Mitsui Yiɔ kɛ Shidaa Kɛtekeɔ Nɔ

TAAKƐ JOHN WYNN GBA

Kwɛ shii abɔ ni mitse atua akɛ miyaaa Yehowa Odasefoi akpeei! Mikwaa mifeɔ tamɔ mimusu miikɔ̃ mi loo miyitso miigba mi—mifeɔ nɔ fɛ nɔ ni baatsi kpeeiyaa lɛ naa. Shi, minyɛ shiŋŋfeemɔ lɛ haa hela lɛ laajeɔ amrɔ nɔŋŋ, ni minaa mihe ni mikɛ lɛ miinyiɛ kilomitai 3 lɛ kɛmiiya Maŋtsɛyeli Asa lɛ nɔ, ni miibo lɛ toi beni egbaa Nyɔŋmɔ Wiemɔ he sane etsɔɔ onukpa ko ni fata wɔhe lɛ.

ENƐ tsɔɔ mi nɔ ko ni jara wa: Esaaa akɛ fɔlɔi kpaa shiŋŋfeemɔ yɛ suɔmɔ mli kɛha nɔ ni ja yɛ Nyɔŋmɔ hiɛ. (Abɛi 29:15, 17) Esaaa akɛ amɛhiɛ kpaa ŋwɛi taomɔ nii ákɛ “wɔkakwa wɔhe naabuamɔ” lɛ nɔ kɔkɔɔkɔ. (Hebribii 10:25) Kwɛ bɔ ni midaa shi kɛ́ miikwɛ shihilɛ mli ni mihi tsutsu lɛ, ákɛ minyɛ ha mifee nɔ ni hi kɛha mi fe fɛɛ!

Midaa Shi yɛ Enɔkwɛmɔnii Kpakpai lɛ Ahewɔ

Eyɛ mli akɛ mitsɛ jeee heyelilɔ moŋ, shi eŋmɛ Awo hemɔkɛyeli lɛ gbɛ beni ebatsɔ Biblia Kaselɔ lɛ, taakɛ ale Yehowa Odasefoi yɛ nakai beaŋ lɛ. Yɛ 1913 mli lɛ, eyabo wiemɔ ni ji “Beyond the Grave” (Yɛ Gbonyobu lɛ Sɛɛgbɛ), ni Charles T. Russell, ni ji Buu Mɔɔ Asafo lɛ klɛŋklɛŋ sɛinɔtalɔ lɛ ha lɛ toi. Shi kɛlɛ, eyashɛɛɛ jɛmɛ mra, ni sɛii lɛ anɔ fɛɛ eyi. No hewɔ lɛ atsɛ lɛ ni ekɛ mɛi krokomɛi hu ni amɛkpe sɛɛ lɛ abata shi yɛ wiemɔ kpoku lɛ masɛi, yɛ Osɔfo Russell masɛi tuuntu. Nakai wiemɔ lɛ ná enɔ hewalɛ waa diɛŋtsɛ. Gbi ni nyiɛ sɛɛ lɛ, akala awo adafitswaa wolo lɛ mli, ni ekɛ wolo lɛ eko to ni ekane shii abɔ.

Beni agbe kpee lɛ naa lɛ, Awo kɛ wolo bibioo ni eŋma egbɛi yɛ nɔ lɛ ha, ni etsɛɛɛ ni Biblia Kaselɔ ko ba eŋɔɔ. Yɛ be ni sa mli lɛ, ebɔi Biblia he dɛhiɛmɔ woji jaa yɛ shinaa kɛ shinaa naa yɛ wɔ maŋ lɛ mli yɛ Gloucester, England. Beni wɔji gbekɛbii kwraa, ni minyɛmimɛi yei enyɔ lɛ kɛ mi fataa Awo he yɛ shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli.

Beni Harry Francis, ni ji Biblia kaselɔ ni yɔɔ ekãa lɛ shi kɛba Gloucester lɛ, Awo kɛ miishɛɛ kpee lɛ atuu. Etsɛɛɛ ni ena mihe miishɛɛ, ni ekãa ni ewo mi lɛ ji nɔ̃ titri ni ha mibatsɔ gbɛgbalɔ yɛ sɛɛ mli, taakɛ atsɛɔ be-fɛɛ sɔɔlɔi lɛ. Nyɛminuu Francis nɔkwɛmɔnɔ lɛ ha mikase nɔ ko ni he hiaa: Esa akɛ mɛi ni edara lɛ atao gbɛ̀i ni amɛaatsɔ nɔ amɛwo obalahii kɛ obalayei ekãa.

