Iina di 1940’z mi mada an mi faada did a stodi di Baibl wid di Jeuova Witnis dem bot dem neehn stodi wid dem fi lang, bot mi mada did stil a tek dem Watchtower an Awake! magaziin dem. Iina 1950 dem did av wan big kanvenshan iina Nyuu Yaak Siti wid piipl fram aal uova di worl an dem did invait mi an mi fambili, so wi did go.

Afta wi did go a da kanvenshan de wan breda we di niem Lawrence Jeffries staat fi kom a wi yaad fi taak tu mi bout di Baibl. Bot mi a tel yu, di fos taim im tel mi se di Jeuova Witnis dem no tek paat iina palitiks an dem no go a waar an dem sitn de, mi neehn agrii wid im at aal. So mi se tu im se ef a so evribadi iina Merika did fiil it wuda iizi fi wi enimi dem jos kom tek uova wi konchri so. Bot Breda Jeffries tek im taim wid mi an se: “Ef evribadi iina Merika did a sorv Jeuova, wa yu tingk Jeuova wuda du ef dem enimi kom fait gens dem?” Bies pan wa im did se it did mek mi si se di wie ou mi did a luk pan tingz neehn mek no sens. So dat did mek mi did waahn fi staat stodi.

So mi staat fi spen uol iip a taim a riid The Watchtower an Awake! magaziin dem we mi mada did a pak op anda di sela. So iina no taim mi get fi si se di sitn dem we mi did a lorn a did di chuut, so mi tel Breda Jeffries se mi redi fi staat di stodi. An sed taim mi staat fi go a di miitn dem. So mi did staat fi lov di sitn dem we mi did a lorn an mi did staat fi priich an tiich wid di breda dem iina di kanggrigieshan tu. Wen mi get fi si se di Baibl se Jeuova suun get rid a wikid piipl a dis did mek mi waahn fi du sitn els wid mi laif. (Zef. 1:14) So mi neehn waahn fi go a yuunivorsiti agen. We mi did waahn fi du nou a fi tiich piipl bout di chuut we de iina Gad wod.

Mi gradiyiet fram ai skuul pan Juun 13, 1956, an chrii die afta dat mi get baptaiz a wan a di sorkit miitn dem. Dem taim de mi neehn nuo di mount a blesn mi wuda get fram Jeuova kaa mi  did a yuuz mi laif fi tiich piipl bout im an fi lorn muo bout im tu.

Siks mont afta mi baptaiz, mi did staat fi regila paiyanier. Iina di Disemba 1956 Kindom Minischri it did av wan paat we mek wi nuo se wi kyan go elp out wich paat dem niid muo elp fi du di priichin wok. So mi se ye, mi kyan go kaa mi did riili waahn fi go somwe we dem di waahn muo piipl fi priich di gud nyuuz.​—Mat. 24:14.

So mi muuv go a wan plies we niem Ejfiil we iina Sout Karalaina. Iina da kanggrigieshan de a did onggl fuo piipl a priich di gud nyuuz. An wen mi riich de it mek faiv a wi de de nou. Dem taim de wi did a kip wi miitn dem iina di front ruum a wan breda ous. An a 100 owa mi yuus tu du iina sorvis a mont taim. A nof wok mi did a du dem taim de, kaaz a mi did afi du nof a di taak dem a miitn an mi en op spen uol iip a taim iina di priichin wok. Bot mi a tel yu, wen mi tingk bout it man, di muor mi did a du dem sitn de a di muor mi did a lorn bout Jeuova.

Wan uman we mi did a stodi di Baibl wid did uon wan maag iina wan plies we niem Janstan, kopl mail fram wich paat mi did liv. An mi did wel waahn wan wok, an shi gi mi wan wok we mi kuda du kopl die a di wiik, an shi did gi wi wan likl plies we shi did av so dat wi kuda av wi miitn dem de.

An Breda Jeffries we did stodi wid mi, fi’im son we niem Jolly muuv fram Nyuu Yaak fi kom paiyanier wid mi. Di tuu a wi did liv iina wan breda chriela we im did len wi.

