“DADDY,” “PAPA,” “UNCLE.” Kɛ mgbavolɛ nee mbɛlɛra dɔɔnwo mɔɔ wɔ Bɛtɛle la ta fɛlɛ me la ɛne. Menyia ɛvolɛ 89, ɔti me nye die nwo. Mebu ɛhye kɛ ɔboka nyilalɛ mɔɔ Gyihova ɛmaa menyia wɔ ɛvolɛ 72 mɔɔ meva mezonle ye wɔ dahuu ɛzonlenlɛ gyima ne anu la anwo. Anwubielɛ mɔɔ menyia ye wɔ Gyihova ɛzonlenlɛ nu la ati, mekola mefi ahonle nu memaa mgbavolɛ nee mbɛlɛra ɛhye mɔ anwosesebɛ kɛ, ‘Saa bɛammaa bɛ sa nu ando a bɛbanyia bɛ gyima ne anwo ahatualɛ.’​—2 Ek. 15:7.

Me awovolɛ vile Ukraine hɔle Canada. Bɛdɛnlanle suakpole Rossburn mɔɔ wɔ Manitoba maanzinli nu la. Me mame wole mrenyia 8 nee mraalɛ 8, ndalɛ ɛmboka nwo​—metɔ zo 14. Ɛnee me papa anye die Baebolo ne anwo na Molɛ nwonlomɔ biala ɔkenga ɔkile yɛ, noko ɔdele nganeɛ kɛ ezukoa ala a ɛzonlenlɛ nu mgbanyima kpondɛ a, tɛ kɛ bɛboa awie mɔ, ɛnee ɔta ɔbɔ ngoayɛ kɛ, “Edwɛkɛhanlɛ nee ngilehilelɛ gyima mɔɔ Gyisɛse yɛle la, asoo awie duale ye kakɛ?”

Me mediema ne mɔ anu 8, mrenyia nna yɛɛ mraalɛ nna rale nɔhalɛ ne anu. Me diema raalɛ Rose yɛle adekpakyelɛ too ɔhɔle ewule nu. Mɔɔ ɔka ekyi ɔwu la, ɛnee ɔmaa yɛ anwosesebɛ kɛ yɛzukoa Nyamenle Edwɛkɛ ne, ɔka kɛ, “Mekulo kɛ menwu bɛ wɔ ewiade fofolɛ ne anu.” Alimoa ne, ɛnee hellsenle ala a me diema nrenyia Ted ka nwolɛ edwɛkɛ a. Molɛ nwonlomɔ biala, ɔka nwolɛ edwɛkɛ wɔ riledio zo, ɔsi zo fane dɔɔnwo kɛ bɛbayela ɛtanevolɛma dahuu wɔ hellsenle nu. Noko nzinlii, ɔrayɛle Gyihova nɔhalɛ sonvolɛ mɔɔ bɔ mɔdenle.

Kenle ko bie, wɔ June 1944 mɔɔ mevi sukulu membale sua nu la, menwunle buluku ekyi bie mɔɔ ɔ ti se, The Coming World Regeneration * la kɛ ɔla ɛkponle ne mɔɔ yɛdi aleɛ wɔ zo la azo. Mengengale mukelɛ mɔɔ limoa, mɔɔ tɔ zo nwiɔ, akee mengengale ɔ muala. Mɔɔ menwiele ye kenga la, menzile kpɔkɛ kɛ mesonle Gyihova kɛ mɔɔ Gyisɛse yɛle la.

Kɛ ɔyɛle mɔɔ buluku ekyi ne ralale yɛ ɛkponle ne azo ɛ? Me diema nrenyia kpanyinli Steve zele me kɛ mrenyia nwiɔ bie mɔɔ “bɛtɔne” mbuluku la rale yɛ sua nu ɛkɛ. Ɔhanle kɛ: “Mendɔle yemɔ,  ɔluakɛ ye bolɛ le sɛnte nnu ala.” Ye Molɛ bieko, mrenyia ne mɔ ziale rale. Bɛzele yɛ kɛ bɛle Gyihova Alasevolɛ, na bɛgyinla Baebolo ne azo bɛbua kpuya mɔɔ kye menli adwenle la. Yɛ nye liele nwo, ɔluakɛ yɛ awovolɛ tetele yɛ bɛmaanle yɛ nye liele Nyamenle Edwɛkɛ ne anwo. Mrenyia nwiɔ ne eza zele yɛ kɛ, ɔnrɛhyɛ Alasevolɛ ne mɔ bayɛ nyianu wɔ Winnipeg, sua bie mɔɔ wɔ ɛleka mɔɔ me diema raalɛ Elsie de la. Menyɛle kɛ mebahɔ nyianu ne bie.

