“Akɛ Nɔ ni Wɔhiɛ Nɛkɛ Sɔɔmɔ Nɛɛ . . . , Wɔtsui Efãaa”

TAAKƐ RONALD TAYLOR GBA

Yɛ 1963 latsaa be mli lɛ, mina mihe yɛ shihilɛ ko mli akɛ miipele ni mahere miyiwala. Beni minyiɛ nu lɛ mli yɛ ŋshɔ lɛ naabu lɛ, mishane ni miyabote bu mli yɛ nu lɛ mli, ni trukaa nɔŋŋ kɛkɛ ni ŋshɔ lɛ fɔ̃ mi ewo nu ni mli kwɔ waa mli. Akɛni mileee seremɔ hewɔ lɛ, sharao nɛɛ nɔŋŋ lɛ, miihe mamii nu yɛ he ni kɛ ŋshɔ lɛ naa jekɛmɔ aaafee mitai fioo ko pɛ. Mibote nu lɛ shishi shii etɛ, ni mimii ŋshɔ-nu lɛ babaoo miwo mimli kɛkɛ ni minaanyo ko na oshara ni miyɔɔ mli lɛ, kɛkɛ ni egbala mi kɛba ŋshɔ lɛ naa. Kɔɔyɔɔ ni amu awo mimli kɛtsɔ migugɔ mli lɛ ji nɔ ni ye ebua mi ni miyi na wala.

JEEE enɛ ji klɛŋklɛŋ kwraa ni minaa bɔ ni ehe hiaa ni mɔ nijiaŋ akaje wui—eyɛ mli akɛ shihilɛ lɛ fee tamɔ nɔ ni hiɛnɔkamɔ ko bɛ mli. Kɛjɛ migbekɛbiiashi tɔ̃ɔ ehe bahia ni mawuu waa yɛ mimumɔŋ shihilɛ hewɔ.

Jeŋ ta ni ji enyɔ lɛ mli, beni hiɛnɔkamɔ ko kwraa bɛ lɛ, ni mikɛ Kristofoi anɔkwale lɛ kpe klɛŋklɛŋ kwraa. Mifata gbekɛbii akpei abɔ ni aloo amɛ kɛjɛ London koni amɛje okpɛlɛmii atswiamɔ mli osharai lɛ amli lɛ ahe. Akɛni no mli lɛ miye afii 12 pɛ hewɔ lɛ, ta lɛ jeee nɔ ko tsɔ̃ kɛha mi; etamɔ shwɛmɔ ko ni oshara yɔɔ mli kɛkɛ.

Gbalashihilɛ mli hefatalɔi komɛi ni edara saŋŋ, ni yɔɔ Weston-super-Mare, yɛ England wuoyi-anaigbɛ, ji mɛi ni kwɛ mi. Beni miyashɛ hefatalɔi nɛɛ ashia lɛ, no sɛɛ etsɛɛɛ kɛkɛ ni sɔɔlɔi komɛi ni ji gbɛgbalɔi babɔi wɔ saramɔ. Hargreaves weku lɛ; amɛyi ejwɛ lɛ fɛɛ—Reg, Mabs, Pamela, kɛ Valeri—amɛ fɛɛ amɛji gbɛgbalɔi krɛdɛɛi. Mɛi ni mikɛyɔɔ akɛ mifɔlɔi nɛɛ bakpɛlɛ anɔkwale lɛ nɔ, ni beni mikase The Harp of God wolo lɛ migbe naa lɛ, mi hu mikpɛ miyiŋ akɛ masɔmɔ Yehowa. Otsii ekpaa pɛ sɛɛ lɛ, afɔ̃ mi nine akɛ mikɛ mihe awo shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli.

Minyɛɔ mikaiɔ nakai klɛŋklɛŋ gbi ni mitee shiɛmɔ lɛ lolo. Minaaa hesaamɔ ko kwraa kɛtsɔɔɔ hiɛ, kɛkɛ ni aha mi woji bibii komɛi ni akɛɛ mi akɛ: “Tsu nii yɛ gbɛjegbɛ nɛɛ he aahu kɛya.” Nɛkɛ ji bɔ ni fee ni mina niiashikpamɔ yɛ klɛŋklɛŋ gbi ni mitee shiɛmɔ lɛ nɔ. Nakai beaŋ lɛ, wɔkɛ gramafon plɛtei ni amɔmɔ shiɛmɔ wiemɔi ni mli wa awo nɔ tsuɔ nii. Be ni mina he miishɛɛ fe fɛɛ ji beni minyɛɔ mitereɔ gramafon lɛ kɛyaa shia kɛ shia ni mitswaa wiemɔi ni amɔmɔ awo gramafon plɛtei anɔ lɛ. Miŋɔ lɛ akɛ eji hegbɛ diɛŋtsɛ ni mina akɛ akɛ mi aaatsu nii yɛ nakai gbɛ nɔ.