Beni minyɛ batsɔ Biblia Kaselɔ lɛ, mɛi krokomɛi ni yɔɔ Gloucester lɛ hu fee nakai. Shi, onukpai komɛi ni yɔɔ asafo lɛ mli lɛ, kɛ kuu lɛ mli bii—taakɛ atsɛɔ asafo lɛ yɛ nakai beaŋ lɛ, bɔi amɛhenɔ womɔ—ni amɛbɔi aŋkroaŋkroi asɛɛ nyiɛmɔ. Yɛ kpee ko shishi lɛ, mɛi komɛi tsirɛ Awo yisɛɛ aahu koni ewo enine nɔ kɛfi onukpai pɔtɛɛ komɛi asɛɛ. Shi Awo le akɛ amɛfeee nɔkwɛmɔnɔ kpakpa, ni ehaaa mɔ ko awo ehe gbeyei. Yɛ nakai be lɛ mli, yɛ afii 1920 naagbee lɛ amli lɛ, mɛi pii shi asafo lɛ ni amɛnyiɛɛɛ yɛ anɔkwale lɛ mli dɔŋŋ. (2 Petro 2:2) Kɛlɛ, Awo gbaaa afã yɛ anɔkwayeli ni ekɛfiɔ gbɛjianɔtoo lɛ sɛɛ lɛ kɔkɔɔkɔ, ni ekɛ enɛ fee nɔkwɛmɔnɔ kpakpa efɔ shi eha mi.

Mishidaamɔ Kɛha Anɔkwale Lɛ

Yɛ naagbee lɛ, abaptisi mi yɛ Severn Faa lɛ mli, beni miye afii 18 yɛ June 1939. Nakai afi lɛ mli ni ahala mi akɛ tsɔji ni awieɔ awoɔ mli lɛ anɔkwɛlɔ. Yɛ nakai bei lɛ amli lɛ, wɔkɛ redio ni amɔmɔ maŋshiɛmɔ wiemɔi awo nɔ, ni ha shɛɛ sane ni ji “Religion Is a Snare and a Racket” lɛ gbɛɛ waa yɛ maji lɛ amli lɛ tsuɔ nii. Nakai bei lɛ amli lɛ, oti lɛ titri damɔ Kristendom apasa tsɔɔmɔi kɛ esatofeemɔ lɛ ahe mama kpamɔ nɔ.

Gbi ko lɛ, minyiɛ kuu ko hiɛ kɛmiifo shi yɛ maŋ lɛŋ, ni mitsotsoro nɔ ko, ni mihiɛ gbɛ lɛ, aŋma akɛ, “Religion Is a Snare and a Racket,” ni misɛɛ gbɛ lɛ, aŋma akɛ, “Serve God and Christ the King” yɛ nɔ. Ni okpɔŋɔ bi ko hu nyiɛ wɔsɛɛ kɛmiiya, ni nibii agboi ni aŋmala wiemɔi ni tswaa maŋshiɛmɔ wiemɔ lɛ he adafi yɛ nɔ lɛ tsotsoro ekoji fɛɛ. Mɛɛ ninaa nɛkɛ po kuu ni nyiɛ kɛmiifo shi yɛ Gloucester ni ji maŋtiase ni asumɔɔ Nyɔŋmɔjamɔ yɛ mli lɛ baaji nɛkɛ!

Yɛ shika gbɛfaŋ naagbai amli ni wɔyɔɔ yɛ shia lɛ fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, Awo wo mi ekãa koni matsɔ gbɛgbalɔ. Enɛ hewɔ lɛ, yɛ September afi 1939 mli, beni Jeŋ Ta II lɛ je shishi lɛ, miyashɛ Leamington ni ji maŋ bibioo ni yɔɔ Warwickshire ni ji he klɛŋklɛŋ ni aha mi nitsumɔ yɛ akɛ gbɛgbalɔ lɛ nɔ. Maŋ lɛ ji he ni osɔfoi babaoo ni amɛba hejɔɔmɔ yɛ osɔfoyeli mli lɛ yɔɔ.

