Nand tɩ m togs yãmb bũmb ning sẽn maan rẽ poorã, m na n deng n togs-y-la sẽn sɩng to-to tɩ m wa kẽes m meng zãng a Zeova tʋʋmdã pʋgẽ wã.

Mam doga yʋʋmd 1942 Kurasao sẽn yaa ko-sʋk tẽng sẽn yaa neer n be Karayɩɩbã. M baaba ra yita Surinam, n yik n tɩ zĩnd ko-sʋk tẽnga, tʋʋmd yĩnga. Yʋʋm a wãn nand tɩ m doge, a naaga neb nins sẽn yɩ pipi n deeg lisg Kurasao tẽngã, n lebg a Zeova Kaset soaba. a Tõnd da yaa kamb a nu. A ra zãmsda Biiblã ne tõnd semen fãa, baa ne d sẽn da mi n kɩt tɩ pa nana ne-a wã. Mam sẽn wa n tar yʋʋm 14, m baaba kɩtame tɩ d yik n tɩ zĩnd Surinam, sẽn na n yɩl t’a tõog n ges a ma wã sẽn da kʋʋlã yelle.

Surinam tẽngẽ wã, m yõga zood ne tigingã kom-bɩɩs sẽn da tũud a Zeova ne b sũy fãa. B ra yɩɩda maam ne yʋʋm a wãn bala, n da yaa wakat fãa so-pakdba. B sã n da wa togsd bũmb sẽn maan koɛɛgã mooneg sasa, b nensã ra wilgdame tɩ d sũy noomame. Tigissã poore, maam ne m zo-rãmbã ra nong n sõsda Biiblã zugu. Wakat ninga, d mi n zĩi yɩnga, n get ãdsã la d sõsda. B sõnga maam tɩ m tõog n maan bũmb ning m sẽn da rat n maan m vɩɩmã pʋgẽ wã. M da rat n tʋma a Zeova tʋʋmdã. M sẽn wa n tar yʋʋm 16, m deega lisgu, n lebg wakat fãa so-pakd m sẽn wa n tar yʋʋm 18.

M sẽn wa n lebg so-pakdã, m zãmsa bũmb wʋsgo. Rẽ sõnga maam m sẽn wa n kẽes m meng zãng a Zeova tʋʋmdã pʋgẽ wã. Wala makre, bũmb a ye m sẽn bãng pipi, yaa tɩ sõng nebã tɩ b paam minimã yaa bũmb sẽn tar yõod wʋsgo. Mam sẽn wa n sɩng so-pakrã, misɩoneer a ye yʋʋr b sẽn boond t’a Willem van Seijl yãka yam n na n sõng  maam. b A zãmsa maam m sẽn tõe n tʋm tigingã tʋʋm sõma to-to. Wakat kãnga, m da pa mi tɩ yaa tɩlɛ tɩ m paam zãmsg a woto ye. Yʋʋmd ning sẽn pʋglã, b yãka maam tɩ m lebg zall so-pakda. Rẽ poore, b yãka maam tɩ m na n ges sull bil a ye sẽn da be Surinam weoogẽ wã yelle. M sũur da nooma wʋsgo, m sẽn paam tɩ saam-biisã zãms maam bũmb wʋsgã. Rẽ tɛka, m dɩka b togs-n-taare, n sõngd neb a taabã me tɩ b paamd minim.

Bũmb a yiib-n-soab mam sẽn bãng yaa tɩ d pa segd n gĩd d vɩɩmã ne bũmb wʋsgo, la tɩ d segd n siginda bũmb fãa sõma. Kiuug fãa sɩngrẽ, maam ne m tũud-n-taagã rengd n geelame n bãng bũmb nins fãa d sẽn na n dat kiuugã pʋgẽ wã. Rẽ poore, d nin-yend togda so-wok n kẽng na-tẽngẽ wã n tɩ ra teedã. D ra segd n maanda gũusg n da sãamd ligd ning b sẽn kõt-d kiuug fãa wã, la d ges me tɩ bũmb nins d sẽn da wã sek-d kiuugã tõre. D sã n wa rat bũmb weoogẽ wã, yɩl n paam ned sẽn na n sõng-d pa nana ye. M tagsdame tɩ yaa m sẽn pa gĩd m vɩɩmã ne bũmb wʋsg hal m yãadmẽ wã, la m sẽn sigind m tʋʋmã sõma wã n sõng-m tɩ m kell n wɩng ne a Zeova tʋʋmdã.