Miye odase saŋŋ yɛ skul, ni mikaiɔ akɛ miha wɔ tsɔɔlɔ nukpa lɛ woji saŋŋ ni wieɔ Bibila mli saneyitsei ahe. Beni miye afii 13 lɛ, abaptisi mi yɛ kpee ko ni afee yɛ Bath ni bɛŋkɛ wɔ lɛ shishi. Tawuu be mli kpee kroko hu ni afee ni mihiɛ kpaŋ nɔ ji nɔ ni afee yɛ Leicester yɛ 1941 mli, yɛ De Montfort Hall lɛ. Mikwɔ kɛtee wiemɔ kpoku lɛ nɔ ni miyahe mi diɛŋtsɛ miwolo, ni ji Children, ni Nyɛminuu Rutherford, ni no mli lɛ, lɛ ji Buu Mɔɔ Asafo lɛ sɛinɔtalɔ lɛ, shɛɛ wiemɔ ko yɔɔ mli kɛha wɔ lɛ. Wiemɔ ko ni kanyaa mɔ, ni akɛ gbekɛbii fɛɛ ni yɔɔ kpee lɛ shishi lɛ wie lɛ, wo suɔmɔ ni miyɔɔ akɛ masɔmɔ Yehowa kɛya naanɔ lɛ mli hewalɛ.

Enɛ hewɔ lɛ mikɛ mɛi ni kwɛ mi akɛ mifɔlɔi lɛ hi shi afii enyɔ kɛ miishɛɛ yɛ anɔkwale lɛ mli. Shi beni miye afii 14 lɛ, ebalɛ akɛ esa akɛ maku misɛɛ kɛya London ni mayatsu nii ni mikɛkwɛ mi diɛŋtsɛ mihe. Eyɛ mli akɛ mikɛ miweku lɛ diɛŋtsɛ fee ekome ekoŋŋ moŋ, shi ebalɛ akɛ esa akɛ madamɔ mi diɛŋtsɛ minaji anɔ yɛ mumɔŋ, ejaakɛ mɔ ko kwraa bɛ shia lɛ mli ni kɛ mi yɔɔ hemɔkɛyeli kome. Etsɛɛɛ kɛkɛ ni Yehowa ha mi yelikɛbuamɔ ni he hiaa mi lɛ. Beni miyashɛ London lɛ sɛɛ otsii etɛ pɛ lɛ, nyɛmi nuu ko ba wɔshia lɛ ni ebabi mitsɛ gbɛ akɛ eesumɔ ni ekɛ mi aya Maŋtsɛyeli Asa ni yɔɔ jɛmɛ lɛ nɔ. Nyɛmi nuu lɛ ji John Barr, ni amrɔ nɛɛ eji Yehowa Odasefoi a-Nɔyeli Kuu lɛ ateŋ mɔ kome lɛ. Ebatsɔ mimumɔŋ “tsɛmɛi” lɛ ateŋ mɔ kome yɛ nɛkɛ afii nyɔŋma-kɛ-etɛ kɛyaa jaramɔ be nɛɛ mli.—Mateo 19:29.

Mibɔi kpeeiyaa yɛ Paddington Asafo lɛ mli, ni amɛkpeɔ yɛ Craven Terrace, yɛ London Betel Shia lɛ masɛi kpaakpa. Akɛni miji mumɔŋ awusã hewɔ lɛ, aha nyɛmi nuu ko ni afɔ lɛ mu, ni eda yɛ afii amli hu, ni ji “Papa” Humphreys, nitsumɔ akɛ eje gbɛ ena suɔmɔ krɛdɛɛ kɛha mi. Eji jɔɔmɔ kpele diɛŋtsɛ kɛha mi akɛ mikɛ nyɛmimɛi hii kɛ yei babaoo ni afɔ amɛ mu, ni sɔmɔɔ yɛ nakai asafo lɛ mli lɛ aaabɔ. Wɔteŋ mɛi ni wɔyɔɔ shikpɔŋ nɛɛ nɔ hiɛnɔkamɔ—ni atsɛɔ wɔ Yonadab bii—lɛ ayi faaa kwraa. Yɛ anɔkwale mli lɛ, mi pɛ ji “Yonadab” ni yɔɔ Asafo Woloŋ Nikasemɔ Kuu ni mifata he lɛ mli. Eyɛ mli akɛ mikɛ mɛi ni ji mitipɛŋfoi lɛ ateŋ mɛi babaoo ebɔɔɔ tsɔ̃ moŋ, shi nakai naanyobɔɔ ni jara wa, ni mikɛ nyɛmimɛi ni edara lɛ na lɛ tsɔɔ mi nibii kpakpai pii. Ekolɛ amɛteŋ nɔ ni he hiaa fe fɛɛ ji akɛ, mikakpa Yehowa sɔɔmɔ kɔkɔɔkɔ.