Menganle me basekɛ ne mempɛle adenle mayɛlɛ 200 (km 320) mengɔle Winnipeg, noko mengyinlanle adenle nu wɔ sua Kelwood azo, ɛleka mɔɔ Alasevolɛ nwiɔ ne mɔɔ rale yɛ sua nu ɛkɛ ne de la. Mengɔle debiezukoalɛ wɔ ɛkɛ, na menwunle kɛzi asafo de la. Eza menwunle kɛ, ɔwɔ kɛ mrenyia, mraalɛ, mgbavolɛ nee mbɛlɛra kilehile wɔ azua nu, kɛ mɔɔ Gyisɛse yɛle la.

Menyiale me diema nrenyia kpanyinli Jack mɔɔ ɔvi Ontario sɔlɔ yera nyianu ne bie wɔ Winnipeg la. Wɔ nyianu ne kenle mɔɔ limoa la, adiema nrenyia bie vale dole gua kɛ bɛbazɔne menli. Me nee Jack zile kpɔkɛ kɛ yɛbamaa bɛazɔne yɛ wɔ nyianu zɔhane abo. Yɛbɔle kpɔkɛ kɛ saa bɛsɔne yɛ bɛwie ala a, yɛbabɔ adekpakyelɛ gyima ne abo. Bɛwiele nyianu ne ala la, Jack vale ɔ nwo wulale dahuu ɛzonlenlɛ gyima ne anu. Ɛnee meli ɛvolɛ 16, ɔti ɛnee ɔwɔ kɛ mesia mekɔ sukulu, noko ye ɛvolɛ bieko medame noko menyɛle dahuu adekpakyelɛ.

Me nee Stan Nicolson bɔle adekpakyelɛ gyima ne abo wɔ Souris, sua bie mɔɔ wɔ Manitoba maanzinli nu la. Yeangyɛ, menwunle kɛ tɛ mekɛ ne amuala a gyima ne la aze a. Yɛnwunle kɛ yɛ ezukoa ɛlɛwie, noko yɛangyakyi edwɛkɛhanlɛ ne. Kenle ko bie mɔɔ yɛkpɔnenle daselɛlilɛ na yɛlɛba sua nu la, ɛnee yɛnlɛ ezukoa biala yɛɛ ɛhɔne ɛlɛku yɛ kpalɛ. Nea kɛzi ɔzinle yɛ nwo wɔ mekɛ mɔɔ yɛnwunle kɛ kodoku kpole bie mɔɔ aleɛ ɛyi ye tɛkɛɛ la gyi yɛ anlenkɛ ne anloa a! Badwu ɛnɛ, yɛnze ahenle mɔɔ vale ziele ɛkɛ la. Nɔsolɛ zɔhane, yɛlile aleɛ kɛ arelemgbunli. Nea ahatualɛ mɔɔ yɛnyianle kɛ yɛammaa yɛ sa nu ando a! Nɔhalɛ nu, siane zɔhane hɔle awieleɛ la menyɛle ɛnlomboɛ mendɛlale kɛzi ɛnee mede la.

