BÕE yĩng tɩ m baaba sũurã yik ne-m woto? M na n togs-y-la a võore. Mam doga yʋʋmd 1929, sẽoog kiuug rasem 29. Hal n tãag m bɩʋʋngo, m zĩnda tẽn-bil a ye sẽn be Bulakan, Filipin soolmẽ wã. Ligdã yell ra yaa toogo, tɩ d ra vɩ ne d sẽn tarã bala. Mam sẽn wa n ket n paoodẽ, zabr n yiki, tɩ Zapõ sodaasã reeg Filipin soolmã. La tõnd tẽngã sẽn da be kɩrengã, zabrã pa ta be ye. D ra pa tar radio, tele, bɩ zʋrnall ye. D ra pa tõe n paam zabrã kibar tɩ sã n pa neb a taab n togs-d ye.

M roagdbã ra tara kamb a nii. Maam la yiib-n-soaba. M yaab-rãmb n deeg maam m sẽn wa n tar yʋʋm a 8. Baa ne d sẽn da yaa katolik-rãmbã, m yaab-raoog ra sakd n sõsda ne tũudum a taab neba, la a reesd b sɛbã a zo-rãmbã sẽn da kõt-a wã. M tẽrame t’a zoe n wilga maam Biibli, n paas seb-bi a tãab sẽn pukd tũudum nins sẽn pa togsd sɩdã bãongo. Seb-biyã ra yaa ne tagalog buud-gomdã. M da nonga Biiblã karengo, sẽn yɩɩd fãa evãnzill-dãmb a naasã. Kɩtame tɩ m da rat n tũ a Zeezi mak-sõngã.—Zã 10:27.

Yʋʋmd 1945 wã la Zapõ sodaasã sẽn da reeg Filipin tẽngã loog-yã. Sasa kãng la m roagdbã yeel tɩ m lebg n wa zĩnd ne-ba. M yaab-raoog me yeelame tɩ m kẽnge, tɩ m sɩd kẽnge.

Yʋʋmd 1945 yʋʋm-sar kiuugã, a Zeova Kaset rãmb n yi Angat tẽngã n wa tõnd tẽngẽ wã n na n moon koɛɛgã. B ned a ye sẽn kʋʋl n kẽ tõnd zakẽ wã, n gom Biiblã sẽn yet bũmb ning ‘yaoolem wakatã’ wɛɛngẽ wã yelle. (2 Tɩm. 3:1-5) A yeelame tɩ b na n tigma neb tẽn-bil a ye pʋgẽ, n zãms-b Biiblã, la tɩ d tõe n waame. Pa zãr ne tõnd tẽngã ye. Mam roagdbã pa kẽng ye. La mam kẽngame. Nebã ra kolga 20. Kẽer soka sogsgo, n na n wʋm Biiblã goam võore.

M sẽn da pa wʋmd b goamã fãa võorã, m yãka yam n na n looge. Wakat kãng la b pʋd Rĩungã yɩɩlle, tɩ yɩɩllã kẽ maam tɩ m kell n pa. Yɩɩlã  poore, b pʋʋsame, la b yeel nebã tɩ b modg n wa Angat hatã sẽn watã, tɩ tigsg n na n zĩnd be.

Tigsgã yɩɩ a Kruz rãmb zakẽ wã. Tõnd sʋkã neb wʋsg kẽna sẽn kolg kilo a 8 n na n ta be. Nebã ra kolga 50. M sẽn yã tɩ kom-bõonegã meng ra leokda sogsg Biiblã zugu, baa sogsg nins leoor sẽn yaa toogã, yɩ-m-la noogo. M kell n kẽnga tigiss a wãn n paase, la tigsg a ye poore, saam-biig a Damian Santos sẽn da kʋʋle, n ket n yaa so-pakdã kosa maam tɩ m pa yẽ zakẽ wã n gãande. A ra yɩɩ meere. Yʋngã tõr la bala, d sõsa Biiblã zugu.

Sasa kãng tɩ ned sã n zãms Biiblã n bãng bũmb kẽer sẽn yaa tɩlɛ wã bala, a tõe n deega lisgu. Tigsg a wãn bal poore, saam-biisã soka maam ne neb a taab n na n bãng d sã n dat n deega lisgu. Mam leokame yaa: “N-ye, m datame.” M da miime tɩ m dat n tʋma wa yamba, n kõ ‘Kirist sẽn yaa Zu-soabã.’ (Kol. 3:24) D tũu taab n kẽng kʋɩlg a ye sẽn da pẽ be, tɩ tõnd d yiib reeg lisgu. Yɩɩ yʋʋmd 1946 wao-fugdg rasem 15.

