Bɛwole me wɔ 1927 wɔ sua ekyi bie mɔɔ bikye Chicago, Illinois mɔɔ wɔ U.S.A. la azo. Me awovolɛ wole ngakula nnu—Jetha, Don, medame, Karl yɛɛ Joy. Yɛ muala yɛbɔle kpɔkɛ kɛ yɛbava yɛ ɛkɛla kɔsɔɔti yɛazonle Gyihova. Jetha hɔle Geleade sukulu ne mɔɔ tɔ zo nwiɔ la bie wɔ 1943. Don hɔle Bɛtɛle mɔɔ wɔ Brooklyn, New York la wɔ 1944, Karl noko hɔle ɛkɛ wɔ 1947, yɛɛ Joy noko hɔle ɛkɛ wɔ 1951. Bɛ neazo ngɛnlɛma ne nee me awovolɛ neazo ngɛnlɛma ne maanle me anwosesebɛ kpalɛ.

Ɛnee me papa nee me mame kenga Baebolo ne dahuu yɛɛ bɛkulo Nyamenle ɔti bɛvale ɛhye bɛtetele yɛ. Noko mɔɔ me papa hɔyɛle sogyanli wɔ Ewiade Konle I anu wɔ Europe rale la, ɛnee akee ɔ nye ɛnlie asɔne nwo bieko. Me mame anye liele kɛ me papa hɔle konle ne na ɔziale ɔrale sua nu anzodwolɛ nu la, ɔti ɔhanle ɔhilele ye kɛ: “Karl, maa yɛhɔ asɔne kɛ mɔɔ ɛnee yɛkɔ ye dɛba la.” Me papa buale ye kɛ: “Mebahɔzɔho wɔ, noko menrɛwolo asɔnesua ne anu.” Me mame bizale ye kɛ: “Duzu ati ɔ?” Ɔhanle kɛ: “Wɔ konle ne anu, ɛsɔfoma mɔɔ bɛwɔ ɛzonlenlɛ ko anu na bɛnvi maanle ko ne ala anu la yɛle asɔne maanle sogyama ne na bɛyilale bɛ akodeɛ ne mɔ azo! Bɛ nuhua boni a ɛnee Nyamenle gyi ɔ nzi a?”

Nzinlii mɔɔ ɛnee me mame ɛhɔ asɔne la, Gyihova Alasevolɛ nwiɔ rale yɛ sua nu ɛkɛ. Bɛvale mbuluku nwiɔ bie mɔɔ bɛfɛlɛ ye Light, mɔɔ kilehile Yekile buluku ne anu la bɛmaanle me papa. Me papa anye liele nwolɛ na ɔliele ɔdole nu kɛ bɛ nee ye ɛzukoa Baebolo ne. Mɔɔ me mame nwunle mbuluku ne mɔ la, ɔbɔle ɔ bo kɛ ɔkenga. Kenle ko bie, me mame nwunle nolobɔlɛ bie wɔ adwelie kɛlata bie anu; ɛnee bɛlɛto ɛsalɛ bɛavɛlɛ menli mɔɔ bɛ nye balie nwo la kɛ bɛrɛla bɛmaa bɛlua Light mbuluku ne mɔ azo bɛzukoa Baebolo ne la. Ɔyɛle ye adwenle kɛ ɔbahɔ. Mɔɔ ɔhɔdwule ɛkɛ ne la, raalɛ kpanyinli bie a bukele anlenkɛ ne a. Me mame yele Light buluku ne ko hilele ye na ɔbizale ye kɛ, “Ɛke a bɛlɛsukoa buluku ɛhye la ɔ?” Raalɛ ne hanle kɛ, “Ɛhɛe, me ra, badɛnla aze.” Ye dapɛne bieko, me mame nee yɛdayɛ ngakula ne mɔ amuala hɔle, na ɔvi zɔhane mekɛ ne, ɛnee dapɛne biala yɛkɔ.

