Kihinaaya uttonkaca isiyani yeerannyeele uyo ukatyuuyo, kimpheela wuuhimyeerani vakaani mananna ciwaalyaaka kanceraka uvara nteko wowiivahereriya ukati wotheene.

Mi kiyariye mwaakha wo 1942 u Curaçau, Caribe. Apaapa ayariye u Suriname, masi yaathamenle u Curaçau wiira avare nteko. Myaakha cinci uttuli, hiivano nihinaaya uyariya, apaapa yahokhala Saahiti a Yehova. Ayo yaari nhina ikhurupu yoopacera yo Masaahiti a Yehova o Curaçau. a Ayo yaanawaasomiha Ibiiblya asaanaaya athanu khula isumana. Masi hi naanawaarikarikihela cinene wiira anisomihe. Uwakati waarinaaka myaakha 14, hi nahothamela u Suriname, kontha apaapa yahaana yaawaceraka anumwanaya, ukhala wiira yahooluvalaa.

U Suriname, mi kahancera waapatthanana amirawo yeekurumica cinene wanlokoni. Ayo yaari oolupale ukivikana miiva ni yaavara nteko weepiyoneeru owiicaaverya. Uwakati waakihimyeeraaya citthu comaana caawiirannyeela wuulalyaani, mi kaanaakhitiri woona wiira khweeli waanawaatteela nrima cinene. Camalaka mikutthaano, mi naasimpwanaaka naanawoopela mwaha Ibiiblya ni ikwaha cikiina waakhalaka uhiyu nawehaka itthonttwa wiirimu. Ayo asimpwanaakaayo phikikavihenre ulakela isiyani yaapheelaaka upanka muukumini waka. Mi kaapheela uvara nteko wa Yehova. Phimaana, kahopattisiya kinarina myaakha 16. Upiiha waka myaakha 18, mi kahancera uvara nteko weepiyoneeru owiicaaverya.

Mi kiheetthuca ikano cinci ukati waavaraaka nteko weepiyoneeru ni nnyo ikanonnyo phikikavihenre ukati wotheene ukhanlyaaka kivaraka nteko wowiivahereriya. Wootakihera, itthu yoopacera yeetthucalyaaka, waari waalakihera miteko co wanlokoni akhwaaka. Waapacenryaaka uvara nteko  weepiyoneeru, missiyonaariyu mmoca eehaniya Willem van Seijl ahokhala khampa apaapa. b Uyo ahokiitthuciha uvara miteko cinci co wanlokoni. Uyo ukatyuuyo, mi akaacuwela wiira kaanaapheela cinene ukaviheriya wiitthuca nnyo mitekonnyo. Mwaakha nkhwaawe, mi kahothanliya wiiva kivare nteko weepiyoneeru owiivaherera ni kahancera ukavihera ikhurupu cankaani micoko coottayi iriyari itakhwa yo Suriname, ni khayaarivo maloko makhwaawe owaattamela nnyo ikhurupunnyo. Mi kinaasukhurweela cinene citthu cotheene cilakiheriyaaka nimayamunna. Ukhuma uyo ukatyuuyo mpaka nnaco, mi kinawiikurumica waatakiha ayo mayamunnaayo ni waalakihera akhwaaka.

Itthu yonayeeli yiitthucalyaaka phi ila: uhitotha ukhalana mihakhu cinci ni ukhala niitthenkacaka saana unaaniphwanyiha iparakha cinci. Wiipaceroni khula mweeri, mi ni munna anvaranaaka nteko weepiyoneeru owiivaherera naanaapanka ilista nantikhaka citthu cotheene caahaleehu upheela khula isumana. Vano naanaarwaa mpaka usittatti wiira nithume citthu cotheene caahaleehu upheela. Hi nahaana niitthenkacaka sana-saana wiira nivarele nteko ratta nsurukhu vakaani waakheleehu khula isumana. Hi naakhala iriyari itakhwa. Phimaana, yanithwaaka itthu khaavo aahala unikavihera. Mi kinaakupali wiira uhiikurumica ukhalana mihakhu cinci ni wiitthuca wiitthenkaca ratta ikhumelo inamwannyaaka uhokikavihera uhoolelihera nteko wa Yehova muukumini waka motheene.

