Wala Shihilɛ He Sane

‘Wala Ni Wɔyɔɔ Mli Amrɔ Nɛɛ’—ní Mikɛtsu Nii Jogbaŋŋ Kɛmɔ Shi!

TAAKƐ TED BUCKINGHAM GBA

Mikɛ mihe wo be-fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ lɛ mli afii ekpaa, kɛkɛ ni trukaa lɛ miye najikuumɔ hela beni mibote gbalashihilɛ mli nyɔji ekpaa sɛɛ. Enɛ ba mli yɛ afi 1950, ni no mli lɛ miye afii 24 pɛ. Nyɔji nɛɛhu ni akɛtsĩ minaa yɛ helatsamɔhe lɛ ha miná bei babaoo kɛsusu mishihilɛ he. Akɛni mikumɔ agbɛnɛ hewɔ lɛ, te mi kɛ miŋa Joyce shihilɛ baafee aha tɛŋŋ wɔsɛɛ?

YƐ AFI 1938 lɛ, mitsɛ ni sumɔɔɔ jamɔ kwraa lɛ nine shɛ wolo ni ji Government * lɛ nɔ. Ekolɛ maŋkwramɔŋ basabasafeemɔ kɛ gbɛkpamɔ ni yɔɔ akɛ abaabɔi tawuu lɛ ji nɔ ni tsirɛ lɛ ni eŋɔ wolo ni akɛha lɛ lɛ. Yɛ misusumɔ naa lɛ, ekaneee wolo lɛ kɔkɔɔkɔ, shi minyɛ ni yɔɔ jamɔ he miishɛɛ waa lɛ kane. Etsu shɛɛ sane ni yɔɔ mli lɛ he nii amrɔ nɔŋŋ. Ekpa Church of England sɔlemɔ lɛ yaa, ni yɛ bɔ ni mitsɛ te shi wo lɛ ha lɛ fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, ebatsɔ Yehowa Odasefonyo anɔkwafo, ni ehi shi nakai aahu kɛyashi beni egbo yɛ afi 1990.

Awo kɛ mi tee miklɛŋklɛŋ Kristofoi akpee yɛ Maŋtsɛyeli Asa ko nɔ yɛ Epsom, yɛ London wuoyigbɛ. Asafo lɛ kpeɔ yɛ shwapo ko ni ahɔɔɔ nii yɛ mli dɔŋŋ lɛ mli, ni wɔbo J. F. Rutherford ni ekwɛɔ Yehowa Odasefoi anitsumɔ lɛ nɔ yɛ nakai be lɛ mli lɛ wiemɔ ni amɔmɔ awo kpãa nɔ lɛ toi. Enɛ ná minɔ hewalɛ waa diɛŋtsɛ.

Okplɛmii ni naa ni atswia kɛjɛ kɔɔyɔŋ lɛlɛ mli ashwie London nɔ lɛ kɛ osharai ni yaa nɔ efáa babaoo lɛ ba. No hewɔ lɛ yɛ afi 1940 lɛ, mitsɛ kpɛ eyiŋ akɛ ebaaha weku lɛ afã kɛya he ko ni yɔɔ shweshweeshwe fioo—Maidenhead ni ji maŋ bibioo ko ni jɛmɛ kɛ London anaigbɛ jɛkɛmɔ ji kilomitai 45 lɛ. Enɛ he ba sɛɛnamɔ, ejaakɛ asafo lɛ mlibii 30 ni yɔɔ jɛmɛ lɛ bafee hewalɛwoo jɛɛhe  kpakpa kɛha wɔ. Fred Smith ni ji mumɔŋ nyɛmi nuu ni yɔɔ ekãa ni abaptisi lɛ yɛ afi 1917 lɛ, basumɔ misane waa ni etsɔse mi koni mibatsɔ shiɛlɔ ni he esa jogbaŋŋ diɛŋtsɛ. Mináa enɔkwɛmɔnɔ kpakpa kɛ suɔmɔ yelikɛbuamɔ ni ekɛha mi lɛ he miishɛɛ waa lolo.

