‘Yehowa Bɔfo Lɛ Bɔɔ Nsara Kɛkpeɔ’

Mɔ Ni Gba Ji Christabel Connell

Saji ni Christopher biɔ ni wɔhaa lɛ hetoo kɛjɛɔ Biblia lɛ mli lɛ ehé wɔjwɛŋmɔ fɛɛ, ni wɔyɔseee akɛ je miina; asaŋ wɔyɔseee hu akɛ Christopher ejieee ehiɛ kɛjɛɛɛ samfɛlɛ lɛ naa. Naagbee lɛ etsɔ ehe ekwɛ wɔ ni ekɛɛ, “Nibii amli ejɔ agbɛnɛ, nyɛbaanyɛ nyɛwo shia yaa.” Agbɛnɛ enyiɛ wɔhiɛ kɛtee he ni wɔ-okɔokpei lɛ mamɔ lɛ, ni ekɛ wɔ ye shɛɛ. Mɛni kwraa ena ní yɔɔ oshara?

AFƆ mi yɛ afi 1927 yɛ Sheffield yɛ England, ni gbɛi ni awo mi ji Christabel Earl. Atswa okpɛlɛmi kɛfite wɔshia lɛ beni awuɔ Jeŋ Ta II lɛ, no hewɔ lɛ aha miyahi minaa ŋɔɔ kɛtee skul. Mitee Roman Katolikbii askul, ni daa nɛɛ mibiɔ yei ni kɛ hii ehiii shi ni sɔmɔɔ osɔfoi lɛ ni amɛtsɔɔ mi nɔ̃ hewɔ ni efɔŋfeemɔ kɛ awuiyeli efa lɛ. Amɛnyɛɛɛ amɛha mi hetoo ni baaha mitsui anyɔ mi mli, ni jamɔi krokomɛi amli bii lɛ hu nyɛɛɛ aha mi hetoo kpakpa ko.

Beni Jeŋ Ta II lɛ ba naagbee lɛ, miyakase nɛɛsifoi anitsumɔ. Mishi kɛtee London ni miyabɔi nitsumɔ yɛ Paddington General Hospital lɛ, shi mina yiwalɛ nifeemɔi babaoo yɛ maŋ lɛŋ. Minyɛmi nuu onukpa lɛ shi kɛtee koni eyafata he kɛwu Korea Ta lɛ, no sɛɛ nɔŋŋ lɛ mina ni mɛi enyɔ komɛi miinɔ yɛ helatsamɔhe lɛ sɛɛ tuuntu, ni mɔ kome pila waa. Mɔ nɛɛ hiŋmɛi kome jwa, shi mɔ ko yeee ebuaaa lɛ. Nakai be lɛ mli lɛ, minyɛ Awo fataa mihe kɛyaa kpeei ni ŋkunyaayelɔi lɛ feɔ lɛ, shi fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ minyɛɛɛ manu nɔ̃ hewɔ ni awuiyeli efa babaoo lɛ shishi.

Awo Mi Hewalɛ Koni Makase Biblia Lɛ

Gbi ko lɛ, minyɛmi nuu onukpa fe fɛɛ ni atsɛɔ lɛ John lɛ basara mi, no mli lɛ ebatsɔ Yehowa Odasefonyo. Ebi mi akɛ: “Ani ole nɔ̃ hewɔ ni nibii fɔji nɛɛ fɛɛ yaa nɔ lɛ?” Mito he akɛ “dabi.” Egbele Biblia lɛ ni ekane Kpojiemɔ 12:7-12 lɛ. Agbɛnɛ mibayɔse akɛ Satan kɛ daimonioi lɛ ji mɛi tuuntu ni haa nibii fɔji yaa nɔ yɛ je lɛŋ lɛ. Mibo John ŋaawoo lɛ toi, ni no sɛɛ etsɛɛɛ lɛ miha akɛ mi bɔi Biblia lɛ kasemɔ. Shi nakai beaŋ lɛ, miha gbɔmɔ gbeyeishemɔ tsĩ mi gbɛ ni mihaaa abaptisi mi.—Abɛi 29:25.