Wɔkɛ redio ni etsiii ni amɔmɔ Joseph F. Rutherford, ni nakai beaŋ lɛ lɛ ji Buu Mɔɔ Biblia kɛ Woji Bibii Asafo lɛ siɛnɔtalɔ lɛ wiemɔi awo nɔ lɛ tsuɔ nii, ni wɔtswaa yɛ shia kɛ shia sɔɔmɔ lɛ mli. Shi, redio ni amɔmɔ wiemɔi awo nɔ (ni abaanyɛ atswa aha gbɔmɛi babaoo) lɛ tsii saŋŋ, no hewɔ lɛ, wɔkɛwoɔ abifabii atso shwilii ko mli ni wɔtsiɔ. Bei komɛi lɛ, osɔfoi lɛ amli fuɔ yɛ shɛɛ sane ni kpaa apasa jamɔ he mama lɛ hewɔ, ni amɛshwieɔ wɔ kɛjɛɔ amɛ shihilɛhei lɛ. Shi enɛ haaa wɔwerɛ aho wɔhe. Yehowa jɔɔ wɔ nitsumɔ lɛ nɔ, ni ŋmɛnɛ, abaanyɛ ana asafo ko ni Odasefoi fe oha yɔɔ mli yɛ Leamington.

Yɛ afi 1941 mli, beni Jeŋ Ta II lɛ mli wo wu lɛ, mishi kɛtee Wales, he ni misɔmɔ akɛ gbɛgbalɔ yɛ, yɛ Haverfordwest, Carmarthen, kɛ Wrexham maji lɛ amli lɛ. Ákɛ be-fɛɛ sɔɔlɔ lɛ, aha mi hegbɛ koni mikɛ mihe akawo asraafoi anitsumɔ mli, shi gbɔmɛi lɛ naaa shidaamɔ ni wɔkɔ akɛ wɔkɛ wɔhe wooo maŋ saji amli lɛ he miishɛɛ. Enɛ hewɔ lɛ, afolɔ mi kɛ mɔ ni fata mihe lɛ naa akɛ wɔji maŋ lɛ shikpálɔi ni fiɔ henyɛlɔi lɛ asɛɛ. Gbi ko gbɛkɛ lɛ, polisifoi babɔle wɔ tsũ ni tsɔne gbalaa lɛ he kɛkpe. Mɔ ni fata mihe lɛ ejɛ eŋaitsaa nitsumɔ mli eba etsɛko, ni efili koni ekwɛ mɛi ni yɔɔ jɛmɛ lɛ. Shi kɛha polisifoi lɛ, bɔ ni ŋai ekpa ehiɛ fɛɛ lɛ ha efee tamɔ mɔ ko ni efee klalo kɛha tawuu. Ehe bahia ni atsɔɔ enɛ mli!

Ajɔɔ wɔ babaoo yɛ wɔ nitsumɔi lɛ amli. Gbi ko lɛ, be mli ni wɔyɔɔ Carmarthen lɛ, John Barr ni jɛ nitsumɔhe nine ni yɔɔ London (ni amrɔ nɛɛ eji Nɔyeli Kuu lɛ mlinyo) lɛ basara wɔ ni ewo wɔ ekãa. Nakai beaŋ lɛ, shiɛlɔi enyɔ pɛ yɔɔ Carmarthen; bianɛ lɛ, amɛyi fa fe oha. Amrɔ nɛɛ lɛ asafoi etɛ yɛ Wrexham, ni nyɛsɛɛ nɛɛ mina hegbɛ mijɔɔ Maŋtsɛyeli Asa fɛfɛo ko nɔ yɛ Haverfordwest.—1 Korintobii 3:6.

