YƐ ANƆKWALE mli lɛ, mɛi fioo lɛ ni bo nakai wiemɔ lɛ ni mihã lɛ toi lɛ gbaaa minaa, ejaakɛ mihiɛ gboɔ waa. Anɔkwa, migbekɛbiiashi tɔ̃ɔ po lɛ, kɛji gbɔi ba wɔshĩa lɛ, miyateɔ, kɛ́ mile amɛ po.

Enɛ hewɔ lɛ, ekolɛ ebaafee bo naakpɛɛ akɛ ooole akɛ nibii ni mitsu kɛ nɔ ni mitsuɔ he nii yɛ Yehowa gbɛjianɔtoo lɛ mli lɛ biɔ ni mikɛ mɛi babaoo ashara, mɛi ni mile kɛ mɛi ni mileee fɛɛ. Te aaafee tɛŋŋ ni mɔ ko ni hiɛ gboɔ tamɔ mi lɛ aaanyɛ aná hekɛnɔfɔɔ yɛ lɛ diɛŋtsɛ emli ni etsu nitsumɔi nɛɛ? Jeee mi diɛŋtsɛ mihewalɛ naa minyɛ mifee enɛ. Moŋ lɛ, Yehowa ji mɔ ni yeɔ ebuaa mi, ejaakɛ ewo shi akɛ: “Mawajeo, ni maye mabuao; ni mahiɛ omli kɛ mijalɛ ninejurɔ lɛ.” (Yes. 41:10) Gbɛ kome ni Yehowa etsɔ nɔ eye ebua mi ji, kɛtsɔ yelikɛbuamɔ ni minyɛmimɛi Kristofoi lɛ kɛhãa mi lɛ nɔ. Hã magba bo ekomɛi ahe sane, kɛjɛ migbekɛbiiashi.

Hɔgbaa leebi ko yɛ afi 1944 mli lɛ, yoo ko ni atsɛɔ lɛ Elsie Huntingford lɛ ba wɔshĩa lɛ yɛ Ontario wuoyi-anaigbɛ ni ebatswa wɔshinaa. Minyɛ ji mɔ ni yagbele shinaa lɛ, no mli lɛ mi kɛ mitsɛ, ni lɛ hu ehiɛ gboɔ tamɔ mi nɔŋŋ lɛ, yɛ tsũ lɛ mli wɔmiibo amɛ toi.  Akɛni mitsɛ susu akɛ Nyɛmiyoo Huntingford miihɔ̃ɔ nɔ ko, ni akɛ mimami baahe nii lɛ eko hewɔ lɛ, etee shinaa lɛ shi ni eyakɛɛ yoo lɛ akɛ, wɔsumɔɔɔ. No hewɔ lɛ, Nyɛmiyoo Huntingford bi lɛ akɛ, “Nyɛsumɔɔɔ ni akɛ nyɛ akase Biblia lɛ?” Ni mipapa kɛɛ lɛ akɛ, “Oo, no lɛ wɔmiisumɔ.”

Nyɛmiyoo Huntingford ba yɛ be ni sa mli waa. Kulɛ mifɔlɔi yaa sɔlemɔ yɛ United Church of Canada, shi amɛkpa yaa etsɛko. Mɛni hewɔ? Ejaakɛ osɔfo lɛ kɛ mɛi ni tsuɔ onia lɛ agbɛ́i bakpɛtɛɔ he ko yɛ sɔlemɔtsu lɛ ablanaa lɛ nɔ, ni ato gbɛ́ii lɛ anaa yɛ shika abɔ ni mɛi lɛ tsuɔ lɛ naa. Akɛni mifɔlɔi bɛ nɔ ko tsɔ hewɔ lɛ, bei pii lɛ amɛgbɛ́i yajeɔ naagbee gbɛ, ni sɔlemɔ lɛ mli onukpai lɛ nyɛɔ amɛnɔ koni amɛtsu onia babaoo. Agbɛnɛ hu, osɔfoi lɛ ateŋ mɔ kome hã amɛle akɛ, nibii ni etsɔɔ lɛ, jeee no eheɔ eyeɔ, shi akɛni esumɔɔɔ ni enitsumɔ ŋmɛɔ lɛ lɛ hewɔ ni etsɔɔ lɛ. No hewɔ lɛ, wɔkpa sɔlemɔ lɛ, shi wɔtao gbɛ ni wɔɔtsɔ nɔ wɔjá Nyɔŋmɔ ni wɔkase ehe nii lolo.