Nakai beaŋ lɛ, wɔkɛ otsi naagbee lɛ fɛɛ tsuɔ nii yɛ shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Aha mi nitsumɔ akɛ mikwɛ “kar ni akɛtswaa gramafon” lɛ nɔ, shi eji baisikel kɛ enaji etɛ, ni atsake lɛ fioo bɔ ni anyɛɔ akɛ gramafon kɛ kar batre maa nɔ. Daa Hɔɔ lɛ, mikɛ baisikel kɛ enaji etɛ nɛɛ jeɔ kpo ni miyadamɔɔ gbɛjegbɛi akoji sɔrɔtoi anɔ, ni wɔkɛ gramafon lɛ tswaa lalai aahu, kɛkɛ lɛ no sɛɛ lɛ, wɔtswa Nyɛmi nuu Rutherford wiemɔi lɛ ekomɛi wɔtsɔɔ mɛi lɛ. Wɔhala daa Hɔɔ hu kɛha gbɛjegbɛi anɔ nitsumɔ kɛ wɔbaagii ni wɔkɛ woji tɛtrɛbii woɔ mli lɛ. Wɔtuu daa Hɔgbaa wɔha shia-kɛ-shia nitsumɔ, kɛ woji bibii kɛ woji wuji hu kɛhamɔ.

Nyɛmimɛi ni edara yɛ afii amli ni mikɛ amɛ na naanyobɔɔ lɛ ha mina suɔmɔ akɛ mafee gbɛgbalɔ. Abawo suɔmɔ nɛɛ mli hewalɛ jogbaŋŋ beni mibo gbɛgbamɔ he wiemɔi ni aha yɛ kpokpai wuji anɔ kpeei ashishi lɛ toi lɛ. Kpee ko ni na hewalɛ waa yɛ mishihilɛ nɔ ji nɔ ni afee yɛ Earl’s Court, yɛ London, yɛ 1947 mli lɛ. No sɛɛ nyɔji enyɔ lɛ, mikɛ mihe wo gbɛgbamɔ sɔɔmɔ lɛ mli, ni ehe bahia ni mamia mihiɛ waa ni mahiɛ gbɛgbamɔ mumɔ lɛ mli daa nɛɛ, kɛjɛ nakai be lɛ mli kɛbaa nɛɛ. Miishɛɛ ni minaa yɛ Biblia mli nikasemɔi babaoo ni mifeɔ kɛtsaraa nɔ lɛ mli lɛ haa miyaa nɔ minaa nɔmimaa waa akɛ yiŋkpɛɛ kpakpa mifee lɛ.

Hefatalɔ ni Jɛ Spain kɛ Nitsumɔ yɛ Spain

Yɛ afi 1957 mli, beni misɔmɔɔ akɛ gbɛgbalɔ yɛ Paddington Asafo lɛ mli lolo lɛ, mikɛ nyɛmi yoo fɛfɛo ko ni jɛ Spain, ni atsɛɔ lɛ Rafaela kpe. Nyɔji fioo sɛɛ lɛ, wɔbote gbalashihilɛ mli. Oti ni ma wɔhiɛ ji ni wɔfee gbɛgbalɔi, shi klɛŋklɛŋ lɛ wɔtee Madrid koni mayana Rafaela fɔlɔi. Eji saramɔ ko ni tsake mishihilɛ. Beni wɔyɔɔ Madrid lɛ, Nyɛmi nuu Ray Dusinberre, ni ji nitsumɔ he nine ni yɔɔ Spain lɛ nɔkwɛlɔ lɛ, bi mi akɛ ani wɔbaasumɔ ni wɔsɔmɔ yɛ Spain, he ni nyɛmimɛi ni yɔɔ niiashikpamɔ lɛ ahe hiaa waa yɛ lɛ lo.

Te wɔɔfee tɛŋŋ wɔkpoo ninefɔɔ ni tamɔ nɛkɛ? Enɛ hewɔ lɛ, yɛ 1958 mli lɛ, wɔje wɔ be-fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ lɛ shishi yɛ Spain. No mli lɛ, maŋ lɛ yɛ Franco nɔyeli shishi, ni akpɛlɛɛɛ wɔ nitsumɔ lɛ nɔ yɛ mla naa, ni enɛ ha shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ bawa waa diɛŋtsɛ. Kɛfata he hu lɛ, Spainbii awiemɔ lɛ kasemɔ wa waa kɛha mi yɛ klɛŋklɛŋ afii enyɔ lɛ mli. Shikome ekoŋŋ lɛ, ehe bahia ni minijiaŋ akaje wui, eyɛ mli akɛ mifó fe shikome, yɛ nijiaŋwujee folo kɛkɛ hewɔ, yɛ nyɛ ni minyɛɛɛ mikɛ nyɛmimɛi ni yɔɔ asafo lɛ mli lɛ awie jogbaŋŋ lɛ hewɔ.

