YƐ June 1970 lɛ, atsĩ minaa yɛ helatsamɔhe ko ni yɔɔ Pennsylvania yɛ United States lɛ. No mli lɛ asraafonyo ji mi, ni miye afii 20. Nɛɛsifonyo nuu ni kwɛɔ mi lɛ ye mi onukpa afii fioo komɛi, ni minitii 30 fɛɛ minitii 30 lɛ, ekwɛɔ akɛ mitsui miitswa jogbaŋŋ lo. Be fɛɛ be ni ebaakwɛ lɛ, etamɔ nɔ ni mitsui miihe akpa tswaa. Bɔ ni efee ehiɛ lɛ hã mina akɛ nibii eyaaa lɛ jogbaŋŋ, no hewɔ lɛ mibi lɛ akɛ, “Ani ona mɔ ko ni miigbo dã?” Ehiɛ tsake amrɔ, ni ehã hetoo akɛ, “Dabi, minako eko dã.” Shwɛ sharao ni magbo, shi miyi ná wala. Hã magba bo nibii komɛi ni tee nɔ yɛ mishihilɛ mli.

Akɛ mi tee Vietnam yɛ July 1969, be ni awuɔ ta lɛ yɛ jɛmɛ lɛ. Taakɛ afeɔ ahãa asraafoi hei fɛɛ ni akɛyaa jɛmɛ lɛ, ahã mi otsi kome ni migbɔmɔtso lɛ kɛle jɛmɛ shihilɛ lɛ. No sɛɛ lɛ, ahã mitsu nii yɛ he ko ni afeɔ mɛi opireshɛŋ yɛ. Mikɛ miishɛɛ ye bua helatsɛmɛi kɛ mɛi ni epila lɛ, ni oti ni ma mihiɛ ji, ni matsɔ datrɛfonyo ni feɔ mɛi opireshɛŋ. Jɛmɛ mitsuɔ nii yɛ ni hela lɛ mɔ mi lɛ.

He ni ahã miyatsu nii yɛ lɛ yɛ helatsamɔhe ko ni yɔɔ kpokpaa ko ni atsɛɔ lɛ Mekong Delta lɛ nɔ. Asraafoi ni epila lɛ ayi fa waa, ni akɛ kɔɔyɔŋ lɛji hole amɛ kɛba helatsamɔhe lɛ. Misumɔɔ mimaŋ lɛ, ni misumɔɔ nitsumɔ hu, no hewɔ lɛ, mifiteee be kwraa, mibɔi nitsumɔ amrɔ nɔŋŋ. Kɛ́ akɛ asraafoi ni epila lɛ bashɛ shi lɛ, atsuɔ nibii fɛɛ ni esa akɛ atsu yɛ amɛhe lɛ, ni akɛ amɛ yaa kɔntenai bibii ni akɛ ɛɛkɔndishɛŋ ewowoo he lɛ ateŋ ekome mli amrɔ nɔŋŋ, koni ayafee amɛ opireshɛŋ. Datrɛfonyo ni yɔɔ kɔntena lɛ mli lɛ, mɔ ni fata ehe lɛ, kɛ nɛɛsifoi enyɔ bɔ mɔdɛŋ waa ni amɛhere mɔ ni akɛba lɛ yiwala. Mina akɛ rɔba baagii diji agboiagboi mamɔ kɔɔyɔŋ lɛji lɛ amli, shi nomɛi lɛ ajieee. Be ni mibi mli lɛ, akɛɛ mi akɛ aloɔ asraafoi ni okplɛmii etsɛrɛ amɛmli lɛ awoɔ nakai rɔbai lɛ amli. Enɛ ji nibii komɛi ni mina be klɛŋklɛŋ ni mitee ta lɛ.