Midaa Shi yɛ Misɔɔmɔ lɛ Hewɔ

Yɛ be mli ni wɔyɔɔ Swansea, yɛ South Wales lɛ aŋmɛɛɛ Don Rendell, ni fata mihe lɛ gbɛ koni ekɛ ehe akawo asarafoi anitsumɔ mli. Yɛ naajiemɔ ni ekɛha akɛ ehenilee eŋmɛŋ lɛ gbɛ koni eya ta eshi enanemɛi Kristofoi yɛ maji krokomɛi anɔ lɛ fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, awo lɛ tsuŋ. (Yesaia 2:2-4; Yohane 13:34, 35) Bɔni afee ni mawo lɛ ekãa ni maye akutsoŋbii lɛ hu odase lɛ, mikɛ redio ni amɔmɔ maŋshiɛmɔ wiemɔi awo nɔ lɛ yamaa jɛmɛ gbɛ ni mitswaa Biblia mli maŋshiɛmɔ wiemɔi lɛ mitsɔɔ.

Shi kɛlɛ, akɛni yei ni yɔɔ jɛmɛ lɛ sumɔɔɔ enɛ hewɔ lɛ, amɛtsuɔ too koni amɛkɛwo asarafoi lɛ nyɔmɔ ni amɛyi mi kɛ mɔ ni fata mihe lɛ. Wɔjo foi waa bɔ ni wɔɔnyɛ kɛshi jɛmɛ—nakai beaŋ nɔŋŋ lɛ, miitsi abifabii atso shwilii ni redio ni amɔmɔ wiemɔi awo nɔ lɛ ma nɔ lɛ—kɛmiiya Maŋtsɛyeli Asa lɛ nɔ kɛha hebuu. Shi beni wɔyashɛ jɛmɛ lɛ, aŋa! Polisifoi ni batsĩ amɛnaa yɛ be ni sa mli lɛ pɛ here wɔ kɛjɛ yii ni naa wa waa mli.

Mɔ fɛɛ mɔ ná le nɔ ni tee nɔ lɛ jogbaŋŋ. Be ko beni mishiɛɔ yɛ maŋ ni bɛŋkɛ Swansea lɛ mli lɛ, nuu ko kɛ nɔkpɛlɛmɔ kɛɛ mi akɛ: “Kristojamɔ ji nɔ ni he ni ofãa tamɔ obalanuu ni yɔɔ Swansea ni ekɛ ekãa jajeɔ nɔ ni eheɔ eyeɔ ni ebi ni ejo foi kɛbu ehe lɛ.” Kwɛ bɔ ni efee lɛ naakpɛɛ beni ená ele akɛ mi ji nakai obalanuu lɛ!

Gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ bɛ mlɛo yɛ nakai tawuu afii lɛ amli. No mli lɛ wɔbɛ jeŋ nibii babaoo tsɔ, shi wɔhiɛ sɔɔ nɔ ni wɔyɔɔ lɛ ni wɔnaa he miishɛɛ. Wɔnine shɛɔ mumɔŋ niyenii anɔ daa gbi, ni wɔhaaa kpee ko aho wɔhe, ja wɔbɛ hewalɛ. Miyahe baisikel momo ko, ni wɔkɛ kɛŋtɛŋ agboi mamɔ nɔ koni wɔkɛ redio ni amɔmɔ wiemɔi awo nɔ lɛ kɛ Biblia he woji awo mli. Bei komɛi lɛ, yɛ gbi kome mli lɛ, mitaa baisikel lɛ kɛfaa gbɛ kilomitai 80! Mikɛ aaafee afii kpawo sɔmɔ akɛ gbɛgbalɔ, ni mikɛ miishɛɛ kaiɔ nakai gbii lɛ.

Beni Jeŋ Ta II lɛ ba naagbee yɛ afi 1946 sɛɛ lɛ, afɔ̃ mi nine kɛtee Betel, taakɛ atsɛɔ Yehowa Odasefoi anitsumɔhei ni yɔɔ amɛmaji amli lɛ, koni miyatsu nii yɛ jɛmɛ. No mli lɛ, wɔ Betel lɛ yɛ 34 Craven Terrace, yɛ London Tabernacle lɛ masɛi. Miná mɛi ni edara ni yɔ jɛmɛ lɛ ahe miishɛɛ, tamɔ Alice Hart, mɔ ni etsɛ ji Tom Hart ni aheɔ ayeɔ akɛ lɛ ji klɛŋklɛŋ Odasefonyo yɛ England lɛ.

