BETƐLLẼ wã, kom-bɩɩsã wʋsg nong n boonda maam tɩ “papa,” wall “tõntõ.” M nonga rẽ, bala m yʋʋm taa 89. B sẽn boond-m woto wã wilgdame tɩ b nong-m lame, tɩ m get rẽ wa a Zeova barka, m sẽn kẽes m meng zãng a tʋʋmdã pʋgẽ na maan yʋʋm 72 masã wã. M sẽn tũ a Zeova n kaoos woto wã, bũmb wʋsg la m paam n bãnge. Kɩtame tɩ m tõe n tik rẽ n sagl kom-bɩɩsã, n yeel-b yaa: ‘Y sã n pa bas tɩ y raood booge, tʋʋm nins fãa yãmb sẽn maandã na n paama keoore.’—2 Kib. 15:7.

Mam roagdbã yika Ikrɛne, n da tɩ vɩ Kanada. B tɩ zĩnda Rosbɛrn sẽn be Manitoba soolmẽ wã. M ma roga kom-dibli a 8 la kom-pugli a 8. Kinkirs pa naag ye. Maam n yaa 14 soabã. M baaba ra nonga Biiblã, n karemd-a hat yibeoog fãa tɩ tõnd kelgdẽ. La a ra getame tɩ tũudmã rãmb yaa ligd-baoodb bala. A ra nong n maanda laad n yetẽ yaa: “M sokda m meng n get ãnd n da yaood a Zeezi t’a gilgd n moond koɛɛgã la a zãmsd nebã Wẽnnaam goamã?”

M ma-biis a 8 n wa n lebg a Zeova Kaset rãmba. Rap a naase, la pagb a naase. M kẽem-bi-pugl a Rooz yɩɩ so-pakd n tãag a kũum. Sẽn wa n ket rasem a wãn t’a maan kaalmã, a ra sagenda nebã fãa tɩ b sak Wẽnnaam Gomdã, n yetẽ yaa: “M dat n yãa yãmb dũni-paalgã pʋgẽ.” M kẽem-bi-ribl a Tɛɛd ra yaa tũudum a ye koe-moonda, n da nong n gomd bugum yirã yell wʋsgo. Hat yibeoog fãa, a ra gomda radio wã pʋgẽ hal tɩ wãgda, n yet kɛlgdbã n yɩlemdẽ tɩ Wẽnnaam na n yõoga yel-wẽn-maandbã bugum yir wakat sẽn kõn sa. La a wa n lebga a Zeova Kaset soaba, n tũ-a ne a sũur fãa la ne yẽesem.

Yʋʋmd 1944 sig-noy kiuugã daar a ye, m yii lekoll n lebg n wa, n mik seb-bil rɩɩbã taabl zugu. * M karma a pipi seb-nengã, n karem yiib-n-soabã n paase, hal tɩ yɩl n basã lebg toogo. M sẽn karem sebrã gill n sa wã, m sẽn da rat bũmb ningã lebga vẽeneg m yamẽ wã. M da rat n maana a Zeova raabã wa a Zeezi.

Maana wãn tɩ sebrã wa be rɩɩbã taabl zugu? M kẽem-bi-ribl a Ɛstiiv yeelame tɩ yaa rap a yiib n wa  tõnd zakẽ wã, n da “koosd” sɛb la seb-bi, tɩ yẽ reeg n da. A yeelame yaa: “M deega ada soabã n da, bala ra yaa wakɩr a wãn bala.” Rap a yiibã lebg n waa hat ning sẽn pʋglã. B yeela tõnd tɩ b yaa a Zeova Kaset rãmba, la tɩ ne Biiblã maasem, b leokda sogsg nebã sẽn mi n sokd b mense. D sũy yɩɩ noogo, bala d roagdbã sẽn wub-d to-to wã ra kɩtame tɩ d miẽ tɩ Biiblã tara yõod wʋsgo. Rap a yiibã yeelame me t’a Zeova Kaset rãmbã na n maana tigis-kãseng Winipɛɛg. M ma-bi-poak a Ɛlsi ra bee tẽn-kãng pʋgẽ. M yãka yam n na n kẽng tigsgã.