Hiamɔ ni yɔɔ yɛ nɔkwɛlɔi agbɛfaŋ lɛ da aahu akɛ eyɛ mli akɛ minyɛɛɛ mawie Spanish wiemɔ lɛ moŋ, shi yɛ nyɔŋ kome mli lɛ, miikwɛ kuu bibioo ko nɔ. Bɔ ni wɔ nitsumɔ lɛ etsɔ teemɔŋ nitsumɔ hewɔ lɛ, ato wɔhe gbɛjianɔ awo kui bibii ni shiɛlɔi aaashɛ 15 kɛyashi 20 yɔɔ mli lɛ amli, ni amɛtsuɔ nii tamɔ asafoi bibii pɛpɛɛpɛ. Kɛjɛ shishijee lɛ, kulɛ kpeei lɛ anɔkwɛmɔ wa waa kɛha mi, ejaakɛ jeee be fɛɛ be minuɔ hetooi ni toibolɔi lɛ haa lɛ ashishi. Shi miŋa taa sɛɛ tɔ̃ɔ, ni kɛ ena akɛ miyiŋ miifee mi kɔshikɔshi lɛ, ehosoɔ eyitso yɛ ŋaa mli etsɔɔ mi, ni ekɛmaa nɔ mi akɛ hetoo ni aha lɛ ja.

Mijeee mɔ ko ni he esa kɛ wiemɔ kroko kasemɔ, ni minu he shii abɔ akɛ esa akɛ maku misɛɛ kɛya England, ejaakɛ manyɛ mafee nɔ fɛɛ nɔ yɛ gbɛ ni waaa kwraa nɔ yɛ jɛmɛ. Shi kɛlɛ, kɛjɛ shishijee lɛ, suɔmɔ kɛ naanyobɔɔ su ni wɔnyɛmimɛi Spainbii ni wɔsumɔɔ amɛ waa lɛ jie lɛ kpo lɛ baye nijiaŋwujee ni mina yɛ wiemɔ lɛ gbɛfaŋ lɛ najiaŋ. Ni Yehowa jɔɔ mi kɛ hegbɛi krɛdɛɛi komɛi ni ha fɛɛ bafee nɔ ni sɛɛnamɔ yɔɔ he waa. Yɛ 1958 mli lɛ, afɔ̃ mi nine akɛ miba majimaji ateŋ kpee ni afee yɛ New York lɛ akɛ mɛi ni jɛ Spain lɛ ateŋ mɔ ko. Kɛkɛ ni yɛ 1962 mli lɛ, mina tsɔsemɔ ni he yɔɔ sɛɛnamɔ waa yɛ Maŋtsɛyeli Sɔɔmɔ Skul ni ato he gbɛjianɔ aha wɔ yɛ Tangier, yɛ Morocco lɛ.

Yɛ wiemɔ he naagba lɛ sɛɛ lɛ, naagba kroko hu ni mikɛkpe ji bɔ ni misusuɔ bɔ ni polisifoi baanyɛ amɔ mi be fɛɛ be lɛ he lɛ. Akɛ gbɔ lɛ, mile akɛ kɛji amɔ mi lɛ, bɔ fɛɛ bɔ ni fee lɛ abaashwie mi kɛjɛ maŋ lɛ mli oya nɔŋŋ. Wɔtsuɔ nii enyɔnyɔ, bɔni afee ni wɔkɛba oshara lɛ shi. Beni mɔ kome yeɔ odase lɛ, belɛ mɔ kroko lɛ miibo ehe toi akɛ ebaana oshara he okadi ko lo. Kɛ wɔtee shinaa kome loo enyɔ naa, bei pii lɛ, yɛ ŋwɛitsui anɔ lɛ, wɔshiɔ̃ jɛmɛ kwraa kɛyaa tsũi enyɔ loo etɛ ni tsa nɔ lɛ mli ni wɔyaa shiai enyɔ loo etɛ mli yɛ jɛmɛ hu. Wɔkɛ Biblia lɛ tsuɔ nii waa, ni wɔhiɛɔ woji bibii fioo pɛ ni wɔkɛhɔlɔ wɔ kootu wuji ni wɔwo lɛ amli, ni wɔkɛhaa mɛi ni yɔɔ wiemɔ lɛ he miishɛɛ lɛ.