Siane ekyi pɛle nu la, bɛ nee yɛ hɔle sua Gilbert Plains azo, ɔvi ɛkɛ mɔɔ kɔ Souris sɔlɔ la bayɛ kɛyɛ mayɛlɛ 150 (km 240). Mekɛ zɔhane, ɛnee asafo biala lɛ kɛlata kpole bie bɔ bamaa ne azo mɔɔ kile mɔɔ asafo ne bayɛ wɔ daselɛlilɛ gyima ne anu siane biala la. Siane ko bie mɔɔ yɛangola yɛanyɛ dɔɔnwo wɔ daselɛlilɛ gyima ne anu la, memaanle ɛdendɛlɛ wɔ asafo ne anu, na menzile zo kɛ ɔwɔ kɛ mediema ne mɔ bɔ mɔdenle yɛ dɔɔnwo. Yɛkpɔnenle debiezukoalɛ la, adiema raalɛ adekpakyelɛnli bie mɔɔ anye ɛvi na ɔ hu ɛnle nɔhalɛ ne anu la zunle na ɔzele me kɛ, “Membɔle mɔdenle noko meangola meanyɛ dɔɔnwo meandɛla mɔɔ meyɛ ye dɛba ne la.” Medame noko menzunle memkpale ye kyɛlɛ.

Kɛ mɔɔ ɔde ye wɔ me afoa nu la, mediema mgbavolɛ mɔɔ bɛlɛ anwosesebɛ la kola yɛ nvonleɛ zɔhane bie na bɛmaa bɛ sa nu to. Noko, menwu kɛ ɔnle kɛ memaa me sa nu to, emomu ɔle kpalɛ kɛ mebazukoa debie meavi me nvonleɛ nu wɔ mekɛ mɔɔ megua zolɛ la. Mebanyia gyima mɔɔ mebava nɔhalɛlilɛ meayɛ la anwo ahatualɛ.

Nea nwolɛ adenle mɔɔ menyiale kɛ, wɔ me ɛvolɛ 21 ne anu, mengɔle Geleade Sukulu ne mɔɔ tɔ zo 14, mɔɔ bɛwiele wɔ February 1950 la bie a! Saa ɛkyɛ sukoavoma ne anu nna a, bɛmaanle asɛɛ nuhua ko hɔle ɛleka mɔɔ bɛka French mɔɔ wɔ Quebec, Canada maanzinli nu mɔɔ bɛkpɔ Alasevolɛ ne mɔ kpalɛ la. Bɛ nee me hɔle Val-d’Or, sua bie mɔɔ wɔ maanle ne ɛleka mɔɔ bɛtu nvutuke wɔ ye sɔlɔ la. Kenle ko bie, yɛ nuhua bie mɔ hɔle daselɛlilɛ wɔ sua bie mɔɔ bikye Val-Senneville la azo. Sua ne azo ɛsɔfo ne nwunlonwunlanle yɛ kɛ saa yɛanvi sua ne azo ndɛndɛ a, ɔbaboda yɛ. Mɔɔ ɔyɛle la maanle menvale edwɛkɛ ne mengɔle kɔɔto. Bɛbɔle ɛsɔfo ne kakɛ. *

 Edwɛkɛ zɔhane nee gyɛne dɔɔnwo mɔɔ le kɛ ɛhye la boka “Quebec Ngyegyelɛ Ne” anwo. Wulomu Kateleke Asɔne ne nleanle Quebec maanzinli ne azo wɔ ɛvolɛ mɔɔ bo 300 la anu. Ɛsɔfo ne mɔ nee bɛ maanyɛlɛ nu boavolɛma ne yɛle Gyihova Alasevolɛ kpɔdekpɔde. Ɛnee ɔnla aze, yɛɛ yɛ nwo anzo; noko yɛammaa yɛ sa nu ando. Ahonlekpalɛma mɔɔ wɔ Quebec la vale nɔhalɛ ne. Menyianle nwolɛ adenle me nee menli dɔɔnwo zukoale debie na bɛvale nɔhalɛ ne. Me nee abusua bie mɔɔ menli bulu a wɔ nu la zukoale Baebolo ne. Abusua ne amuala zonlenle Gyihova. Bɛ akɛnrasesebɛ ne boale awie mɔ ɔmaanle bɛvile Kateleke Asɔne ne anu. Yɛhɔle zo yɛhanle edwɛkɛ ne na awieleɛ bɔkɔɔ ne yɛlile konim!

