BƐWOLE me 1926 wɔ Crooksville, Ohio, mɔɔ wɔ United States la. Ɛnee me Papa nee me Mame ɛngɔ asɔne, noko bɛzele yɛdayɛ ngakula mɔtwɛ ne kɛ yɛhɔ asɔne. Mengɔle Methodist. Menyianle ɛvolɛ 14 la, ɛsɔfo ne hyɛle me debie ɔluakɛ mengɔle asɔne Molɛ biala too ɛvolɛ ko.

Wɔ mekɛ zɔhane, Gyihova Dasevolɛ bie mɔɔ bɛfɛlɛ ye Margaret Walker mɔɔ de yɛ kpalɛ ne azo la bɔle ɔ bo kɛ ɔ nee me mame sukoa Baebolo ne. Kenle ko, menganle kɛ mesukoa bie. Noko me mame dwenlenle kɛ mebagyegye bɛ yemɔti ɔhanle kɛ menvinde. Noko membɔle mɔdenle mendiele mɔɔ bɛlɛsukoa la bie. Mekɛ ekyii guale nu la, Margaret bizale me kɛ, “Ɛze Nyamenle duma ɔ?” Menganle kɛ, “Awie biala ze ye, bɛfɛlɛ ye Nyamenle.” Ɔhanle kɛ, “Fa wɔ Baebolo ne na kenga Edwɛndolɛ 83:18.” Mengengale na menwunle kɛ Nyamenle duma a le Gyihova. Menganle mengilele me gɔnwo mɔ kɛ, “Saa bɛkɔ sua nu a, bɛgenga Edwɛndolɛ 83:18 wɔ Baebolo ne anu na bɛbanwu Nyamenle duma.” Bie a ɛbaha kɛ membɔle ɔ bo kɛ medi daselɛ ɛkɛ ne ala.

Menzukoale Baebolo ne na bɛzɔnenle me wɔ 1941. Yeangyɛ biala yɛɛ bɛkpale me kɛ menea asafo buluku ɛzukoalɛ ne azo a. Memaanle me mame nee me mediema ne mɔ anwosesebɛ kɛ bɛrɛla bie, ɔti bɛbɔle ɔ bo bɛrale buluku ɛzukoalɛ ne mɔɔ ɛnee menea zo la bie. Noko me Papa ɛdeɛ, ɔ nye anlie nwo.

Bɛmaanle me gyima dɔɔnwo wɔ asafo ne anu, yemɔti menvale asafo mbuluku dɔɔnwo membale sua nu. Kenle ko, me Papa hanle kɛ: “Wɔnwu zɔhane mbuluku ne mɔ ɔ? Memkpondɛ bɛ wɔ sua nu ɛke, na ɛdawɔ noko ɛbahola wɔavi sua nu ɛke.” Mendule menvile sua nu na mengɔle Zanesville, Ohio, noko ɛnee meta meba sua nu mebamaa me abusua ne anwosesebɛ.

Me Papa bɔle mɔdenle kɛ ɔmaa me Mame agyakyi debiezukoalɛ ɛhɔlɛ. Ɔdwu mekɛ ne bie na me mame lua adenle nu ɔlɛkɔ debiezukoalɛ a, ɔnriandi ɔtoa ye na ɔtwe ye ɔba sua nu. Noko me mame fa  sua ne anzi anlenkɛ ne anu ɔfinde ɔkɔ debiezukoalɛ. Menganle mengilele me Mame kɛ: “Mmamaa ɔgyegye wɔ, ɔbavɛ yemɔti ɔbagyakyi wɔ.” Nzinlii, me Papa gyakyile me mame yemɔti ɛnee ɔkɔ debiezukoalɛ dahuu.

Mɔɔ bɛbɔle Teokelase Ɛzonlenlɛ Sukulu ne abo wɔ 1943 la, menyɛle gyimalilɛ wɔ asafo ne anu. Folɛdulɛ mɔɔ menyianle wɔ sukulu ne anu la boale me maanle menyɛle tendɛvolɛ kpalɛ.

Wɔ 1944, wɔ Ewiade Konle II la anu, bɛhanle kɛ mengɔ sogya. Mengɔle Fort Hayes mɔɔ wɔ Columbus, Ohio la, bɛnleanle kɛzi mede la na menvale me sa menwulale kɛlata bie abo. Menganle mengilele sogya mgbanyima ne mɔ kɛ menrɛyɛ sogyanli. Bɛgyakyile me. Noko mekɛ ekyii guale nu la, sogya kpanyinli ko rahanle hilele me kɛ, “Corwin Robison, bɛmaa me kɛlata kɛ memangye wɔ membɛla.”

