Wala Shihilɛ He Sane

Yehowa Woɔ Enɔkwafoi lɛ Nyɔmɔ Be Fɛɛ Be

TAAKƐ VERNON DUNCOMBE GBA

Miye nii fioo ko migbe naa beni je ena kwraa, ni taakɛ mifɔɔ feemɔ lɛ, misu zigaret koni mashɛre. Kɛkɛ ni mibi miŋa Aileen akɛ: “Te kpee lɛ tee nɔ eha tɛŋŋ gbɛkɛ nɛɛ?”

EMƐ fioo, ni ekɛɛ akɛ: “Akane wolo ko ni tswaa mɛi heei ni áhala amɛ awo sɔɔmɔ gbɛhei amli lɛ he adafi, ni ogbɛi fata he. Bo obaafee sɔɔlɔ ni baakwɛ tsɔnei ni awieɔ awoɔ mli lɛ anɔ. Naagbee sane ni yɔɔ wolo lɛ mli lɛ kaneɔ akɛ: ‘Kɛ́ nɛkɛ nyɛmimɛi hii ni áhala amɛ ehee nɛɛ ateŋ mɛi komɛi kɛ tawa tsuɔ nii lɛ, no lɛ, gbɛnaa nii kã amɛnɔ akɛ amɛŋma kɛyaha Asafo lɛ ni amɛkɛɛ akɛ amɛnyɛŋ amɛtsu nitsumɔ lɛ.’” * Migbala miwiemɔ lɛ mli kɛhere nɔ waa akɛ, “Ojogbaŋŋ-ŋ-ŋ! No hewɔ lɛ nakai ji bɔ ni wolo lɛ kɛɛ.”

Mikɛ minyanyɔji mamɔ nɔ kpɛŋŋ ni mikpɔtɔ nakai zigaret lɛ miwo apaawa bibioo ni yɔɔ mimasɛi ni akɛ zigaret shishi woɔ mli lɛ mli. “Mileee nɔ hewɔ ni ahala mi awo sɔɔmɔ gbɛhe nɛɛ mli. Shi mikpooko eko kwraa pɛŋ, ni mifeko mijwɛŋmɔ akɛ maje nakai feemɔ shishi.” Mitswa mifai shi akɛ mishɛreŋ zigaret dɔŋŋ. Nakai yiŋkpɛɛ lɛ ná mishihilɛ nɔ hewalɛ waa akɛ Kristofonyo kɛ lalafolɔ. Ha magba bo saji komɛi ni ba ni ha mikpɛ miyiŋ lɛ.

Mra Be Mli Weku Shihilɛ

Afɔ́ mi yɛ Toronto, Canada yɛ September 21, 1914, ni mi ji binuu nukpa kɛha fɔlɔi ni ji Vernon kɛ Lila ni amɛyɔɔ suɔmɔ ni amɛtsuɔ nii waa ni amɛkɛ weku ni gbekɛbii hii ejwɛ kɛ gbekɛbii yei enyɔ yɔɔ mli lɛ ahiamɔ nii haa amɛ lɛ. Misɛɛho ji Yorke, no sɛɛ lɛ Orlando, Douglas, Aileen, kɛ Coral. Beni miye afii nɛɛhu pɛ lɛ, mimami kɛ kpãa saŋku wo midɛŋ ni eto gbɛjianɔ eha mi koni mayakase lala yɛ Harris School of Music (Harris Lalakasemɔ Skul) lɛ. No mli lɛ wɔbɛ shika, shi Awo  kɛ Ataa tao gbɛ̀i ni amɛaatsɔ nɔ amɛwo tsɔne mlitamɔ nyɔji kɛ skul nitsɔɔmɔ he nyɔmɔ. Sɛɛ mli lɛ, mikase shishitoo mla ni yɔɔ lalakasemɔ mli lɛ kɛ lalafoo kɛ gbeekpamɔ he gbɛjianɔtoo yɛ Royal Conservatory of Music yɛ Toronto beni miye afii 12, milá kɛjie maŋbii ahiɛtserɛ yɛ akaŋshii mli yɛ Massey Hall ni ji asa wulu ni abuɔ waa ni aláa yɛ jɛmɛ lɛ, yɛ maŋ bibioo lɛ mli. Ahala mi akɛ kunimyelɔ yɛ lala akaŋshii lɛ mli ni aha mi kpãa saŋku fɛfɛo ko ni akɛ báa hewolo ehà he.