Bɛmaanle mengɔnzonlenle wɔ Haiti wɔ 1956 ne anu. Edwɛkpatɛlɛvolɛma dɔɔnwo vɛle na bɛahola bɛazukoa French aneɛ ne, noko menli diele bɛ. Edwɛkpatɛlɛvolɛ Stanley Boggus hanle kɛ, “Ɔzinle yɛ nwo kɛ menli bɔle mɔdenle boale yɛ amaa yɛahola yɛaha aneɛ ne la.” Alimoa ne ɔboale me, ɔluakɛ menzukoale French wɔ Quebec. Noko, yeangyɛ yɛnwunle kɛ mediema dɔɔnwo ka Haitian Creole. Ɔti saa yɛbahola yɛayɛ gyima ne kpalɛ kɛ edwɛkpatɛlɛvolɛma a, ɛnee ɔwɔ kɛ yɛsukoa ɛkɛ ne aneɛ ne. Yɛyɛle ye zɔ na yɛ mɔdenlebɔlɛ ne azo rale nvasoɛ.

Amaa yɛaboa mediema ne mɔ kpalɛ la, Neazo Eku ne liele dole nu kɛ yɛhile Watchtower nee mbuluku gyɛne bo yɛhɔ Haitian Creole aneɛ nu. Menli mɔɔ ba debiezukoalɛ la anwo zonle dɔɔnwo wɔ maanle ne anu amuala. Wɔ 1950 anu ɛnee nolobɔlɛma 99 a wɔ Haiti a, noko ɔkadwu 1960 la, ɛnee nolobɔlɛma dodo bo 800! Mekɛ zɔhane bɛmaanle mengɔnzonlenle wɔ Bɛtɛle. Wɔ 1961 me nye liele kɛ meboka nwo a yɛnleanle Belemgbunlililɛ Gyima Sukulu ne azo la. Yɛholale yɛtetele asafo neavolɛma nee adekpakyelɛ titilima 40. Wɔ January 1962 nyianu ne abo, yɛmaanle mediema mrenyia mɔɔ fɛta la anwosesebɛ kɛ bɛdɛlɛ bɛ ɛzonlenlɛ gyima ne anu, na bɛkpale bie mɔ kɛ adekpakyelɛ titilima. Ɛhye boale kpalɛ ɔluakɛ ɛnee ɛkpɔlɛ lua adenle zo.

Yɛwiele nyianu ne wɔ January 23, 1962 la,  bɛhyele me nee edwɛkpatɛlɛvolɛ Andrew D’Amico wɔ Bɛtɛle ɛkɛ na bɛliele January 8, 1962 French Awake! mɔɔ wɔ ɛkɛ la. Awake! ne hwenle adwenle hɔle French adwelie kɛlata bie mɔɔ hanle kɛ menli bie mɔɔ bɛwɔ Haiti la fa bɛ nwo wula ngonyia nyɛleɛ bie mɔɔ bɛfɛlɛ ye voodoo la anu. Bie mɔ anye anlie zɔhane edwɛkɛ ne anwo na bɛhanle kɛ yɛhɛlɛle ye wɔ Bɛtɛle ɛkɛ. Dapɛne ekyi pɛle nu la, bɛvoanle edwɛkpatɛlɛvolɛma ne bɛvile maanle ne anu. * Noko mediema mɔɔ bɛtetele bɛ la yɛle gyima ne kɛnlɛma. Ɛnɛ, yɛ nye die kɛ bɛgyinlanle kpundii na bɛnyianle anyuhɔlɛ wɔ sunsum nu la. Kɛkala, bɛnyia New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures ne wɔ Haitian Creole aneɛ nu​—debie mɔɔ yɛanga nwolɛ ɛlalɛ wɔ zɔhane mekɛ ne la.

Menvile Haiti la, mengɔnzonlenle kɛ edwɛkpatɛlɛvolɛ wɔ Central African Republic. Nzinlii, menyianle adenle menzonlenle kɛ neavolɛ adenduvo nee Bɛtɛle neavolɛ.