Itthu yoneeraru yiitthucalyaaka ukhalaka wiira unaareera cinene uwiitthuciha moolumo a Nluku atthu niiluuka inoolumaaya. Mi kuunuwale kuulumaka holandês, inglês ni iluuka ineehaniya Sranantongo (ciicammo ineehaniya Sranan). Iyo ikhanle iluuka inoolumiya cinene u Suriname. Masi uwakati waalalyeeraaka iriyari itakhwa, atthu caanawaacivela uviriyana ihapari comaana koolumaaka iluukaaya. Mi waanaakirika cinene uwuulumana ayo atthwaayo ninnyo iluukannyo, toko iluuka ineehaniya saramacano, kontha wowuuluma uhaana wuncereraka ncu ni uyeviha ikwaha cinci. Masi phataari weekurumicaaka. Uvira waya myaakha cinci, mi kahokhitiri uwiitthuciha Ibiiblya atthu enci, kontha kooluma iluuka yeeweehaaya.

Ukati nkhwaawe, mi kaanawoonaka ihaaya. Wootakihera, nkwaha mmoca, mi kaapheela waakoha athiyana yaasomihiya Ibiiblya yooluma isaramacano manannani ciicoonaaya, kontha waanawaawerya mmirimani. Masi khweeliini, mi kaakohale wakhala wiira ayo yahorupala irukulu. Unawoonannya wiira ayo khayaacivenle mena vakaani itthu yaakohalyaaka. Hataa kivonyaka, mi kaheekurumica uwuulumana atthu niiluukaaya.

Mwaakha wo 1970, mi kahovahaceriya nteko wookhala mootoli osirikwiitu. Uyo mwaakhooyo, mi kahooniha ilatarato coporokaraama yeehaniya “Visita à Sede Mundial das Testemunhas de Jeová” kiwooniheraka atthu okhurupu cinci yaakhala iriyari itakhwa. Wiira niphiye ayo mapurwaayo, mi ni mayamunna akhwaawe neetta mmammyoolokoni niikalawa cothaapwa. Nhina nnyo ikalawannyo, naanaaphakhera moothoro, nttooka no gasolina, iluusu ni ikaruma cikhwaawe wiira noonihe nnyo ilataratonnyo. Naphiyaka ayo mapurwaayo,  nahaana niteesaka ikaruma cotheene ni ulovolela ntakhwani waahaleehu waathoonyera atthu nnyo ilataratonnyo. Masi itthu ihinliyalaaka ikwaha ceetteehu ayo mapurwaayo ukhalaka wiira atthu caanawaacivela cinene woona nnyo ilataratonnyo. Mi kaanaakhala ootteeliya cinene nlattu woowiitthuciha ayo atthwaayo myaha ca Yehova ni uwoonihera mphwinkwaawe woothotokanihiya wo watuninyani. Uwoona ayo atthwaayo yancuwelaka ni yampatthananaka Yehova, wahokiiriha wuupuwela wiira phataari weekurumicaaka uwootola.

Mi kaanaacuwela wiira ukhala woohithela yaari itthu yomaana wiira kikhitiri uvara ratta ntekwaaka. Masi waanookhalaru commo, kaanaapheela cinene umphwanya ntthu oohala unthela. Phimaana, mi kahonlompa Yehova cinene kinlepelaka nthiyana aahala upheela uvara nteko untteelaka nrima nkhayi nimiiva, hataa ukhalaka wiira waari nteko woorikarikaca. Uvira waya mwaakha mmoca, mi kahancera uncuwela nrokorihu eehaniya Ethel, aavara nteko weepiyoneeru owiivaherera ni eekurumica cinene. Ukhuma inamwannyaawe, uyo aanaatikhinaca cinene makhalelo a apostolu Paulu ni aapheela wiikurumica ulalya ihapari ca Nluku khampa uyova. Hi nahothelanaca mweeri wo Setembro wo 1971 ni nahancera uvara nteko wo wootola maloko nkhayi.