Be-Fɛɛ Sɔɔmɔ Nitsumɔ lɛ ni Mikɛ Mihe Wo Mli

Gbi ko beni fɛ̃i yeɔ yɛ March afi 1941 lɛ abaptisi mi yɛ Thames faa lɛ mli, ni no mli lɛ miye afii 15. Yɛ nakai be lɛ mli lɛ, minyɛmi nuu nukpa Jim kɛ ehe ewo be-fɛɛ sanekpakpa jajemɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Ŋmɛnɛ, lɛ kɛ eŋa Madge yɛ Birmingham, ni amɛkɛ amɛwala be saŋŋ esɔmɔ Yehowa yɛ kpokpaa nɔkwɛmɔ kɛ kpokpaa wulu nɔkwɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli yɛ Britain niiaŋ fɛɛ. Minyɛmi yoo fioo Robina kɛ ewu Frank hu kã he amɛmiisɔmɔ akɛ Yehowa anɔkwa tsuji.

Be ko ni eho lɛ, no mli lɛ mitsuɔ nii akɛ atade feelɔ ko shika he akɔntaabulɔ. Gbi ko lɛ nitsumɔ nɔkwɛlɔ nukpa lɛ tsɛ́ mi kɛtee ɔfis ni eyɔɔ lɛ mli, ni ekɛ hegbɛ ha mi akɛ mɔ ni baahé nii eha nitsumɔhe lɛ, ni eji nitsumɔ ni shika yɔɔ mli. Shi dani nakai be lɛ aaashɛ lɛ, misusu he kɛji akɛ manyɛ manyiɛ minyɛmi nuu lɛ nɔkwɛmɔnɔ lɛ sɛɛ, no hewɔ lɛ mikɛ bulɛ kpoo hegbɛ ni minitsumɔtsɛ lɛ kɛhaa mi lɛ, ni mitsɔɔ lɛ nɔ hewɔ. Naakpɛɛ sane ji akɛ, ekɛ miishɛɛ jie miyi akɛ miisumɔ ni matiu Kristofoi anifeemɔ ko ni he yɔɔ sɛɛnamɔ tamɔ nɛkɛ sɛɛ. No hewɔ lɛ beni agbe kpokpaa wulu nɔ kpee ko naa yɛ Northampton yɛ afi 1944 lɛ, mibatsɔ be-fɛɛ sanekpakpa jajelɔ.

He ni aha mi nitsumɔ yɛ klɛŋklɛŋ ji Exeter yɛ Devon kpokpaa lɛ nɔ. No mli lɛ kpaako nibii hiɔ fiofio yɛ maŋtiase lɛ mli yɛ okplɛmii ni atswia yɛ jɛmɛ yɛ tawuu be lɛ mli lɛ hewɔ. Mikɛ gbɛgbalɔi enyɔ ni ji Frank kɛ Ruth Middleton hi shia ko ni amɛyɔɔ mli momo lɛ mli, ni amɛfee mi ejurɔ waa. Yɛ nakai beaŋ lɛ afii 18 pɛ miye, ni nɔ ko fioo pɛ mile yɛ niiahefɔmɔ kɛ nihoomɔ mli, shi nibii tee hiɛ yɛ be mli ni mihe saa fiofio lɛ.

Victor Gurd ji mishiɛmɔyaa hefatalɔ, ni no mli lɛ eye afii 50, ni eji Irelandnyo ni bɔi shiɛmɔyaa kɛjɛ afi 1920 afii lɛ amli. Etsɔɔ mi bɔ ni mato mibe he gbɛjianɔ jogbaŋŋ, koni maná Biblia kanemɔ he miishɛɛ babaoo, ní male sɛɛnamɔ ni yɔɔ Biblia shishitsɔɔmɔi srɔtoi ahe. Shidaamɔ ni yɔɔ shiŋŋ he nɔkwɛmɔnɔ ni Victor fee lɛ ji nɔ pɔtɛɛ ni he hiaa mi yɛ nakai afii ni tsakemɔ ba mishihilɛ mli lɛ mli.

