ enyiɛɛɛ misɛɛ. Mibote mɔ ni yɔɔ wiemɔ lɛ he miishɛɛ lɛ shia lɛ mli shweshweeshwe ni nɔ ko yeee mi awui. Shi shiatsɛ lɛ ni ji American Legion kuu lɛ mlinyo lɛ kpa fai akɛ: “Minyɛŋ mikɛ nyɛ ahi shi gbɛkɛ nɛɛ, ejaakɛ mihiɛ kpa nɔ akɛ wɔmiiya maŋtiase lɛ mli wɔyakwɛ sini.” Mishe gbeyei be mli ni mikai nakai mɛi akuu lɛ ni fɔ̃ɔ tɛi yɛ he ni yɔɔ banee lɛ, ni amɛmiimɛ koni maku misɛɛ maba. Shi kɛlɛ, mitsui nyɔ mimli beni owula lɛ kɛfata he akɛ: “Mɛni hewɔ okɛ wɔ enyiɛɛɛ kɛyaaa? Wɔbaanyɛ wɔgba sane yɛ gbɛ lɛ nɔ.” No hewɔ lɛ miná miye lɛ odase, ni mitsɔ he ni naagba lɛ yɔɔ lɛ shweshweeshwe.

Weku lɛ kɛ Sɔɔmɔ Nitsumɔ lɛ ni Miha Eŋmɛ Pɛpɛɛpɛ

Yɛ ta lɛ sɛɛ lɛ, wɔná nitsumɔi babaoo yɛ Virginia, ni nɔ ni fata he ji afii kpaanyɔ ni wɔkɛsɔmɔ akɛ gbɛgbalɔi krɛdɛɛi kɛ daa gbɛgbalɔi yɛ Charlottesville. Beni shɛɔ afi 1956 lɛ, gbekɛbii yei lɛ edara ni amɛ́bote gbalashihilɛ mli, ni mi kɛ Marion bɔi gbɛfãa lɛ ekoŋŋ, ní wɔmiisɔmɔ ákɛ gbɛgbalɔi yɛ Harrisonburg, Virginia, kɛ agbɛnɛ ákɛ gbɛgbalɔi krɛdɛɛi yɛ Lincolnton, North Carolina.

Yɛ afi 1966 lɛ, aha mi nitsumɔ ákɛ kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔ, ni mifãa gbɛ kɛjɛɔ asafo kome mli kɛyaa asafo kroko mli ni miiwo nyɛmimɛi lɛ hewalɛ, taakɛ bɔ ni Nyɛminuu Winchester ewo mi hewalɛ yɛ New Jersey tɔ̃ɔ yɛ afi 1930 afii lɛ amli lɛ. Mikɛ afii enyɔ sɔmɔ asafoi ni feɔ kpokpaa kome yɛ Tennessee. Kɛkɛ ni abi ni Marion kɛ mi aku sɛɛ kɛya wɔsɔɔmɔ ni wɔsumɔɔ fe fɛɛ ni ji gbɛgbamɔ krɛdɛɛ lɛ mli. Kɛjɛ afi 1968 kɛyashi afi 1977 lɛ, wɔsɔmɔ akɛ gbɛgbalɔi krɛdɛɛi yɛ Deep South, kɛtsɔ Georgia aahu kɛyashi Mississippi.