Beni wɔye afi yɛ Madrid lɛ, no sɛɛ lɛ aha wɔ nitsumɔ yɛ Vigo, ni ji maŋtiase wulu ko mli yɛ Spain kooyi-anaigbɛ, he ni Odasefonyo ko kwraa bɛ. Baafee klɛŋklɛŋ nyɔŋ lɛ mli nɔŋŋ lɛ, Asafo lɛ jie yi akɛ miha miŋa afɔ odaseyeli babaoo fe mi—koni no aha wɔfee tamɔ gbɔi ni eba shishɛramɔ lɛlɛŋ. Yɛ wɔ-heteemɔ gbɛ ni wɔtsɔ nɔ nɛɛ fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, wɔ shiɛmɔ lɛ gbala mɛi ajwɛŋmɔ kɛ̃. Beni shɛɔ nyɔŋ kome lɛ, Katolik osɔfoi ebɔi wɔheguɔgbee yɛ redio nɔ momo. Amɛbɔ amɛ sɔlemɔyalɔi lɛ kɔkɔ akɛ gbalashihilɛ mli hefatalɔi komɛi miiya shia kɛ shia ni amɛmiiwie Biblia—ni ji wolo ko ni mla eŋmɛɛɛ gbɛ yɛ nakai beaŋ lɛ he. Nɛkɛ “gbalashihilɛ mli hefatalɔi ni ataoɔ amɛ” nɛɛ ji gbɔ ko kɛ eŋa Spanish yoo, ni yoo lɛ ji mɔ titri ni fɔɔ wiemɔ!

Osɔfoi lɛ wo akpɔ akɛ wiemɔ folo kɛkɛ ni akɛ nɛkɛ hefatalɔi nɛɛ aaawie lɛ ji esha, ni ja ajaje atsɔɔ osɔfo lɛ oya nɔŋŋ dani abaanyɛ akɛ nakai esha lɛ ake. Ni lɛlɛŋ hu taakɛ mɔ ko baakpa gbɛ lɛ, beni wɔkɛ obalayoo ko na sanegbaa kɛ miishɛɛ wɔgbe naa pɛ, ni ekɛ dɔlɛ kɛ faikpamɔ kɛɛ wɔ akɛ esa akɛ eya nɔŋŋ ni eyajaje etsɔɔ akɛ ekɛ wɔ egba sane. Beni wɔshi eshia lɛ, wɔna akɛ ekɛ foi miiya sɔlemɔtsu lɛ he gbɛ.

Shwiemɔ

Beni wɔyashɛ Vigo lɛ sɛɛ nyɔji enyɔ pɛ, kɛkɛ ni polisifoi mɔmɔ wɔ. Polisifonyo ni bamɔ wɔ lɛ na henumɔ waa eha wɔ, no hewɔ lɛ ekɛ nine gbokɛlɛi lɛ wooo wɔniji beni ekɛ wɔ yaa polisifoi anitsumɔ he lɛ. Beni wɔyashɛ nitsumɔ he lɛ, wɔna hiɛ ko ni wɔkɛkpe dã, taip-tswalɔ ko ni wɔye lɛ odase etsɛko tsɔ̃. Wɔna faŋŋ akɛ egba enaa waa beni ena akɛ aafee wɔ tamɔ awuiyelɔi komɛi lɛ, ni ekɛ oyaiyeli kɛɛ wɔ akɛ eŋmako efɔŋ feemɔ naafolɔmɔ ko eshiko wɔ. Shi kɛlɛ, afolɔ wɔnaa akɛ wɔkɛ oshara miiba “Spain mumɔŋ ekomefeemɔ” he, ni nyɔji ekpaa sɛɛ lɛ, ashwie wɔ kɛjɛ maŋ lɛ mli.

Egbala wɔ sɛɛ kwraa, shi kɛlɛ, wɔkpɛɛɛ wɔyiŋ akɛ wɔbaakpa. Nitsumɔ babaoo yɛ ni abaatsu lolo yɛ Iberia Ŋshɔnine Shikpɔŋ lɛ nɔ. Beni wɔye nyɔji etɛ yɛ Tangier lɛ, no sɛɛ lɛ asaa aha wɔ nitsumɔ ekoŋŋ yɛ Gibraltar—ni ji shikpɔŋkuku hee kwraa ni atsuko nii yɛ mli dã. Taakɛ bɔfo Paulo kɛɛ lɛ, kɛ wɔbuɔ wɔ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ, no lɛ wɔbaaya nɔ wɔtsu, ni wɔbaana nyɔmɔwoo hu. (2 Korintobii 4:1, 7, 8) Enɛ bafee anɔkwale yɛ wɔshihilɛ mli. Wɔkɛ weku muu fɛɛ je Biblia mli nikasemɔ shishi yɛ klɛŋklɛŋ shia ni wɔtee mli yɛ Gibraltar lɛ mli. Etsɛɛɛ kwraa ni wɔteŋ mɔ fɛɛ mɔ bɔi nikasemɔi 17 sɔŋŋ feemɔ. Mɛi ni wɔkɛ amɛ kase nii lɛ ateŋ mɛi pii batsɔmɔ Odasefoi, ni yɛ afii enyɔ mli lɛ, ana asafo ni shiɛlɔi 25 yɔɔ mli.

