MAM yãadmẽ wã, d zĩnda Graz, Otris soolmẽ wã. M sẽn wa n tar yʋʋm a yopoe, b kẽesa maam masɛɛremd lekolle. La m maana kaset ne prɛtr-dãmb sẽn yood ne masɛɛr-dãmba, tɩ sãam m sũur wʋsgo. Kɩtame tɩ m ma sak tɩ m yi lekollẽ be yʋʋm-kãng poor bala.

B wa n tɩ ninga maam ẽntɛrna pʋgẽ. La daar a ye yʋngo, m baaba wa n peega maam tɩ d zoe, bala, bõmb-dãmb la b ra lobd tẽngã pʋgẽ. Tõnd zoe n kẽnga Ɛsladming. Tõnd sẽn ta tẽngã noor n pasg põ wã bala, bõmb n pusg n sãam-a zãnga. Daar a to me, maam ne m yaab-poak ra bee zakẽ, tɩ zabr sɩls tão tõndo. Zabrã sẽn wa n sa wã, d ra getame tɩ goosneemã la tũudmã taoor-dãmb belga tõndo.

Yʋʋmd 1950 wã, a Zeova Kaset soab a ye n da wat n sõsd ne m ma Biiblã zugu. M da mi n kelga yẽ ne m ma sõsgã. M yãaga m ma n kẽng b tigiss kẽer menga. A wa n kɩsa sɩd t’a Zeova Kaset rãmbã tũudmã la sɩda, n yãk yam n deeg lisg yʋʋmd 1952.

Wakat-kãnga, ra wõnda tigingã yaa pʋg-yãans bal zĩiga. D wa n kẽng n tɩ kaaga tiging a to, la kom-bɩɩsã ra waooga be. Ra pa pʋg-yãans zĩig ye! D sẽn lebg n wa Graz tẽngã, m sɩnga tigissã fãa kẽnde. Pa kaoos la ma-me wa kɩs sɩd ne m sẽn zãmsd bũmb ninsã ye. M wa n bãngame me t’a Zeova yaa Wẽnnaam sẽn sõngd sẽn tũud-b yẽ wã wakat fãa. A sõngda tõndo, baa d sã n wa maood ne zu-loe-kɛgemse, n tagsdẽ tɩ ned kae n sõngd tõndo.—Yɩɩn. 3:6, 7.

M da rata ne m sũur fãa n taas m taabã m sẽn bãng bũmb ninsã. M sɩnga ne m ma-biisã. M kẽem-kom-pugli a naasã ra lebga karen-saam-dãmba, n yi n bas zakã. La m kẽnga tẽn-bõoneg nins pʋsẽ b sẽn da be wã, n tɩ  ges-b la m sagl-b tɩ b zãms Biiblã. M ma-biisã fãa wa n sɩnga Biiblã zãmsgo, n wa lebg a Zeova Kaset rãmba.

M sẽn sɩng koɛɛgã moonegã, semen ning sẽn pʋglã, m sõsa ne pag a ye sẽn da tar yʋʋm 30 la zaka. M wa n sɩnga Biiblã zãmsg ne-a. Tarẽ-n-tarẽ, a wa n deega lisgu. Kaoosg zugẽ, a sɩdã ne a kom-dibli a yiib me reega lisgu. M sẽn da paam n zãmsd pagã Biiblã, kenga mam mengã tẽebã. Bõe yĩnga? Bala, mam mengã ra zɩ n paam tɩ ned zãms-m Biiblã woto ye. Rẽ n so tɩ m da segd n segl zãmsg fãa sõma. Dẽnd m da rengd n zãmsa d sẽn na n gom bũmb ning yellã sõma sẽn na yɩl n tõog n zãms pagã. Kɩtame tɩ m maneg n wʋm Biiblã sẽn yetã võor sõma. Yʋʋmd 1954 tʋʋl-nif kiuugã, m deega lisg n na n wilg tɩ m dɩka m meng n kõ a Zeova.