Beni be shwieɔ mli lɛ, mikase saŋku kɛ kpãa saŋku wulu lɛ tswaa. Bei pii lɛ wɔteŋ mɛi komɛi yashwɛɔ joo yɛ henaabuamɔi bibii ashishi Sohaa gbɛkɛ kɛ Hɔɔ gbɛkɛ kɛ agbɛnɛ yɛ nanemɛi akui ajooshwɛmɔi amli. Nɛkɛ jooshwɛmɔi nɛɛ ekome shishi mikɛ Aileen kpe yɛ klɛŋklɛŋ. Yɛ nɔtsamɔ skul ni mitee lɛ naagbee afi lɛ mli lɛ, mifata jooshwɛlɔi akui komɛi ahe kɛshwɛ jooi kɛkpa maŋ lɛŋ. Beni migbe lalakasemɔ skul lɛ naa lɛ, afɔ̃ nine atsɛ́ mi koni mibafee Ferde Mowry Orchestra lɛ mlinyo, ni efee nitsumɔ ni awoɔ mɔ nyɔmɔ babaoo yɛ mli, nitsumɔ ni tee nɔ aahu kɛyashi afi 1943.

Yehowa ni Mibale Lɛ

Akɛ mifɔlɔi gba Biblia mli anɔkwale lɛ he sane klɛŋklɛŋ beni eshwɛ fioo ni Jeŋ Ta I baafɛ́ lɛ, beni Ataa tsuɔ nii akɛ mɔ ni woɔ samfɛji anaa jara yɛ jarayeli shwapo ko mli yɛ Toronto maŋ bibioo lɛ mli lɛ. Eboɔ sanegbaai ni yaa nɔ yɛ nitsulɔi enyɔ ko ni ji Biblia Kaselɔi (taakɛ ale Yehowa Odasefoi yɛ no beaŋ) lɛ ateŋ lɛ toi yɛ shwane niyelihe lɛ, kɛkɛ lɛ kɛ́ eba shia gbɛkɛ lɛ, ekɛ Awo ebagba he sane. Afii komɛi asɛɛ yɛ afi 1927 lɛ, Biblia Kaselɔi lɛ fee kpokpaa wulu nɔ kpee ko ni da waa yɛ Toronto yɛ Shwɛmɔhe Wulu ko ni yɔɔ Canadian National Exhibition Grounds lɛ. Tsũi wuji akui enyɔ foɔ wɔshia ni akɛfee wɔɔhe aha gbɔmɛi 25 ni jɛ Ohio, U.S.A. lɛ kɛ he ni atsɔɔ akɛboteɔ shwɛmɔhe lɛ yɛ anaigbɛ lɛ teŋ.

No sɛɛ lɛ, Biblia Kaselɔi lɛ ateŋ mɔ kome ni ji Ada Bletsoe bɔi Awo ŋɔɔ baa kpitiokpitio, ni eshiɔ woji heei ehaa lɛ. Gbi ko lɛ, ekɛɛ akɛ: “Awo Duncombe, be eshwie mli kɛjɛ beni mibɔi woji shimɔ kɛ bo hamɔ nɛɛ. Ani okane eko pɛŋ?” Eyɛ mli akɛ no mli lɛ Awo miitsɔse bii ekpaa moŋ, shi etswa efai shi akɛ ebaabɔi woji tɛtrɛbii lɛ kanemɔ kɛjɛ nakai beaŋ kɛyaa, ni ekpaaa kɔkɔɔkɔ. Shi kɛlɛ, misusuuu woji lɛ ahe tsɔ̃ ko. No mli lɛ miibɔ mɔdɛŋ ni magbe skul naa, ni mikɛ mihe ewo lala mli vii.

Yɛ June 1935 lɛ, mi kɛ Aileen bote gbalashihilɛ mli yɛ Anglican sɔlemɔtsu ko mli. Akɛni mishi United Church lɛ beni miye afii 13 hewɔ lɛ, mikɛ jamɔ kroko bɛ nɔ ko feemɔ; no hewɔ lɛ mikɛ minine wo gbalashihilɛ wolo lɛ shishi akɛ Yehowa Odasefoi lɛ ateŋ mɔ kome, eyɛ mli akɛ no mli lɛ, mitsɔko Odasefonyo lolo.