Dem taim de iina di Sout paat a Merika wich paat we wi did a liv, piipl neehn yuuz tu get nof moni fi dem pie. Fi wan diez wok wi wuda get onggl tuu ar chrii dala fi di wok we wi du. Mi memba wan taim ino wen a onggl likl bit a silva moni mi di av fi go a shap fi bai som fuud an wen mi kom outa di shap, mi se, wan man kom op tu mi an se: “Yu waahn wan wok? Mi wi gi yu wan dala fi evri owa we yu wok.” So im gi mi chrii diez wok fi kliin op wan kanschrokshan sait. An mi a tel yu, dis mek mi get fi si se Jeuova did waahn wi fi tan ya so iina Ejfiil. An mi stil did get fi go a di big kanvenshan we did kip iina 1958 iina Nyuu Yaak we uol iip piipl fram aal uova di worl did kom.

Bot mi waahn fi tel yu bout sitn nais nais we did apm tu mi pan di sekan die a di kanvenshan. Mi miit wan sista we did niem Ruby Waldington. Shi did a paiyanier iina Gyalatin we iina Tenesii. Kaa di tuu a wi did waahn fi du di siem kain-a wok fi Jeuova, di tuu a wi did ga’a di miitn we dem kip a da kanvenshan de fi piipl we waahn go a di Giliyad Skuul. Den afta dat, di tuu a wi staat fi rait leta tu wi wan aneda. An no lang afta dat di breda dem did aks mi fi gi wan taak iina di kanggrigieshan we shi go a Gyalatin. So wen mi go mi jos mek yuus a it an aks ar fi marid tu mi. So mi muuv go iina di kanggrigieshan we shi de an likl afta dat wi marid iina 1959.

Wen mi did a 23 dem pik mi fi ton di kanggrigieshan sorvant iina Gyalatin (a it dem kaal di kaadinieta a di badi a eldaz tide). A fi wi  kanggrigieshan a did di fos wan we Breda Charles Thompson did kom wen im did ton sorkit uovasiya. Bot iivn duo im did nuo nof bout wa di elda dem fi du im did stil aks mi wa mi tingk se di breda dem did niid an wa di ada sorkit uovasiya dem did du fi elp dem. So im mek mi si se mi fi aks kwestiyan bout tingz bifuo mi diil wid it.

An mi a tel yu ino, wan nais ting we did apm tu mi iina Mie 1964 a dat dem did invait mi fi kom a di Kindom Minischri Skuul we dem kip fi wan mont iina Sout Lansin iina Nyuu Yaak. Dem breda de we did a tiich a di skuul mek mi waahn nuo nof nof muor sitn bout Jeuova so dat mi kyan get fi du muor a di sitn dem we Jeuova waahn mi fi du.

Iina Janiweri 1965, dem di aks mi an Ruby ef wi kuda go iina di sorkit wok. Di kanggrigieshan dem we dem did aks wi fi go did iina wan big ieriya. So wi wuda wok fram Naksvil iina Tenesii tu wie a Richman iina Vorjiniya. So wi wuda afi go a di kanggrigieshan dem iina Naat Karalaina, an di wan dem we iina Kentoki an Wes Vorjiniya. An yu nuo se dem taim de iina dem de paat a Merika di blak an wait piipl dem kudn go miitn tugeda, so a onggl di kanggrigieshan dem wid di blak breda an sista dem mi kuda go. Di breda an sista dem did puor bad so wi did afi lorn fi shier wid ada piipl. Wan breda we did iina di sorkit wok fi wan lang taim tiich mi se: “Wen yu ga’a di kanggrigieshan dem no gwaan laik se yu a di breda dem baas. Gwaan laik se yu a wan a dem, dat a di onggl wie yu a-go elp dem.”