Aha mi nitsumɔ akɛ asafoŋ nɔkwɛlɔ (amrɔ nɛɛ atsɛɔ lɛ onukpai asɛinɔtalɔ) yɛ Eastman, Georgia koni miyaye Powell Kirkland ni ji suɔmɔ nyɛmi  nuu nukpa ni kɛ afii babaoo esɔmɔ ákɛ kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔ ni amrɔ nɛɛ enáaa gbɔmɔtsoŋ hewalɛ lɛ najiaŋ. Ená he miishɛɛ waa diɛŋtsɛ ni efĩ misɛɛ. Sɛɛfĩmɔ ni ekɛaaha mi lɛ he miihia ejaakɛ béi ko yɛ asafo lɛ mli ni mɛi ni hiɛ gbɛnaa nii lɛ ateŋ mɛi fioo ko ahe yɛ mli. Sane lɛ mli bawo wu waa, ni mikɛ be babaoo sɔle miha Yehowa. Ŋmalɛi tamɔ Abɛi 3:5, 6 bayi mijwɛŋmɔ mli, nɔ ni kɛɛ: “Okɛ ohiɛ afɔ̃ Yehowa nɔ kɛ otsui fɛɛ, ni okɛ ohe akakpasa bo diɛŋtsɛ ojwɛŋmɔ; kaimɔ lɛ yɛ ogbɛi fɛɛ mli, ni lɛ eeejaje otempɔŋi lɛ!” Akɛni wɔtsu nii waa koni wɔha sanegbaa babaoo aya nɔ hewɔ lɛ, wɔnyɛ wɔfee asafo lɛ ekome, ni ewo yibii kpakpai eha mɔ fɛɛ mɔ.

Beni shɛɔ afi 1977 lɛ, no mli lɛ gbɔlɛ ebɔi wɔhe taa, ni aha wɔ nitsumɔ yɛ Charlottesville niiaŋ ekoŋŋ, ni jɛmɛ ji he ni wɔbiyei enyɔ lɛ kɛ amɛwekui yɔɔ. Yɛ afii 23 ni eho nɛ lɛ mli lɛ, no mli lɛ eji miishɛɛ sane akɛ wɔɔtsu nii yɛ nɛkɛ he nɛɛ, ní wɔmiiye wɔmiibua koni wɔkɛje Ruckersville, Virginia asafo lɛ shishi, ni wɔmiina wɔ mra be mli Biblia mli nikaselɔi ni ji wɔbii kɛ nabii lɛ ni miidara kɛmiitsɔmɔ asafoŋ onukpai, gbɛgbalɔi, kɛ Betelbii. Marion kɛ mi nyɛɔ wɔtoɔ gbɛjianɔ lolo kɛhaa shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ, ni eji hegbɛ ni miná akɛ mikɛ ekãa aaasɔmɔ akɛ onukpa yɛ East Congregation ni yɔɔ Charlottesville lɛ mli, ni miikwɛ woloŋ nikasemɔ nɔ, ni miiha maŋshiɛmɔi.

 Yɛ afii ni eho lɛ amli lɛ, wɔkɛ naagbai kpe taakɛ ebaa mɔ fɛɛ mɔ nɔ lɛ. Ákɛ nɔkwɛmɔnɔ lɛ, yɛ mɔdɛŋ ni wɔbɔ lɛ fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, Doris bagbɔjɔ yɛ mumɔŋ kɛyashi be ko, beni eshwɛ fioo ni ebaaye afii nyɔŋmai enyɔ lɛ, ni ekɛ nuu ko ni jeee Odasefonyo lɛ bote gbalashihilɛ mli lɛ. Shi eŋmɛɛɛ suɔmɔ ni eyɔɔ kɛha Yehowa lɛ he kwraa kɔkɔɔkɔ, ni ebinuu Bill kɛ afii 15 miisɔmɔ yɛ Betel yɛ Wallkill, New York. Amrɔ nɛɛ Doris kɛ Louise fɛɛ etsɔmɔ okulafoi, shi amɛkɛ miishɛɛ miisɔmɔ yɛ wɔ masɛi ákɛ daa gbɛgbalɔi.

Nii ni Mikase yɛ Afii ni Eho lɛ Amli

Mikase bɔ ni mikɛ shishitoo mlai kukuji fioo komɛi baatsu nii koni maye omanye yɛ Yehowa sɔɔmɔ mli: Ha oshihilɛ afee nɔ ni bɛ haŋtsii. Okɛ ohe afee nɔkwɛmɔnɔ yɛ onifeemɔi fɛɛ mli, ni nɔ ni fata he ji bo diɛŋtsɛ oteemɔŋ shihilɛ. Okɛ “tsulɔ anɔkwafo kɛ nilelɔ” lɛ gbɛtsɔɔmɔ atsu nii yɛ nɔ fɛɛ nɔ mli.—Mateo 24:45.