Wɔmiikpa gbɛ akɛ wɔbaafɔ́ bii wɔsɛɛ ko ni wɔmiisumɔ ni wɔtsɔmɔ fɔlɔi kpakpai. No hewɔ lɛ, wɔfee ekome kɛbɔi New Testament (Kpaŋmɔ Hee) lɛ kanemɔ. Shi kɛlɛ, yɛ yiŋtoi kpakpai ni wɔhiɛ lɛ fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, nibii krokomɛi kɛ naagba bawo mli. Wɔbɔ mɔdɛŋ ekoŋŋ be fioo ko sɛɛ, ni nakai nɔŋŋ eba lɛ. Kɛkɛ ni beni ayeɔ Blonya yɛ afi 1935 lɛ, ake wɔ wolo ko ni yitso ji The Harp of God, ni akɛ nɔ ko ehà he. Miŋa kɛɛ akɛ: “Kwɛmɔ nɔ ko, enɛ ji Blonya nikeenii ko ni yɔɔ srɔto ni omami kɛmaje wɔ.” Fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, beni mitee nitsumɔ lɛ, kɛkɛ ni ebɔi kanemɔ, ni esumɔ nɔ ni ekane lɛ. Minuuu he nɔ ko dɔŋŋ yɛ be saŋŋ mli. Yɛ nɔ ni kɔɔ wɔ weku lɛ gbɛkpamɔi ahe lɛ, enɛɛmɛi baaa mli. Wɔbiyoo abifao ni afɔ́ lɛ yɛ February 1, 1937 lɛ gbo. Kwɛ bɔ ni wɔye awerɛho babaoo!

Yɛ nɛkɛ be nɛɛ mli lɛ, miweku lɛ kɛ ehe woɔ shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli waa diɛŋtsɛ, ni miná mile akɛ Dada pɛ ji Maŋtsɛyeli shiɛlɔ ni yɔɔ weku lɛ mli ni bɔiko wolo tɛtrɛɛ ni ji Consolation (amrɔ nɛɛ Awake!) lɛ eko shɛɛ lolo. Enɛ ji oti ni akɛma hiɛ yɛ shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli yɛ nyɔŋ lɛ mli. Eyɛ mli akɛ no mli lɛ mikaneko Asafo lɛ woji lɛ eko lolo moŋ, shi edɔ mi waa yɛ ehewɔ, ni mikɛɛ akɛ: “Yoo, Dada, bo lɛ shɛɛ oha mi; ni obaafee tamɔ mɛi krokomɛi lɛ.” Hulutsoo be shɛ, ni lalɔi akuu lɛ shi maŋ lɛŋ amɛtee koni amɛyashwɛ joo yɛ hiɛtserɛjiemɔhe ko. Akɛ Consolation ha kɛtsɔ majemɔ adeka nɔ kɛba. Gbo be bashɛ, ni lalɔi akuu lɛ ku amɛ sɛɛ kɛba Toronto. Woji tɛtrɛbii lɛ bɔi wɔwoji amajemɔ adeka hee lɛ mli baa, ni mijieko eko po kɛjɛko ehehaanɔ lɛ mli.

Yɛ Blonya hejɔɔmɔ be ko mli lɛ, mikwɛ woji tɛtrɛbii ni bua shi lɛ, ni mimu sane naa akɛ, kɛ́ miwo enɛɛmɛi ahe nyɔmɔ lɛ, esa akɛ kɛ hoo lɛ, makane ekomɛi koni mana nɔ ni yɔɔ mli. Klɛŋklɛŋ nɔ̃ ni migbele naa lɛ ha minaa kpɛ mihe waa naakpa. No ji maŋkwramɔŋ shishiumɔ kɛ juu-kɛ-fɔ̃ ni yaa nɔ yɛ no beaŋ lɛ he mamakpamɔ. Mibɔi  minanemɛi lalafolɔi lɛ nɔ ni mikaneɔ lɛ gbaa. Shi kɛlɛ, amɛbi sane yɛ ja ni nɔ ni mikɛɔ lɛ ja lɛ he, ni ehe bahia ni maya nɔ makane bɔni afee ni mafã mihe. Mibɔi Yehowa he odaseyeli ni mileee. Ni kɛjɛ nakai beaŋ kɛbaa lɛ, mifɔ̃ko “tsulɔ anɔkwafo kɛ nilelɔ” lɛ Biblia he woji ni hi jogbaŋŋ lɛ kanemɔ pɛŋ.—Mateo 24:45.

Eyɛ mli akɛ nitsumɔ haaa maná dekã yɛ otsi lɛ mli moŋ, shi etsɛɛɛ ni mi kɛ Aileen bɔi kpeeiyaa Hɔgbaa. Nyɛmimɛi yei onukpai enyɔ ŋa wɔ beni wɔshɛ kpee lɛ shishi Hɔgbaa ko yɛ afi 1938 lɛ, ni amɛteŋ mɔ kome kɛɛ akɛ: “Nyɛminuu Fioo, ani okɔ shidaamɔ yɛ Yehowa gbɛfaŋ momo? Ani ole nɔ ko, Harmagedon ebɛŋkɛ kpaakpa!” Mile akɛ Yehowa pɛ ji anɔkwa Nyɔŋmɔ lɛ, ni mile jogbaŋŋ akɛ esafo lɛ nɛ. Miisumɔ ni mikɛ mihe awo mli, no hewɔ lɛ yɛ October 15, 1938 lɛ abaptisi mi. Abaptisi Aileen aaafee nyɔji ekpaa sɛɛ. Miyɛ miishɛɛ akɛ makɛɛ akɛ, miweku lɛŋ bii fɛɛ batsɔmɔ Yehowa sɔɔlɔi ni ejɔɔ amɛhe nɔ.