Amwaaraka Ethel yuunuwihiye woohikhalana mihakhu cinci. Phimaana, ukhala wiira isirikwiitu yaavareehu nteko yaari ntakhwani, ayo khawaarikenle wiilemaleliha ayo makhalelwaayo. Wootakihera, ukati wo wiitthenkaca wiira nootole maloko, hi khanaacisa citthu cinci. Naacisa ikuwo cihu ni naarapaka mmamyoolokoni. Ciicammo, hi naheelemaleliha ulya khula itthu yaavahiyeehu—inyootto, ihopa cineehaniya piranha awula khula itthu yaavaraaya ntakhwani awula mmoolokoni. Naahikhalaneke iparatho, hi naalyaaka mmataakhuruni onika. Ni naahikhalaneke ikhuyeri, hi naalyaaka nimatata. Mi naamwaaraka Ethel ninoona wiira wiikurumica ayo manannaayo ninvarelaka nteko Yehova uhotepa ulipihaca uthelanaca wihu ni uhonikhaliha nkhoyi wo miripo miraru. (Ekles. 4:12) Unari wiira waanaakhitirya uhokoleela uttuli,  hi naanaahokolela ni upanka citthu cotheenennyo!

Itthu ittonkalyaaka wiipaceroni yeerannyaale ikwaha yaahokolyeehu nipuro naarwaaleehu wootola ntakhwani. Uwakati naavireehu nipuro nowoopihaca mmoolokoni, mphantte woohoolo wokalawa wahorwaa nculu ni wahomorela vathi. Wootteeliha nrima, hi nahowara ikuleti ni khanaattitthale mmaacini. Waanookhalaru commo, yahokela maaci menci nkalawani. Hi nahaana nicisaka iparatho caahenleehu iyoolya wiira nikhuve maaci yaakenle nkalawani. Masi wiira nipanke commo, nahaana nirihaka iyoolya yotheene yaarineehu.

Ukhala wiira nahoriha iyoolya yotheene yaarineehu, hi nahomananiha umenca ihopa neettakoono mmoolokoni, masi khanaakhitinri uvara hataa itthu. Vano nahonlompa Yehova ni nahonlepela wiira anivahe iyoolya nne nihukunne. Umaliha wihu ulompa, munna mmoca aarineehu nkhayi ahottikhela ilowu mmaacini ni ahokhitiri uvara ihopa. Yaari ihopa yuulupale, mpaka nahokhitiri ulya atthu 5 ni urupala ule uhiyuule.

Uvira waya myaakha 5 nivaraka nteko wo wootola maloko usirikwiitu, mi ni amwaaraka Ethel nahaakhela iparakha yahaaweherereehu. Wahokitteela nrima cinene nlattu wo iyo itthwiiyo. Masi akaacuwela mananna iyo itthwiiyo caahalaaya urukunusa makhalelweehu. Mi ni amwaaraka Ethel naanaapheela cinene uhihiyerera uvara nteko wowiivahereriya ukati wotheene, wakhitiryaavale. Mwaakha wo 1976, mwanihu Ethniël ahoyariya. Mwanihu onayeeli, Giovani, yariye uvira waya myaakha miili ni nuusu.

U Suriname yaanaapheeliya cinene atthu ookavihera ule ukatyuule. Phimaana, mayamunna o Peteli yahokihiya kivaraka nteko wo wootola maloko niwuunuwihakoono asaaniihu. Uwakati asaaniihu waaryaaya amirawo, mi kaalepeliye uvara nteko isirikwiitu yahaarina maloko menci. Iyo itthwiiyo yaanaakikhitiriha uvara nteko wo wootola maloko usumana cikhwaawe ni isumana cikiinannyo uvara nteko weepiyoneeru wanlokoni naariihu. Karwaaka wootola maloko yaakhalaka wakhiviru nuuwannyihu, amwaaraka ni asaaniihu yaanaakiveleela. Masi wakhalaka wiira kaarwaa wootola maloko yaari mmatakhwani awula narwaaka upanka mithukumano cosirikwiitu uttayi, mi kaarwaaka veekha.