Minu anɔkwale ni Yehowa Odasefoi shiɛɔ lɛ be ni miji oblanyo. Odasefoi lɛ kɛ mimami kase Biblia lɛ, shi eyaaa ehiɛ ni abaabaptisi lɛ. Kɛ̃lɛ,  minya nikasemɔi lɛ ahe waa. Gbi ko lɛ, mi kɛ mimami wu lɛ yatsɔ Maŋtsɛyeli Asa ko he. Mibi lɛ akɛ, “Mɛni afeɔ yɛ jɛmɛ?” Ehã hetoo akɛ, “Kwɛmɔ ohe nɔ jogbaŋŋ yɛ nakai mɛi lɛ ahe!” Mibuɔ mimami wu lɛ, ni miheɔ lɛ miyeɔ, no hewɔ lɛ mibo lɛ toi, ni mikɛ Yehowa Odasefoi fo tako mli.

Be ni miku misɛɛ kɛjɛ Vietnam lɛ, minyɛɛɛ majie nibii gbeyeigbeyei ni miyana yɛ ta lɛ mli lɛ kɛjɛ mijwɛŋmɔ mli. Etamɔ nɔ ni mɛi leee nɔ ni yaa nɔ yɛ Vietnam lɛ jogbaŋŋ. Mikaiɔ akɛ, mɛi komɛi wie amɛshi ta lɛ, ni amɛtsɛ U.S. asraafoi lɛ akɛ abifabii agbelɔi, ejaakɛ amɛnu akɛ aagbe gbekɛbii yɛ ta lɛ mli. Nibii nɛɛ fɛɛ hao mi waa, ni ehã mina akɛ, esa akɛ matao Nyɔŋmɔ sɛɛ gbɛ.

Mibɔi sɔlemɔi srɔtoi yaa koni manyɛ male Nyɔŋmɔ. No mli lɛ, miheɔ Nyɔŋmɔ nɔ miyeɔ, shi minyaaa nibii ni miyana yɛ sɔlemɔi lɛ amli lɛ ahe. Naagbee lɛ, Hɔgbaa ko yɛ February 1971 mli lɛ, mitee Maŋtsɛyeli Asa ko ni yɔɔ Delray Beach, yɛ Florida lɛ nɔ. No ji klɛŋklɛŋ kpee ni mitee.

Be ni mishɛ Maŋtsɛyeli Asa lɛ nɔ lɛ, eshwɛ fioo ni abaahã maŋshiɛmɔ lɛ agbe naa, no hewɔ lɛ mimɛ kɛhã Buu-Mɔɔ Nikasemɔ lɛ. Mikaiii nɔ ni akase nakai gbi lɛ, shi mikaiɔ akɛ gbekɛbii lɛ hiɛ Bibliai, ni kɛ́ atsɛ ŋmalɛi lɛ, amɛgbeleɔ. Efee mi fɛo waa! Mibo nɔ ni awieɔ lɛ toi, ni mikwɛ nɔ ni yaa nɔ lɛ. Be ni akpa ni mishiɔ lɛ, nyɛmi nuu ko ni eye aaafee afii 80 tsi ebɛŋkɛ mi. Atsɛɔ lɛ Jim Gardner. Ekɛ wolo ni ji Anɔkwale ni Kɛ Mɔ Yaa Naanɔ Wala Mli Lɛ tsɔɔ mi, ni ekɛɛ mi akɛ, “Ofainɛ miitao mahã bo wolo nɛɛ.” Miŋɔ wolo lɛ, ni wɔto gbɛjianɔ koni wɔkpe Soo leebi ni wɔbɔi Biblia lɛ kasemɔ.

Nakai beiaŋ lɛ, mitsuɔ nii yɛ helatsamɔhe ko ni yɔɔ Boca Raton yɛ Florida lɛ. Ni nakai Hɔgbaa gbɛkɛ lɛ, matsu nii kɛjɛ gbɛkɛ ŋmɛlɛ nyɔŋma kɛ ekome kɛyashi leebi ŋmɛlɛ kpawo. Mikɛ Anɔkwale wolo lɛ tee, ni akɛni nakai gbɛkɛ lɛ nitsumɔ bɛ tsɔ hewɔ lɛ, minyɛ mibɔi kanemɔ. Mihiɛ kanemɔ nɔŋŋ ni nɛɛsifonyo yoo ko basha wolo lɛ yɛ midɛŋ, ekwɛ sɛɛ, eke ewo mi, ni ebi mi kɛji miitao matsɔ Yehowa Odasefonyo. Mi hu misha yɛ edɛŋ, ni mikɛɛ lɛ akɛ, mikaneko kɛshɛko he ko moŋ, shi miitao matsɔ Odasefonyo. Eshi mi etee, ni mikane wolo lɛ migbe naa nakai gbɛkɛ lɛ.