Shi, taakɛ eba yɛ Vigo lɛ, osɔfoi lɛ bɔi wɔhe wiemɔi fɔji wiemɔ. Anglikan osɔfo ni yɔɔ Gibraltar lɛ bɔ polisifonyo nukpa lɛ kɔkɔ akɛ wɔji “gbɔmɛi ni esaaa,” ni yɛ naagbee lɛ, nɔ ko kɛ̃ jɛ wɔshishi ni eyanyiɛ nɛɛ mli kɛba. Yɛ January 1962 mli lɛ, ashwie wɔ kɛjɛ Gibraltar. Nɛgbɛ wɔbaaya agbɛnɛ? Hiamɔ lɛ da waa yɛ Spain lolo, no hewɔ lɛ wɔku wɔsɛɛ kɛtee jɛmɛ, kɛ hiɛnɔkamɔ akɛ no mli lɛ ekolɛ ajie wɔhe saji ni aŋmala yɛ polisifoi awoji amli lɛ fɛɛ ni amɛkaiŋ amrɔ nɔŋŋ.

Seville maŋtiase ni hulu tsoɔ waa yɛ jɛmɛ lɛ ji wɔshia hee. Jɛmɛ ji he ni wɔna miishɛɛ yɛ ni wɔkɛ gbalashihilɛ mli hefatalɔi krokomɛi ni ji gbɛgbalɔi, Ray kɛ Pat Kirkup tsu nii yɛ. Eyɛ mli akɛ Seville ji maŋtiase ni mlibii ayifalɛ shɛɔ akpei ohai enumɔ moŋ, shi shiɛlɔi 21 pɛ yɔɔ jɛmɛ, no hewɔ lɛ nitsumɔ babaoo yɛ ni abaatsu. Amrɔ nɛɛ ayɛ asafoi 15 kɛ shiɛlɔi 1,500 yɛ jɛmɛ. Afi kome sɛɛ lɛ, nɔ ko ba trukaa ni ha wɔnaa kpɛ wɔhe kɛ miishɛɛ; afɔ̃ wɔ nine akɛ wɔbasɔmɔ yɛ gbɛfaa nitsumɔ lɛ mli yɛ Barcelona kpokpai anɔ.

Kpokpaa nɔ nitsumɔ yɛ maŋ nɔ he ni akpɛlɛɛɛ wɔ nitsumɔ lɛ nɔ yɛ mla naa lɛ yɛ sɔrɔto fioo. Daa otsi lɛ, wɔyasaraa kui bibii, ni kui nɛɛ ateŋ babaoo yɛ nyɛmimɛi hii fioo pɛ ni he esa. Tsɔsemɔ kɛ sɛɛfimɔ ni wɔɔnyɛ wɔkɛha nɛkɛ nyɛmimɛi hii ni tsuɔ nii waa nɛɛ he miihia amɛ jogbaŋŋ. Wɔsumɔɔ nɛkɛ nitsumɔ nɛɛ waa! Beni wɔkɛ afii babaoo etsu nii yɛ hei ni Odasefoi fioo pɛ yɔɔ jɛmɛ lɛ aahu sɛɛ lɛ, agbɛnɛ wɔbana miishɛɛ waa akɛ wɔnyɛɔ wɔyasaraa nyɛmimɛi hii kɛ yei sɔrɔtoi abɔ. Kɛfata he lɛ, shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ yɛ mlɛo yɛ Barcelona, ni mɛi pii miisumɔ ni amɛkase Biblia lɛ.

Jwɛŋmɔŋ Haomɔ Naadaamɔ

Shi, yɛ nyɔji ekpaa pɛ sɛɛ lɛ, mishihilɛ tsake kwraa trukaa. Shwɛ sharao ni wɔ klɛŋklɛŋ hejɔɔmɔ ni wɔtee yɛ ŋshɔ naa lɛ atsɔ amanehulu kɛha mi beni mibote oshara ni mitsɔɔ kɛtsɔ hiɛ momo lɛ mli lɛ. Mibana gbɔmɔtsoŋ hewalɛ oya bɔ ni sa, kɛjɛ gbeyei ni mɔ mi akɛ kulɛ magbo yɛ nu lɛ mli lɛ mli, shi oshara nɛɛ eshi okadi ko yɛ mijwɛŋmɔ kɛ mihenumɔi amli ni mihiɛ kpaaa nɔ kɔkɔɔkɔ.

Nyɔji fioo ho, ni mimia mihiɛ waa akɛ maya nɔ yɛ kpokpaa nɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli, shi naagbee lɛ, ehe bahia ni maku misɛɛ kɛya England kɛha tsofafeemɔ. Afii enyɔ sɛɛ lɛ, mibana hewalɛ bɔ ni sa, ni wɔnyɛ wɔku wɔsɛɛ kɛtee Spain, ni wɔkɛ wɔhe wo kpokpaa nɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli ekoŋŋ. Shi kɛlɛ, wɔhi mli be kukuoo ko pɛ. Miŋa fɔlɔi ahe baye waa, ni wɔshi be-fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ lɛ koni wɔyakwɛ amɛ.