Hefatalɔ Anɔkwafo ni Mina

Yɛ afi 1956 mli lɛ, mishi Betel koni mikɛ Etty, ni ji gbɛgbalɔ ni mibale lɛ beni ejɛ Netherlands eba London koni ebasara enyɛmi yoo lɛ abote gbalashihilɛ mli. Beni ta lɛ heɔ aba naagbee lɛ, Etty, tsɔɔ taiptswaa kɛ bɔ ni aŋmaa nii kukuji oyayaayai ahaa yɛ nitsumɔhe he nibii anikasemɔ skul ko ni yɔɔ Tilburg, Netherlands wuoyigbɛ lɛ. Gbi ko lɛ, tsɔɔlɔ ko ha ekɛ lɛ ta baisikel nɔ ketee shia koni ená nɔmimaa akɛ, eyashɛ shia shweshweeshwe. Eji Roma Katoliknyo. Beni amɛyashɛ lɛ, sanegbaa ni kɔɔ Etty fɔlɔi ni yaa Protestant sɔlemɔ he lɛ je shishi. Naanyobɔɔ je shishi, ni tsɔɔlɔ lɛ bafee mɔ ni saraa amɛ yɛ shia nɔtonɔto.

Yɛ ta lɛ naagbee sɛɛ etsɛɛɛ nɔŋŋ ni tsɔɔlɔ nɛɛ ba Etty shia lɛ kɛ bolɔmɔ akɛ, “mina anɔkwale lɛ!”

Etty tsɛ here nɔ akɛ, “misusu akɛ beni oji Roma Katoliknyo lɛ, okɛɛ nyɛ nyɛyɔɔ anɔkwale lɛ!”

Eha hetoo kɛ miishɛɛ akɛ “dabi! Yehowa Odasefoi lɛ ji mɛi ni yɔɔ anɔkwale lɛ!”

Akɛ nakai gbɛkɛ lɛ kɛ ekrokomɛi ni nyiɛ sɛɛ lɛ kase Biblia lɛ waa diɛŋtsɛ. Etsɛɛɛ ni Etty batsɔ gbɛgbalɔ. Lɛ hu ekɛ shitee-kɛ-woo ni naa wa kpe yɛ esɔɔmɔ lɛ mli, ni yɛ Netherlands lɛ ejɛɔ Roma Katolik Sɔlemɔ lɛ mli kɛbaa. Gbekɛbii ni osɔfoi lɛ ewo amɛ hewalɛ lɛ bafiteɔ saji ni ekɛ mɛi gbaa kɛ eeya shia kɛ shia lɛ, ni gbi ko lɛ amɛtsi ebaisikel lɛ egbee shi. Ekɛ ebaisikel lɛ tee nuu ko ni saa baisikel ni ehe wolo bibioo yɛ edɛŋ pɛŋ lɛ ŋɔɔ. Ekɛ yaafo kɛɛ akɛ, “kwɛmɔ nɔ ni gbekɛbii lɛ efee!”

Nuu lɛ kɛ mlihilɛ kɛɛ, “onijiaŋ akaje wui. Ootsu nitsumɔ kpakpa. Masaa obaisikel lɛ maha bo yaka.” Ni efee nakai.

Etty na akɛ osɔfɔi lɛ susuuu amɛ tooku lɛ he aahu kɛyashi ekɛ amɛ jeɔ Biblia lɛ kasemɔ shishi. Kɛkɛ lɛ, osɔfoi lɛ kɛ osɔfo yei lɛ ebafite hemɔkɛyeli ni gbɔmɛi lɛ yɔɔ yɛ Biblia lɛ kɛ Yehowa mli lɛ. Yɛ enɛɛmɛi fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, enáa Biblia mli nikasemɔi ni woɔ yibii amli ŋɔɔmɔ.