Kwɛ miishɛɛ ni miná akɛ mikɛ Nyɔŋmɔ webii lɛ bɔɔ! Etsɛɛɛ ni mihiɛ mɛ yɛ amɛteŋ. Kɛ minyɛɛɛ maya kpeei lɛ, misumɔɔ ni male nɔ ni tee nɔ yɛ shishi be fɛɛ be. Nakai gbɛkɛ lɛ ni atsĩ tã yɛ shishijee lɛ bafee tsakemɔ be ko yɛ sɔɔmɔ ni mikɛhaa Yehowa lɛ mli.

Tsakemɔ Be Kpele ni Wɔná

Tsakemɔ kroko ni sa kadimɔ kɛha wɔ lɛ ba yɛ May 1, 1943. No mli lɛ wɔtee wɔ klɛŋklɛŋ kpokpaa wulu nɔ kpee ni da waa ni ji September 1942 New World Theocratic Assembly lɛ yɛ Cleveland, Ohio. Beni jeŋ tawuu, ni ji ta ni naa wa waa ni baaa naagbee lɛ yaa nɔ lɛ, wɔnu ni Nyɛminuu Knorr ni no mli lɛ eji Buu Mɔɔ Asafo lɛ sɛinɔtalɔ lɛ kɛ ekãa ha maŋshiɛmɔ ni ŋɔɔ waa ni yitso ji, “Toiŋjɔlɛ—Ani Esɛɛ Baanyɛ Atsɛ?” Wɔkaiɔ jogbaŋŋ akɛ etsɔɔ kɛjɛ Kpojiemɔ yitso 17 lɛ akɛ, toiŋjɔlɛ be ko baaba yɛ ta lɛ sɛɛ, ni abaatsu shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ kpeteŋkpele ko he nii.

Nɔ ni ná wɔnɔ hewalɛ fe fɛɛ ji wiemɔ ni Nyɛminuu Knorr ha kɛtsɔ hiɛ ni yitso ji, “Yefta kɛ Eshiwoo” lɛ. Kɛkɛ ni abi akɛ aatao gbɛgbalɔi babaoo! Aileen kɛ mi bɔi wɔhiɛ kwɛmɔ ni wɔkɛ ekomefeemɔ kɛɛ (kɛfata mɛi krokomɛi babaoo yɛ nakai beaŋ lɛ he) akɛ: “Wɔ ji mɛi ni akɛwieɔ lɛ!” Amrɔ nɔŋŋ ni wɔbɔi gbɛjianɔtoo koni wɔyatsu nitsumɔ ni he hiaa fe fɛɛ nɛɛ.

Águ Yehowa Odasefoi anitsumɔ lɛ yɛ Canada kɛjɛ July 4, 1940. Beni wɔbɔi gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ yɛ May 1, 1943 lɛ, no mli lɛ mla eŋmɛɛɛ gbɛ akɛ wɔye Yehowa he odase ni wɔkɛ Asafo lɛ woji aha yɛ shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Akɛni wɔmiisɔmɔ akɛ Kristofoi hewɔ lɛ, wɔhiɛɔ wɔ King James Biblia shishitsɔɔmɔ lɛ pɛ. Beni wɔyashɛ wɔ klɛŋklɛŋ nitsumɔ lɛ mli yɛ Parry Sound yɛ Ontario lɛ sɛɛ gbii fioo ko lɛ, nitsumɔhe nine lɛ tsu Stewart Mann ni ji gbɛgbalɔ ni he esa lɛ koni ekɛ wɔ atsu nii yɛ shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Kwɛ suɔmɔ gbɛjianɔtoo ni enɛ ji! Nyɛminuu Mann subaŋ saa mɔ hiɛ ni esumɔɔ ŋmɔlɔ. Wɔkase nii kɛjɛ eŋɔɔ ni wɔkɛ lɛ ná miishɛɛ. Wɔmiifee Biblia mli nikasemɔi saŋŋ kɛkɛ ni Asafo lɛ saa eha wɔ nitsumɔ yɛ Hamilton maŋtiase lɛ mli. No sɛɛ etsɛɛɛ ni yɛ bɔ ni mida fe afii ni akɛ he woɔ asraafoi anitsumɔ mli lɛ fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, agbala mi kɛtee kɛha asraafoi anitsumɔ. Akɛni misumɔɔɔ ni mikɛ mihe woɔ asraafoi anitsumɔ mli hewɔ lɛ, amɔ mi yɛ December 31, 1943. Beni atsu saneyelihe nifeemɔ gbɛ he nii agbe naa lɛ, akɛ mi wo asraafoi anitsumɔ kroko ni akɛ tu tsuuu nii yɛ mli lɛ mli, ni jɛmɛ ji he ni mihi aahu kɛyashi August 1945.