M taba m weefã n na n kẽng Winipɛɛg. Bee kilo 320 zĩigẽ. Sorã ra yaa kuga. M tek n yalsa Kɛlwuud tẽngã. Yaa be la a Zeova Kaset rãmb a yiibã sẽn da wa tõnd zakẽ wã ra be. M paam n kẽnga tigsg be. Sõnga maam tɩ m bãng yɛlã sẽn sigl to-to tiging pʋgẽ. M bãngame me tɩ rapã ne pagbã la kambã fãa segd n kẽnda zak-zak n moond koɛɛgã wa a Zeezi.

M kẽem a Zak me yii Õntariyo nug-rɩtg babgã n wa Winipɛɛg tigis-kãsengã. D yãa taab beenẽ. Tigsgã pipi daarã, b togsa kɛlgdbã tɩ b na n wa lisa sẽn dat-b n deeg lisgã. Maam ne a Zak yãka yam n na n naag n deeg lisgã. D yiibã fãa ra ratame tɩ sã n tõe bɩ d kell n sɩng so-pakrã d lisgã poor bala. A Zak sɩd tõog n sɩnga tigsgã poor bala. Mam da nan tara yʋʋm 16, n da segd n karem yʋʋmd n paase. La vẽk-n-yʋʋmdã bala, ma-me lebga wakat fãa so-pakda.

Maam ne a Stan Nicolson naaga taab n sɩng so-pakrã Suris, Manitoba soolmẽ wã. Pa yã n kaoos la m bãng tɩ so-pakrã pa nana wakat fãa ye. D ra neeme tɩ d ligdã tara boogre, la d kell n wɩnga ne moonegã. Daar a ye, d yi n moona koɛɛgã n lebg n kuusẽ, tɩ kom me ra tar-d sõma. D yaool n da le pa tar baa wakɩr ye. D sẽn ta wã, d mikame tɩ rɩɩb ne yol-kẽeng la b rɩgl d rignoorẽ wã. D sũur yɩɩ noog wʋsgo! Hal ne rũndã, d pa mi sẽn yaa ned ning n wa ne yolgã ye. Baraar zabrã, tõnd rɩɩ sõma! D sẽn pa bas tɩ d raood boogã, d paama keoore! Sɩd me, kiuugã ne a na n ki tɩ mam nobame. M da zɩ n nob n ta woto ye.

Kiuug a wãn poore, b kɩtame tɩ tõnd kẽng Gilbɛrt Plens tẽngã sẽn be na maan kilo 150 ne Surisã. Wakat kãng tɩ tiging fãa pʋgẽ, b ra tara taablo sẽn wilgd tigingã neb sẽn moon koɛɛgã to-to kiuug fãa. Ra bee taoorã. Kiuug a ye, tigingã neb pa moon koɛɛgã wʋsg ye. Mam wɛgsa sõsg n wilg saam-biisã la saam-bi-pogsã tɩ rẽnda b modg n paase. Tigsgã poore, saam-bi-poak sẽn kʋʋle, n yaa so-pakd n wa n yã maam. A sɩdã ra pa a Zeova Kaset soab ye. A yeela maam ne nintãm yaa: “M makame, la m pa tõog n maan tɩ yɩɩg m sẽn maanã ye.” Kɩtame tɩ ma-me raag nintãm, la m bõos-a sugri.

Saam-biis nins sẽn nan yaa kom-bɩɩse, n tar keelmã tõe n tudga woto me nana-nana, tɩ b sũur sãam wʋsg ne b mense. La m bãngame tɩ baa ned sã n wa tudgi, a pa segd n bas tɩ rẽ kɩt t’a raood boog ye. Sẽn são yaa a bao n dɩk yam a kongrã pʋgẽ, n tẽegd rẽ wakat fãa tɩ sõngd-a. Tʋʋm-sõng ning fãa a sẽn na n maanã na n paama keoore.

M sẽn wa n tar yʋʋm 21 wã, m paamame n kẽng Gileyaad lekoll 14 soabã. Yʋʋmd 1950 wao-fugdg kiuugã la d karem n sa. Karen-biis 103 wã sʋka, b kɩtame tɩ na maan bãmb 25 kẽng Kebɛk, Kanada soolmẽ wã. B gomda farend be. Wakat kãng tɩ b ra namsda a Zeova Kaset rãmbã beenẽ. B kɩtame tɩ mam kẽng Valdoor sẽn be soolmã nug-goabg babgã. Daar a ye, maam ne neb a taab n kẽng tẽn-bil a ye sẽn pa zãre, n na n tɩ moon koɛɛgã. Tẽngã yʋʋr la Valsenevill. Tẽngã prɛtr yeela tõnd tɩ d yi tẽngã tao-tao, sã n pa rẽ a na n maan-d-la yelle. M talla yellã n kẽng bʋʋdo, tɩ b kɩt tɩ prɛtrã yao.