Akɛni nakai beaŋ lɛ agu Yehowa Odasefoi lɛ anitsumɔ lɛ yɛ Canada hewɔ lɛ, Nyɛmiyoo Huntingford kɛ Biblia lɛ kɛ nibii komɛi ni eŋmala yɛ wolo diŋ bibioo ko mli lɛ pɛ tsɔɔ wɔ nii. Sɛɛ mli be ni eyɔse akɛ wɔhaŋ amralo lɛ ale akɛ eji Odasefonyo lɛ, ehã wɔ asafo lɛ woji krokomɛi. Be fɛɛ be ni wɔbaakase nii wɔtã lɛ, wɔkɛ woji nɛɛ toɔ jogbaŋŋ. *

Yɛ shiteekɛwoo kɛ naatsĩi krokomɛi ni Nyɛmiyoo Huntingford kɛkpe lɛ fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, etee nɔ ekɛ ekãa shiɛ sane kpakpa lɛ. Ekãa ni ekɛshiɛ lɛ ná minɔ hewalɛ, ni mikpɛ miyiŋ akɛ masɔmɔ Yehowa. Be ni abaptisi mifɔlɔi akɛ Yehowa Odasefoi lɛ sɛɛ afi lɛ, mi hu abaptisi mi. Abaptisi mi yɛ February 27, 1949 yɛ gbudugbaŋ ko ni kooloi nuɔ nu yɛ mli lɛ mli. No mli lɛ, miye afii 17. Ni no sɛɛ lɛ, mikpɛ miyiŋ akɛ matsɔ gbɛgbalɔ.

Mishashao shi akɛ matsu gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ. Mitsu nitsumɔi enyɔ, ekome yɛ shikatoohe ko kɛ ekroko lɛ hu yɛ nitsumɔhe ko, ejaakɛ misusu akɛ esa akɛ maná shika koni mikɛkwɛ mihe be ni mitsuɔ gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ. Shi akɛ oblanyo fioo ni bɛ niiashikpamɔ lɛ, miye shika ni baa midɛŋ lɛ nyafunyafu. No hewɔ lɛ, nyɛmi nuu ko ni atsɛɔ lɛ  Ted Sargent lɛ wo mi hewalɛ ni mifee ekãa, ni mikɛ mihiɛ afɔ Yehowa nɔ. (1 Kron. 28:10) Ŋaa ni ewo mi nɛɛ hã mibɔi gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ yɛ November 1951. No mli lɛ, nɔ pɛ ni miyɔɔ ji dɔlai 40, okɔɔkpe, kɛ baagi hee ko. Shi be fɛɛ be lɛ, Yehowa hãa mi nɔ ni he hiaa mi. Eŋɔɔ minaa waa akɛ Ted wo mi hewalɛ koni mibɔi gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ! Enɛ hã miná jɔɔmɔi krokomɛi.

Gbi ko gbɛkɛ yɛ August 1952 mli lɛ, atswa mi kɛjɛ Toronto. Yehowa Odasefoi anitsumɔhe nine ni yɔɔ Canada lɛ fɔ̃ mi nine koni mibasɔmɔ yɛ Betel yɛ September mli. Eyɛ mli akɛ mihiɛ gboɔ ni miyako jɛi pɛŋ moŋ, shi miná miishɛɛ waa, ejaakɛ gbɛgbalɔi krokomɛi egba mi Betel saji ni yɔɔ miishɛɛ. Be ni mishɛ jɛi lɛ, mihiɛ mɛ amrɔ nɔŋŋ.

Be ni miyashɛ Betel sɛɛ afii enyɔ lɛ, ahã miyaye Bill Yacos najiaŋ akɛ asafo sɔɔlɔ (nɔ ni amrɔ nɛɛ atsɛɔ lɛ onukpai akuu lɛ asaji ahe gbɛjianɔtolɔ lɛ) yɛ asafo ko ni yɔɔ Toronto lɛ mli. Akɛni no mli lɛ, miye afii 23 hewɔ lɛ, minu he akɛ mileee nɔ ko nɔ ko. Shi Nyɛminuu Yacos jɛ esuɔmɔ mli etsɔɔ mi nɔ ni esa akɛ mafee ni, ekɛ heshibaa fee enɛ. Ni Yehowa hu ye ebua mi waa.

Nyɛminuu Yacos sumɔɔ gbɔmɔ waa, ni be fɛɛ be lɛ eyɛ miishɛɛ. Esumɔɔ nyɛmimɛi lɛ, ni amɛ hu amɛsumɔɔ lɛ. Esaraa amɛ yɛ amɛshĩai be fɛɛ be, jeee be ni amɛyɛ naagbai pɛ. Ewo mi hewalɛ ni mi hu mifee nakai nɔŋŋ, ní mikɛ nyɛmimɛi lɛ afee ekome kɛtsu shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ. Ekɛɛ mi akɛ: “Ken, hã nyɛmimɛi lɛ ana akɛ osusuɔ amɛhe. No baaha eshai babaoo nɔ.”