Beni ajie mi lɛ, amrɔ nɔŋŋ ni akɛ gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ ha mi kɛ Aileen koni wɔya Cornwall, Ontario. No sɛɛ lɛ, etsɛɛɛ ni akɛ nitsumɔ krɛdɛɛ ko ni kɔɔ polisifoi asaneyelihe he ha wɔ kɛjɛ Asafo lɛ Mla Nitsumɔhe lɛ koni wɔyaye sane yɛ Quebec. Enɛ ba mli yɛ Duplessis yinɔ yɛ Quebec beni yiwaa ni akɛbaa Yehowa Odasefoi anɔ lɛ naa wa waa lɛ. Mitee saneyelihei srɔtoi ejwɛ gbii babaoo otsi  fɛɛ otsi, ni miiye miibua wɔnyɛmimɛi lɛ. Enɛɛmɛi ji bei ni yɔɔ miishɛɛ ni wajeɔ mɔ hemɔkɛyeli.

Yɛ Cleveland kpokpaa wulu nɔ kpee yɛ afi 1946 lɛ sɛɛ lɛ, aha wɔ nitsumɔ yɛ kpokpai bibii kɛ kpokpai wuji anɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli ní ha mi kɛ miŋa tee ŋshɔnaahei srɔtoi. Nibii miiba mli mramra. Yɛ afi 1948 lɛ, afɔ̃ nine atsɛ́ wɔ kɛtee Buu Mɔɔ Biblia Gilead Skul klas ni ji 11 lɛ. No mli lɛ, Nyɛmimɛi hii Albert Schroeder kɛ Maxwell Friend ji wɔ tsɔɔlɔi lɛ ateŋ mɛi enyɔ, ni mɛi 40 ni afɔ amɛ mu fata wɔyibɔ ni ji 108 lɛ he. Akɛni mɛi babaoo ni kɛ be kakadaŋŋ esɔmɔ Yehowa lɛ yɛ jɛmɛ hewɔ lɛ, ebafee niiashikpamɔ ni sɛɛnamɔ kɛ nyɔmɔwoo yɔɔ he diɛŋtsɛ!

Gbi ko lɛ Nyɛminuu Knorr jɛ Brooklyn ebasara wɔ. Ebi yɛ ewiemɔ lɛ mli koni aná mɛi 25 ni baatu amɛhe amɛha kɛha Japan wiemɔ lɛ kasemɔ. Mɛi 108 lɛ fɛɛ kɛ amɛhe ha! Etee nɔ efee sɛinɔtalɔ lɛ nitsumɔ akɛ ehala mɔ ni abaatsɔɔ lɛ nii. Misusuɔ akɛ Yehowa kudɔ mɛi ahalamɔ lɛ, ejaakɛ eye omanye jogbaŋŋ. Mɛi 25 ni ahala ni sɛɛ mli lɛ amɛná hegbɛ akɛ amɛaagbele nitsumɔ lɛ mli yɛ Japan lɛ ateŋ mɛi babaoo yɛ amɛsɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli lolo—amɛgbɔlɔ, hɛɛ, shi amɛyɛ jɛmɛ lolo. Aha mɛi komɛi tamɔ Lloyd kɛ Melba Barry nitsumɔ yɛ hei krokomɛi. Lloyd ji Nɔyeli Kuu lɛ mlinyo kɛyashi beni egbo nyɛsɛɛ afi lɛ. Wɔkɛ amɛ fɛɛ nyáa yɛ nyɔmɔwoo ni Yehowa kɛha lɛ mli.

Gbi ni akɛgbeɔ naa lɛ shɛ, ni aha wɔ nitsumɔ yɛ Jamaica. Shi kɛlɛ, akɛni atsɔɔ bei kɛha saneyeli yɛ Quebec hewɔ lɛ, awo wɔ ŋaa koni wɔsaa wɔya Canada ekoŋŋ.

Lalai Babaoo Diɛŋtsɛ!