Wɔ ayia ko bie abo, ahenle mɔɔ ɛnee ɔlɛnea debiezukoalɛ ne azo la hanle kɛ mengenga Edwɛne 144:​15, mɔɔ ɔse menli mɔɔ sonle Gyihova la anye die la. Me nye liele zɔhane ngyɛnu ne nee ngyehyɛnu  gyɛne nwiɔ anwo—1 Timote 1:​11, mɔɔ se Gyihova le “anyelielɛ Nyamenle ne,” yɛɛ Ɛfɛsɛsema 5:1 mɔɔ maa yɛ anwosesebɛ kɛ yɛzukoa “Nyamenle kɛ mralɛ kulovolɛma” la. Menwunle kɛ ɔwɔ kɛ memaa me nye die mɔɔ mekola meyɛ memaa me Bɔvolɛ ne la anwo na meyɛ ye mo wɔ nwolɛ adenle ɛhye mɔɔ yemaa menyia ye la anwo. Ninyɛne nwiɔ ɛhye a meyɛ ye dahuu wɔ me ɛbɛlabɔlɛ nu a.

Ɛnee adenle mɔɔ la yɛ nee asafo mɔɔ bikye yɛ kpalɛ wɔ Chicago la avinli la bayɛ kɛyɛ kilomita 32 (mayɛlɛ 20). Noko yɛhɔle debiezukoalɛ dahuu, na mendele Baebolo ne abo kpalɛ. Mekakye kɛ kenle ko bie, ahenle mɔɔ ɛlɛnea debiezukoalɛ ne azo la vɛlɛle Jetha kɛ ɔmaa mualɛ. Mɔɔ ɔlɛtendɛ la, menganle kɛ: ‘Edwɛkɛ ɛhye a ɛnee wɔ me adwenle nu la. Meze a anrɛɛ memaanle me sa zo.’ Membɔle ɔ bo kɛ mesukoa debie na meanwu mualɛ mɔɔ mebamaa la. Mɔɔ hyia kpalɛ la, me nee me mediema ne mɔ nyianle anyuhɔlɛ wɔ sunsum nu. Bɛzɔnenle me wɔ 1941.

Mekakye nyianu mɔɔ bɛyɛle ye wɔ Cleveland, Ohio wɔ 1942 la kpalɛ. Menli mɔɔ wɔ United States ɛleka ngakyile mɔɔ bo 50 la diele gyimalilɛ ne bie wɔ telefuu zo. Mediema ne mɔ yɛle tɛnte wɔ ɛleka mɔɔ bikye nyianu ne la maanle nyianuma ne, na yemɔ bie anu a yɛ abusua ne dɛnlanle a. Ɛnee Ewiade Konle II la ɛzi yɛɛ ɛnee bɛlɛyɛ Gyihova Alasevolɛ kpɔdekpɔde kpalɛ. Ɔdwu nɔsolɛ a, menwu kɛ mediema ekpunli bie ɛlɛfa bɛ ahale aziezie ɛleka mɔɔ yɛda la. Bɛfa kale ne anzi bɛba ɛleka mɔɔ tɛnte ne wɔ la na bɛava ɔ nyunlu bɛahile alienwo. Ɛnee bɛ muala bɛlie bɛdo nu kɛ wɔ kale ko biala anu, bɛbamaa awie ko adɛnla nu azinza wɔ nɔe ne amuala. Saa mediema mɔɔ ɛlɛsinza la nwu kɛ awie mɔ ɛlɛba arateta yɛ a, bɛbazɔ bɛ kale kɛnlaneɛ ne bɛagua bɛ nwo zo na eza bɛabɔ kale aweɛne ne bɛamaa yeayɛ dede. Ɛhye bamaa mediema gyɛne ahola anriandi ara ɛkɛ araboa bɛ. Menganle kɛ, ‘Gyihova Alasevolɛ ɛziezie bɛ nwo kpalɛ ɛmaa debie biala!’ Ɛhye ati menlafele botoo, edwɛkɛ biala noko anzi.

Wɔ ɛvolɛ dɔɔnwo anzi mɔɔ ɛnee melɛdwenledwenle zɔhane nyianu ne anwo la, menwunle kɛ adwenleadwenle andɔ me mame anwo fee yɛɛ ɛzulolɛ anga ye. Ɔnyianle Gyihova nee ye ahyehyɛdeɛ ne anu anwodozo bɔkɔɔ. Me rɛle ɛnrɛvi ye neazo kɛnlɛma ne ɛlɛ.