Kɛjɛ January 1957 lɛ, Yehowa eye ebua mi yɛ gbɛ krɛdɛɛ ko nɔ. Nakai nyɔɔŋ lɛ nɔ mikɛ Evelyn, ni fata Gilead Skul lɛ klas ni ji 14 nɔ lɛ he lɛ, bote gbalashihilɛ mli. Dani wɔbaabote gbalashihilɛ mli lɛ, no mli lɛ eesɔmɔ yɛ Quebec maŋtiase lɛ mli, ni awieɔ French yɛ jɛmɛ. Nakai beaŋ lɛ, Roman Katolik sɔlemɔ lɛ titri ni kwɛɔ Quebec nɔ. No hewɔ lɛ, Evelyn náaa shiɛmɔ yɛ shikpɔŋkuku nɛɛ mli lɛ mlɛo, shi eye Yehowa anɔkwa ni etee nɔ eshiɛ.

Evelyn etee nɔ eye ebua mi hu. (Efe. 5:31) Anɔkwa, be ni wɔbote gbalashihilɛ mli nɔŋŋ lɛ, shihilɛ ko ba ni ka enɔkwayeli lɛ. Wɔkpɛ wɔyiŋ akɛ wɔbaafã gbɛ kɛya Florida yɛ U.S.A., shi gbi ni wɔbote gbalashihilɛ mli lɛ nɔ jetsɛremɔ lɛ, nitsumɔhe nine lɛ bi ni miya kpee ko ni baahe otsi ni abaafee yɛ Canada Betel. Enɛ hã wɔyiŋ ni wɔkpɛ lɛ eyabaaa nɔ, shi mi kɛ Evelyn fɛɛ sumɔɔ akɛ wɔfee nɔ fɛɛ nɔ ni Yehowa baakɛɛ akɛ wɔfee. No hewɔ lɛ, wɔfo wɔgbɛfãa lɛ mli. Nakai otsi lɛ, Evelyn shiɛ yɛ he ko ni bɛŋkɛ nitsumɔhe nine lɛ. Eyɛ mli akɛ esoro bɔ ni jɛmɛ shikpɔŋkuku lɛ mli nitsumɔ yɔɔ lɛ kwraa yɛ Quebec nɔ lɛ he moŋ, shi emia ehiɛ.

Yɛ nakai otsi lɛ naagbee lɛ, akɛɛ mi ni miyasɔmɔ akɛ kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔ yɛ Ontario kooyigbɛ—nɔ ko ni mikpaaa gbɛ kwraa. Mibatsɔ wu etsɛko, miye afii 25 pɛ, ni mibɛ niiashikpamɔ ko kwraa, shi wɔkɛ wɔhiɛ fɔ̃ Yehowa nɔ. Nakai gbi lɛ, wɔwó oketeke ni wɔfã gbɛ jenamɔ muu fɛɛ kɛtee  he ni wɔyaasɔmɔ yɛ lɛ. Eji gbii ni fɛ̃i yeɔ waa yɛ Canada lɛ ateŋ ekome. No mli lɛ, nɔkwɛlɔi gbɛfalɔi krokomɛi ni yɔɔ niiashikpamɔ ni miiku amɛsɛɛ kɛmiiya hei ni amɛsɔmɔɔ yɛ lɛ hu fata wɔhe yɛ oketeke lɛ mli. Amɛwo wɔ hewalɛ waa! Nyɛmi nuu lɛ eko nyɛ wɔnɔ doo akɛ wɔkɛ lɛ atsake, ni wɔya he ni eta yɛ oketeke lɛ mli ni anyɛɔ akãa jɛi awɔɔ lɛ, akɛni esumɔɔɔ ni wɔtaa shi jenamɔ muu fɛɛ lɛ hewɔ. Enɔ jetsɛremɔ lɛ, wɔyasɔmɔ kuu fioo ko ni yɔɔ Hornepayne ni mitsĩ tã kɛtsɔ hiɛ lɛ, no mli lɛ, kpaako wɔná gbii 15 kɛjɛ be ni wɔbote gbalashihilɛ mli lɛ.