M bãngame tɩ m sẽn lebg kiris-nedã, m segd n moonda koɛɛgã n pa vaandẽ, wa a Zeezi. La m ba wã sũur pa yɩ noog ne rẽ, t’a yeel maam yaa: “Fo paooda wʋsg ne koe-moonego. B sẽn lis foo kʋɩlgẽ wã bal pa sek f na lebg koe-moond ye.” M yeel-a lame tɩ Wẽnnaam datame tɩ d moon a Rĩungã koe-noogo. (Mat. 24:14) M togs-a lame me tɩ yaa tɩlɛ tɩ m pids m sẽn pʋlem Wẽnnaam bũmb ningã. Yaa wakat kãng la a yeel bũmb ning m sẽn togs sɩngrẽ wã. A ra rata ne a sũur fãa n gɩdg-m tɩ m da le moon koɛɛgã ye. Rẽ n kɩt tɩ m sak n loog la m bas-bã. Woto n yɩ pipi m sẽn sak n bas bũmbu, n na n paam n tũ a Zeova.

A Kruz rãmb yeela maam tɩ m tõe n wa zĩnda ne bãmb Angat. B sagla maam ne b bi-pugl-yao wã tɩ d sɩng so-pakrã. A yʋʋr la a Nora. D yiibã fãa sɩd sɩnga so-pakrã yʋʋmd 1947, sɩpaolg kiuug pipi daarã. A Nora kẽnga tẽng a to, tɩ mam kell n pa Angat.

M sẽn lebg so-pakdã yʋʋm a yiib poore, a Earl Stewart sẽn da tʋmd Betɛllẽ wã wa n wɛgsa sõsg Angate, tɩ neb sẽn yɩɩd 500 kelge. Yɩɩ zĩig b sẽn maneg tɩ zãma tõe n tigim. A ra gomda ne ãngilindi, tɩ mam kʋmsd a goamã ne tagalog. M lebga sõss a taab me, la ada soabã n yɩ pipi. Yaa bõe n sõng-ma? Mam karengã zemsa yʋʋm a yopoe bala. La d karen-saam-dãmbã ra gomda ãngilind wakat fãa. Sẽn paase, m da karemda siglgã sɛb wʋsg ne ãngilindi, bala d sɛb sẽn da be ne tagalog pa waoog ye. Yaa rẽ n kɩt tɩ m da tõe n sõngd n lebgd sõssã.

M sẽn sõng n lebg a Earl Stewart sõsgã daare, a togsa Angat tigingã kãsem-dãmb tɩ yʋʋmd 1950 wã, misioneer-dãmbã na n kẽnga L’accroissement de la théocratie tigis-kãsengã sẽn na n zĩnd Niuyorkã, la tɩ b rata so-pakd a ye, wall b yiibu, tɩ b tɩ sõng ne Betɛllã tʋʋmã. B yãka maam ne saam-biig a to. Yɩɩ tɩlɛ yɛs tɩ m bas bũmb kẽere, zĩig m sẽn minimi, la m tẽed-n-taase. La so-kãnga wã, yaa sẽn na n tɩ tʋm Betɛllẽ wã.

Mam taa Betɛllẽ wã yʋʋmd 1950 sigr kiuug rasem 19 wã. Betɛllã ra yaa ro-kʋdre, tɩ tɩ-bɛd karg n gũbgi. Zĩigã yalem ra taa ɛgtaare. Saam-biis sẽn da yaa ra-kõap n tʋmd be ra taa 12. Yibeoog pĩnda, m tʋmda rɩɩbã seglg zĩigẽ, tɩ wakat a 9 sã n ta bɩ m tɩ sõng n repaas futu. Zaabr me, m da maanda woto. Baa misioneer-dãmbã sẽn wa n yi tigis-kãsengã n lebg n wa wã, m kell n paa Betɛllẽ wã. M da maanda b sẽn yeel-m tɩ m maan fãa. M da sõngd n vinda sɛbã tɩ b toondẽ, m gesa abonema-rãmbã yelle, la m tʋm resɛpsiyõ wã zĩigẽ.