Eyɛ mli akɛ mikpa lalatswaa koni mikɛ mihe awo gbɛgbamɔ sɔɔmɔ lɛ mli moŋ, shi etamɔ nɔ ni lala shiii mi. Enɔ afi lɛ, Asafo lɛ sɛinɔtalɔ ni ji Nathan Knorr kɛ ewoloŋmalɔ, Milton Henschel ba Maple Leaf Gardens yɛ Toronto. Nyɛminuu Knorr maŋshiɛmɔ ni yitso ji “Ebɛŋkɛ Fe Bɔ ni Osusuɔ!” lɛ ha mɔ fɛɛ mɔ mii shɛ ehe waa diɛŋtsɛ. Enɛ ji klɛŋklɛŋ kwraa ni afɔ̃ nine atsɛ́ mi koni mikwɛ kpee shishi lalɔi akuu lɛ nɔ. Wɔto gbɛjianɔ koni wɔkɛ lalai komɛi ni ale jogbaŋŋ ni yɔɔ Kingdom Service Song Book (1944 nɔ̃) lɛ mli lɛ ajo. Etamɔ nɔ ni nyɛmimɛi lɛ sumɔɔ. Beni agbe nifeemɔ lɛ naa Hɔɔ shwane lɛ, wɔtĩ Hɔgbaa nifeemɔ lɛ mli. Mina Nyɛminuu Henschel trukaa ní eeba kɛmiiho yɛ hiɛtserɛjiemɔhe lɛ kɛmiiba he ni wɔyɔɔ lɛ, ni miha lalɔi akuu lɛ kpa lala lɛ bɔni afee ni manyɛ mikɛ lɛ ayakpe. Ebi akɛ, “Lalafolɔi enyiɛ oyɔɔ yɛ olalɔi akuu lɛ mli yɛ biɛ?” Miha hetoo akɛ, “Kɛ amɛ fɛɛ amɛyɛ lɛ, amɛyi aaafee 35.” Eha hetoo akɛ, “Ojogbaŋŋ, obaaná nakai sɔŋŋ toi enyɔ yɛ New York hulutsoo be kroko ni baaba lɛ.”

Shi kɛlɛ, dani nakai hulutsoo be lɛ baashɛ lɛ, afɔ̃ nine atsɛ́ mi kɛtee Brooklyn. Yɛ shihilɛi komɛi ahewɔ lɛ, klɛŋklɛŋ lɛ Aileen nyɛɛɛ ekɛ mi aya. No mli lɛ agbeko 124 Columbia Heights tsũ hee lɛ maa naa lolo, no hewɔ lɛ aha mi saatso yɛ klɛŋklɛŋ tsũ lɛ mli, yɛ tsũ bibioo ni mikɛ nyɛmimɛi hii enyɔ ni afɔ amɛ mu lɛ yɔɔ mli lɛ mli—Nyɛminuu Payne ni egbɔ lɛ kɛ Karl Klein ni kpaako kwraa mikɛ amɛ kpeɔ. Ani wɔyi fa tsɔ̃ yɛ tsũ lɛ mli? Hɛɛ. Fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, wɔ fɛɛ wɔtee nɔ jogbaŋŋ diɛŋtsɛ. Nyɛmimɛi hii onukpai lɛ yɛ mɔbɔnalɛ kɛ tsuishitoo. Mibɔɔ mɔdɛŋ kɛkɛ koni mikagba amɛnaa! Eji nikasemɔ ni he yɔɔ sɛɛnamɔ ni tsɔɔ nɔ ni Nyɔŋmɔ mumɔ lɛ baanyɛ atsu. Nyɛminuu Klein ni mikɛ lɛ kpe ni mikɛ lɛ tsu nii lɛ kɛ jɔɔmɔi babaoo baha mi! Emli hi ni eyeɔ ebuaa mɔ be fɛɛ be. Wɔfee ekome kɛtsu nii jogbaŋŋ ni wɔkɛ nɔ ni fa fe afii 50 efee nanemɛi aahu.

Eji hegbɛ ni miná akɛ maye mabua kɛha lala ni aláa yɛ Yankee Stadium kpokpaa wulu nɔ kpeei ni afee yɛ afii 1950, 1953, 1955, kɛ 1958 lɛ kɛ agbɛnɛ Al Kavelin, ni mi kɛ lɛ kɛ wɔhe wo lalɔi akuu lɛ he nitsumɔi amli yɛ afi 1963 kpokpaa wulu nɔ kpee ni afee yɛ Rose Bowl, yɛ Pasadena, California lɛ mli. Yɛ afi 1953 kpokpaa wulu nɔ kpee ni afee yɛ Yankee Stadium lɛ shishi lɛ, ato lala he gbɛjianɔ Hɔgbaa dani aha maŋshiɛmɔ lɛ. Erich Frost kɛ Edith Shemionik (sɛɛ mli lɛ Weigand) ni eji mɔ ni láa kɛ yoo gbee lɛ tsɔɔ, mɔ ni lá lala ni efee ni ji “Nyɛyaa Hiɛ, Nyɛ Odasefoi!” kɛfata lalai akuu lɛ saŋku he lɛ. Kɛkɛ ni wɔmii shɛ wɔhe be mli ni enɛ ji klɛŋklɛŋ kwraa ni wɔnuɔ wɔ Afrika nyɛmimɛi hii kɛ yei agbeei kpakpai ni ŋɔɔŋɔi lɛ. Maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛlɔ Harry Arnott kɛ tsɔne fɛfɛo ni akɛmɔmɔɔ wiemɔ jɛ Northern Rhodesia (amrɔ nɛɛ Zambia) kɛba koni wɔbo toi kɛná miishɛɛ. Egbɛɛmɔ yi shwɛmɔhe lɛ fɛɛ obɔ.