Wen mi did de a wan a di likl kanggrigieshan dem Ruby did staat wan stodi wid wan uman we did av wan likl daata we did a wan ier uol. Kaa da taim de nobadi iina di kanggrigieshan kudn get fi du di stodi, Ruby an ar did rait leta tu dem wan aneda so dat dem kuda gwaan du di stodi. Wen wi go bak di neks taim di uman de a aal a di miitn dem. Wen tuu speshal paiyanier sista did muuv iina di kanggrigieshan Ruby mek dem gwaan stodi wid di uman an likl afta dat shi get baptaiz. An iina 1995, bout 30 ier afta dat, wi did de a Patisn Betel wen wan yong sista kom op tu Ruby an tel ar ar niem. An yu no nuo wa, di siem uman we Ruby yuus tu stodi wid a fi ar pikni. Shi an ar ozban did de de kaa dem did kom fi go a Giliyad Skuul, dat a did klaas 100.

Di sekan plies we wi go iina di sorkit wok a did iina di migl paat a Flarida. Wi fain se ya so wi did niid wan kyaar so wi bai wan an wi did get it a wan gud prais tu. Bot chobl no set laka rien kaa afta di fos wiik di waata pomp mash op an wi neva av no moni fi fiks it. So mi kaal wan a di breda dem we mi tingk se kuda elp wi an im mek sumadi we wok wid im kom fiks it. An yu nuo wa, im neehn chaaj wi! Im jos se, “Yu gud man.” An pan tap a dat im gi wi moni tu! Dis did mek wi si se ye, Jeuova a tek kier a im piipl dem an it mek wi si se wi fi kain tu ada piipl tu.

Wen wi ga’a di kanggrigieshan dem wi stie a di breda an sista dem yaad an kaaz a dat wi an uol iip a dem ton gud gud fren. Wan a di taim mi did a rait di ripuot fi di kanggrigieshan tu di branch an kaa mi neehn don mi did lef it iina di taipraita. Bot wen mi kom bak di iivn mi fain out se dem 3 ier uol bwai di “don” rait di ripuot fi mi. Fi uol iip a ier wen mi si im mi no tap chobl im bout it.

Wi did fraitn so til wen iina 1971, wi did get wan leta we mek wi nuo se wi a ga’a Nyuu Yaak fi mi ton wan dischrik uovasiya. Mi did a jos 34 ier uol wen wi go de. Bot iivn duo mi did a di fos blak dischrik uovasiya dem av, di breda an sista dem did mek wi fiil gud se wi did de de wid dem.

Dem diez de mi did lov fi gi taak wen mi ga’a di dischrik miitn dem kaa mi kuda get fi tiich di breda an sista dem muo bout Jeuova. Nof a di sorkit uovasiya dem did nuo uol iip muor bout di sorkit wok, iivn muor dan mi, kaa a aal wan a dem did gi di taak wen mi did a baptaiz. An likl afta dat dem did aks wan a di breda dem we niem Theodore Jaracz fi bi wan a di breda dem pan di Govanin Badi. An yu did av nof a di bredaz dem a Bruklin Betel we did chrang chrang iina di fiet an we nuo nof bout Jeuova tu. So mi did glad wen dem de sorkit uovasiya de an di breda dem we did de a Betel did mek mi fiil gud bout wa mi a du. So mi get fi si fi miself se dem breda ya did lov Jeuova piipl an dem a du evriting we dem kyan du fi tek kier a Jeuova piipl dem. An dem luk iina Gad wod fi nuo wa fi du an dem redi fi du wa Jeuova aaganaizieshan tel dem fi du. So kaa dem breda ya did so ombl it did mek it iizi fi mi du di dischrik uovasiya wok.

Iina 1974 di Govanin Badi did pik wan neda set a sorkit uovasiya fi du di dischrik wok, an dem did sen mi fi bi wan sorkit uovasiya iina Sout Karalaina. Bot mi did api se bai da taim ya di blak an wait breda an sista dem kuda worship Jeuova tugeda an dis did mek dem api tu.