Mɔɔ ɛnee ɔka ekyi zɔhane nyianu ne dwu zo la, me mame yɛle dahuu adekpakyelɛnli. Ɔti ɔdiele ɛdendɛlɛ ne mɔɔ fale dahuu ɛzonlenlɛ gyima ne anwo la kpalɛ. Mɔɔ yɛlɛkɔ sua nu la, ɔhanle kɛ, “Mekulo kɛ metoa adekpakyelɛ gyima ne azo, noko saa meyɛ ye zɔ a, menrɛhola menrɛziezie yɛ sua nu ɛkɛ ne kpalɛ.” Akee ɔbizale yɛ saa yɛbaboa ye a. Yɛhanle kɛ yɛbaboa ye, ɔti ɔhyɛle azua ne mɔ ɔmaanle yɛ, bie siezie sua ko anzɛɛ azua nwiɔ anu kolaa na yɛ muala yɛali nwonlomɔ aleɛ. Saa yɛkɔ sukulu a, ɔsia ɔkɔnea kɛ yɛtoto ninyɛne boɛ kolaa na yeahɔ daselɛlilɛ. Ɛnee ɔnlɛ alagye fee, noko yeambu ɔ nye yeangua ɔ mra ne mɔ anwo zo ɛlɛ. Mekɛ biala mɔɔ yɛbahɔ sua nu ewiazo kɛ yɛkali aleɛ anzɛɛ yɛkakpɔne sukulu la, ɛnee ɔwɔ sua nu. Ɔdwu mekɛ ne bie noko na yɛkpɔne sukulu a, yɛ nee ye kɔ daselɛlilɛ, na ɛhye maanle yɛdele adekpakyelɛma gyima ne abo kpalɛ.

Mɔɔ menlile ɛvolɛ 16 la yɛɛ membɔle adekpakyelɛ gyima ne abo a. Ɛnee yɛ papa ɛtɛbayɛle Dasevolɛ, noko ɛnee ɔkulo kɛ ɔnwu kɛzi me ɛzonlenlɛ gyima ne ɛlɛkɔ ye la. Kenle ko nɔsolɛ bie, menganle mengilele ye kɛ meyɛ mɔɔ mebahola biala la, noko metɛnyianle  sonla ko bɔbɔ mɔɔ ɔkulo kɛ me nee ye sukoa Baebolo ne a. Mengyinlanle ekyii, akee membizale ye kɛ, “Ɛbahulo kɛ me nee wɔ bazukoa ɔ?” Ɔdwenlenle edwɛkɛ ne anwo ekyii, na akee ɔhanle kɛ, “Mebamaa ɛ nee me azukoa Baebolo ne.” Ɔti ɛnee me papa a le me Baebolo sukoavo mɔɔ limoa a. Ɔle nwolɛ adenle kpole mɔɔ menyianle a!

Yɛzukoale “The Truth Shall Make You Free” buluku ne. Mɔɔ yɛlɛsukoa yɛkɔ la, menwunle kɛ ɛnee me papa ɛlɛboa me yeamaa meayɛ sukoavo nee kilehilevolɛ kpalɛ. Kɛ neazo la, kenle ko nɔsolɛ bie mɔɔ yɛgengale ɛdendɛkpunli bie yɛwiele la, ɔhanle kɛ: “Menwu mɔɔ buluku ne ɛlɛkile la. Noko kɛzi ɛkola ɛnwu kɛ mɔɔ buluku ne ɛlɛka la le nɔhalɛ ɛ?” Ɛnee metɛsieziele me nwo metɛmaanle kpuya zɔhane, ɔti menganle kɛ: “Menrɛhola menrɛhilehile nu kɛkala, noko mebaye ɔ nloa wɔ yɛ debiezukoalɛ bieko anu.” Na menyɛle ye zɔ. Menyianle ngɛlɛlera mɔɔ kile kɛ mɔɔ yɛlɛsukoa la le nɔhalɛ la. Yemɔ anzi, ɛnee mesiezie me nwo kpalɛ memaa yɛ Baebolo ɛzukoalɛ ne, yɛɛ menzukoale kɛ mebayɛ neɛnleanu. Ɛhye boale me maanle menyinle sunsum nu na ɔboale me papa noko. Ɔvale mɔɔ ɔlɛsukoa la ɔlile gyima na bɛzɔnenle ye wɔ 1952.

Menlile ɛvolɛ 17 la menvile sua nu. Jetha rayɛle edwɛkpatɛlɛvolɛ yɛɛ Don hɔle Bɛtɛle. Ɛnee bɛ nye die bɛ gyimalilɛ ne anwo kpalɛ, na ɛhye maanle me anwosesebɛ kpole. Ɔti menhyehyɛle Bɛtɛle nee Geleade Sukulu ademizalɛ ngɛlata ne mɔ bie na mengyakyile edwɛkɛ ne memaanle Gyihova. Duzu a zile a? Bɛdole ɛsalɛ bɛvɛlɛle me wɔ Bɛtɛle wɔ 1946.