Yʋʋmd 1952, b yãka maam ne Filipin saam-biis a yoobe, tɩ d na n kẽng Gileyaad lekollã 20 soabã. M sũur yɩɩ noog wʋsgo! D sẽn ta Etazĩni wã, d yãa bũmb wʋsg d sẽn da zɩ n yã. Vɩɩmã ra yaa toor fasɩ ne tõnd tẽn-bilẽ wã.

Wala makre, d ra pa mi rotã manegr teed la seglgã teed sãnda tall n tʋm ye. Yɩɩ tɩlɛ tɩ d zãmse. Waoodã ra yaa wʋsgo! M yika daar a ye  yibeoogo, n mik tɩ zĩig fãa yaa pɛɛlg faddd, n yaa neere. Sã n pa woto m da zɩ n yã neez ye. Rẽ la m bãng tɩ neezã wakate, waoodã pa tõe n bilg ye.

Zãmsg ning d sẽn da paamd Gileyaad lekollẽ wã ra noom-m-la wʋsgo, hal tɩ m da getẽ tɩ bõn-sãamsã minung pa baa fʋɩ ye. Karen-saamb-dãmbã ra modgdame tɩ zãmsgã kẽed-d sõma. D zãmsa d sẽn tõe n maan vaeesg sõma to-to, n paam tɩ Biiblã zãmsg naf-do. Hakɩɩka, Gileyaad lekollã sõnga maam tɩ m tẽebã paam pãnga.

Lekollã poore, b tʋma maam Brõnks sẽn be Niuyork tẽngã, tɩ m tɩ lebg zall so-pakd be, la pa kaoos ye. Yʋʋmd 1953 sẽoog kiuugã, m paam n kẽnga La société du monde nouveau tigis-kãsengã sẽn kell n yɩ be wã. Tigis-kãsengã poore, b kɩtame tɩ m leb Filipin.

Betɛllã yel-gɛtbã yãka maam tɩ m lebg tigims sull yel-gɛta. M paam n na n dɩka a Zeezi togs-n-taare, bala a ra gilgda hal tẽn-zãrsẽ n sõngd a Zeova nin-buiidã. (1 Pɩy. 2:21) M da segd n gilga Luzon tẽn-sʋk tẽnsã fãa la bala. Luzon yaool n yaa Filipin ko-sʋk tẽng ning sẽn yɩɩd a taabã fãa wã. M da tata Bulakan, Nuweva Ekiya, Tarlak, la Zambales. Yɩl n ta zĩis kẽere, ra yaa tɩlɛ tɩ m pasg Siyera Madre tãmsã. Bis bɩ tẽr pa kẽnd be ye. M da kota sẽn wʋkd-b raadã ne kamyõ-rãmbã, tɩ b sã n sak bɩ m dʋ raadã zug n zĩndi. B ra pa wae n zãgsdẽ ye. La so-toak a woto ra pa be yamleoog baa-baa.

Tigimsã fãa la bal ra paoodame. Rẽ me, ra yaa tigin-paala. Kɩtame tɩ saam-biisã sã n paam tɩ m na n sõng-b tɩ b bãng tigissã la koe-moonegã siglg sõma, b sũy nooma wʋsgo.

B wa n kɩtame tɩ m toeem zĩiga, n da gilgd n get Bikol tẽnsã fãa tigimsã masã. Beenẽ wã, koe-moondb sul n da be zĩis wʋsgo, tɩ zall so-pakdbã moond zĩis nins a Zeova Kaset rãmb sẽn zɩ n moonẽ wã. M tɩ siga zak a ye rãmba, mik b we-kɛɛngã zĩig yaa bok b sẽn tu woto bala, n bao raad a yiib n palg tẽn-sʋkã. M sẽn tab raadã, b kell n kaoome, tɩ maam ne raadã fãa tũ taab n lʋɩ bokẽ wã. Yɩl n pek rẽgdã fãa la m toeem m teedã n sɩng daarã tʋʋmã rɩka sẽk wʋsgo.

M sẽn wa n gilgd n kaagd Bikol tigimsã, m sɩngame n tagsd a Nora yelle, bi-pugl ning sẽn naag maam n sɩng so-pakrã. Rẽ t’a yaa zall so-pakd n be Dumagɛt tẽngã. M kẽnga a nengẽ, n tɩ ges-a. Rẽ poore, d ra gʋlsda lɛta n toond taaba. Yʋʋmd 1956 la d kẽ kãadem. Tõnd kãadmã poor bala, semen ning sẽn pʋglã, d kaaga Rapu Rapu tiging a ye. Yaa ko-sʋk tẽnga. Yɩɩ tɩlɛ tɩ d rʋ tãmse, n kẽn n zãage. La d sũy ra nooma d sẽn  paam n be ne taaba, n gilgd zĩ-zãrsẽ n sõngd d tẽed-n-taasã.