Bũmb a tãab-n-soab m sẽn bãng yaa tɩ tara yõod wʋsg tɩ zãms nebã Biiblã b buud-gomdã pʋgẽ. B sẽn wub maam zĩig ningã, m zãmsa Neerlãndɛ, Ãngilindi, Papiamento, n paas Sranantongo, (b boond-a lame me tɩ Sranan) sẽn yaa buud-gomd ning neb wʋsg sẽn gomd Surinam tẽngẽ wã. Weoogã pʋgẽ, m yãame tɩ f sã n taas nebã koe-noogã b buud-gomdã pʋgẽ, b kelgda sõma. B buud-goam kẽer zãmsg ra yaa toog ne-ma. Wala makre, Saramakã wã. Yaa buud-gomd b sẽn gomd n zẽkd koɛɛgã la b sikdẽ. La m sũur nooma wʋsgo, m sẽn tõog n zãms-a wã. Yʋʋma noorã, m tõog n sõnga neb wʋsg tɩ b bãng a Zeova, m sẽn da tõe n gom b buud-gomdã yĩnga.

M sẽn wa n zãmsd buud-gomdã, m da mi n gom n yõsgame. Daar a yembre, m da rat n soka pag a ye m sẽn da zãmsd Biiblã ne Saramakã buud-gomdã n gese a yĩns maana a wãna, bala a pʋg n da zabde. Mik m sok-a lame n gese a sã n tara pʋga. Sãmbg kae tɩ pa yɩ-a noog ye. Baa ne m sẽn da mi n gom n tudgã, m kell n modgame n na n zãms buud-goam nins nebã sẽn da gomd zĩig ning m sẽn da moond koɛɛgã.

Yʋʋm 1970 wã, b yãka maam tɩ m lebg tigims sull yel-gɛta. Yʋʋm-kãnga, m tala prozɛktɛɛr n gilg n wilg neb nins sẽn da be weoogẽ wã video gom-zug sẽn yaa: “Une visite au siège mondial des témoins de Jéhovah.” Sẽn na yɩl n paam n ta nebã nengẽ weoogẽ wã, maam ne saam-biis kẽer kẽe koom-koglg sẽn yaa woko. D zãa gurupi, bidõ ne esãense, lãmp sẽn ningd petrole, la d prozɛktɛɛrã teedo. D sã n da tɩ ta, d sikda teedã fãa n wʋk n kẽng zĩig ning d sẽn na n wilg nebã video wã. Mam ket n tẽrame tɩ neb  wʋsg sẽn da be weoogẽ wã ra nonga video-kãensã sõma. M sũur yɩɩ noog wʋsgo, m sẽn tõog n sõng neb tɩ b bãng a Zeova siglgã babg ning sẽn be tẽngã zugã. M sẽn paam bark nins a Zeova tʋʋmdã pʋgẽ wã yɩɩda modgr nins fãa m sẽn maanã.

Baa ne m sẽn da paam n tõe n maan bũmb a taab a Zeova tʋʋmdã pʋgẽ, m sẽn da yaa ra-kõorã yĩngã, m da rat n kẽe kãadem. Rẽ kɩtame tɩ m sɩng a Zeova pʋʋsgo, n kos-a t’a sõng-m tɩ paam pag sẽn na n sak n wa naag maam so-pakrã tʋʋm pʋgẽ weoogẽ wã, baa sẽn pa nana wã. Sẽn zems yʋʋmd poore, m yãa saam-bi-poak a ye yʋʋr sẽn boond t’a Etɛll, sẽn da yaa zall so-pakda, tɩ m sɩng a roobo. A ra tara mong-m-meng yam. Hal a yãadmẽ, a sũur da nooma ne tẽn-tʋmd a Poll sẽn maan bũmb ningã, t’a ra rat n kẽes a meng zãng Wẽnnaam tʋʋmdã pʋgẽ wa yẽ. D kẽe kãadem yʋʋmd 1971 bõn-bɩʋʋng kiuugã, n da tũud taab n gilgd n kaagd tigimsã.