Ɛvolɛ dɔɔnwo mɔɔ ɛze ɛhɔ la, meyɛ gyimalilɛ ngakyile wɔ Bɛtɛle, ɛhye ɛmaa mezukoa ninyɛne fofolɛ dɔɔnwo. Meva ɛvolɛ 75 a meyɛ gyima wɔ Bɛtɛle a, na menzukoale kɛzi bɛpelente mbuluku nee kɛzi bɛbu ezukoa nwo mgbonda la. Eza mezukoa kɛzi yɛbadɔ debie mɔɔ yɛhyia nwo wɔ Bɛtɛle nee kɛzi yɛbava ninyɛne bie mɔ yɛahɔ maanle gyɛne zo la. Mɔɔ hyia kpalɛ la, me nye die alehyenlɛ ne anu tɛkese ne mɔɔ bɛyɛ wɔ Bɛtɛle nee ɛdendɛlɛ ngakyile mɔɔ gyi Baebolo ne azo la anwo.

Eza menzukoale debie menvile me diema kakula Karl, mɔɔ rale Bɛtɛle wɔ 1947 la ɛkɛ. Ɛnee ɔle awie mɔɔ ɔ nye bolo ɔsukoa Baebolo ne na ɔkola ɔkilehile nu kpalɛ a. Mekɛ bie bɛmaanle me ɛdendɛlɛ bie na menganle mengilele ye kɛ ɔboa me. Mengilehilele nu mengilele Karl kɛ mezukoa ɛdendɛlɛ ne anwo ninyɛne dɔɔnwo noko mennwu kɛzi mehyehyɛ edwɛkɛ ne a. Ɔbizale me kpuya kokye kɛ: “Joel, wɔ edwɛkɛtile ne se nzɔne?” Ɛkɛ ne ala menwunle mɔɔ ɔwɔ kɛ meyɛ la—fa edwɛkɛ mɔɔ kilehile wɔ edwɛkɛtile ne anu la na suhu mɔɔ ɛha la sie ahane. Me rɛle anvi ɛzukoalɛdeɛ zɔhane ɛlɛ.

Saa yɛ nye balie wɔ Bɛtɛle a, ɔwɔ kɛ yɛyɛ daselɛlilɛ gyima ne kpalɛ na bie a ɛhye bamaa yɛanyia  anwubielɛ ngakyile mɔɔ yɛ anyelielɛ la. Nuhua ko mɔɔ mekakye ye kpalɛ la zile wɔ kenle ko bie alewɔzo wɔ Bronx mɔɔ wɔ New York City la. Me nee adiema nrenyia bie hɔkpɔlale raalɛ bie mɔɔ ɛnee yelimoa yelie Ɛzinzalɛ Arane nee Awake! la. Yɛlale yɛ nwo ali na yɛhanle kɛ, “Nɔsolɛ ɛhye mɔɔ yɛlɛboa menli yɛamaa bɛazukoa Baebolo ne anu edwɛkɛ mɔɔ baboa bɛ la.” Raalɛ ne hanle kɛ, “Saa bɛ edwɛkɛ ne fale Baebolo ne anwo a, ɛnee bɛrɛla.” Yɛgengale ngɛlɛlera dɔɔnwo mɔɔ fale Nyamenle Belemgbunlililɛ ne nee ewiade fofolɛ ne anwo la na yɛhilehilele nu. Ɔbayɛ kɛ ɔ nye liele nwolɛ kpalɛ, ɔluakɛ ye dapɛne bieko, ɔvɛlɛle ɔ gɔnwo mɔ dɔɔnwo ɔmaanle bɛdabɛ noko bɛrazukoale bie. Nzinlii, ɔ nee ɔ hu rayɛle Gyihova azonvolɛ nɔhavoma.

Ɛnee mekulo kɛ megya, noko kɛyɛ ɛvolɛ 10 pɛle nu kolaa na meanyia adiema raalɛ mɔɔ mebagya ye a. Duzu a boale me maanle menyianle yelɛ kpalɛ a? Menyɛle asɔne na menzuzule kpuya ɛhye anwo, ‘Saa yɛgya yɛwie a, duzu a mekulo kɛ meyɛ a?’