Yʋʋmd 1955 wã, m kẽnga tigis-kãsems Alemayn, Fãrens la Ãngeletɛɛre. Yaa tigs-kãsems sẽn tigim tẽns toor-toor neba. M sẽn wa n be Lõndrã, m paam n yãa a Albert Schroeder. Rẽ t’a yaa Gileyaad lekollã karen-saamba. A wa n lebga siglgã taoor lʋɩtb sull neda. Daar a ye, d kẽnga miize pʋgẽ n na n tɩ gilg n ges teedo. Yaa British Museum. Saam-biig a Schroeder wilga tõnd Biiblã seb-kʋd b sẽn da gʋls ne nugu. Wẽnnaam yʋ-peellã ra gʋlsa be ne ebre gom-biisi. Saam-biigã togsa tõnd bũmb ning sẽn kɩt tɩ seb-kʋd kãens tar yõod wʋsgã. Rẽ kɩtame tɩ m da maneg n nong a Zeova la a Gomdã, hal n maneg n dat ne m sũur fãa n sõng m taabã tɩ b bãng Biiblã sẽn yetã.

Yʋʋmd 1956 yʋʋm-vẽkr kiuugã pipi daarã, m lebga wakat fãa so-pakda. Kiis a naas poore, m lebga zall so-pakda. B tʋma maam Mistɛlbake. Rẽ t’a Zeova Kaset soab baa a ye ra pa be be ye. La bũmb a ye n pa yɩ nana ne-ma. Saam-bi-poak ning sẽn da yaa m tũud-n-taagã ra yaa toor fasɩ ne maam. Mam da tara yʋʋm 19 la bala, tɩ yẽ tar yʋʋm 25. Mam yii tẽn-bedrẽ, tɩ yẽ ra yit tẽn-bilẽ. M da pa nong n nekd pĩnd yibeoogo, tɩ yẽ yaool n da nekd pĩnda. Zĩig sã n sobge, a wae n kẽeda gãag pĩnda, tɩ mam yaool n da pa gõe pĩnd ye. La d tũu Biiblã saglse, tɩ sõng-d tɩ d bãng n vɩɩmd ne taaba, hal tɩ d tũud-n-taarã yɩ sõma.

La d paama zu-loees a taaba. B pʋd n namsa tõnd tũudmã yĩnga, la ‘Wẽnnaam sõnga tõndo.’ (2 Kor. 4:7-9) Daar a ye, d ra moonda koɛɛgã tẽn-bil a ye, tɩ tẽngã neb logs b baasã n base. Zĩig pʋgẽ tɩ ba-bɛd n wa n karg n gũbg maam ne m tũud-n-taagã, n wesd la b yãng b yẽnã n wat tõndo. D gãda taab n yalse. Mam pʋd n zẽka m koɛɛg n pʋʋs a Zeova, n yeel yaa: “Zeova, b sã n wa na n wãb-d bɩ f sõng-d tɩ d ki tao-tao!” Baasã sẽn ta tõnd la balã, b tiig n yalsame, n mes-mes b zʋyã, la b lebg n loogdẽ. D tagsame tɩ yaa a Zeova n kogl-do. D kell n moona koɛɛgã tẽngã tõr baraarã. Nebã kelga sõma, hal tɩ d sũur yɩ noogo. Tõe tɩ yaa baasã sẽn pa wãb-dã n ling-ba, wall yaa d sẽn tall raood n kell n moon baa ne d sẽn da yɛɛs wʋsgã. Kẽer meng wa n lebga a Zeova Kaset rãmba.

Bũmb a to me n kẽes-d rabeem. Daar a ye,  tõnd sẽn da luwaas zak ningã soab yiime n yũ rãam n su, n lebg n wa baood tõnd n na n kʋ, n yetẽ tɩ tõnd gilgd n namsda yagsã. A pagã mak n na n sigsa a sũurã, la pa yãk neng ye. Tõnd doogã ra bee yĩngri, tɩ d ra be be n wʋmd b goamã. Tao-tao bala, d vuuga goeels n teeg roogã noore, la d sɩng d teedã sagbo. D sẽn wa n pak roogã, d mikame t’a ra rʋʋ ɛskalye-rãmbã n yas ne sʋ-kẽenga. D tũu poorẽ rig-noorã n pasg zardẽ wã ne d teedã n looge. D pa tol n le leb be ye.