A Etɛll roagdbã nug ra pa zãad ye. Dẽnd b sẽn wub-a to-to wã kɩtame tɩ weoogã pʋgẽ zĩndg ra pa toog ne-a ye. Wala makre, d sã n da segend n na n tɩ kaag tiging sẽn be weoogẽ wã, d pa zãad teed wʋsg ye. Tõnd da pegda d futã la d sood kʋɩlgẽ wã. D ra rɩta rɩɩb ning fãa b sẽn kõ-do. Wala makre, wʋʋg nemdo, pɩrana sẽn yaa zĩif buudã, la bũmb ning fãa b sẽn da tɩ tãoos weoogẽ wall b sẽn da yõk koomẽ. D sã n da pa tar laas n na n ning rɩɩbo, yaa barendã vãad la d ra kaoogd n ningd rɩɩbã be n dɩtẽ. Kʋɩyɛɛr bɩ fursɛt sã n da kae, d ra rɩta ne nusi. Maam ne a Etɛll bãngame tɩ d sẽn naag taab n tʋmd a Zeova tʋʋmdã ne d sũur fãa wã, paasa d zems-n-taarã la kɩt tɩ d lebg wa wĩir sẽn kal a tãab n tar pãng wʋsgo. (Koɛ. 4:12) D pa rat n tek d vɩɩmã ne bũmb a to ye.

Daar a ye, d tɩ kaaga tiging sẽn be weoogẽ wã n lebgdẽ. Bũmb ning sẽn paam tõnd rẽ  poorã la m sẽn da togsd sɩngrẽ wã. Koom-koglgã masĩnã sẽn fão kugrã t’a zugã bõr koomã pʋgẽ wã, a leb n puka zĩig pʋgẽ. D sũur yɩɩ noog wʋsg d sẽn pa lʋɩ koomã pʋgẽ wã, la d sẽn da yer fut sẽn kɩt tɩ d pa tõe n bõrã. La koom-koglgã ra pida ne koom. D zuka d rɩɩbã koomẽ wã, sẽn na yɩl n tall konkon-vɩɩdã n ka koomã sẽn da be koglgã pʋgẽ wã.

Tõnd sẽn da pa le tar rɩɩbã yĩnga, d sɩnga zĩm yõgbo. La d pa tol n paam zĩif baa a ye. Rẽ n so tɩ d pʋʋs a Zeova n kos-a t’a kõ-d d daarã rɩɩbo. D sẽn pʋʋsã poor bala, saam-biig a ye n lob a loɛɛgã koomã pʋgẽ, n yõk zĩif bedre, tɩ tõnd d nu wã rɩ yʋn-kãng hal tɩ sek-do.

Maam ne a Etɛll sẽn tũ taab n kaag tigimsã yʋʋm a nu poore, d paama bark hal tɩ ling-du. A Etɛll ra tʋtame. D sẽn bãng rẽ wã, d sũur yɩɩ noog wʋsgo, la d ra pa mi yɛlã sẽn na n baas to-to ye. Maam ne a Etɛll ra rat n maana d sẽn tõe fãa n kell n kẽes d mens zãng Wẽnnaam tʋʋmdã pʋgẽ. Yʋʋmd 1976, d paama bi-ribla, n pʋd a yʋʋr t’a Etniyɛll. Yʋʋm a yiib la pʋɩ-sʋk poore, d paama bi-rilb a to, n pʋd a yʋʋr t’a Ziovani.

Surinam saam-biisã sẽn da rat sõngrã yĩnga, filiyallã sakame tɩ m kell n yɩ tigims sull yel-gɛta, la d wubd d kambã. D kambã sẽn wa n lebg kom-bɩɩse, b kɩtame tɩ m kaagd tigims a wãn bala. B sakame tɩ kiuug fãa, m dɩkd semen a yiib n kaagd tigimsã, tɩ semen a taabã m yaa so-pakd tigingã pʋgẽ. M sã n da wa kaagd tiging sẽn pa zãr ne tõnd zakã, a Etɛll ne d kom-dibli wã yãagd-m lame. La m sã n da rabd n na n tɩ kaag tigims sẽn be weoogẽ wã, wall n na n tɩ maan tigis-kãseng beenẽ, m kẽngda m yembre.