Minyɛmi yoo ni atsɛɔ lɛ Dorothy lɛ hu batsɔ Odasefonyo. Beni ekɛ Bill Roberts, ni ji nuu ni ekɛbaabote gbalashihilɛ mli lɛ jɛ majimaji ateŋ kpee ni afee yɛ New York (afi 1953) amɛba lɛ, mikɛɛ amɛ akɛ akɛ mi ekase Biblia lɛ momo. Bill bi mi akɛ: “Ani okane ŋmalɛi ni atsɛ yisɛɛ yɛ wolo lɛ mli lɛ fɛɛ? Ani ofolɔ hetoi ní yɔɔ wolo lɛ mli lɛ ashishi?” Beni miha lɛ hetoo akɛ dabi lɛ, ekɛɛ mi akɛ: “Belɛ okaseko nɔ ko! Yaana nyɛmi yoo ní kɛ bo kase nii lɛ ni nyɛje  shishi ekoŋŋ!” Daimonioi lɛ bɔi mi haomɔ yɛ nakai beaŋ. Mikaiɔ akɛ mibi Yehowa ni ebu mi he ní ejie mi yɛ amɛdɛŋ.

Mitsu Gbɛgbamɔ Nitsumɔ lɛ yɛ Scotland kɛ Ireland

Abaptisi mi yɛ January 16, 1954, kpaŋmɔ ni mikɛ helatsamɔ he lɛ fee kɛha be falɛ ni mikɛbaatsu nii yɛ jɛmɛ lɛ ba naagbee yɛ May, ni mibɔi sɔɔmɔ akɛ gbɛgbalɔ yɛ June. Nyɔji kpaanyɔ sɛɛ lɛ, aha miyasɔmɔ yɛ Grangemouth yɛ Scotland akɛ gbɛgbalɔ krɛdɛɛ. Beni misɔmɔɔ yɛ shikpɔŋkuku ni etse ehe banee nɛɛ mli lɛ, miyɔse akɛ Yehowa bɔfoi lɛ “bɔɔ nsara yɛ mɛi ni sheɔ lɛ gbeyei lɛ ahe kɛkpeɔ.”—Lala 34:8.

Yɛ afi 1956 lɛ, aha miyasɔmɔ yɛ Ireland. Akɛ mɛi enyɔ fata mihe ní mi kɛ amɛ ayasɔmɔ yɛ maŋ ni atsɛɔ lɛ Galway lɛ mli. Klɛŋklɛŋ gbi lɛ nɔ lɛ, mitee miyashiɛ miha osɔfo ko yɛ eshĩa. Minitii komɛi asɛɛ lɛ, polisifonyo ko ba ni ebamɔ mi kɛ mɔ ni fata mihe lɛ kɛtee polisifoi anitsumɔhe lɛ. Beni enine shɛ wɔgbɛi kɛ adrɛs anɔ lɛ, eshi nɔŋŋ kɛtee tɛlifoŋ lɛ he. Wɔnu ni ekɛɛ akɛ, “Hɛɛ, Father mile he tuuntu ni amɛyɔɔ.” Osɔfo lɛ ji mɔ ni tsu lɛ! Ayanyɛ wɔshiatsɛ lɛ nɔ koni eshwie wɔ kɛjɛ eshĩa lɛ mli, no hewɔ lɛ nitsumɔhe nine lɛ ha wɔshi nakai kpokpaa lɛ nɔ. Beni wɔyashɛ he ni afoɔ oketeke lɛ yɛ lɛ, wɔkpe sɛɛ minitii nyɔŋma. Shi oketeke lɛ efãko lolo, nuu ko miimɛ yɛ jɛmɛ kɛyashi ebaana akɛ wɔkwɔ oketeke lɛ. Otsii etɛ pɛ wɔye yɛ Galway!