Shihilɛ lɛ mli bawa waa kɛha mi yɛ 1968 mli, beni mibana jwɛŋmɔŋ kɛ henumɔŋ naagba ko ni ye minɔ lɛ. Eshɛ bei komɛi kwraa ni mikɛ Rafaela fɛɛ susu akɛ minaŋ hewalɛ. Efeɔ mi tamɔ nɔ ni miimii nu ekoŋŋ, shi yɛ gbɛ kroko kwraa nɔ! Kɛfata susumɔi gbohii ni eha eye minɔ lɛ he lɛ, nɛkɛ jwɛŋmɔŋ nɔnyɛɛ shihilɛ nɛɛ ha migbɔmɔtsoŋ hewalɛ hu fɛɛ tã kwraa. Minuɔ he be fɛɛ be akɛ etɔ mi waa, ni no nyɛɔ minɔ akɛ esa akɛ maya nɔ majɔɔ mihe daa gbi. Nakai beaŋ lɛ, jeee nyɛmimɛi lɛ fɛɛ nuɔ nɛkɛ naagba nɛɛ shishi; shi mile akɛ Yehowa nuɔ shishi. Eji miishɛjemɔ kpele kɛha mi akɛ makane saji ni hi jogbaŋŋ ni aŋmala awo Buu-Mɔɔ kɛ Awake! woji tɛtrɛbii lɛ amli, ni shishinumɔ yɔɔ he waa, ni eyeɔ ebuaa mɛi ni yɔɔ jwɛŋmɔŋ haomɔ shihilɛ mli hu lɛ.

Miŋa bafee hewalɛwoo jɛɛhe kɛha mi be fɛɛ be, yɛ nɛkɛ jaramɔ be nɛɛ fɛɛ mli. Naagbai anaa ni mɛi enyɔ lɛ fɛɛ damɔɔ lɛ haa gbalashihilɛ tsakpaa lɛ mli waa. Rafaela fɔlɔi bagboi, ni yɛ afii 12 sɛɛ lɛ, mibana gbɔmɔtsoŋ hewalɛ saŋŋ, bɔ ni eha wɔnu he akɛ wɔbaanyɛ wɔku wɔ sɛɛ kɛya be-fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ lɛ mli ekoŋŋ. Yɛ 1981 mli lɛ, nɔ ni fee wɔ naakpɛɛ kɛ miishɛɛ fɛɛ ji akɛ, afɔ̃ wɔ nine ekoŋŋ akɛ wɔbasɔmɔ yɛ kpokpaa nɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli.

Teokrase tsakemɔi wuji eba yɛ Spain kɛjɛ be mli ni wɔna wɔ klɛŋklɛŋ niiashikpamɔ yɛ gbɛfaa nitsumɔ lɛ mli lɛ. Amrɔ nɛɛ heyeli yɛ kɛha shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ, no hewɔ lɛ, ebabi ni matsake mihe mawo shihilɛ hee ni yɔɔ agbɛnɛ nɛɛ mli. Shi kɛlɛ, hegbɛ ni mina akɛ masɔmɔ akɛ kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔ shikome ekoŋŋ lɛ ji hegbɛ wulu diɛŋtsɛ kɛha mi. Gbɛgbamɔ sɔɔmɔ lɛ ni wɔkɛ wɔhe wo mli yɛ jaramɔ shihilɛi ni wɔkɛkpe lɛ fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ ye ebua wɔ ni wɔwo gbɛgbalɔi ni naa naagbai lɛ hewalɛ. Ni wɔnyɛ wɔye wɔbua mɛi krokomɛi shii abɔ ni amɛbafata gbɛgbalɔi lɛ ahe.

Beni wɔkɛ afii 11 etsu nii yɛ gbɛfaa nitsumɔ lɛ mli yɛ Madrid kɛ Barcelona lɛ, shikome ekoŋŋ lɛ ehe bahia ni atsake wɔ nitsumɔ lɛ aha wɔ yɛ gbɔmɔtsoŋ helai ahewɔ. Aha wɔ nitsumɔ akɛ gbɛgbalɔi krɛdɛɛi yɛ Salamanca maŋtiase lɛ mli, ni mihe ba sɛɛnamɔ yɛ jɛmɛ akɛ onukpa. Nyɛmimɛi ni yɔɔ Salamanca lɛ ha wɔhiɛ mɛ jɛmɛ shihilɛ he amrɔ nɔŋŋ. Yɛ afi sɛɛ lɛ, jaramɔ shihilɛ kroko baka wɔ tsuishiŋmɛɛ lɛ waa.