Maŋkwramɔŋ Saji Amli ni Akɛ He Wooo lɛ He Kaa

Ta lɛ miiba naagbee, shi maŋ onukpai lɛ kã he amɛmiitao oblahii koni amɛkɛ amɛhe awo asraafoi anitsumɔ mli. Akɛ mi tee saneyelihe ko yɛ afi 1943 yɛ Maidenhead, ni jɛmɛ ji he ni mitsɔɔ saji amli faŋŋ koni akaha mikɛ mihe wo asraafoi anitsumɔ lɛ mli yɛ Sanekpakpa shiɛlɔ ni miji lɛ hewɔ. Eyɛ mli akɛ asumɔɔɔ ni atsɛɔ misane lɛ yisɛɛ ekoŋŋ moŋ, shi mikpɛ miyiŋ akɛ maya Exeter kɛha sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ ni akɛwo midɛŋ lɛ tsumɔ. No hewɔ lɛ, Exeter ji he ni yɛ naagbee lɛ asãmã mi yɛ koni abaye misane yɛ maŋ lɛŋ saneyelihe lɛ. Yɛ be mli ni kojolɔ lɛ kɛɛ esa akɛ awo mi tsuŋ nyɔji ekpaa koni matsu nitsumɔ dɛŋdɛŋ lɛ, ekɛɛ mi akɛ edɔ lɛ akɛ aŋmɛɛɛ lɛ gbɛ koni eha tsuŋwoo lɛ sɛɛ atsɛ. Beni mihi tsuŋwoo mli kɛtsu nii dɛŋdɛŋ nyɔji ekpaa sɛɛ lɛ, asaa ayawo mi tsuŋ ekoŋŋ nyɔji ejwɛ.

Akɛni mikome too ji Odasefonyo ni yɔɔ tsuŋwoohe lɛ hewɔ lɛ, gboklɛfoi anɔkwɛlɔi lɛ tsɛ́ɔ mi akɛ Yehowa. Ehe bahia ni mahere nakai gbɛi lɛ nɔ beni wɔbuaa wɔhe naa ni atsɛ́ɔ wɔgbɛi ekomekomei lɛ, ni enɛ feemɔ bɛ mlɛo kɛha mi, ni kɛlɛ kwɛ bɔ ni eji hegbɛ akɛ aaanu ni aatsɛ Nyɔŋmɔ gbɛi lɛ daa gbi! Ehaa gboklɛfoi krokomɛi lɛ fɛɛ leɔ akɛ mishidaamɔ kpakpa akɛ Yehowa Odasefonyo lɛ hewɔ ni akɛ mi fata amɛhe lɛ. Yɛ sɛɛ mli lɛ, akɛ Norman Castro ba nakai tsuŋwoohe lɛ nɔŋŋ mli, ni atsake gbɛi ni akɛtsɛ́ɔ mi lɛ. Kɛkɛ ni ababɔi wɔ tsɛmɔ akɛ Mose kɛ Aaron.

Ajie mi kɛjɛ Exeter kɛtee Bristol, ni yɛ naagbee lɛ akɛ mi tee Winchester tsuŋwoohe lɛ. Jeee be  fɛɛ be shihilɛ lɛ bafeɔ nɔ ni yɔɔ miishɛɛ, shi eye ebua mi koni mimii ashɛ mihe. Mi kɛ Norman fɛɛ ná he miishɛɛ akɛ wɔɔye Kaimɔ lɛ yɛ be mli ni wɔyɔɔ Winchester lɛ. Francis Cooke ni basara wɔ yɛ tsuŋwoohe lɛ ha Kaimɔ lɛ he wiemɔ lɛ jogbaŋŋ.