Be ni Nyɛminuu Gardner ba ní wɔkase nii lɛ, mibi lɛ akɛ, “No hewɔ lɛ, mɛni wɔbaakase?” Ehã hetoo akɛ, “Wolo lɛ ni mihã bo lɛ.” Mikɛɛ lɛ akɛ, “Mikane migbe naa.” Nyɛminuu Gardner jɛ mlihilɛ mli ekɛɛ akɛ, “Yoo, bo lɛ hã wɔsusu klɛŋklɛŋ yitso lɛ he.” Be ni wɔbɔi kasemɔ lɛ, mina akɛ asomoaŋ nibii pii eho mihiɛ. Minaa kpɛ mihe waa. Ehã mikane ŋmalɛi babaoo yɛ King James Version Biblia ni mihiɛ lɛ mli. Mi diɛŋtsɛ mina akɛ, agbɛnɛ miikase Yehowa, ni ji anɔkwa Nyɔŋmɔ lɛ he nii. Jim kɛ mi kase Anɔkwale wolo lɛ yitsei etɛ nakai leebi lɛ. No sɛɛ lɛ, daa Soo leebi lɛ, wɔkaseɔ  yitsei etɛ. Minya nikasemɔi lɛ ahe waa. Eji hegbɛ kpele ni miná akɛ, mɔ ko ni afɔ lɛ mu, ni le Charles T. Russell kɛ mi kase nii!

Be ni wɔbɔi nikasemɔ lɛ sɛɛ otsii fioo komɛi lɛ, akpɛlɛ minɔ akɛ sane kpakpa lɛ shiɛlɔ. Mináaa shĩa fɛɛ shĩa shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mlɛo, shi Jim ye ebua mi ni minyɛ miná ekãa kɛshiɛ. (Bɔfoi 20:20) Eyelikɛbuamɔ lɛ hã fiofio lɛ, mibanya shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ he. Minuɔ he akɛ shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ ji hegbɛ ni fe fɛɛ ni miná. Eŋɔɔ minaa waa akɛ Nyɔŋmɔ naanyo nitsulɔ ji mi!—1 Korintobii 3:9.

Agbɛnɛ hã magba bo nɔ ko ni kã mitsui nɔ waa. No ji mi-klɛŋklɛŋ suɔmɔ kɛhã Yehowa lɛ. (Kpojiemɔ 2:4) Bei komɛi lɛ mikaiɔ nibii ni mina yɛ ta lɛ mli lɛ, ni mikɛ naagbai krokomɛi hu kpeɔ, shi mi-klɛŋklɛŋ suɔmɔ kɛhã Yehowa lɛ eye ebua mi ni minyɛ mifi shi.—Yesaia 65:17.

Yɛ afi 1971 lɛ, afã mi kɛjɛ tsũ ni mifɔlɔi ehã mi akɛ miwɔ mli lɛ mli, ejaakɛ mimami wu lɛ kɛɛ esumɔɔɔ ni Yehowa Odasefonyo ko hiɔ nakai tsũ lɛ mli! Nakai beiaŋ lɛ, shika fioo pɛ miyɔɔ. Awoɔ mi nyɔmɔ daa otsii enyɔ, shi be ni afã mi lɛ, no mli lɛ mikɛ mishika lɛ fã kpotoo eyahe atadei kɛhã shiɛmɔ, ejaakɛ misumɔɔɔ ni migbeɔ Yehowa he guɔ. Eyɛ mli akɛ miyɛ shika yɛ shikatoohe lɛ moŋ, shi ja mitee mimaŋ lɛ mli yɛ Michigan dani manyɛ majie. Enɛ hewɔ lɛ, ehe bahia ni mahi mitsɔne lɛ mli gbii fioo. Mishɛɔ mitsɛŋ, ni mijuɔ mihe yɛ nushwiemɔhei ni yɔɔ pɛtro steshɛŋ srɔtoi amli.