Ye dapɛne nwiɔ anzi mɔɔ bɛvale me bɛhɔle kɔɔto la, ndɛnebuavolɛ ne hanle kɛ: “Saa ɔhale me ngomekye a, anrɛɛ mebamaa wɔala efiade too wɔawu. Ɛlɛ edwɛkɛ bie ɛka ɔ?” Membuale kɛ: “Yɛmenle, mesɛlɛ wɔ, anrɛɛ ɔwɔ kɛ bɛbu me kɛ melɛ ɛzonlenlɛ nu sonvolɛ. Awie biala anlenkɛ nloa a le ɛkponle mɔɔ megyinla nwo metendɛ a, yɛɛ meha Belemgbunlililɛ ne anwo edwɛkpa ne mehile menli dɔɔnwo.” Ndɛnebuavolɛ ne hanle hilele edwɛkɛlilɛma ne kɛ: “Bɛamba ɛke kɛ bɛba bɛarahile kɛ kpavolɛ ɛhye le ɛzonlenlɛ nu sonvolɛ anzɛɛ ɔnle sonvolɛ. Bɛra ɛke kɛ bɛkile kɛ ɔravale ɔ sa ɔwulale kɛlata bo kɛ ɔbahɔ sogya anzɛɛ ɔnrɛhɔ.” Mitini abulasa andwu, edwɛkɛlilɛma ne hanle kɛ medi fɔlɛ. Ndɛnebuavolɛ ne maanle mengɔnlale efiade ɛvolɛ nnu wɔ Ashland, Kentucky.

Menlile dapɛne nwiɔ ne mɔɔ limoa la wɔ Columbus, Ohio, efiade ne na ɛkɛ a le kenle mɔɔ limoa mɔɔ menlale efiade a. Menganle mengilele Gyihova kɛ: “Menrɛhola menrɛla efiade ɛvolɛ nnu. Mennwu mɔɔ meyɛ a.”

Aleɛ hyenle la, sinzavolɛma ne maanle menvindele. Mengɔngyinlanle kpavolɛ tendenle kputilii bie mɔɔ la efiade ɛkɛ ne la anwo ɛkɛ. Ɔbizale me kɛ: “Duzu ati a bɛdɔ wɔ efiade a?” Menganle kɛ, “Mele Gyihova Dasevolɛ.” Ɔhanle kɛ, “Amgba ɔ? Yemɔti duzu ati a ɛwɔ ɛke a?” Menganle kɛ “Gyihova Alasevolɛ ɛngɔ konle ɛnguhu awie mɔ.” Ɔhanle kɛ, “Kɛmɔ bɛnguhu awie mɔ la ati a bɛgua bɛ efiade a. Mgbavolɛ bie mɔ noko kuhu awie mɔ la ati bɛgua bɛ efiade. Ɛnea a nrɛlɛbɛ wɔ edwɛkɛ ɛhye anu ɔ?” Menganle kɛ, “Kyɛkyɛ.”

Akee ɔhanle kɛ, “Mela efiade bie anu ɛvolɛ 15 na ɛkɛ ne a mengengale bɛ mbuluku ne mɔ bie a.” Mɔɔ mendele edwɛkɛ ɛhye la, menyɛle asɔne kɛ, “Gyihova, boa me maa nrenyia ɛhye nee me adwenle ɛyɛ ko.” Bɛfɛlɛ kpavolɛ zɔhane Paul, na ɔhanle  ɔhilele me kɛ: “Saa menli ɛhye mɔ bie fa ɔ sa ka wɔ a, wɔmɔ tea nuhua na mebali ɔ nwo gyima.” Yemɔti mekɛ mɔɔ ɛnee mewɔ ɛkɛ la, me nee menli 50 ne mɔɔ ɛnee bɛwɔ efiade ɛkɛ ne la biala annyia edwɛkɛ ɛlɛ.