Rafaela la tã kwraa ni eshale, ni anuuu shishi, kɛkɛ ni kaai komɛi ni afee yɛ ehe lɛ ha ana akɛ ena kansa yɛ emlinii he. Agbɛnɛ esa akɛ mihe awa waa koni mikɛ sɛɛfimɔ fɛɛ ni manyɛ lɛ aha miŋa. Wɔ klɛŋklɛŋ nifeemɔ ji wɔheee wɔyeee, no sɛɛ lɛ gbeyeishemɔ. Ani abaanyɛ atsa Rafaela hela nɛɛ ni eyi baana wala? Yɛ be ni tamɔ nɛkɛ mli lɛ, wɔhe ni wɔkɛfɔɔ Yehowa nɔ kwraa lɛ ji nɔ ni yeɔ ebuaa wɔ ni wɔyaa nɔ. Eŋɔɔ minaa waa akɛ mawie akɛ afee Rafaela opireshɛn yɛ omanyeyeli mli, ni wɔhiɛ ka nɔ akɛ kansa nɛɛ baŋ dɔŋŋ.

Eyɛ mli akɛ wɔkɛ bei kpakpai kɛ jaramɔ bei ekpe yɛ afii 36 ni wɔye yɛ Spain lɛ mli fɛɛ moŋ, shi eji miishɛɛ kpele diɛŋtsɛ akɛ wɔɔhi shi yɛ nɛkɛ be ni mumɔŋ shweremɔ eba waa nɛɛ mli. Wɔna bɔ ni kuu bibioo ni ji shiɛlɔi aaashɛ 800 yɛ 1958 mli lɛ eshwere kɛyashɛ shiɛlɔi babaoo ni fe 100,000 ŋmɛnɛ. Wɔ miishɛɛ babaoo ni wɔna—ni ji mɛi krokomɛi ni wɔye wɔbua amɛ ni amɛna anɔkwale lɛ ni amɛdara yɛ mumɔŋ, ekome ni wɔfee kɛtsu nii akɛ wu kɛ ŋa, kɛ henumɔ ni wɔna akɛ wɔkɛ wɔshihilɛ etsu nii yɛ gbɛ ni hi fe fɛɛ nɔ lɛ etsimɔ wɔ naagbai lɛ anɔ.

Paulo kɛɛ yɛ wolo ni ji enyɔ ni eŋma eyaha Korintobii lɛ mli akɛ: “No hewɔ lɛ, akɛ nɔ ni wɔhiɛ nɛkɛ sɔɔmɔ nɛɛ, taakɛ bɔ ni ana wɔ mɔbɔ lɛ, wɔtsui efãaa.” (2 Korintobii 4:1) Kɛ mikwɛ be ni eho lɛ, miheɔ miyeɔ akɛ nibii pii yɛ mishihilɛ mli ni ye ebua mi ni minijiaŋ ejeee wui lɛ. Nyɛmimɛi anɔkwafoi ni afɔ amɛ mu ni na mihe miishɛɛ waa yɛ mishishijee afii lɛ amli lɛ fee shishitoo nɔ kpakpa jogbaŋŋ kɛha mi. Hefatalɔ ni mina ni mikɛ lɛ fɛɛ kɛ mumɔŋ otii kome lɛ nɔŋŋ emamɔ wɔhiɛ lɛ ye ebua mi waa; kɛ miinu gbɔjɔmɔ kɛ nɔnyɛɛ he lɛ, Rafaela woɔ mi hewalɛ waa, ni mi hu mifeɔ nakai nɔŋŋ mihaa lɛ. Naaŋmɔlɔwoo su hu ji nɔ kroko ni hi jogbaŋŋ. Bɔ ni wɔnyɛɔ wɔkɛ nyɛmimɛi lɛ ŋmɔɔ—ni wɔŋmɔɔ wɔ diɛŋtsɛ wɔhe hu lɛ—haa naagbai lɛ baa shi kwraa ni eyeee wɔnɔ.

Shi nɔ ni fe fɛɛ lɛ, tsuishiŋmɛɛ yɛ kaai ashishi lɛ biɔ hewalɛ ni jɛ Yehowa ŋɔɔ. Mikaiɔ Paulo wiemɔi nɛɛ be fɛɛ be, akɛ: “Minyɛɔ nii fɛɛ mifeɔ yɛ mɔ ni wajeɔ mi ni ji Kristo lɛ mli.” Akɛni Yehowa fiɔ wɔ sɛɛ hewɔ lɛ, ehe ehiaaa ni wɔnijiaŋ aje wui.—Filipibii 4:13.

[Mfonirii ni yɔɔ baafa 23]

Ronald kɛ Rafaela Taylor yɛ 1958 mli

[Mfonirii ni yɔɔ baafa 24, 25]

Kpee feemɔ beni agu nitsumɔ lɛ yɛ Spain (1969)