Gbi ko be ni mikpa nitsumɔ lɛ, mitee Maŋtsɛyeli Asa lɛ nɔ kɛhã kpee kɛhã shiɛmɔyaa. No mli lɛ miwɔɔ mitsɔne lɛ mli lolo. Miyashɛ jɛmɛ ŋmɛlɛtswai fioo komɛi dani aje shishi, ni miyata Asa lɛ  sɛɛ he ko ni mɔ ko mɔ ko enaŋ mi. Be ni mita jɛmɛ lɛ, mikai nibii komɛi ni mina yɛ Vietnam. Fũ ko ba migugɔŋ tamɔ nɔ ni la miisha mɛi, ni efee tamɔ nɔ ni miina ni lá ekpa he fɛɛ he kpɔtɔɔ. Enɛ hã mifee basaa. Efee tamɔ nɔ ni miina oblahii ni epila lɛ, ni miinu ni amɛmiibi mi akɛ: “Magbo? Magbo?” Mile faŋŋ akɛ amɛbaagboi, shi mifee minii tamɔ nɔ ni amɛhe baawa amɛ, ni mishɛje amɛmii. Be ni mita jɛmɛ lɛ, miwerɛ ho mihe waa.

Mifo yikɔyikɔ, ni misɔle mihã Yehowa. (Lala 56:9) Mibɔi gbohiiashitee lɛ he susumɔ waa. Sane nɛɛ hã mina bɔ ni gbohiiashitee lɛ he hiɛnɔkamɔ lɛ jara wa hã! Yehowa baatee nakai oblahii lɛ ashi, ni amɛbaaná hegbɛ amɛkase ehe nii. Gbohiiashitee lɛ hewɔ lɛ, wɔkaiŋ piŋmɔi kɛ nɔnaa ni wɔkɛkpeɔ bianɛ lɛ dɔŋŋ. (Bɔfoi 24:15) Enɛ ni mibanu shishi lɛ hã mibasumɔ Yehowa waa fe tsutsu lɛ po. Kɛbashi ŋmɛnɛ lɛ, mikaiɔ nakai gbi lɛ lolo. Be fɛɛ be ni mikɛ naagbai baakpe yɛ shihilɛ mli lɛ, mibɔɔ mɔdɛŋ mikaiɔ klɛŋklɛŋ suɔmɔ ni miná kɛhã Yehowa lɛ.

Kɛ́ aawu ta lɛ, mɛi feɔ yitsoŋwalɛ nibii, ni nakai mi hu mifee. Shi mijwɛŋɔ ŋmalɛi enyɔ komɛi ni misumɔɔ waa lɛ anɔ, ni nomɛi shɛjeɔ mimii. Klɛŋklɛŋ nɔ lɛ ji, Kpojiemɔ 12:10, 11, ni kɛɔ akɛ, jeee shiɛmɔ ni wɔshiɛɔ lɛ pɛ nɔ wɔtsɔɔ wɔyeɔ Abonsam nɔ kunim, shi moŋ wɔyeɔ enɔ kunim kɛtsɔ Yesu lá lɛ hu nɔ. Nɔ ni ji enyɔ lɛ ji Galatiabii 2:20. Nakai ŋmalɛ lɛ kaiɔ mi akɛ Yesu gbo ehã mi. Kristo afɔleshaa lɛ hewɔ lɛ, Yehowa kɛ nibii fɔji ni mifee lɛ efa mi. No hewɔ lɛ, amrɔ nɛɛ miyɛ henilee ni he tse, kɛ shwelɛ ni mli wa akɛ magba mɛi krokomɛi Yehowa Nyɔŋmɔ ni naa mɔ mɔbɔ lɛ he sane!—Hebribii 9:14.