D kẽnga lotɛllẽ n na n tɩ yao n gãande. Mik d na n zĩnda be yʋʋmd la bala. La rẽ nafa tõnd d koe-moonegã pʋgẽ. Wãn to? Lotɛllã ra bee tẽngã sʋka. D yaool n da tara neb sẽn dat n wat be tɩ d zãmsd-b Biiblã. Pa kaoos la d tigimd taab be sebrã zãmsg yĩnga, la d maand Gũusg Gasgã zãmsg semen fãa ye. D ra zemsa neb 15.

Tõnd maana sẽn yɩɩd yʋʋmd Mistɛlbake. Rẽ poore, b kɩtame tɩ m kẽng Fɛltbak sẽn be Graz tẽngã nug-goabg sẽnesã. Beenẽ wã, yɩɩ so-pakd a to n lebg m tũud-n-taaga, la tiging ra pa be be me ye. Roog ning d sẽn tɩ rɩkã ra maana ne raado, tɩ tõnd roogã da yaa ro-bil sẽn be yĩngri. Sobg sã n da fugda, tũuda raadã sẽgsẽ wã n kẽedẽ, tɩ tõnd kong n bao zʋrno-kʋd n sẽg-sẽge. Koomã me ra yaa bulgẽ la d yãkda. La d naongã pa yɩ zaalem ye. Kiis a wãn poor bal tɩ d ra lebga koe-moondb sulli. D zãmsa Biiblã ne zak a ye rãmba, tɩ na maan bãmb 30 wa sak n lebg a Zeova Kaset rãmba.

Yel-kãensã fãa kɩtame tɩ m sũur maneg n noom ne a Zeova, a sẽn pa basd neb nins sẽn lʋɩɩsd a Rĩungã tʋʋm taoorã yĩnga. A Zeova bee wakat fãa n na n sõng-do, baa d sã n wa tar zu-loɛɛg tɩ ned kae n tõe n sõng-do.—Yɩɩn. 121:1-3.

Yʋʋmd 1958 wã, tigis-kãseng sẽn tigim tẽns toor-toor neb la b maan Yãnki ɛstediyom la Polo Gãrũnds, Niuyork galʋ-tẽngẽ wã. Mam gʋls n kosame n na n kẽnge, tɩ Otris Betɛllã sok maam n ges m sã n dat n kẽnga Gileyaad lekoll 32 soabã. Wã na paam n zãgse? Tao-tao bala, m leokame tɩ: “N-ye!”

Gileyaad lekollã sasa, m da zĩ n yɛga a Martin Poetzinger. Nazi-rãmbã wakatã, a  zĩnda kã de kõnsãntrasiyõ rãmbẽ, n yã naong wʋsgo. A wa n lebga siglgã taoor lʋɩtb sull ned me. Karengã sasa, a Martin mi n walma maam n yeel yaa: “Erika, woto võor yaa bõe Alemayn buud-gomdã pʋgẽ?”

Karengã sẽn wa n ta pʋɩ-sʋka, a Nathan Knorr togsa karen-biisã b sẽn na n tʋm-b zĩis ninsã. A yeelame tɩ mam na n kẽnga Paraguwe. La mam yʋʋmã yĩnga, ra yaa tɩlɛ tɩ m paam tɩ m ba wã kõ sor tɩ b yaool n sak tɩ m kẽ Paraguwe. M baaba sɩd kõo sore. Mam taa Paraguwe yʋʋmd 1959 tʋʋlg kiuugã. B kɩtame tɩ m tɩ zĩnd misioneer-dãmb zak sẽn be Asunsiyon, la b bao tũud-n-taag n kõ-ma.

Pa kaoos la m bãng a Walter Bright ye. Yaa misioneer sẽn maan Gileyaad lekoll 30 soabã. D wa n kẽe kãadem, n paam n tõe n teel taab zu-loeesã pʋgẽ. D sã n da paam zu-loe-kɛgeng fãa, d karemda a Zeova sẽn pʋlem bũmb ning tɩ be Ezayi 41:10. Ad a sẽn yeele: “Da zoe rabeem ye, bala, mam bee ne foom. Da maan yɩɩr ye, bala, mam yaa fo Wẽnnaam. Mam kõta foom pãnga.” Woto kɩtdame tɩ d bas d yam tɩ d sã n ket n maood n maand sɩd ne Wẽnnaam, n lʋɩɩsd a Rĩungã tʋʋm taoore, a kõn tol n belg-d ye.