Aha wɔyasɔmɔ yɛ maŋ ni atsɛɔ lɛ Limerick lɛ mli he ni Katolik Sɔlemɔ lɛ ená maŋbii lɛ anɔ hewalɛ waa yɛ jɛmɛ lɛ hu. Gbɔmɛi asafoi fɔɔ wɔyi wɔ́mɔ. Mɛi babaoo sheɔ gbeyei akɛ amɛaaha wɔkɛ amɛ agba sane yɛ amɛshĩai amli. Yɛ afi ni tsɔ hiɛ lɛ mli lɛ, ayi nyɛmi nuu ko waa yɛ maŋ bibioo ko ni atsɛɔ Cloonlara lɛ mli. No hewɔ lɛ, wɔmii shɛ wɔhe waa beni Christopher ní atsĩ etã yɛ shishijee lɛ kɛɛ wɔ akɛ, wɔku wɔsɛɛ ní wɔbaha lɛ saji komɛi ahetoo kɛjɛ Biblia lɛ mli lɛ. Beni wɔtee eŋɔɔ lɛ, osɔfo ko ba jɛmɛ ni ebakɛɛ Christopher akɛ eshwie wɔ. Etsɔ ehiɛ ewo osɔfo lɛ ni ekɛɛ lɛ akɛ: “Mi mifɔ yei nɛɛ anine kɛba mishĩa lɛ, ni amɛtswa kɔkɔɔkɔ dani amɛba tsu lɛ mli. Mifɔ̃ko bo nine, asaŋ otswaaa kɔkɔɔkɔ dani oba tsu lɛ mli.” Osɔfo lɛ kɛ mlifu shi jɛmɛ.

Asomoaŋ, osɔfo lɛ eyabua hii komɛi anaa ni amɛmiimɛ wɔ yɛ agbo lɛ naa yɛ Christopher shĩa lɛ sɛɛ ni wɔleee. Akɛni Christopher le akɛ gbɔmɛi nɛɛ miitao amɛfee wɔ basabasa hewɔ lɛ, efee enii taakɛ mitsɔɔ mli yɛ shishijee lɛ. Eha wɔmɛ yɛ eshĩa lɛ aahu kɛyashi amɛmli gbɛlɛ. Wɔná wɔle akɛ etsɛɛɛ tsɔ ni bɔ ni agbaa amɛnaa sɔŋŋ hewɔ lɛ ekɛ eweku lɛ shi nakai kpokpaa lɛ nɔ kɛtee England.

Mitee Gilead

Afɔ̃ mi nine akɛ miba Gilead Skul lɛ klas ni ji 33 lɛ, shi nakai beaŋ po lɛ mito gbɛjianɔ momo akɛ maya Nyɔŋmɔ Suɔmɔnaa Nifeemɔ Majimaji Ateŋ Kpee ni abaafee yɛ New York yɛ afi 1958 lɛ. No hewɔ lɛ beni agbe kpee lɛ naa lɛ, mikuuu misɛɛ kɛbaaa shĩa, shi miyasɔmɔ yɛ Collingwood yɛ Ontario yɛ Canada kɛyashi beni wɔtee Gilead Skul lɛ yɛ afi 1959. Shi beni afeɔ kpee lɛ mikɛ Eric Connell kpe. Ekase anɔkwale lɛ yɛ afi 1957 ni ebɔi gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ kɛjɛ afi 1958. Beni agbe kpee lɛ naa lɛ eŋmaa mi wolo daa gbi bei abɔ ni miye yɛ Canada kɛ bei abɔ ni mikɛ hi Gilead lɛ fɛɛ. Misusu bɔ ni nibii anaa baayakpá aha wɔ kɛ́ migbe skul lɛ naa lɛ he.

Gilead Skul lɛ ni mitee lɛ ji nifeemɔ ko ni sa kadimɔ waa yɛ mishihilɛ mli. Dorothy kɛ ewu fata wɔklasbii lɛ ahe. Aha amɛyasɔmɔ yɛ Portugal akɛ maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa jajelɔi. Mibɔleee akɛ abaaha mayasɔmɔ yɛ Ireland. Edɔ mi akɛ ahaaa mi kɛ minyɛmi yoo lɛ ayasɔmɔ yɛ he kome! Mibi tsɔɔlɔi lɛ ateŋ mɔ kome akɛ aleenɔ mifee nɔ ko ni ehiii lo. Eto he akɛ: “Dabi, okɛ Eileen Mahoney ekpɛlɛ nɔ momo akɛ nyɛbaayasɔmɔ yɛ je lɛŋ he fɛɛ he,” ni Ireland fata je lɛ he.

Mikũ Misɛɛ Kɛba Ireland

Miyashɛ Ireland yɛ August 1959, ni aha miyafata Dun Laoghaire Asafo lɛ he. Eric hu eku esɛɛ kɛba England yɛ nakai beaŋ, ni eŋɔɔ enaa  waa akɛ ekɛ mi teŋ jekɛɛɛ dɔŋŋ. Lɛ hu eetao etsɔ maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa jajelɔ. Emu saji anaa akɛ akɛni aawo maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa jajelɔi agbɛ kɛmiiba Ireland hewɔ lɛ, belɛ ebaasumɔ akɛ esɔmɔ yɛ jɛmɛ akɛ gbɛgbalɔ. Eshi kɛba Dun Laoghaire, ni wɔbote gbala mli yɛ afi 1961.