Kɛ́ misusu nibii komɛi ni etee nɔ yɛ mishihilɛ mli lɛ ahe lɛ, minaa faŋŋ akɛ Yehowa kwako mi; ekwɛ mi jogbaŋŋ. Akɛ nɔkwɛmɔnɔ lɛ, gbi ni Jim ná ele akɛ miwɔɔ mitsɔne lɛ mli lɛ, etsɔɔ mi nyɛmi yoo ko ni yɔɔ tsũi ni eehai. Mile akɛ, Yehowa ji mɔ ni tsɔ Jim kɛ nyɛmi yoo lɛ nɔ ehã miná he ko kpakpa miwɔ. Yehowa mli hi waa! Ekwɛɔ etsuji anɔkwafoi.

Yɛ May 1971 lɛ, ehe bahia ni maya Michigan. No hewɔ lɛ, dani mashi Florida lɛ, miloo woji babaoo miwo mitsɔne lɛ sɛɛ, ni mikɛ mihiɛ tsɔɔ kooyi. Be ni mishiɔ maŋ ni tsa nɔ, ni ji Georgia lɛ, mija woji lɛ fɛɛ. Mikɛ ekãa shiɛ Maŋtsɛyeli lɛ he sane kpakpa lɛ yɛ he fɛɛ he ni maya. Mishiɛ yɛ tsuŋwoohei, ni mikɛ trat hã mɛi yɛ nushwiemɔhei po. Kɛbashi ŋmɛnɛ lɛ, mileee kɛji mɛi ni mikɛwie lɛ ateŋ mɔ ko ebale anɔkwale lɛ.—1 Korintobii 3:6, 7.

Yɛ anɔkwale mli lɛ, be ni mibale anɔkwale lɛ, mikɛ anɔkwale lɛ fi mɛi krokomɛi anɔ, titri lɛ miwekumɛi lɛ. Mikɛ amɛ wie kpookpoo bei komɛi. Misumɔɔ minyɛmimɛi hii, John kɛ Ron, waa diɛŋtsɛ, ni minyɛ amɛnɔ ni amɛmɔ anɔkwale lɛ mli. Sɛɛ mli lɛ, mikpa amɛ fai yɛ nɔ ni mifee lɛ hewɔ. Be fɛɛ be lɛ, misɔleɔ mihãa amɛ koni amɛbamɔ anɔkwale lɛ mli. Amrɔ nɛɛ Yehowa eye ebua mi, ni kɛ́ miishiɛ loo miitsɔɔ nii lɛ, mikɛ ŋaa toɔ he.—Kolosebii 4:6.

Wekukpãa ni yɔɔ mi kɛ Yehowa teŋ lɛ ji nɔ ni he hiaa fe fɛɛ yɛ mishihilɛ mli. Kɛ̃lɛ, miyɛ suɔlɔi krokomɛi hu, titri lɛ miŋa Susan. Mitao ŋa ni baaye abua mi ni manyɛ masɔmɔ Yehowa. Susan hiɛ wa, ni esumɔɔ Yehowa waa. Be ni mikɛ lɛ nyiɛɔ kɛhã gbalashihilɛ lɛ, gbi ko lɛ, miyasara lɛ yɛ efɔlɔi ashĩa yɛ Rhode Island. No mli lɛ eta amɛshĩa lɛ hiɛ, ni ehiɛ Buu-Mɔɔ kɛ Biblia ni eekane. Nɔ ni minya he waa ji akɛ, eyɛ mli akɛ jeee saji ni abaakase  lɛ eko ekaneɔ moŋ, shi ekane ŋmalɛi ni atsɛ yisɛɛ yɛ mli lɛ fɛɛ. Mina akɛ wekukpaa ni yɔɔ ekɛ Yehowa teŋ lɛ jara wa hã lɛ waa. Wɔbote gbalashihilɛ mli yɛ December 1971. Midaa Yehowa shi waa akɛ eduro mi ŋa kpakpa. Nɔ ni misumɔɔ yɛ ehe waa ji akɛ, eyɛ mli akɛ esumɔɔ mi kɛ Yehowa fɛɛ moŋ, shi esumɔɔ Yehowa fe mi.