Afi 1966 Lalawolo lɛ ni Amɔmɔ Awo Kpãa Nɔ

Ani okaiɔ lalawolo ni ji “Singing and Accompanying Yourselves With Music in Your Hearts” kɛ  esɛɛ tamɔ rɔba ni tsuɔ fioo lɛ? Beni eshwɛ fioo ni abaagbe enɛ naa kwraa lɛ, Nyɛminuu Knorr kɛɛ akɛ: “Wɔbaamɔmɔ wɔnibii lɛ ekomɛi wɔwo kpãai anɔ. Miisumɔ ni oto lalɔi akuu bibioo ko he gbɛjianɔ, kpãa saŋkui fioo ko kɛ bɛji fioo ko. Misumɔɔɔ ni mɔ ko mɔ ko ‘akpã ebɛlɛ lɛ’!” Maŋtsɛyeli Asa ni yɔɔ Betel lɛ baafee he ni wɔbaamɔmɔ wɔnii lɛ wɔwo kpãa nɔ yɛ, shi naagba fioo ko yɛ ekɛ nitsumɔ he. Mɛni baajɛ gbɛɛmɔ ni jɛɔ gbogboi ni atsĩmɔko he lɛ, tsuŋ shikpɔŋ ni akɛ ŋtayaai fee kɛ sɛii ni akɛ dadei fee ni akotaa lɛ mli kɛba? Namɔ baanyɛ aye abua wɔ koni wɔna gbɛɛmɔ ni wɔtaooo lɛ naa tsabaa? Mɔ ko wo ŋaa akɛ: “Tommy Mitchell! Etsuɔ nii yɛ ABC Network Studios lɛ.” Wɔkɛ Nyɛminuu Mitchell yagba sane ni ená miishɛɛ akɛ eeeye ebua wɔ.

Be bashɛ kɛha klɛŋklɛŋ Hɔɔ leebi kɛha lalai ni akɛbaawo kpãai anɔ lɛ, ni yɛ be mli ni akɛ lalafolɔi lɛ tsɔɔ lɛ, no mli lɛ nyɛmimɛi hii lɛ ateŋ mɔ ko yɛ nɔ ni akɛ saŋku woɔ mli. Mikai kɔkɔbɔɔ ni Nyɛminuu Knorr kɛha lɛ akɛ: “Misumɔɔɔ ni mɔ ko mɔ ko ‘akpã ebɛlɛ lɛ’!” Amrɔ nɛɛ, te mafee tɛŋŋ? Mikwɛ beni nyɛmi nuu lɛ jieɔ etɛtɛrɛmantɛrɛ lɛ kɛjɛɔ hehaanɔ lɛ mli lɛ, kɛkɛ ni ejaje nɔ ni ekɛ ewolo lɛ baafɔ nɔ lɛ, ni ebɔi klalofeemɔ. Nyɛmi nuu lɛ ji Tom Mitchell, ni nɔ ko fioo ni etswa lɛ ŋɔɔ. Eha tɛtɛrɛmantɛrɛ lɛ gbɛɛ tamɔ kpãa saŋku! Misusu sane he akɛ, ‘esaaa akɛ nyɛmi nuu nɛɛ yaa!’ Nyɛminuu Knorr eteee shi ewooo kɔkɔɔkɔ.

Wɔyɛ lalafolɔi kpakpai akuu ko yɛ nakai lalɔi akuu lɛ mli, ni nyɛmimɛi hii kɛ yei ni yɔɔ suɔmɔ hu ji amɛ. Mɔ ko mɔ ko kwraa bɛ ni efeee enii yɛ bulɛ gbɛ nɔ! Lala ni amɔmɔɔ awoɔ kpãai anɔ lɛ ji nitsumɔ ni wa waa, shi mɔ ko ewieee huhuuhu yɛ he hu. Beni agbe nitsumɔ lɛ naa lɛ, wɔfófói; ni naanyobɔɔ kpakpa ni mli wa waa hi mɛi ni ná mli gbɛfaŋnɔ lɛ ateŋ. Wɔteŋ mɔ fɛɛ mɔ ná hegbɛ ni wɔná lɛ he miishɛɛ, ni yɛ Yehowa yelikɛbuamɔ naa lɛ wɔtsu nitsumɔ lɛ wɔgbe naa.