Mekɛ zɔhane ɛnee Belemgbunlililɛ Asalo dɔɔnwo ɛnle kpalɛ. Menzukoale kɛzi bɛfa ɛya bɛfi ɛbɔ nu bɛtu sua zo la. Saa menli mɔɔ ɛlɛpɛ nu la nwu kɛzi melɛnwo zɛhae deɛ ne la a, ɔsi bɛ nwo. Eza ɔboale ɔmaanle mediema ne mɔ vale bɛ nwo wulale Belemgbunlililɛ Asalo ɛzilɛ nee bɛ ɛdeɛ ne ɛziezielɛ nu. Ɛzonlenlɛ nu mgbanyima golole yɛ nwo ɔluakɛ debie mɔɔ bɛva bɛdu bɛ asɔne azua ne mɔ azo la le kpalɛ tɛla yɛ Belemgbunlililɛ Asalo ne mɔ ɛdeɛ ne. Yɛ sa nu ando na yɛhɔle zo yɛvale ɛya yɛdule yɛ Belemgbunlililɛ Asalo ne mɔ azo. Ahumu kpole bie mɔɔ dule wɔ Bangui, bɛ suakpole ne azo la maanle bɛgyakyile agolobɛnwo ne. Ɔyele kyɛnze sua ne ɔvile bɛ asɔne sua ne azo. Ɛhwee anyɛ ɛya ne mɔɔ yɛva yɛdu Belemgbunlililɛ Asalo ne mɔ azo la. Amaa yɛanlea Belemgbunlililɛ gyima ne azo kpalɛ la, yɛzile Bɛtɛle fofolɛ yɛɛ edwɛkpatɛlɛvolɛma sua wɔ siane nnu pɛpɛɛpɛ anu. *

Wɔ 1976, bɛvale bɛ sa bɛdole Belemgbunlililɛ gyima ne azo wɔ Central African Republic na bɛ nee me hɔle N’Djamena suakpole ne mɔɔ wɔ Chad ɛweɛne zo la azo. Me ti yɛle boɛ kɛ menyiale Happy mɔɔ le adekpakyelɛ titili mɔɔ bɔ mɔdenle na ɔvi Cameroon la. Yɛgyale wɔ April 1, 1978. Zɔhane siane ne, konle zile maanle ne anu, na yɛnriandile yɛhɔle maanle ne nyiakɛ kɛ mɔɔ menli dɔɔnwo yɛle la. Konle ne anzi, yɛziale yɛhɔle sua nu, na yɛnwunle kɛ sogyama bie ɛva ɛkɛ ne ɛyɛ bɛ gyima ne ati. Bɛzɛkyele yɛ mbuluku ne mɔ, Happy atɔfolɛlielɛ tɛladeɛ ne yɛɛ yɛ atɔfolɛlielɛ ahyɛlɛdeɛ ne mɔ. Noko, yɛammaa yɛ sa nu ando. Bɛangu yɛ yɛɛ ɛnee yɛ nye la kɛ yɛbayɛ gyima dɔɔnwo.

Kɛyɛ ɛvolɛ nwiɔ anzi, bɛyele bɛ sa mɔɔ bɛva bɛdo yɛ gyima ne azo wɔ Central African Republic la. Yɛziale yɛhɔyɛle neavolɛ adenduvo gyima ne wɔ ɛkɛ. Ɛnee kale bie a le yɛ sua a, na ɛkpa mɔɔ bɛbubu, angola mɔɔ fa nzule galɔn 53 (L 200), gas felegye yɛɛ gas stove ala a wɔ nu a. Ɛnee adendulɛ ɛnla aze. Mekɛ bie, yeanyɛ boɛ fee la kpolisima gyinlanle yɛ fane mɔɔ bo 177 bɛnleanle yɛ ninyɛne nu.

Ɛnee wuluwulu wɔ nu kpole kpalɛ. Mekɛ zɔhane, ɛnee saa bɛlɛyɛ nyianu a bɛnda bɛnyia nzule mɔɔ bɛbazɔne menli wɔ nu a. Ɔti mediema mrenyia ne mɔ tu kuma wɔ azudenle mɔɔ ɛsesa la anu na bɛsa nzule dodo mɔɔ bɛbazɔne mediema wɔ nu la bɛgua angola nu.