Tsakemɔi ni Afee yɛ Tawuu Be lɛ Sɛɛ

Yɛ kpee ni afee yɛ afi 1946 yɛ Bristol ni ji he ni ajie Biblia kasemɔ wolo ni ji “Hã Nyɔŋmɔ Afee Anɔkwafo” lɛ kpo yɛ lɛ shishi lɛ, mikɛ oblayoo fɛfɛo ko ni atsɛ́ɔ lɛ Joyce Moore ni lɛ hu eji gbɛgbalɔ yɛ Devon lɛ kpe. Wɔnaanyobɔɔ lɛ mli bawa, ni yɛ afii ejwɛ sɛɛ lɛ wɔbote gbalashihilɛ mli yɛ Tiverton ni ji he ni mihi shi yɛ kɛjɛ afi 1947 kɛbaa lɛ. Wɔhai shia wɔhi mli ni nyɔmɔ ni wɔwoɔ ji shiliŋ 15 (U.S. dɔlai 1.10) daa otsi. Wɔná miishɛɛ waa diɛŋtsɛ!

Beni wɔye afi kome yɛ wɔgbalashihilɛ lɛ mli lɛ, wɔsaa wɔfã ekoŋŋ kɛtee lɛjiadaamɔhe maŋ fɛfɛo ko ni yɔɔ Brixham wuoyigbɛ ní jɛmɛ ji he ni aje loohɛɛ nitsumɔ shishi yɛ klɛŋklɛŋ kwraa lɛ. Shi kɛlɛ wɔtsɛɛɛ yɛ jɛmɛ, ejaakɛ beni wɔfãa gbɛ kɛyaa kpee ko ni afee yɛ London lɛ, miye kuumɔ hela yɛ gbɛ lɛ nɔ. Nɔ̃ nyɔ minɔ. Yɛ nyɔji nɛɛhu sɛɛ lɛ, ajie mi kɛjɛ helatsamɔhe lɛ, taakɛ mitsĩ tã kɛtsɔ hiɛ lɛ. Hela lɛ ye mininejurɔ kɛ minaji enyɔ lɛ waa diɛŋtsɛ, ni ehe bahia ni mikɛ tso anyiɛ, ni nakai eji kɛbashi amrɔ nɛɛ. Miŋa ni misumɔɔ lɛ lɛ ji mihefatalɔ ni yɔɔ miishɛɛ be fɛɛ be ní woɔ mi hewalɛ, titri lɛ be mli ni emiaa ehiɛ koni eya nɔ etsu be-fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ. Shi mɛni esa akɛ wɔfee bianɛ? Etsɛɛɛ ni miyɔse akɛ Yehowa nine efoko kuku kɔkɔɔkɔ.

No sɛɛ afi lɛ wɔtee kpee yɛ Wimbledon yɛ London. No mli lɛ minyiɛ ni mihiɛɛɛ tso. Jɛmɛ ji he ni wɔkɛ Pryce Hughes ni kwɛɔ nitsumɔ lɛ nɔ yɛ Britain lɛ kpe yɛ. Amrɔ nɔŋŋ kɛkɛ ni ekɛɛ mi akɛ: “Kwɛmɔ! Wɔmiisumɔ koni osɔmɔ akɛ kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔ!” Kwɛ bɔ ni enɛ bafee hewalɛwoo kpele kɛha mi! Ani miyɛ gbɔmɔtsoŋ hewalɛ bɔ ni sa? Mi kɛ Joyce fɛɛ yiŋ fee wɔ kɔshikɔshi yɛ enɛ he, shi be mli ni miná tsɔsemɔ otsi kome, ní miná Yehowa mli hekɛnɔfɔɔ sɛɛ lɛ, wɔku wɔsɛɛ kɛba England wuoyi-anaigbɛ, ni ji he ni akɛha mi koni miyatsu nii yɛ jɛmɛ akɛ kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔ lɛ. No mli lɛ afii 25 pɛ miye, shi mikɛ miishɛɛ kaiɔ mlihilɛ kɛ tsuishitoo ni Odasefoi ni ye amɛbua mi babaoo lɛ jie lɛ kpo amɛtsɔɔ mi lɛ lolo.