Yel-kãngã ne a taab sẽn wõnd woto d sẽn tall n kẽng bʋ-kaoodb taoorã wa n naaga b sẽn boond tɩ “Kebɛk zabrã.” Na maan yʋʋm 300 la zak la Kebɛk soolmã ra be katolik-rãmbã nugẽ. Katolikã taoor dãmb ne politikã nanambs kẽer sẽn da teend-b naaga taab n da namsd a Zeova Kaset rãmbã. Yɩɩ toog wakate. D sõorã me ra pa waoog  ye. Baa ne rẽ, d pa bas tɩ d raood boog ye. Kebɛk neb sẽn yaa sũ-tɩrs rãmb n da sak n kelgd tõndo. M paam n zãmsa Biiblã ne neb wʋsg sẽn wa n sak sɩdã. M da zãmsda Biiblã ne zak a ye rãmb sẽn yaa bãmb piiga. B fãa wa n lebga a Zeova Kaset rãmba. B sẽn tall raood n maan woto wã kɩtame tɩ neb a taab rɩk b togs-n-taare, n yi katolik tũudmã pʋgẽ. D kell n wɩnga ne koe-moonegã, n wa tõog zabrã menga!

Yʋʋmd 1956 soabã, b kɩtame tɩ m kẽng Haiti. Farendã zãmsg ra pa nana ne misioneer-dãmb nins sẽn nan wa be paalmã ye. La nebã ra kelgd-b lame. Ad misioneer a ye yʋʋr sẽn boond t’a Stanley Boggus sẽn yeele: “Nebã sẽn da maand b sẽn tõe fãa n na n sõng-d tɩ d tõog n gomã linga tõnd wʋsgo.” Pa yɩ toog wʋsg ne maam sɩngrẽ wã ye. Bala, m da zãmsa farendã Kebɛk. La pa kaoos la d bãng tɩ yaa keryoll bal la d tẽed-n-taasã wʋsg gomd ye. Dẽnd misioneer-dãmbã sã n da rat tɩ b tʋʋmdã wom biisi, yaa tɩlɛ tɩ b zãms tẽngã buud-gomde. D sɩd maana woto, tɩ d modgrã wom biisi.

Sẽn na yɩl n sõng saam-biisã n paase, siglgã taoor lʋɩtb sull sakame tɩ d na n lebgd Gũusg Gasgã la sɛb a taab keryoll buud-gomdã pʋgẽ. Kɩtame tɩ sẽn wat-b tigissã sõor paas soolmã zĩig fãa. Yʋʋmd 1950 wã tɩ yaa koe-moondb 99 n da be Haiti, la yʋʋmd 1960 sigr kiuugã tɩ b sõorã zẽk n taa 800 la zaka. Yaa wakat kãng me la b kɩt tɩ m na n tɩ tʋmd Betɛllẽ wã. Yʋʋmd 1961 wã, Rĩungã tʋʋmd lekoll n zĩndi. M sũur yɩɩ noog b sẽn yãk-m tɩ m na n naag n zãms nebã. Karen-biisã ra yaa bãmb 40. Ra yaa tigims yel-gɛtb la zall so-pakdba. Tigis-kãseng ning sẽn zĩnd yʋʋmd 1962 yʋʋm-vẽkr kiuugã, d sagla saam-biisã tɩ b bao n paas b koe-moonegã. B wa n yãka saam-biis kẽer tɩ b lebg zall so-pakdba. Kell n zemsame, bala, ra pa na n kaoos la b sɩng tõnd namsg ye.

Tigis-kãsengã poor bala, polɩɩs-rãmb n wa Betɛllẽ wã n wa yõk maam ne misioneer a to yʋʋr sẽn boond t’a Andrew D’Amico, la b wʋk yʋʋmd 1962 yʋʋm-vẽkr kiuug rasem a 8 Réveillez-vous ! wã ne farendã d sẽn da bĩngã fãa n looge. Yɩɩ  yʋʋmd 1962 yʋʋm-vẽkr kiuug rasem 23. Réveillez-vous ! wã pʋgẽ, b togsa bũmb Fãrens zʋrno-rãmb sẽn da yeele. B wilgame tɩ Haiti tẽngã neb maanda vodu. Pa yɩ neb kẽer noog ye. B yikame n zabdẽ tɩ yaa Betɛllẽ wã la tõnd gʋls kibarã. Semen a wãn poore, b kɩtame tɩ misioneer-dãmbã looge. * La tẽngã saam-biisã sẽn da paam zãmsgã kell n wɩnga ne tʋʋmdã hal sõma. Rũndã-rũndã, m sã n tags b sẽn tõog toog la b kell n wɩng hal tɩ b tẽebã pãng paasã, m naagd-b lame n maand sũ-noogo. Masã, b tara Traduction du monde nouveau wã ne keryolle. Ra yaa bũmb d sẽn da pa tẽed tɩ d na n wa paamame ye.