Wɔ 1980 bɛ nee yɛ hɔle Nigeria. Yɛboale yɛmaanle bɛzieziele ɛleka mɔɔ bɛbazi Bɛtɛle fofolɛ ne la wɔ ɛvolɛ nwiɔ ne foa anu. Mediema ne mɔ dɔle ɛbolɔnsam ndazo nwiɔ bie mɔɔ bɛfa ninyɛne bɛsie nu la. Ɛnee ɔwɔ kɛ bɛbubu ye na bɛsi ye fofolɛ. Kenle ko nwonlomɔ bie, menvole sua ne ati zo kɛ meboa meamaa bɛabubu ye. Ɔka ekyi 12 bɔ la, membɔle ɔ bo kɛ mefa ɛleka mɔɔ menvale menvole la meadwu. Noko sua ne mɔɔ yɛlɛbubu ye la maanle ninyɛne hakyile, ɔti me gyakɛ telele na mevi anwuma mendɔle aze. Membodale kpole  kpalɛ, noko mɔɔ bɛpɛle me X-ray bɛwiele la, dɔketa ne zele Happy kɛ: “Mmamaa ɔgyegye wɔ. Ye ndinli ne bie ala a anu ɛde a, kɛyɛ dapɛne ko nee ɔnzi ɔbade kpɔkɛ.”

Wɔ 1986, yɛhɔyɛle neavolɛ adenduvo gyima ne wɔ Côte d’Ivoire. Gyima zɔhane vale yɛ hɔle ɛleka mɔɔ bikye Burkina Faso la. Meandwenle nwolɛ ɛlɛ kɛ kenle bie yɛbadɛnla Burkina.

Menvile Canada wɔ 1956, noko ye ɛvolɛ 47 anzi wɔ 2003, menziale mengɔle Canada Bɛtɛle bieko, na mekɛ ɛhye anu ɛnee Happy boka me nwo. Yɛle Canadama, noko yɛdele nganeɛ kɛ yɛboka Afrikama anwo.

Akee mɔɔ menyianle ɛvolɛ 79 wɔ 2007 la, bɛmaanle mengɔle Afrika bieko! Bɛmaanle yɛhɔle Burkina Faso, na ɛnee meboka Maanle Kɔmatii ne anwo. Nzinlii, bɛhakyile Bɛtɛle ne bɛyɛle ye ɔfese mɔɔ bɛkile edwɛkɛ bo wɔ ɛkɛ wɔ Benin Bɛtɛle abo, na wɔ August 2013, bɛ nee yɛ hɔle Benin Bɛtɛle.

Ɔnva nwo kɛ me kpɔkɛdelɛ ne ɛnle kpalɛ la, me nye tɛdie daselɛlilɛ gyima ne anwo. Wɔ ɛvolɛ nsa mɔɔ ɛpɛ nu la anu, ɔlua mgbanyima ne mɔ nee me ye moalɛ zo, me nye ɛlie kɛ menwu kɛ bɛzɔne me Baebolo sukoavoma nwiɔ, Gédéon nee Frégis. Kɛkala bɛlɛbɔ mɔdenle bɛazonle Gyihova.

Mekɛ zɔhane, bɛmaanle me nee me ye hɔle South Africa Bɛtɛle, na Bɛtɛle abusua ne di me kpɔkɛdelɛ nwo ngyianlɛ nwo gyima. South Africa a le maanle mɔɔ tɔ zo nsuu wɔ Afrika mɔɔ menyia nwolɛ adenle mezonle ɛkɛ a. Akee wɔ October 2017 yɛnyianle nyilalɛ titili bie. Yɛnyianle nwolɛ adenle yɛhɔle Warwick, New York ewiade amuala gyima ne ati mɔɔ bɛyilale zolɛ la bie. Yɛ rɛle ɛnrɛvi ayia zɔhane ɛlɛ!

1994 Yearbook ne ka ye wɔ mukelɛ 255 kɛ: “Bɛdabɛ mɔɔ bɛbɔ mɔdenle bɛva ɛvolɛ dɔɔnwo bɛyɛ gyima ne la kɔsɔɔti, yɛmaa bɛ anwosesebɛ kɛ: ‘Bɛnyia akɛnrasesebɛ yɛɛ bɛmmamaa bɛ sa nu to, ɔluakɛ bɛbanyia ahatualɛ wɔ bɛ gyima nwo.’​—2 Ek. 15:7.” Me nee Happy ɛbɔ kpɔkɛ kɛ yɛbava folɛdulɛ ɛhye yɛayɛ gyima na yɛamaa awie mɔ noko anwosesebɛ kɛ bɛyɛ bie.