Mi kɛ Joyce na yɛ wɔteokrase nitsumɔ lɛ fãi srɔtoi lɛ fɛɛ mli akɛ saramɔ ni wɔyasaraa asafoi lɛ ha wɔbɛŋkɛ wɔ-Kristofoi nyɛmimɛi hii kɛ yei lɛ kpaakpa. Akɛni wɔbɛ kar hewɔ lɛ, wɔkɛ oketeke loo bɔɔs fãa gbɛ. Eyɛ mli akɛ no mli lɛ mibɔɔ mɔdɛŋ koni mahi shi yɛ bɔ ni mihela lɛ feɔ mi ehaa lɛ naa  moŋ, shi wɔná hegbɛi ni wɔnine shɛ nɔ lɛ he miishɛɛ aahu kɛbashi afi 1957. Eji shihilɛ ko ni miná he sɛɛ, shi yɛ nakai afi lɛ nɔ lɛ mikɛ kaa kroko hu kpe.

Kɛtee Maŋsɛɛ Sanekpakpa Shiɛmɔ Nitsumɔ lɛ Mli

Ninefɔɔ ni wɔnine shɛ nɔ koni wɔba Gilead klas ni ji 30 lɛ ha wɔmli bafili wɔ babaoo. Akɛni miinyɛ miikpee mikuumɔ hela lɛ naa jogbaŋŋ hewɔ lɛ, mi kɛ Joyce fɛɛ kɛ miishɛɛ kpɛlɛ tsɛmɔ lɛ nɔ. Taakɛ wɔkpá shi wɔna lɛ, Yehowa haa wɔ hewalɛ be fɛɛ be kɛ́ wɔbɔ mɔdɛŋ akɛ wɔɔfee esuɔmɔnaa nii lɛ. Etsɛɛɛ kwraa ni wɔgbe nyɔji enumɔ tsɔsemɔ ni mli wa naa yɛ Watchtower Bible School of Gilead ni yɔɔ maŋ fɛfɛo ni ji South Lansing lɛ mli, yɛ New York yɛ U.S.A. Nikaselɔi lɛ ateŋ mɛi titri ji gbalashihilɛ mli hefatalɔi ni kɛ amɛhe ewo gbɛfãa nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Beni abi klasbii lɛ kɛji wɔteŋ mɛi komɛi baasumɔ koni wɔkɛ wɔhe aha kɛha maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ, wɔfata mɛi ni kpɛlɛ nɔ amrɔ nɔŋŋ lɛ ahe. Nɛgbɛ ji he ni abaaha wɔya? Wɔbaaya Uganda, yɛ East Africa!

Akɛni agu Yehowa Odasefoi anitsumɔ lɛ yɛ Uganda yɛ nakai be lɛ mli hewɔ lɛ, awo mi ŋaa koni mahi maŋ lɛ mli ní matao heloonaa nitsumɔ matsu. Beni wɔkɛ oketeke kɛ lɛlɛ efã gbɛ kakadaŋŋ sɛɛ lɛ, wɔyashɛ Kampala yɛ Uganda. Onukpai ni kwɛɔ gbɛfãa kɛbaa maŋ lɛ mli lɛ nɔ lɛ náaa he miishɛɛ akɛ amɛaana wɔ, ni amɛŋmɛ wɔ gbɛ koni wɔhi shi nyɔji fioo ko pɛ. No sɛɛ lɛ, akɛ famɔ ha koni wɔshi maŋ lɛ mli wɔya. Yɛ gbɛtsɔɔmɔi ni wɔnine shɛ nɔ kɛjɛ nitsumɔhe yitso lɛ hewɔ lɛ, wɔfã kɛtee Northern Rhodesia (amrɔ nɛɛ Zambia). Eji miishɛɛ kpele akɛ wɔkɛ mɛi ni wɔkɛ amɛ tee Gilead skul lɛ aaakpe yɛ jɛmɛ—amɛji Frank kɛ Carrie Lewis kɛ Hayes kɛ Harriet Hoskins. Beni wɔyɔɔ jɛmɛ lɛ, etsɛɛɛ nɔŋŋ ni asaa aha wɔ nitsumɔ yɛ Southern Rhodesia (amrɔ nɛɛ Zimbabwe).