B wa n kɩtame tɩ d tɩ zĩnd tẽng sẽn pẽ Berzill toadgã. Tũudmã taoor dãmb pirsa kom-bɩɩs tɩ b ra lobd tõnd roogã kuga. Roogã meng ra zoe n pa lebd be ye. La a Walter wa n sɩnga Biiblã zãmsg ne polɩɩs-rãmbã taoor soaba. A yãka polɩɩs-rãmb tɩ b ra wat n yalsd tõnd zakã sɛɛg wĩndg la yʋngo, semen tõre. Rẽ kɩtame tɩ b bas-d sɩɩ. Rasem a wãn poore, d pasga Berzill toadgã n tɩ rɩk roog a to. Beenẽ vɩɩmã ra sãoome. Pʋd n naf-d lame, bala d ra paam n tõe n maana tigissã Paraguwe la Berzill me. D sẽn wa n na n loogã tɩ b lugla tigims a yiib be.

Logtoɛɛmbã ra yeelame tɩ m pa tõe n paam dogem ye. La yʋʋmd 1962, m wa n tʋtame. Yɩɩ bũmb sẽn ling-d hal wʋsgo! D wa n yik n kẽnga Holiwuud sẽn be Floriidã, n pẽneg a Walter zakã rãmba. Maana yʋʋm a wãn tɩ maam ne a Walter ra pa le tõe n yɩ so-pakdb ye. Ra yaa tɩlɛ tɩ d ges d kambã yelle. Baa ne rẽ, d ra ket n lʋɩɩsda Wẽnnaam Rĩungã tʋʋm taoore.—Mat. 6:33.

D sẽn ta Floriid yʋʋmd 1962 sɩpaolg kiuugã, d mikame tɩ beenẽ nebã ra pa rat tɩ nin-sabls la nasaar-dãmb tigim taab zĩ-yɛng ye. Kɩtame tɩ d tẽed-n-taas nins sẽn yaa nin-sablsã ra pa naagd sẽn yaa-b nasaar-dãmbã n maand tigissã la b moond koɛɛgã ye. A Zeova yaool n pa bakd nebã ye. La pa yã n kaoos la d tẽed-n-taasã wa naagd taab n tũud a Zeova ye. Yaa vẽeneg tɩ yaa a Zeova n ning a nugu, bala tigims wʋsg n be be rũndã-rũndã.

Bʋko, a Walter maana kaalem yʋʋmd 2015. Yaa zug kãnsɛɛr n kʋ-a. D zĩnda ne taab na maan yʋʋm 55. A yɩɩ sɩd-sõng sẽn da nong a Zeova, la sẽn sõng saam-biis wʋsgo. M yãgdame n na n paam n yã-a, wakat ning a sẽn na n vʋʋg n le tar keelmã.—Tʋʋ. 24:15.

M sũur nooma d sẽn paam n kẽes d meng zãng Wẽnnaam tʋʋmdã pʋgẽ yʋʋm 40 la zaka. D paama sũ-noog la bark wʋsgo. Wala makre, maam ne a Walter tõog n sõnga neb wʋsg tɩ b wa reeg lisgu. D paam n yãa bãmb 136 lisgu. Yaa sɩd tɩ zu-loe-kɛgems pa kong ye. La d pa ges rẽ wa bʋʋm sẽn sek d na bas d Wẽnnaamã sẽn yaa sɩd soabã tũub ye. D pʋd n maoome n paas tõnd ne yẽ zoodã, la d teeg-a, n kɩs sɩd t’a na n welga yɛlã a wakate, la wa a sẽn dat to-to. A sɩd maana woto!—2 Tɩm. 4:16, 17.

A Walter sẽn kae wã sãamda m sũur wʋsgo. La so-pakrã sõngd-m lame tɩ m maood ne rẽ. M sã n zãmsd m taabã Biiblã, sẽn yɩɩd fãa, m sã n wilgd-b tɩ sẽn ki-bã na n wa vʋʋgame, sɩd sõngd-m-la wʋsgo. A Zeova sẽn sõng maam to-to wã yɩɩda m sẽn tõe n togsã. Sɩd-sɩdã, a zɩ n belg-m ye. A teela maam, n kõ-m pãnga, la a tebl-m ne a “nug-rɩtg sẽn tõogdã,” wa a sẽn pʋlmã.—Eza. 41:10.