Afii fioo komɛi asɛɛ lɛ, wɔshihilɛ lɛ tsake ekoŋŋ. Yɛ afi 1960 naagbee gbɛ, be ni misɔmɔɔ akɛ kpokpaa wulu nɔkwɛlɔ lɛ, aŋma mi wolo akɛ miba Gilead Skul lɛ klas ni ji 36 nɔ lɛ yɛ Brooklyn yɛ New York. Skul nɛɛ baahe nyɔji nyɔŋma, ni abaaje shishi February 1961. Miná miishɛɛ waa, shi edɔ mi akɛ afɔ̃ɔɔ Evelyn nine. Moŋ lɛ, taakɛ eji yɛ ŋamɛi krokomɛi ni afɔ̃ɔɔ amɛ nine lɛ hu agbɛfaŋ lɛ, abi ni Evelyn aŋma wolo kɛtsɔɔ kɛji ebaasumɔ ni wɔteŋ agbala, kɛ́ hooo lɛ nyɔji nyɔŋma. Evelyn fó, shi wɔkpɛ mli akɛ miya skul lɛ, ni ená miishɛɛ akɛ ayaatsɔse mi jogbaŋŋ yɛ Gilead.

Be ni miyɔɔ Gilead lɛ, no mli lɛ Evelyn hu miisɔmɔ yɛ Canada nitsumɔhe nine lɛ. Ekɛ nyɛmi yoo ko ni atsɛɔ lɛ Margaret Lovell, ni afɔ lɛ mu lɛ hi tsũ mli, ni enɛ ji hegbɛ krɛdɛɛ. Mihiɛ tse Evelyn waa, ni lɛ hu ehiɛ tse mi. Shi yɛ Yehowa yelikɛbuamɔ naa lɛ, wɔ fɛɛ wɔnyɛ wɔtsu nitsumɔi ni akɛwo wɔdɛŋ yɛ be kukuoo mli lɛ jogbaŋŋ. Shwelɛ ni ená akɛ ekɛ be ni kulɛ esa akɛ wɔná wɔhã wɔhe lɛ baashã afɔle koni wɔnyɛ wɔsɔmɔ Yehowa kɛ egbɛjianɔtoo lɛ ta mitsuiŋ waa.

Be ni mihi Gilead aaafee nyɔji etɛ lɛ, Nyɛminuu Nathan Knorr, ni no mli lɛ ekwɛɔ shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ nɔ yɛ jeŋ fɛɛ lɛ, kɛ nɔ ko fɔ̃ mihiɛ. Ebi mi kɛji masumɔ akɛ maku misɛɛ kɛya Canada ni miyatsɔɔ nii yɛ Maŋtsɛyeli Sɔɔmɔ Skul lɛ. Nyɛminuu Knorr kɛɛ mi akɛ, ejeee doo akɛ mikpɛlɛ nɔ. Manyɛ makpɛ miyiŋ akɛ magbe Gilead Skul lɛ naa, ni ahã miyasɔmɔ akɛ maŋsɛɛ sɔɔlɔ. Ekɛfata he akɛ, kɛ́ mikpɛ miyiŋ akɛ maya Canada lɛ, ekolɛ atsɛŋ mi Gilead dɔŋŋ, ni nɔ ko bɛ ni tsɔɔ hu akɛ abaahã maya nɔ masɔmɔ yɛ nitsumɔhe nine lɛ be ni mitsɔɔ nii lɛ migbe naa. Eshi sane lɛ ehã mi koni mikpɛ miyiŋ be ni mikɛ miŋa esusu he sɛɛ.

Akɛni Evelyn etsɔ hiɛ ekɛɛ mi bɔ ni enaa teokrase nitsumɔi ehãa hewɔ lɛ, amrɔ nɔŋŋ lɛ mikɛɛ Nyɛminuu Knorr akɛ, “Nɔ fɛɛ nɔ ni Yehowa gbɛjianɔtoo lɛ baasumɔ akɛ wɔfee lɛ, wɔyɛ he miishɛɛ akɛ wɔɔfee.” Wɔkpɛ mli akɛ nitsumɔ fɛɛ nitsumɔ ni Yehowa gbɛjianɔtoo lɛ kɛbaahã wɔ lɛ, wɔbaatsu, kɛ́ jeee no ji nɔ ni wɔsumɔɔ po.