D tũu taab n gilg n kaag tigimsã na maan yʋʋm a naas la bala, tɩ b wa bool tõnd tɩ d wa sõng ne Betɛllã tʋʋmã. D sɩnga beenẽ tʋʋmã yʋʋm 1960 yʋʋm-vẽkr kiuugã. Yʋʋm-kãensã fãa d sẽn be Betɛllẽ wã, m paam n tʋma ne saam-biis a Zeova siglgã sẽn bobl tʋʋm-kãsemse. Kɩtame tɩ m zãms bũmb wʋsgo. A Nora me tʋma Betɛllã tʋʋm buud toor-toore.

M sẽn ne t’a Zeova Kaset rãmbã sõor tar fɩɩgr Filipin tẽngã yaa bark tɛkẽ! Mam sẽn wa n wa Betɛllẽ wã m bi-bɩɩlmã wakatã, n da yaa ra-kõorã, rẽ tɩ tẽngã tõr koe-moondbã ra zemsa 10000. Rũndã-rũndã, Filipin koe-moondbã sõor yɩɩda 200000, tɩ bãmb 435 tʋmd Betɛllẽ wã, n teend koɛɛgã moonego.

Wa n lebga tɩlɛ tɩ d yalg Betɛllã. Siglgã taoor lʋɩtb sull yeelame tɩ d bao zĩig b sẽn tõe n me Betɛll-bedre. Maam ne sɛbã yiisg yel-gɛtã kẽe zak-zak n na n sok yagsã n ges nina pa rat n koos a zĩiga. Wʋsg ra yaa sinoa-rãmba. B baa ye ra pa rat n koos a zĩig ye. A ye n pʋd n yeel tõnd yaa: “Sinoa-rãmbã pa koosd ye. B raadame.”

La daar a ye, bũmb d sẽn da pa tẽed n maane. D yak a ye n wa n sok tõnd n ges d sã n na n sak n daa a zĩigã. A ra tog n yik n kẽnga Etazĩni. Yak a ye me n yãk yam n na n koos a zĩigã, la a sagl sẽn pẽ-b yẽ wã tɩ bãmb me koos b rẽndã. D tõog n daa rao a ye wã meng zĩigã, sẽn da yeel-a tɩ “sinoa-rãmbã pa koosdã.” Tao-tao bal tɩ Betɛllã paama zĩig sẽn ta pĩnd zĩigã naoor a tãabo. M kɩsa sɩd tɩ yaa a Zeova n da rat tɩ yɩ woto.

Yʋʋmd 1950 wã tɩ maam n da yaa Betɛllã neb fãa yao-zʋʋga. Rũndã-rũndã, maam ne m pagã n kʋʋl n yɩɩd Betɛllã zak neb fãa. M sẽn tũ a Zeezi, n sak n kẽng zĩig ning fãa a sẽn da ratẽ tɩ m kẽngã, m pa maand m bãngẽ ye. Mam roagdbã riga maam n yiis b zakẽ, la a Zeova kõo maam tẽed-n-taas wʋsg sẽn nong-ma, tɩ d yaa wa zak a ye neba. M kɩsa sɩd tɩ sẽn yaa tʋʋmd ning fãa la a Zeova bobl ned sẽn tũud-a, a kõt-a-la bũmb nins sẽn yaa tɩlɛ ne-a wã. Maam ne a Nora pʋʋsda a Zeova bark wʋsgo, bũmb nins fãa a sẽn maan n kõ-dã yĩnga, la d sagend d tẽed-n-taasã tɩ bãmb me mak a Zeova n gese.—Mal. 3:10.

Daar a ye, a Zeezi yeela yaood dɛɛgd a Matye b sẽn da boond me t’a Levi wã t’a wa tũ yẽ. A maana wãna? Biiblã yeelame t’a “basa fãa n yik n tũ a Zeezi.” (Luk 5:27, 28) Ma-me basa bũmb wʋsg sẽn na yɩl n tũ a Zeezi, la m sagend m taabã tɩ bãmb me maan woto, n paam bark ka tɛka.