Iina di laas paat a 1976 dem did aks mi fi go a di kanggrigieshan dem iina Jaajiya. Dem kanggrigieshan de did de bitwiin Atlanta an Kolombos. An mi a tel yu ino, mi did memba dis klier klier laka dis yeside it apm, wen mi did afi gi wan finaral taak fi faiv blak pikni we did ded kaa dem fling faiya bum iina dem ous, an dem mada did de iina aspital kaa shi did get ort tu. Bot mi a tel yu, di wait breda dem an di blak breda dem neehn tap go a di aspital fi go luk fi di pikni dem mada an faada fi osh dem an mek dem fiil beta. Dis did mek mi si ou di breda dem lov dem wan aneda bad bad. Wen wi du tingz fi mek wi breda an sista dem si se wi de de fi dem an wi a fiil it fi dem tu, it elp dem fi eng aan an go chuu eni kain-a prablem we dem av.

Iina 1977 dem did aks mi an Ruby fi kom a Bruklin Betel fi elp wid sitn we dem did a wok pan fi kopl mont. Wen da wok de did don tuu breda we de pan di Govanin Badi did aks mi an Ruby ef wi waahn tan a Betel an wok de fi gud. So wi tel dem yes wi wuda dwi’it.

Fi 24 ier, mi did wok iina di sorvis dipaatment. De so di breda dem ansa som aad aad kwestiyan we kom iin we di breda an sista dem waahn ansa fa. Fi uol iip a ier nou di Govanin Badi gi wi tingz iina di Baibl we wi kyan riizn pan fi ansa dem kwestiyan ya. A dem tingz de wi yuuz fi chrien di sorkit uovasiya dem, an di elda dem, an di paiyanier dem. An wen wi yuuz dem ting ya fi chrien di breda an sista dem, it elp uol iip a dem fi get chrangga an chrangga iina wa dem biliiv iina an dis elp fi bil op Jeuova aaganaizieshan.

Fram 1995 tu 2018, di breda dem a di worl ed afis di sen mi ga’a som a di difrant difrant branch afis dem roun di worl. Dem yuus tu kaal di breda dem we du da wok de zuon uovasiya. So dat mi kuda get fi elp push di breda an sista dem fi tan op chrang an fi diil wid eni prablem we dem av mi wuda av miitn wid di breda dem pan di branch komitii, an di breda an sista dem we wok a Betel, an di mishineri dem tu. An wen di breda an sista dem tel wi di sitn dem we dem did go chuu it push mi an Ruby fi gwaan sorv Jeuova wid aal a wi aat. Laik wan a di taim wen wi did go a Ruwanda iina 2000, wi ier ou di breda an sista dem an di wan dem a Betel did go chuu di uol iip a kilin we did a gwaan iina 1994. Uol iip a dem did av piipl fi dem we ded bot dem did stil tan op chrang an neehn gi op. An dem did gwaan chos iina Jeuova an a luk faawod fi di gud sitn dem we Jeuova se im a-go gi dem, an dem did api tu. An aal a dis elp mi an Ruby fi tan op chrang tu.

Mi an Ruby a 80-ad ya nou. Fi 20 ier nou mi a wok wid di breda dem pan di Branch Komitii we de a Merika. Mi neehn go a yuunivorsiti bot mi get di bigis tiichin eva fram Jeuova an im aaganaizieshan, an dis mek mi kyan tiich piipl beta bout di chuut we de iina Gad Wod we kyan mek dem liv fi eva. (2 Kor. 3:5; 2 Tim. 2:2) Mi get fi si ou di sitn dem we iina di Baibl elp piipl liv wan beta laif rait ya nou an ou it elp dem fi jraa nier tu Gad. (Jmz. 4:8) Wen mi an Ruby get di chaans fi gwaan push di breda an sista dem, wi du wi bes fi elp dem fi si se dem fi glad se dem kyan lorn bout Jeuova an tiich ada piipl bout di chuut we de iina di Baibl kaa dat a di bigis ting we sumadi we a sorv Jeuova kyan du an dis a-go mek dem api wen dem dwi’it!