No hewɔ lɛ, yɛ April 1961 lɛ, mishi Brooklyn ni mitee Canada koni miyatsɔɔ nii yɛ Maŋtsɛyeli Sɔɔmɔ Skul lɛ. Sɛɛ mli lɛ, wɔbɔi sɔɔmɔ yɛ Betel.  Kɛkɛ lɛ, trukaa lɛ, minine shɛ wolo nɔ akɛ miba Gilead Skul klas ni ji 40 nɔ ni baaje shishi yɛ afi 1965 lɛ. Shi kome ekoŋŋ lɛ, ehe bahia ni Evelyn aŋma wolo kɛtsɔɔ akɛ ebaakpɛlɛ ni wɔmli agbala be kukuoo ko. Shi otsii fioo komɛi asɛɛ lɛ, aŋma lɛ wolo akɛ ebaanyɛ ekɛ mi fɛɛ aba skul lɛ, ni enɛ hã wɔmii shɛ wɔhe waa.

Be ni wɔtee Gilead Skul lɛ, Nyɛminuu Knorr kɛɛ wɔ mɛi ni atsɔɔ wɔ French lɛ akɛ, kɛ́ wɔgbe naa lɛ akɛ wɔ baaya Afrika. Shi be ni wɔgbe skul lɛ naa lɛ, ahã wɔyasɔmɔ yɛ Canada ekoŋŋ. Ahala mi akɛ nitsumɔhe nine lɛ nɔkwɛlɔ (ní amrɔ nɛɛ atsɛɔ lɛ Nitsumɔhe Nine Ajinafoi Akuu lɛ saji ahe gbɛjianɔtolɔ lɛ). Akɛni no mli lɛ miye afii 34 pɛ hewɔ lɛ, mikɛɛ Nyɛminuu Knorr akɛ, “Midako.” Shi ewo mi hewalɛ. No hewɔ lɛ, be ni mije nitsumɔ lɛ shishi nɔŋŋ lɛ, be fɛɛ be lɛ, mikɛ nyɛmimɛi ni kɛ be babaoo esɔmɔ yɛ Betel lɛ susuɔ nii ahe dani mikpɛɔ yiŋ ko ni he hiaa.

Betel sɔɔmɔ ehã miná hegbɛi babaoo kɛkase nii kɛjɛ mɛi krokomɛi adɛŋ. Mibuɔ Nitsumɔhe Nine Ajinafoi Akuu lɛ mli bii krokomɛi lɛ waa, ni misumɔɔ amɛsane. Nyɛmimɛi hii kɛ yei ohai abɔ—mɛi ni edara kɛ mɛi ni darako fɛɛ—ni wɔkɛshara yɛ nitsumɔhe nine lɛ kɛ mɛi hu ni yɔɔ asafoi srɔtoi ni wɔsɔmɔ yɛ mli lɛ amli lɛ, ená minɔ hewalɛ yɛ gbɛ kpakpa nɔ.

Betel sɔɔmɔ ehã miná hegbɛ hu kɛtsɔɔ mɛi krokomɛi nii, ni miye mibua amɛ ni amɛwaje amɛhemɔkɛyeli lɛ. Bɔfo Paulo kɛɛ Timoteo akɛ: ‘Hii shi yɛ nii ni okase lɛ amli.’ Ni ewie hu akɛ: “Nii ni onu yɛ minaa yɛ odasefoi pii ahiɛ lɛ, no nɔŋŋ otu owo gbɔmɛi anɔkwafoi adɛŋ, mɛi ni yɔɔ hewalɛ ni amɛkɛaatsɔɔ mɛi krokomɛi hu lɛ.” (2 Tim. 2:2; 3:14) Bei komɛi lɛ, nyɛmimɛi Kristofoi biɔ mi nɔ ni mikase yɛ afii 57 ni mikɛsɔmɔ yɛ Betel lɛ mli. Nɔ ni mikɛɔ amɛ kɛkɛ ji, “Jɛɛ osuɔmɔ mli ofee nɔ fɛɛ nɔ ni Yehowa gbɛjianɔtoo lɛ biɔ yɛ odɛŋ lɛ amrɔ nɔŋŋ, ni okɛ ohiɛ afɔ̃ Yehowa nɔ akɛ ebaaye ebua bo.”

Mikaiɔ gbi ni miba Betel lɛ waa lolo. No mli lɛ, miji oblanyo ni hiɛ gboɔ, ni bɛ niiashikpamɔ ko. Shi yɛ afii ni eho nɛɛ fɛɛ mli lɛ, Yehowa etee nɔ ‘ehiɛ mininejurɔ mli.’ Bei pii lɛ, kɛ́ yelikɛbuamɔ he miihia mi lɛ, Yehowa tsɔɔ nyɛmimɛi hii kɛ yei lɛ anɔ eyeɔ ebuaa mi, ni no hãa minuɔ he tamɔ nɔ ni eekɛɛ mi akɛ: “Kaashe gbeyei! Maye mabuao!”—Yes. 41:13.