Nyɔji ekpaa sɛɛ lɛ, Eric kɛ moto yaná oshara gbeyeigbeyei. Eyitso ŋoŋo gba, ni datrɛfoi lɛ bɛ nɔmimaa akɛ amɛbaanyɛ amɛbaa ewala yi. Eye otsii etɛ yɛ helatsamɔhe lɛ, no sɛɛ lɛ mibakwɛ lɛ yɛ shĩa nyɔji enumɔ dani ehe bawa lɛ. Minyɛ mitee nɔ mishiɛ bɔ ni manyɛ.

Yɛ afi 1965 lɛ, aha wɔyafata asafo ko kɛ emli bii kpaanyɔ ahe yɛ Sligo yɛ kooyi-anaigbɛ, ni eji maŋ ní lɛjiadaamɔhe yɔɔ jɛmɛ. Afii etɛ sɛɛ lɛ aha wɔyafata asafo bibioo ko he yɛ Londonderry yɛ kooyigbɛ shɔŋŋ. Gbi ko beni wɔjɛ shiɛmɔ wɔbaa lɛ, wɔna ákɛ akɛ waya etsĩ lɔle gbɛ ni yaa he ni wɔshĩa lɛ yɔɔ lɛ. Nakai beaŋ Northern Ireland Haomɔi lɛ je shishi. Oblahii lɛ tsetsee kui ni amɛshãa mɛi atsɔji. Momo sa lɛ aja maŋ lɛ mli enyɔ, ni ayɛ he ni Protestantbii yɔɔ kɛ he ni Katolikbii hu yɔɔ. Eyɛ oshara pam kɛ́ ojɛ maŋ lɛ fã kome kɛmiiya afã kroko.

Wɔhi Shi ni Wɔshiɛ yɛ Haomɔ Bei lɛ Amli

Shi wɔshiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ hewɔ lɛ, wɔnyɛ wɔtee he fɛɛ he. Wɔnu he ekoŋŋ akɛ bɔfoi lɛ ebɔle wɔhe kɛkpe. Kɛ́ wɔtee he ko ni wɔna akɛ gidigidifeemɔ miitao aba jɛmɛ pɛ lɛ, wɔshiɔ amrɔ nɔŋŋ ni wɔmɛɔ kɛyashiɔ wɔnaa akɛ nibii amli etoo dani wɔkuɔ wɔsɛɛ kɛyaa jɛmɛ ekoŋŋ. Be ko lɛ gidigidifeemɔ kɛ nɔmɔ ko tee nɔ yɛ wɔshĩa lɛ masɛi tuuntu, ashã shwapo ko ni ahɔ̃ɔ pɛnte yɛ mli lɛ, ni shwapo lɛ mli nibii ni miishã lɛ ekomɛi bashwie ŋtaŋ ní akɛhà wɔsamflɛ lɛ naa lɛ nɔ. Akɛni wɔleee akɛ wɔshĩa lɛ baashã loo eshãŋ hewɔ lɛ wɔbɛɛɛ wɔhiŋmɛi nɛkɛ po. Beni wɔshi kɛtee Belfast yɛ afi 1970 lɛ, wɔná wɔle ákɛ akɛ pɛtrol yashã shwapo ni ahɔ̃ɔ pɛnte yɛ mli lɛ, ni eshã kɛ shĩa ni wɔhi mli lɛ fɛɛ wɛlɛŋŋ.

Be kroko hu ni mi kɛ nyɛmi yoo ko tee shiɛmɔ lɛ, wɔna ni akɛ paipi rɔba ko ewo samfɛlɛ ko mli, wɔnako nakai nɔ ko pɛŋ. Wɔho he. Minitii fioo komɛi asɛɛ lɛ, efɛ́. Akutso lɛ mli bii lɛ susu akɛ wɔ wɔkɛ okpɛlɛmi lɛ yawo jɛmɛ! No mli nɔŋŋ ni nyɛmi yoo ko ni yɔɔ nakai akutso lɛ mli lɛ fɔ̃ wɔnine kɛba eshĩa. No hewɔ lɛ, ekutsoŋ bii lɛ na akɛ jeee wɔ wɔfee.