Wiira kikhitiri uvara miteko caka cotheene, mi kahaana kiitthenkacaka ratta. Mi kaanawiikurumica wiira kisome Ibiiblya naamucyaaka khula isumana. Masi uwakati kaakhalaaka ntakhwani kootolaka maloko, amwaaraaka yaanawaasomiha Ibiiblya asaaniihu wapuwani. Waanookhalaru  commo, khula ukati naanawiikurumica upanka citthu nkhayi. Mi naamwaaraka naanaapanka citthu cinci wiira naathukane asaaniihu ni naanaakhumaka wiira neettakace. Ikwaha cinci, mi kaarupaka uhiyu cinene kontha kahaana kitthenkacaka miphantte caka. Ni amwaaraka yaakhala khampa nthiyana noolumiya nhina Miruku 31:15. Yonwaka uwicisu ncuwa nihinakhuma wiira atthenkace citthu cotheene wiira noopele mwaha nkhayi iveerusu yo khula nihuku ni nilye. Mi kinansukhuru cinene Yehova nlattu wookivaha nthiyana oohinyoonyiya ni hinhiya ukikavihera uvara miteko caka cowanlokoni!

Khampa ayari, hi khanaahiya wiikurumica cinene wiira naakavihere asaaniihu unfenta Yehova ni wiira waacivele cinene nteko woolalyeera. Hi naapheela wiira asaaniihu ahoolelihere muukumini waya nteko wo wiivahereriya ukati wotheene, kahi wiira anitteelihe nrima hiiva, masi athanle nlattu woopheela imwaneennyaaya. Hi khanaahiya uwuulumana naalakiheraka mananna caahalaaya ukhala ootteeliya nrima ukati woovara uyo ntekooyo hataa yaakhumelelaka masakha. Yehova khaahiyale unikavihera ni ucaaliha itthokweehu. Hi ciicammo naanawaakavihera asaaniihu waapatthanana mayamunna yanhoolelihera Yehova muukumini waya.

Yehova khaahiyale waavaha amucyaaka citthu cotheene caapheelaaya. Mi ciicammo kaanawiikurumica wiira akicaalihe. Uwakati waavaraaka nteko weepiyoneeru owiivaherera ntakhwani, kaheetthuca usunka nsurukhu wiira kihitepe usanka yakhumelelaka itthu. Masi hataa niikurumicaka, ikwaha cikhwaawe khanaakhalana nsurukhu wiira nithumele citthu caapheeleehu. Uyo ukatyuuyo, mi kinoona wiira Yehova ahonivaha citthu caapheeleehu. Wootakihera, ukhuma mwaakha wo 1986 mpaka 1992 yahokhumelela ikhotto u Suriname. Uyo uwakatyuuyo waanaanirika cinene ukhitiri citthu caapheeleehu, masi Yehova khaahiya unikavihera uphwanya citthu caapheeleehu.—Matt. 6:32.

Muukumini wihu motheene, Yehova khahiyale uniwacera ni uniphwanyiha utteeliya nrima. Asaaniihu akhanle iparakha yuulupale, ni uwuunuwiha wiira answalele Yehova ciicammo ikhanle iparakha yuulupale. Hi unaanitteela nrima cinene uwoona wiira ayo aholakela uvara nteko wo wiivahereriya uwakati wotheene. Mwanihu Ethniël ni mwanihu Giovani ahosoma icikola co Umwene ni nnaco anvara nteko u Peteli yo Suriname nkhayi naasaaraya.

Nnaco, mi naamwaara nihooluvala masi nanlelo ninawiikurumica uvara nteko wa Yehova khampa mapiyoneeru owiivaherera. Nanlelo ninkhala nimiteko cinci, mpaka akinaaya wiitthuca urampela mmaacini. Masi akittharuwale mena vakaani. Kuupuwelaka uttuli, kinawoona wiira wancera uvara nteko wo wiivahereriya uwakati wotheene kinari mmirawo ikhanle itthu yomaana ilakenlyaaka muukumini waka.