Mɔɔ bɛyele me bɛhɔle efiade mɔɔ wɔ Ashland la, mengɔnyiale mediema mrenyia bie mɔ mɔɔ bɛnyi sunsum nu la. Bɛboale me yɛɛ mediema gyɛne bɛmaanle yɛbikyele Gyihova. Bɛhyɛle dapɛne Baebolo ɛgengalɛ ne bɛmaanle yɛ na yɛzieziele kpuya nee mualɛ mɔɔ yɛfa yɛyɛ yɛ debiezukoalɛ ne mɔɔ yɛvɛlɛle ye Bible Bees la. Ɛnee yɛwɔ asalo kpole bie mɔɔ ɛkpa ne mɔ solo bane ne anwo la anu. Ɛnee adiema ko wɔ ɛkɛ mɔɔ ɔkyɛ azɛlɛsinli ne a. Ɔhanle ɔhilele me kɛ: “Robison, wɔ ɛkpa ɛdeɛ a le ɛyeka nee ɛyeka. Nea kɛ ɛbali awie biala mɔɔ ɔbarala ɛkpa zɔhane mɔ azo la daselɛ kolaa na yeavi ɛke.” Adenle kpalɛ mɔɔ yɛluale zo yɛlile daselɛ la ɛne.

Ewiade Konle II la hɔle awieleɛ wɔ 1945, noko tɛ ɛkɛ ne ala a bɛyele me bɛvile efiade a. Ɛnee medwenle me abusua ne anwo ɔluakɛ me Papa hanle hilele me kɛ, “Saa mekola meye wɔ mefi ɛkɛ a, me sa baha menli mɔɔ ɛha la.” Mɔɔ bɛyele me la, debie bie yɛle me azibɛnwo kpole. Ɔnva nwo dwazotia mɔɔ me Papa vale rale la, ɛnee me abusua ne anu amra nsuu kɔ debiezukoalɛ yɛɛ ɛnee bɛzɔne me mediema mraalɛ ne mɔ ko.

Mɔɔ Korea Konle ne bɔle ɔ bo wɔ 1950 la, bɛhanle ye bieko kɛ mengɔmboka sogyama ne anwo. Bɛzele me kɛ mengɔ Fort Hayes. Mɔɔ sogya kpanyinli ko nleanle me mɔdenlebɔlɛ ne la, ɔhanle kɛ, “Ɛboka menli mɔɔ bɛyɛ deɛ kpalɛ wɔ bɛ ekpunli ne anu la anwo.” Menganle kɛ, “Ɔyɛ, mede, noko menrɛhɔ sogya.” Mendwenle adwenle mengɔle 2 Temɔte 2:3 azo na menganle kɛ, “Mɛle Kelaese sogyanli dɛba.” Ɔgyinlanle ɛkɛ ne koonwu na akee ɔhanle kɛ, “Ɛbahola wɔahɔ.”

Nzinlii mengɔle bɛdabɛ mɔɔ bɛkulo kɛ bɛkɔ Bɛtɛle la ayia bie wɔ nyianu bie mɔɔ bɛyɛle wɔ Cincinnati, Ohio, abo la. Adiema Milton Henschel hanle hilele yɛ kɛ bɛhyia mediema mrenyia mɔɔ bɛkulo kɛ bɛyɛ gyima wɔ Bɛtɛle la. Membizale Bɛtɛle ɛzonlenlɛ nwo adenle, na bɛvɛlɛle me. Membɔle ɔ bo kɛ mesonle wɔ Brooklyn Bɛtɛle wɔ August 1954, na metɛsonle wɔ Bɛtɛle.

Menyɛle gyima dɔɔnwo wɔ Bɛtɛle. Wɔ ɛvolɛ dɔɔnwo anu, ɛnee medame a menea memaa bɛnyia nzule wuluwulu wɔ ɛleka mɔɔ bɛpelente mbuluku nee ɔfese ne mɔ anu a. Eza ɛnee meyɛ milahyinli ngakyile nwo gyima na mesiezie sanvɛ ngakyile mɔɔ bɛkɛzɛkye la. Eza menyɛle gyima wɔ Nyianu Asalo mɔɔ wɔ New York City la.

 Me nye die alehyenlɛ ne anu tɛkese ne mɔɔ bɛsuzu nwo nwonlomɔ biala wɔ Bɛtɛle, Ɛzinzalɛ Arane Ɛzukoalɛ ne yɛɛ daselɛlilɛ mɔɔ me nee asafo ne bɔ nu kɔ la anwo. Saa ɛnea a, ɛhye a le ninyɛne mɔɔ ɔwɔ kɛ Gyihova Alasevolɛ abusua biala yɛ ye dahuu a. Saa awovolɛ nee bɛ mra suzu alehyenlɛ ne anu tɛkese ne anwo, yɛ Abusua Ɛzonlenlɛ dahuu, fa bɛ nwo wula asafo debiezukoalɛ nu, na bɛbɔ mɔdenle wɔ daselɛlilɛ nu a, abusua ne anu amra amuala babikye Gyihova.