Wɔkɛ oketeke fã gbɛ, ni enɛ ji klɛŋklɛŋ kwraa ni wɔna Victoria Falls ni yɔɔ fɛo waa lɛ dani wɔbashɛ Bulawayo. Wɔkɛ McLuckie weku ni fata klɛŋklɛŋ Odasefoi ni yahi jɛmɛ lɛ ahe lɛ yahi shi fioo. Eji hegbɛ ni wɔná akɛ wɔɔle amɛ jogbaŋŋ yɛ afii 16 ni nyiɛ sɛɛ lɛ mli.

Mitsake Mihe Miwo Shihilɛi Srɔtoi Amli

Beni atsɔse mi koni male Afrikabii anifeemɔi lɛ otsii enyɔ sɛɛ lɛ, ahala mi koni misɔmɔ akɛ kpokpaa wulu nɔkwɛlɔ. Odase ni ayeɔ yɛ Afrika koo lɛ mli lɛ biɔ koni ahiɛ nu, niyenii, saanɔboi, atade ni abaawo, tsɔne ni akɛjieɔ sini kɛ ilɛtrik tsɔne ni akɛsuɔ kane, mama wulu ni akɛjieɔ sini, kɛ nibii krokomɛi ni he hiaa. Wɔkɛ enɛɛmɛi fɛɛ woɔ shwiili ko ni yɔɔ hewalɛ bɔ ni sa lɛ mli koni wɔkɛtsɔ shikpɔŋ ni nɔ efee dokoidokoi lɛ nɔ kɛya.

Mikɛ Afrika kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔi lɛ tsu nii yɛ be mli ni Joyce kɛ miishɛɛ yeɔ ebuaa amɛŋamɛi kɛ  amɛbii ni bafataa wɔhe kɛyaa lɛ hu. Afrika shikpɔŋ ni tsei bibii yɔɔ nɔ lɛ nɔ nyiɛmɔ baanyɛ afee tɔlɛ, titri lɛ beni jeŋ edɔ, shi etsɛɛɛ kɛkɛ ni mina akɛ minyɛɔ midamɔɔ mihela lɛ naa kwraa yɛ bɔ ni amɛkɔɔyɔɔ lɛ mli yɔɔ ha lɛ hewɔ, ni yɛ no hewɔ lɛ, miná he miishɛɛ.

Mɛi ni yɔɔ jɛmɛ titri ji ohiafoi. Amɛteŋ mɛi babaoo ji mɛi ni kɛ amɛhe woɔ kusum nifeemɔi kɛ apasa hemɔkɛyelii amli vii, ni amɛkɛ yei pii hiɔ shi; ni kɛlɛ amɛkɛ bulɛ haa Biblia lɛ waa diɛŋtsɛ. Yɛ hei komɛi lɛ, afeɔ asafoŋ kpeei yɛ tsei wuji ni haa hɔɔŋ lɛ ashishi, ni kɛ́ shɛ gbɛkɛ lɛ asuɔ lantɛrɛi ní akɛ mu woɔ mli lɛ kɛtsotsoroɔ shi. Be fɛɛ be ni wɔkɛ ŋwɛi ŋulamii ala ní kpɛɔ, ni ji Nyɔŋmɔ bɔɔ nii lɛ ateŋ nɔ ko ni yɔɔ fɛo waa lɛ kaseɔ Nyɔŋmɔ wiemɔ lɛ yɛ agbó lɛ naa lɛ, ehaa wɔnaa kpɛɔ wɔhe waa diɛŋtsɛ.