Yɛ afi 1971 lɛ, wɔkũ wɔsɛɛ kɛtee Londonderry wɔyasara nyɛmi yoo ko. Beni wɔtsɔɔ nyɛmi yoo lɛ he ni wɔtsɔ kɛba kɛ bɔ ni fee ni wɔtsɔ he ni akɛ dadei etsĩ gbɛ lɛ, ebi wɔ akɛ “Ani mɔ ko bɛ jɛmɛ?” Enaa kpɛ ehe waa beni wɔkɛɛ lɛ akɛ, “Mɛi yɛ jɛmɛ shi amɛbiii wɔ nɔ ko” lɛ. Mɛni hewɔ? Ejaakɛ yɛ gbii ni tsɔ hiɛ lɛ amli lɛ ashɔ̃ datrɛfonyo ko kɛ polisifonyo ko hu tsɔne yɛ amɛdɛŋ ni ashã.

Afi 1972 lɛ wɔshĩ kɛtee Cork. Sɛɛ mli lɛ, wɔyasɔmɔ yɛ Naas kɛ agbɛnɛ hu Arklow. Agbɛnɛ yɛ afi 1987 lɛ, aha wɔ nitsumɔ yɛ Castlebar, ni jɛmɛ ji he ni wɔsɔmɔɔ yɛ kɛbashi ŋmɛnɛ. Wɔná hegbɛ kpele akɛ wɔɔye wɔbua ni akɛmã Maŋtsɛyeli Asa yɛ jɛmɛ. Eric he baye waa yɛ afi 1999. Shi yɛ Yehowa yelikɛbuamɔ naa kɛ suɔmɔ ni asafo lɛ kɛfi wɔsɛɛ lɛ hewɔ lɛ, shikome ekoŋŋ lɛ minyɛ mikpee shihilɛ nɛɛ naa kɛkwɛ lɛ aahu kɛyashi ehe bawa lɛ.

Mi kɛ Eric fɛɛ lɛ, wɔtee Gbɛgbamɔ Sɔɔmɔ Skul lɛ shii enyɔ. Eesɔmɔ lolo akɛ asafoŋ onukpa. Tswetsweetswe ko miigba minaa waa, ni no hewɔ lɛ afee migboŋ kɛ minakutsei opireshɛn. Eyɛ mli akɛ mito mitsui shi yɛ shi ni ateɔ waa awoɔ wɔjamɔ lɛ, ni mihi shi kɛtsɔmɔ bei ni maŋkwramɔŋ kɛ maŋ basabasa nifeemɔi lɛ yaa nɔ lɛ mli moŋ, shi eedɔ mi waa akɛ minyɛɛɛ makudɔ tsɔne amrɔ nɛɛ. Eji naagba kɛha mi ejaakɛ kɛ́ maya he ko amrɔ nɛɛ ja mɔ ko kɛ mi tee. Asafo lɛ mli bii lɛ eye amɛbua mi waa, ni amɛfĩ misɛɛ diɛŋtsɛ. Amrɔ nɛɛ minyɛɔ mihiɛɔ tso kɛnyiɛɔ, ni mitaa okɔokpe kɛ enaji etɛ ni batere haa etsuɔ nii lɛ kɛ́ maya he ko shɔŋŋ.

Kɛ́ abu bei abɔ ni mi kɛ Eric wɔkɛsɔmɔ akɛ gbɛgbalɔi krɛdɛɛi lɛ, efe afii 100—ni wɔkɛ emli afii 98 esɔmɔ yɛ Ireland. Ebako wɔyiŋ pɛŋ akɛ wɔɔfɔ̃ɔ. Wɔkɛ wɔhiɛ efɔ̃ɔɔ naakpɛɛ nibii anɔ, shi wɔheɔ wɔyeɔ akɛ Yehowa bɔfoi ni yɔɔ hewalɛ lɛ “bɔɔ nsara” yɛ mɛi ni sheɔ lɛ gbeyei lɛ ni amɛsɔmɔɔ lɛ yɛ anɔkwale mli lɛ ahe “kɛkpeɔ.”