Haiti wã poore, siglgã kɩtame tɩ mam kẽng Sãntrafirik. M da yaa misioneer beenẽ. B wa n kɩtame tɩ m lebg tigims sull yel-gɛta, n le wa kɩt tɩ m lebg Betɛllã yel-gɛta.

Wakat kãng tɩ beenẽ Rĩung rot wʋsg ra pa me sõma woto ye. D ra kẽnda weoogẽ wã n tɩ wʋk mood n wa wʋg n maan Rĩungã rot sugã. M zãmsa rẽnda beenẽ. So-loaadbã ra geta m sẽn namsd to-to ne tʋʋmdã, hal tɩ yaa gesr tɛkẽ! M sẽn da modgd woto wã kõo m tẽed-n-taasã raoodo, tɩ bãmb me ra kẽesd b toog b Rĩungã rot meeb la b zãab pʋgẽ n yɩɩd pĩndã. Tũudum a taabã taoor dãmb ra yaanda tõndo, bala, bãmb wẽnd-dotã ra ninga tollse. La d pa koms raood ye. D ra ket n tigimda d Rĩungã rotẽ, baa ne sugã sẽn yaa moodã. La seb-kẽeng n wa n fug Bãngi sẽn yaa na-tẽngã, tɩ yaalgã kell n sa. Sebgã fõka wẽnd-doog a ye sugr sẽn da yaa tolls n lob so-kẽengã zugu. La bũmb pa maan Rĩungã rot sugã sẽn da yaa moodã ye. Sẽn na yɩl n tõog n ges Rĩungã tʋʋmã yell sõma, d mee Betɛll-paalle, la misioneer-dãmb zag-paalle. Yɩɩ kiuug a nu pʋgẽ bala.

Yʋʋmd 1976, b gɩdga a Zeova Kaset rãmbã tũudum Sãntrafiriki, tɩ siglgã kɩt tɩ mam kẽng Giyamena. Yaa Tsaad sẽn yaa tẽn-yakã na-tẽnga. Be la m bãng a Happy sẽn da yaa zall so-pakda, n yit Kamerunnã. D kẽe kãadem yʋʋmd 1978 tʋʋl-nif kiuug pipi daarã. Ki-kãng bal la tẽngã nin-buiidã yik n zabd taaba. Tõnd zoe n kẽnga tẽngã nug-goabg babgã wa neb wʋsgo. Zabrã sẽn wa n sa wã, d lebg n kulame, n ta n mik tɩ d zakã lebga tãb-biis sull biru. B wʋka periodik-rãmbã la sɛb a taaba, ne a Happy kãadmã fuugu, la kũun nins nebã sẽn kõ-d kãadmã daarã fãa. La d pa bas tɩ boog d raood ye. D ra paamame n ket n be ne taaba, n yãgd n na n le wɩng ne tʋʋmdã.

Na maan yʋʋm a yiib poore, Sãntrafirik goosneemã kõo sor t’a Zeova Kaset rãmbã tõe n tũ b tũudmã masã. Siglgã kɩtame tɩ d leb be, n da gilgd n kaagd tigimsã. D ra tara mobill sẽn da kell n yaa d roogo. D gãagã ra bee be, tɩ d tõe n põd-a. Barik me n da be be, n tõe n deeg koom litr 200, n paas gaaz sẽn tar n segendẽ, ne firgo sẽn kẽnd ne gaaze. So-toak ra pa nana wakat kãng ye. Vugri, d ra rabda tẽng a ye, tɩ polɩɩs-rãmbã tek n yals-d naoor ka tɛk n na n ges d sɛbã. Taa naoor 117 bɩ sẽn yɩɩd rẽ.