Yehowa ejɔɔ wɔ kɛ bihii enyɔ, Jesse kɛ Paul. Yehowa etsɔɔ amɛ gbɛ kɛjɛ amɛgbekɛbiiashi, ni amrɔ nɛɛ amɛdara. (1 Samuel 3:19) Wekukpaa kpakpa yɛ amɛ kɛ lɛ teŋ, ni enɛ hãa wɔmii shɛɔ wɔhe waa. Amɛteŋ mɔ fɛɛ mɔ kɛ nɔ ni fe afii 20 ehi be fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Ni amɛkã he amɛmiisɔmɔ Yehowa, ejaakɛ amɛkaiɔ klɛŋklɛŋ suɔmɔ ni amɛná kɛhã lɛ lɛ. Mishwɛɛɛ amɛŋamɛi, Stephanie kɛ Racquel, he kwraa. Amɛhe yɛ fɛo, ni minaa amɛ tamɔ mi diɛŋtsɛ mibiyei. Eŋɔɔ minaa akɛ mibihii lɛ kɛ yei ni kɛ amɛtsui fɛɛ sumɔɔ Yehowa hi shi, ni akɛ, amɛkɛ amɛwala fɛɛ miisɔmɔ lɛ.—Efesobii 6:6.

Mikɛ afii 16 sɔmɔ yɛ Rhode Island, ni miná nanemɛi pii yɛ jɛmɛ. Mikaiɔ asafoŋ onukpai komɛi ni bɔɔ mɔdɛŋ waa ni mikɛsɔmɔ lɛ. Ni mihiɛ sɔɔ nɔkwɛlɔi gbɛfalɔi babaoo ni ye amɛbua mi lɛ. Hii nɛɛ hiɛ klɛŋklɛŋ suɔmɔ ni amɛná kɛhã Yehowa lɛ mli kpɛŋŋ. Eji hegbɛ kpele ni miná akɛ mikɛ amɛ baafee ekome kɛsɔmɔ. Yɛ afi 1987 lɛ, wɔfã kɛtee  North Carolina koni wɔyasɔmɔ yɛ he ni hiamɔ lɛ da yɛ, ni wɔná nanemɛi kpakpai babaoo yɛ jɛmɛ hu. *—Kwɛmɔ shishigbɛ niŋmaa lɛ.

Yɛ August 2002 lɛ, afɔ̃ mi kɛ Susan nine ni wɔbasɔmɔ yɛ Betel ni yɔɔ Patterson yɛ United States lɛ. Mitsu nii yɛ Service Department lɛ, ni Susan hu tsu nii yɛ he ni afɔɔ nibii ahe yɛ lɛ. Enya nitsumɔ nɛɛ he waa! Yɛ August 2005 lɛ, miná hegbɛ akɛ masɔmɔ akɛ Gbɛtsɔɔmɔ Kuu lɛ mli nyo. Minu he akɛ misaaa mɔ ni akɛ nitsumɔ ni tamɔ nɛkɛ woɔ edɛŋ. Susan hu nu he akɛ, nitsumɔ lɛ, sɔ̃ ni ekɛbafɔ̃ wɔnɔ lɛ, kɛ gbɛfãa ni yɔɔ mli lɛ fa tsɔ hã wɔ. Esumɔɔɔ kɔɔyɔŋ lɛji amli tamɔ kwraa; kɛ̃lɛ, wɔkɛ kɔɔyɔŋ lɛji fãa gbɛ waa. Gbɛtsɔɔmɔ Kuu lɛ mli bii krokomɛi lɛ aŋamɛi jɛ suɔmɔ mli amɛwo lɛ ŋaa, ni no eye ebua lɛ waa. No hewɔ lɛ, etswa efai shi akɛ ebaaya nɔ efi misɛɛ, ni enɛ hãa misumɔɔ lɛ waa!

Miyɛ mfonirii fɛfɛji babaoo yɛ mi-ɔfis lɛ. Amɛkaiɔ mi mishihilɛ mli saji komɛi ni yɔɔ miishɛɛ. Yehowa ejɔɔ mi waa, ejaakɛ mihiɛ kpako mi-klɛŋklɛŋ suɔmɔ lɛ nɔ!