Marion eŋmala gbɛtsɔɔmɔi kukuji ni mɔɔ shi ni yeɔ omanye yɛ gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli beni atsɔseɔ gbekɛbii lɛ: Feemɔ be he gbɛjianɔtoo ni hi ni anyɛɔ akɛtsuɔ nii ni odi no sɛɛ. Ha ogbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ afee nitsumɔ diɛŋtsɛ. Ye niyenii ni haa mɔ gbɔmɔtsoŋ hewalɛ. Ná hejɔɔmɔ kpakpa. Okɛ ohe akawo hiɛtserɛjiemɔ mli fe nine. Ha anɔkwale lɛ, ni sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ fãi srɔtoi lɛ fɛɛ fata he lɛ afee nifeemɔ ni yɔɔ miishɛɛ yɛ obii lɛ ashihilɛ mli. Ha sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ afee niiashikpamɔ ni yɔɔ miishɛɛ kɛha amɛ be fɛɛ be.

Amrɔ nɛɛ wɔye kɛjɛ afii 90 kɛyaa. Afii 62 eho kɛjɛ beni wɔbo wɔ baptisimɔ wiemɔ lɛ toi yɛ Stackhouse shia lɛ kpo lɛ nɔ, ni wɔkɛ afii 60 etsu nii yɛ be-fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ lɛ mli. Mi kɛ Marion baanyɛ wɔkɛ anɔkwayeli akɛɛ akɛ wɔyɛ wɔshihilɛ lɛ he miishɛɛ waa ni nɔ ko gbaaa wɔnaa. Midaa shi waa diɛŋtsɛ yɛ hewalɛwoo ni minine shɛ nɔ ákɛ tsɛ ni edako koni mikɛ mumɔŋ otii aye klɛŋklɛŋ gbɛhe, ni mitee nɔ mitsu he nii lɛ hewɔ, ni miida miŋa Marion ni misumɔɔ lɛ lɛ shi, kɛ gbekɛbii yei lɛ yɛ sɛɛfĩmɔ ni amɛkɛha yɛ afii ni eho lɛ amli lɛ hewɔ. Yɛ be mli ni wɔbɛ heloonaa nibii babaoo lɛ, bei pii lɛ, mikɛ Jajelɔ 2:25 (NW) lɛ toɔ mihe akɛ: “Namɔ yeɔ nii ni namɔ nuɔ nii fe mi?”

Lɛɛlɛŋ, yɛ wɔgbɛfaŋ lɛ, Yehowa eye eshiwoo ni anaa yɛ Maleaki 3:10 lɛ nɔ babaoo aahu tsɔ̃ fe nine. Lɛɛlɛŋ, ‘efɔse jɔɔmɔ eha wɔ ni eteke nɔ’!

[Akrabatsa/Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 29

SAJI NI MIKAIƆ KƐJƐ TAWUU AFII LƐ AMLI

Aaafee afii 60 yɛ ta lɛ sɛɛ lɛ, weku muu lɛ fɛɛ kaiɔ saji ni yɔɔ miishɛɛ waa yɛ nakai afii lɛ ahe.

Nɔ ni Doris kaiɔ ji: “Pennsylvania nyɛɔ efeɔ ŋanii. Kɔɔyɔɔ lɛ mli jɔ kɛyashɛ celsius 35 gbɛkɛ ko.” Louise kɛfata he akɛ, “No mli lɛ mi kɛ Doris táa wɔteŋ mɔ fɛɛ mɔ nanetokotai anɔ yɛ wɔ tsɔne momo ni ji Buick lɛ sɛɛgbɛ sɛi lɛ nɔ koni wɔnaji ahe akajɔ ŋanii.”