Hegbɛi Krokomɛi ni Nyɔmɔwoo Yɔɔ Mli

Yɛ afii babaoo asɛɛ lɛ, mitee nɔ miná be-fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli gbɛfaŋnɔ. Mikɛ afii 28 etsu nii yɛ kpokpaa nɔkwɛmɔ kɛ kpokpaa wulu nɔkwɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli—fɛɛ eko yɛ miishɛɛ. Nɔ ni nyiɛ enɛ sɛɛ ji afii enumɔ ni mikɛkwɛ Norval Assembly Hall ni yɔɔ Ontario lɛ nɔ. Akɛni afeɔ kpokpaa nɔ kpee daa otsi naagbee kɛ kpokpaa wulu nɔ kpeei ni afeɔ yɛ maŋsɛɛ wiemɔ mli lɛ hewɔ lɛ, Aileen kɛ mi fɛɛ naaa dekã. Yɛ afi 1979 kɛ afi 1980 afii lɛ amli lɛ, tsumaa gbɛjianɔtoo he nilelɔi kɛ tsumaa he nilelɔi kɛ tsũi ni yɔɔ Assembly Hall lɛ tsu nii yɛ be mli ni amɛtoɔ Asafo lɛ wɔsɛɛ be nitsumɔhe nine maa lɛ he gbɛjianɔ yɛ Halton Hills lɛ. Yɛ nitsumɔ ni wɔtsu yɛ Assembly Hall lɛ sɛɛ lɛ, nitsumɔ kroko hu ni akɛha wɔ lɛ ha mikɛ mihe wo lalai ahe nitsumɔ lɛ mli ekoŋŋ yɛ Brooklyn, kɛjɛ afi 1982 kɛyashi afi 1984.

Miŋa ni misumɔɔ lɛ lɛ gbo yɛ June 17, 1994 beni wɔye afii 59 yɛ gbalashihilɛ mli lɛ sɛɛ gbii kpawo pɛ lɛ. Wɔ fɛɛ wɔkɛ afii 51 egbe gbɛgbamɔ sɔɔmɔ ni wɔtuu wɔhe wɔha lɛ naa.

Kɛ misusu niiashikpamɔi babaoo ni miná yɛ shihilɛ mli lɛ ahe lɛ, mikaiɔ bɔ ni Biblia lɛ efee gbɛtsɔɔmɔ ni jara wa waa kɛha mi lɛ. Bei komɛi lɛ, mikɛ Aileen diɛŋtsɛ Biblia lɛ tsuɔ nii ni mináa miishɛɛ babaoo kɛ́ mina nɔ ni ha etsui nyɔɔ emli lɛ—kukuji muji, wiemɔi kukuji pɔtɛɛi, kɛ wiemɔi komekomei ni ekadi lɛ. Taakɛ eji yɛ Aileen gbɛfaŋ lɛ, mi hu miyɛ ŋmalɛi ni hiɛ shishinumɔ pɔtɛɛ kɛha mi. Ŋmalɛi lɛ ekome ji Lala 137 ni jajeɔ sɔlemɔ ni ŋɔɔ nɛɛ etsɔɔ Yehowa lɛ, ni ji: “Yerusalem, ekaba lɛ dɔŋŋ akɛ manyɛ matswa kpãa saŋku lɛ ekoŋŋ kɛ́ mihiɛ kpa onɔ! Ekaba lɛ dɔŋŋ akɛ manyɛ malá kɛ́ mikaiii bo, kɛ́ mibuuu bo akɛ mimiishɛɛnɔ̃ titri!” (Lala 137:5, 6, Today’s English Version) Eyɛ mli akɛ misumɔɔ lala waa moŋ, shi mimiishɛɛnɔ̃ titri jɛɔ Yehowa ni mikɛ anɔkwayeli sɔmɔɔ lɛ lɛ mli kɛbaa, mɔ ni kɛ shihilɛ ni haa mɔ tsui nyɔɔ emli ni niiashikpamɔi babaoo eyi mli obɔ lɛ ewo mi nyɔmɔ lɛ.

[Shishigbɛ niŋmaa]

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafas 28]

Mi kɛ Aileen yɛ Afi 1947

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafas 30]

Mra be mli beni amɔmɔɔ lala awoɔ kpãa nɔ lɛ