Midaa Shi yɛ Shihilɛ Kome Mli ni Wɔyɔɔ lɛ Hewɔ

Yɛ wɔ yookpeemɔ lɛ sɛɛ lɛ, akɛ gbɛfaa nitsumɔ wo mi kɛ Etty dɛŋ ni wɔtsu yɛ England, ni wɔkɛ nɔ ni miihe ashɛ afii enumɔ sara asafoi ni wɔwo amɛ hewalɛ yɛ mumɔŋ. Kɛkɛ ni minine shɛ ninefɔɔ nɔ akɛ miba Gilead klas ni ji 36 lɛ, ni afee yɛ Yehowa Odasefoi ajeŋ fɛɛ nitsumɔhe yitso ni yɔɔ Brooklyn, New York lɛ. Ato nikasemɔ ni heɔ nyɔji nyɔŋma ni wɔgbe naa yɛ November afi 1961 lɛ he gbɛjianɔ titri, koni akɛtsɔse hii ni amɛnyɛ amɛtsu nii yɛ Yehowa Odasefoi anitsumɔhe niji lɛ amli. Beni mitee lɛ, Etty hi shi yɛ England yɛ London Betel. Beni migbe skul lɛ naa lɛ, aha wɔ fɛɛ nitsumɔ yɛ jɛmɛ.

Mikɛ afii 16 ni nyiɛ sɛɛ lɛ tsu nii yɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔhe lɛ, ni mitsuɔ saji ni kɔɔ asafo lɛ nifeemɔi ahe lɛ he nii. Kɛkɛ ni yɛ afi 1978 mli beni Pryce Hughes ni ji Betel Shia nɔkwɛlɔ lɛ gbo lɛ, ahala mi ni maye enajiaŋ. Ákɛ mɔ ni kwɛɔ wɔ Betel weku ni daa lɛ mli bii lɛ ahilɛ-kɛhamɔ nɔ lɛ hewɔ lɛ—wɔyɛ gbɔmɛi ni fe 260 yɛ wɔ weku lɛ mli bianɛ—enɛ bafee nitsumɔ ni nyɔmɔwoo yɔɔ mli yɛ afii pii nɛɛ amli.

Yɛ afi 1971 mli lɛ, minyɛ ni misumɔɔ lɛ lɛ gbo beni eye afii 85. Etty kɛ mi ku wɔsɛɛ kɛtee Gloucester kɛha yarafeemɔ lɛ, he ni nyɛmi nuu ko kɛ miishɛɛ gba ŋwɛi tsɛmɔ ni Awo nyaa he lɛ he sane lɛ. (Filipibii 3:14) Mihiɛ sɔɔ suɔmɔ kwɛmɔ ni minyɛmi yoo Doris kɛ Grace kɛha Awo beni egbɔ lɛ, ni enɛ ye ebua mi kɛ Etty koni wɔtsa be-fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ lɛ nɔ.

Bei pii lɛ, mi kɛ Etty susuɔ wɔ fɔlɔi lɛ ahe, kɛ bɔ ni amɛtsɔse wɔ yɛ suɔmɔ kɛ shiŋŋfeemɔ mli lɛ he. Kwɛ nyɔmɔ ni da waa nɛkɛ ni wɔhiɛ amɛ! Minyɛ titri fee nɔkwɛmɔnɔ ni yɔɔ naakpɛɛ efɔ shi eha mi kɛ mi nyɛmimɛi yei lɛ, ni ekɛtswa Yehowa kɛ egbɛjianɔtoo lɛ he hiɛsɔɔ ewo wɔ mli.

Lɛɛlɛŋ, wɔtsui yiɔ kɛ shidaa kɛtekeɔ nɔ kɛ wɔmiisusu gbi hee fɛɛ gbi hee ni wɔkɛ sɔmɔɔ wɔ ŋwɛi Tsɛ, Yehowa lɛ he lɛ. Mɛɛ Nyɔŋmɔ ni he yɔɔ naakpɛɛ ni sumɔɔ mɔ nɛ! Biblia mli lalatsɛ lɛ tsɔɔ wɔhenumɔi beni eŋma akɛ: “Makafoo, mi-Nyɔŋmɔ, maŋtsɛ, ni majie ogbɛi lɛ yi daa kɛaatee naanɔ! Majie oyi gbi fɛɛ gbi, ni mala majie ogbɛi lɛ yi daa kɛaatee naanɔ!”—Lala 145:1, 2.

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 26]

Mi kɛ miŋa Etty