Buu Mɔɔ Asafo lɛ sinii ni ajieɔ yɛ Afrika kooi lɛ amli lɛ ji niiashikpamɔ kroko hu ni mihiɛ kpaŋ nɔ. Ekolɛ Odasefoi 30 ji mɛi ni yɔɔ asafo ko mli, shi kɛ́ wɔbaajie sini lɛ, wɔle akɛ mɛi 1,000 loo mɛi ni fa fe nakai baanyɛ aba!

Eyɛ mli akɛ hela baanyɛ afee naagba yɛ hulutsoo shikpɔji anɔ moŋ, shi ehe miihia koni ahiɛ jwɛŋmɔ ni ja be fɛɛ be. Mi kɛ Joyce fɛɛ mia wɔhiɛ jogbaŋŋ—minyɛ mikpee atridii ni fɔɔ mi mɔmɔ lɛ naa, ni Joyce nyɛ edamɔ hela ni muawai komɛi haa eyeɔ lɛ anaa.

Yɛ sɛɛ mli lɛ, aha wɔ nitsumɔ yɛ nitsumɔhe nine ni yɔɔ Salisbury (amrɔ nɛɛ Harare), ní ji he ni wɔná hegbɛ yɛ akɛ wɔɔfata Yehowa anɔkwa tsuji krokomɛi ahe kɛtsu nii yɛ lɛ, ni amɛteŋ mɛi komɛi ji Lester Davey kɛ Geoge kɛ Ruby Bradley. Nɔyeli lɛ hala mi koni misɔmɔ akɛ mɔ ni kwɛɔ gbalashihilɛ ni akɛwoɔ mla shishi lɛ nɔ, ni no ha minyɛ mikwɛ yookpeemɔi anɔ miha Afrika nyɛmimɛi lɛ, ni yɛ nakai feemɔ mli lɛ miha wekukpaa ni yɔɔ Kristofoi agbalashihilɛ mli lɛ mli bawa waa yɛ asafoi lɛ amli. Afii fioo komɛi asɛɛ lɛ, miná hegbɛ kroko hu. Abi koni miyasara asafoi fɛɛ ni yɔɔ maŋ lɛ mli ni ewieee Bantu wiemɔ lɛ. Yɛ nɔ ni fe afii nyɔŋma mli lɛ, mi kɛ Joyce ná he miishɛɛ akɛ wɔɔle wɔnyɛmimɛi lɛ kɛtsɔ gbɛ ni tamɔ nɛkɛ nɔ, ni wɔmli fili wɔ yɛ bɔ ni amɛyaa hiɛ yɛ mumɔŋ lɛ hewɔ. Yɛ nakai be lɛ mli lɛ, wɔyasara wɔnyɛmimɛi ni yɔɔ Botswana kɛ Mozambique lɛ hu.