M da segd n maaga m yĩng n sigl yɛlã sõma, sẽn na yɩl n tõog n tʋm m tʋʋmã fãa. M da modgdame tɩ d maand d zak pʋgẽ Biibl zãmsgã semen fãa. M sã n da na n tɩ kaag tiging weoogã pʋgẽ, a Etɛll n da yõdgd n maand zak pʋgẽ Biibl zãmsgã ne d kom-dibli wã. La sã n da tõe, d naagda taab n maand bũmb fãa. Maam ne a Etɛll ra nong n maanda bũmb kẽer ne d kambã, n kokd pemsem. Daar ninga, d naagda taab n deeme, wall d yi n gilgi. Wakat ninga, yaa yʋn-sʋk la m tõogd n tʋm tigingã tʋʋma. A Etɛll yaa wa pʋg-sõng ning yell b sẽn gomd Yel-bũn 31:15 pʋgẽ wã. A yikda  tõdbeoog n tʋm tʋʋm kẽer sẽn na yɩl tɩ d tõog n naag taab n karem daar vɛrse wã, la d sok d noore, nand tɩ kambã loog lekolle. M sũur nooma wʋsgo, m sẽn paam pag sẽn mongd a meng bũmb kẽer n sõngd-m wakat fãa, tɩ m tõogd n tʋmd tʋʋm nins a Zeova sẽn kõ-mã.

D sẽn yaa roagdbã, d maana d sẽn tõe fãa n na n sõng d kambã tɩ b wa nong a Zeova la koɛɛgã moonego. D ra ratame tɩ b wa kẽes b mens zãng Wẽnnaam tʋʋmdã pʋgẽ. D pa modg-b sẽn na yɩl tɩ b maan rẽ ye. Yaa bãmb meng n yãk yam n na n maan rẽ. D ra nong n yet-b lame tɩ b sã n kẽes b meng zãng Wẽnnaam tʋʋmdã pʋgẽ, b na n paama sũ-noog wʋsgo. D pa yĩm zu-loees nins d sẽn mao ne wã ye. La d sẽn da nong n gomd n tɩ yɩɩd yaa a Zeova sẽn sõng d zakã rãmb la a ning-d barkã yelle. D ra modgdame me tɩ d kambã yõgd zood ne a Zeova Kaset rãmb nins sẽn lɩʋʋsd a Zeova raabã taoor b vɩɩmã pʋgẽ wã.

A Zeova gesame tɩ d paam bũmb nins fãa sẽn yaa tɩlɛ ne-dã, d sẽn wa n wubd d kambã. M da maanda m sẽn tõe fãa n sõngd m zakã rãmba. Minim ning m sẽn paame, m sẽn wa n yaa zall so-pakd n be weoogẽ wã n da nan pa kẽ kãadmã sõnga maam tɩ m bãng ligd kẽgsgo, n tõogd n daad bũmb nins d zakã rãmb sẽn datã. La wakat ninga, baa d maana d sẽn tõe fãa, d pa paamd bũmb nins fãa d sẽn datã ye. Sã n wa yaa woto, a Zeova maanda bũmb n sõng-do. Wala makre, yʋʋmd 1986 n tãag 1992, gudgr n zĩnd Surinam tẽngẽ wã, tɩ ra lebg toog tɩ d paam bũmb kẽer sẽn yaa tɩlɛ ne-do. La baa ne rẽ, a Zeova gesa d yelle.—Mat. 6:32.

Hal n tãag masã, a Zeova geta d yell wakat fãa, la a sõngd tõnd tɩ bũmb nins d sẽn tarã sekd tõndo. D kambã me kõ-d-la sũ-noog wʋsgo. La d sẽn tõog n sõng-b tɩ b tũud a Zeova wã yaa zu-zẽkr menga. D sũur nooma wʋsg me, b sẽn yãk yam n kẽes b mens zãng a Zeova tʋʋmdã pʋgẽ wã. A Etniyɛll ne a Ziovani fãa paamame n kẽng Rĩungã koe-moondb lekolle, la rũndã-rũndã, bãmb ne b pagbã tʋmda Surinam Betɛllẽ wã.

Maam ne a Etɛll kʋʋlame masã, la d ket n tʋmda a Zeova tʋʋmdã wʋsgo, n yaa zall so-pakdba. D tʋʋmã sẽn yaa wʋsgã yĩnga, kɩtame tɩ m nan pa paam sẽk n zãms koom rugb ye. La m pa maand m bãngẽ ye. M sã n lebg n tẽeg m vɩɩmã sẽn yɩ to-to wã, m getame tɩ m sẽn kẽes m meng zãng a Zeova tʋʋmdã pʋgẽ hal m bi-bɩɩlem wakatã, yɩɩ bũmb ning sẽn tar yõod n yɩɩd m sẽn yãk yam n na n maan m vɩɩmã pʋgẽ.