Zĩigã wɩngr wae n tata deegre 50. Tigis-kãsemsã sasa, mi n yaa toog tɩ b paam koom sẽn sekde, n na n lis nebã. Saam-biisã kẽeda kʋɩl-koɛɛng pʋgẽ n tu n paam koom, n toog rẽ bilf-bilf hal tɩ wa sek ned lisgu. Naoor wʋsgo, yaa barik pʋgẽ la b ningd koomã n lisd nebã.

Yʋʋmd 1980 wã, b kɩtame tɩ d kẽng Nizeriya. Betɛll-paall la b ra rat n me. Na maan yʋʋm a yiib la pʋɩ-sʋka, d sõng n maana bũmb wʋsg n na n segl meebã. Saam-biisã ra raa magazẽ sẽn maan ne kud-rãmb la raado, n na n siig n lebs n tɩ tilg meebã zĩigẽ. Daar a ye yibeoogo, m dʋʋ hal yĩngr-yĩngr n na n sõng ne magazẽ wã siigri. Midi wã sẽnese, m lebg n tũu zĩig ning m sẽn da tũ n dʋ wã n na n sigi. La d sẽn da paam n feoos teed kẽerã, m tabga vɩʋʋgẽ n pa bãnge, n yi yĩngr n farg n lʋɩ. Ra wõnda wa m pogla sõma. La logtorã sẽn ges maam la a kɩt tɩ m maan radio wã, a yeela a Happy  yaa: “Da n yɛɛs-y ye. Ka ne semen bal t’a yikame.”

Yʋʋmd 1986, b kɩtame tɩ d kẽng Kodivoaare, n da tɩ gilgd n kaagd tigimsã. D kẽng n tɩ kaaga tigims Burkĩna Faso sẽn yaa tẽn-yakã menga. M da zɩ n tags tɩ d ra na n wa tɩ zĩnda be yʋʋm a wãn ye.

Yʋʋmd 1956 la mam yi Kanada. Maam ne a Happy lebg n leba be yʋʋmd 2003. Rẽ tɩ mam yi be tɩ yʋʋm 47. B kɩtame tɩ d tɩ tʋm Kanada Betɛllẽ wã. D sɛbã zugu, d ra yaa Kanada neba, la d yamẽ wã, d ra yaa Afirik neba.

Yʋʋmd 2007 wã, d le paam n waa Afirik. Rẽ tɩ m tara yʋʋm 79. B kɩtame tɩ d kẽng Burkĩna Faso. M da yaa beenẽ biru wã taoor lʋɩtb sull neda. La b wa n kɩtame tɩ biru wã lebg sɛb lebgr zĩig bala, tɩ Benẽ Betɛllã get tʋʋmdã yelle. Yʋʋmd 2013 sa-sik kiuugã, b kɩtame tɩ d kẽng Benẽ Betɛllẽ wã, n da tɩ tʋmd be.

Baa m pãngã sẽn pa le yaa wa pĩndã, m ket n nonga koe-moonegã ne m sũur fãa. Yʋʋm a tãabã sẽn loogã, ne kãsem-dãmbã la m pagã sõngre, m tõog n sõnga neb a yiib hal tɩ b wa reeg lisgu, tɩ m sũur noomẽ. A ye yʋʋr la a Zedeyõ t’a to wã yʋʋr la a Ferzis. B tũuda a Zeova ne b sũur fãa.

La b wa n kɩtame tɩ maam ne m pagã kẽng Afirikdisiid Betɛllẽ wã. Be, b geta m yell neere, tɩ m paamd tɩbsg sõma. Afirikdisiid n yaa Afirik tẽng a yopoe-n-soab mam sẽn paam n zĩnd n tʋm a Zeova tʋʋmdã. Yʋʋmd 2017 zĩ-likr kiuugã, d paam n kẽnga tõnd biru-paallã b sẽn me Warwikã pakrã. Yaa Niuyork soolmẽ wã. Sɩd yɩɩ bark meng-menga. Yaa bũmb m sẽn pa tol n tõe n yĩmi!

Yʋʋmd 1994 aniyɛɛrã neng 255 wã pʋgẽ, b yeelame: “D yeta neb nins fãa sẽn wɩngd ne Wẽnnaam tʋʋmdã na maan yʋʋm wʋsgã yaa: ‘Keng-y y sũuri, la y ra boog y raood ye. Bala, tʋʋm nins fãa yãmb sẽn maandã na n paama keoore.’—2 Kib. 15:7.” Maam ne a Happy rata ne d sũur fãa n tũ sagl-kãnga, la d sõng neb a taab me tɩ b tũ.