Menyia agɔnwolɛma dɔɔnwo wɔ Bɛtɛle nee asafo ne anu. Ɛnee bɛkpokpa bie mɔ na kɛkala bɛhɔ anwuma, yɛɛ ɛnee bɛtɛkpokpale bie mɔ. Noko Bɛtɛlema nee Gyihova azonvolɛ kɔsɔɔti ɛnli munli. Saa me nee adiema bie nyia edwɛkɛ a, mebɔ mɔdenle kɛ me nee ye baziezie yɛ avinli. Medwenle edwɛkɛ mɔɔ wɔ Mateyu 5:23, 24 nee kɛzi ɔwɔ kɛ yɛsiezie yɛ avinli la anwo. Ɔnla aze kɛ ɛbaha wɔahile awie kɛ “Mekpa wɔ kyɛlɛ,” noko saa yɛyɛ zɔ a, ɔpɛ edwɛkɛ dɔɔnwo azo.

Kɛkala kɛmɔ meyɛ kpanyinli la ati, mengola menyɛ azua nu daselɛlilɛ, noko me sa nu ɛtɛtole. Mezukoa Mandarin Chinese ekyi na me nee Chinama suzu Baebolo ne anwo. Ɔdwu nwonlomɔ bie mɔ a memaa magazine 30 anzɛɛ 40.

Meyɛ sia kɔkpɔla bɔbɔ wɔ China aneɛ nu! Kenle ko, menyiale bɛlɛra kɛnlɛma bie mɔɔ ɛnee ɔlɛtɔne ninyɛne mɔɔ bɛsiezie mbakama wɔ zo la. Menvale Chinese Ɛzinzalɛ Arane nee Awake! memaanle ye. Ɔliele na ɔhanle kɛ bɛfɛlɛ ye Katie. Ɔvi mekɛ zɔhane saa Katie nwu me biala a, ɔ nee me bɔ adawu. Mengilele ye kɛzi bɛfɛlɛ mbakama bie mɔ wɔ Nrelenza nu la. Eza mengilehilele Baebolo tɛkese bie mɔ anu mengilele ye, na ɔliele Baebolo Ne Kilehile buluku ne ko. Mekɛ ekyii guale nu la, akee meannwu ye bieko.

Aziane bie anzi, menvale magazine memaanle kakula raalɛ bie mɔɔ ɛnee ɔlɛbɔ ye ninyɛne nwo nolo la. Ye dapɛne bieko, ɔvale ye fonu ne ɔmaanle me na ɔhanle kɛ, “Ɛ nee China ɛdendɛ.” Menganle kɛ, “Menze awie biala wɔ China.” Noko ɔhanle kɛ menlie, yemɔti menliele na ahenle mɔɔ ɛlɛtendɛ fonu ne azo la hanle kɛ, “Robby, medame Katie ɔ. Mezia mera China. Me diema a vale fonu ne maanle wɔ la. Ɛhilehilele me ninyɛne mgbalɛ dɔɔnwo. Mesɛlɛ wɔ kilehile ye bie.” Menganle kɛ, “Katie, mebayɛ mɔɔ mebahola la, meda wɔ ase.” Nzinlii akee meannwu Katie adiema ne bieko. Menze ɛleka mɔɔ ngakula mbɛlɛra nwiɔ ne wɔ kɛkala a, noko me nye la kɛ bɛbazukoa Gyihova anwo ninyɛne dɔɔnwo.

Mezonle Gyihova ɛvolɛ 73, na me nye die kɛ ɔboale me ɔmaanle mengyinlanle kpundii na menlile nɔhalɛ wɔ efiade la. Eza me mediema ne mɔ ɛha ɛhile me kɛ kɛzi mengolale mengyinlanle me Papa dwazotia ne anloa la maanle bɛ anwosesebɛ. Kɛkala, bɛzɔne me Mame nee me mediema nsia. Me Papa bɔbɔ subane hakyile ekyi, na ɔhɔle debiezukoalɛ kolaa na yeawu.

Saa ɔyɛ Nyamenle ɛhulolɛdeɛ a, me mbusuafoɔ nee me gɔnwo mɔ mɔɔ bɛwu la badwazo ara ngoane nu wɔ ewiade fofolɛ ne anu. Nea kɛzi yɛ nye balie wɔ mekɛ mɔɔ yɛ nee yɛ alɔvolɛ babɔ nu azonle Gyihova dahuu la a! *​—Nea ɔ bo ɛkɛ edwɛkɛ ne.