Doris kɛɛ akɛ: “Shi wɔnii efeee mɔbɔ kɔkɔɔkɔ loo wɔŋmɛɛɛ nɔ ko. Wɔle akɛ wɔfãa kɛyahiɔ he kroko fe bɔ ni mɛi babaoo feɔ, shi wɔyeɔ nii jogbaŋŋ be fɛɛ be, ni wɔwoɔ atadei kpakpai ni yɔɔ ehee waa ni nanemɛi ni yɔɔ Ohio ni yɔɔ gbekɛbii yei ni amɛdara fe wɔ fioo pɛ lɛ kɛbahaa wɔ lɛ.”

Louise tsɔɔ mli akɛ: “Mama kɛ Dada haa wɔnuɔ he be fɛɛ be akɛ amɛsumɔɔ wɔ ni amɛhiɛ sɔɔ wɔ, ni wɔkɛ amɛ tsuɔ nii bei babaoo yɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Amɛha wɔnu he akɛ esoro wɔ kwraa ni wɔnyɛɔ wɔtsiɔ wɔbɛŋkɛɔ amɛ waa diɛŋtsɛ.”

Paul kɛɛ akɛ: “No mli lɛ miyɛ afi 1936 lɛ mli Buick Special ko, ni ale nakai kar srɔtoi lɛ waa akɛ amɛnane shwiilii lɛ fɔɔ fitemɔ waa. Misusuɔ akɛ tsɔne ni kã mli lɛ yɛ hewalɛ kwraa tsɔ̃ fe kar muu lɛ fɛɛ. Etamɔ nɔ ni be fɛɛ be yɛ nyɔŋ ni aboteɔ mli lɛ mli nyɔɔŋteŋ beni kɔɔyɔɔ lɛ mli ejɔ fe fɛɛ lɛ mli enɛ baa lɛ nakai, kɛkɛ lɛ mitee he ni kar srɔtoi ni efite kwraa lɛ yɔɔ lɛ koni miyatao shwiili nane kroko. Mibafee mɔ ni he esa waa kɛha amɛwoo.”

Marion kɛɛ akɛ: “Ohiɛ akakpa nihemɔ woji lɛ anɔ. Akɛ wolo heɔ nɔ fɛɛ nɔ—milɛloo, mu ni akɛwoɔ kar mli, shwiili naji kɛha kar, nɔ fɛɛ nɔ. Be fɛɛ be ni aaaha wɔ nitsumɔ hee ko lɛ, ehe bahiaa ni wɔya hei ni ahaa nihemɔ woji yɛ lɛ yɛ maŋ lɛ mli, koni wɔyabi ni aha wɔ nihemɔ wolo. Enyɛɔ eheɔ nyɔji abɔ dani nine nyɛɔ eshɛɔ eko nɔ, ni etamɔ nɔ ni be fɛɛ be ni wɔnine aaashɛ wɔ nihemɔ wolo lɛ nɔ lɛ, ahaa wɔ nitsumɔ kroko ni baanyiɛ sɛɛ, ni ehe bahiaa ni wɔto gbɛjianɔ ekoŋŋ kɛha nihemɔ wolo. Shi Yehowa kwɛɔ wɔnɔ be fɛɛ be.”

[Mfoniri]

Mi, kɛ Marion kɛ Doris (abɛkugbɛ) kɛ Louise, afi 2000

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 25]

Mi kɛ awo yɛ afi 1918, beni miye afii 11

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 26]

Mi kɛ Louise, Marion, kɛ Doris yɛ afi 1948 beni abaptisi gbekɛbii yei lɛ

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 26]

Wɔ yookpeemɔ he mfoniri, October 1928

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 26]

Mibiyei (abɛkugbɛ tɔ̃ɔ kɛ ninejurɔgbɛ tɔ̃ɔ) kɛ mi yɛ Yankee Stadium, afi 1955