Wɔsaa Wɔfã Kɛtee He Kroko Ekoŋŋ

Beni wɔkɛ miishɛɛ ehi Afrika wuoyigbɛ afii babaoo lɛ, asaa aha wɔ nitsumɔ yɛ afi 1975 koni wɔyasɔmɔ yɛ Sierra Leone yɛ West Africa. Etsɛɛɛ ni wɔyahi nitsumɔhe nine lɛ koni wɔkɛ miishɛɛ ayatsu nitsumɔ hee ni akɛha wɔ lɛ, shi enɛ sɛɛ eyatsɛɛɛ. Mihe baye ni mifee gbedee yɛ atridii ni naa wa ni mɔ mi lɛ hewɔ, ni yɛ naagbee lɛ ehe bahia ni ayatsá mi yɛ London, ni jɛmɛ ji he ni awo mi ŋaa yɛ akɛ mikaku misɛɛ kɛtee Afrika dɔŋŋ. Enɛ ha wɔye awerɛho, shi akɛ miishɛɛ here mi kɛ Joyce awo London Betel weku lɛ mli. Afrika nyɛmimɛi babaoo ni yɔɔ London asafoi babaoo amli lɛ ha wɔhiɛ mɛ yɛ jɛmɛ nakai nɔŋŋ hu. Yɛ be mli ni mibɔi gbɔmɔtsoŋ hewalɛnamɔ lɛ, wɔsaa wɔtsake wɔhe wɔwo shihilɛ kroko hu mli, ni abi koni makwɛ Purchasing Department (Nihemɔ Nitsumɔhe) lɛ nɔ. Akɛni nitsumɔ lɛ miiya hiɛ yɛ afii ni hoɔ lɛ amli hewɔ lɛ, enɛ bafee nitsumɔ ni yɔɔ miishɛɛ babaoo.

Yɛ afi 1990 afii lɛ mra be mli lɛ, misuɔlɔ Joyce baye kuumɔ hela, ni egbo yɛ afi 1994. Ebafee ŋa ni yɔɔ suɔmɔ, ni yeɔ anɔkwa, ni be fɛɛ be lɛ esumɔɔ koni etsake ehe ewo shihilɛi srɔtoi ni wɔkɛkpeɔ lɛ mli. Bɔni afee ni manyɛ madamɔ shoofeemɔ ni tamɔ nɛkɛ naa lɛ, miyɔse akɛ ehe baahia koni maya nɔ mahiɛ mumɔŋ shidaamɔ kpakpa mli, ni maya nɔ makwɛ nɔ ni baaba wɔsɛɛ lɛ gbɛ. Akɛni misɔleɔ koni mahiɛ be he gbɛjianɔtoo kpakpa kɛha teokrase nifeemɔi mli, ni shiɛmɔyaa hu fata he hewɔ lɛ, enɛ hu yeɔ ebuaa mi koni makudɔ mijwɛŋmɔ jogbaŋŋ.—Abɛi 3:5, 6.

Ní aaasɔmɔ yɛ Betel lɛ ji hegbɛ kɛ shihilɛ gbɛ kpakpa. Obaana oblahii kɛ oblayei babaoo yɛ jɛmɛ ni okɛ amɛ baatsu nii, ni omii baashɛ ohe babaoo. Jɔɔmɔ kome ko hu ni wɔnáa ji mɛi abɔ ni basaraa wɔ yɛ London maŋ nɛɛ mli lɛ. Bei komɛi lɛ, minaa nanemɛi kpakpai ni jɛ Afrika hei ni aha mi nitsumɔ yɛ lɛ, ni mikaiɔ nibii babaoo ni haa mináa miishɛɛ. Enɛɛmɛi fɛɛ yeɔ ebuaa mi koni maya nɔ mikɛ ‘wala ni wɔyɔɔ mli amrɔ nɛɛ’ lɛ atsu nii jogbaŋŋ kɛmɔ shi, ní mikɛ hekɛnɔfɔɔ kɛ hiɛnɔkamɔ akpa wala “ni baaba” lɛ gbɛ.—1 Timoteo 4:8.

[Shishigbɛ niŋmaa]

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 25]

Mikɛ minyɛ yɛ afi 1946

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 26]

Beni mikɛ Joyce bote gbalashihilɛ mli yɛ afi 1950

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 26]

Yɛ Bristol kpee ni afee yɛ afi 1953 lɛ shishi

[Mfonirii ni yɔɔ baafa 27]

Beni misɔmɔɔ kuu ko ni etse ehe banee (yiteŋgbɛ) kɛ asafo ko (abɛkugbɛ) yɛ Southern Rhodesia, amrɔ nɛɛ Zimbabwe