Mɔɔ yɛyɛle 1953 nyianu ne wɔ Yankee Stadium yɛwiele la, menyiale adiema raalɛ bie mɔɔ bɛfɛlɛ ye Mary Aniol la. Mary nee me diema raalɛ Jetha hɔle Geleade sukulu ne mɔɔ tɔ zo nwiɔ la bie, yɛɛ ɛnee bɛ mu nwiɔ bɛlɛyɛ edwɛkpatɛlɛvolɛ gyima ne wɔ ɛleka ko ne ala. Mary vale anyelielɛ hanle ye edwɛkpatɛlɛvolɛ gyima ne mɔɔ ɔlɛyɛ ye wɔ Caribbean nee Baebolo ɛzukoalɛ mɔɔ yeyɛ wɔ ɛvolɛ dɔɔnwo anu la anwo edwɛkɛ hilele me. Mekɛ mɔɔ yɛlɛnwu yɛ nwo kpalɛ la, yɛyɛle ye nzonlɛ kɛ amuanrɛɛ sunsum nu bodane ko a gyi yɛ mu nwiɔ yɛ nye zo a. Yɛ nye liele yɛ nwo kpalɛ, ɔti yɛgyale wɔ April 1955. Ɔlale ali wɔ ndenle dɔɔnwo azo kɛ ɛnee Mary le ahyɛlɛdeɛ mɔɔ vi Gyihova ɛkɛ a yɛɛ ɔfɛta kɛ mesukoa ye neazo ne. Ɔ nye liele gyimalilɛ biala mɔɔ bɛvale bɛmaanle ye la anwo. Ɔyɛle gyima ɛsesebɛ, ɔvile ye ahonle nu ɔboale awie mɔ yɛɛ ɔvale Belemgbunlililɛ ne ɔlimoale ye ɛbɛlabɔlɛ nu mekɛ biala. (Mat. 6:33) Yɛyɛle maangyebakyi zo neavolɛ gyima ɛvolɛ nsa, na wɔ 1958, bɛvɛlɛle yɛ kɛ yɛhɔyɛ gyima wɔ Bɛtɛle.

Menzukoale ninyɛne dɔɔnwo menvile Mary ɛkɛ. Kɛ neazo la, mɔɔ yɛgyale ɛkɛ ne ala la, yɛzile kpɔkɛ kɛ yɛbabɔ nu yɛagenga Baebolo ne, yɛbagenga kɛyɛ ngyehyɛnu 15 mekɛ biala. Saa yɛ nuhua ko kenga foa bie wie a, yɛkile yɛ adwenle wɔ nwolɛ na yɛsuzu kɛzi yɛbava yɛabɔ yɛ ɛbɛla la anwo. Ɛnee Mary ta ka ninyɛne mɔɔ ɔzukoale ye wɔ Geleade anzɛɛ wɔ ye edwɛkpatɛlɛvolɛ gyima ne anu la anwo edwɛkɛ kile me. Adawubɔlɛ ɛhye mɔ maanle menwunle ninyɛne dɔɔnwo na ɔboale me ɔmaanle menyianle anyuhɔlɛ wɔ kɛzi memaa ɛdendɛlɛ nee kɛzi memaa mediema mraalɛ anwosesebɛ la anu.—Mrɛ. 25:11.

Me kulovolɛ Mary wule wɔ 2013. Me nye la ye ɛsesebɛ kɛ mebanwu ye wɔ ewiade fofolɛ ne anu! Noko mebɔ kpɔkɛ kɛ mebahɔ zo meazukoa debie na meavi me ahonle nu amuala meava me nwo meado Gyihova anwo zo. (Mrɛ. 3:​5, 6) Saa medwenle mɔɔ Gyihova menli bayɛ wɔ ewiade fofolɛ ne anu la anwo a, ɔkyekye me rɛle na ɔmaa medi fɛlɛko. Bie a le kɛ yɛbazukoa Kilehilevolɛ Kpole Kpalɛ ne anwo ninyɛne fofolɛ yɛɛ ɔdaye noko ɔbahilehile yɛ bie dɔɔnwo! Nɔhalɛ nu, saa medwenle ninyɛne mɔɔ yehilehile me too badwu ɛnɛ nee kɛzi yela ye ɛlolɛ kpole ne ali yehile me wɔ ndenle dɔɔnwo azo la anwo a, mennwu mɔɔ mefa meayɛ ye mo a.