Talanoa ki he Moʻuí

Tauhi ʻa e Moʻuí ke Faingofua ke Ngāue Ai kia Sihova

FAKAMATALA FAI ʻE CLARA GERBER MOYER

ʻOku ou taʻu 92 pea ko e mālō pē ʻa e lava ke luelue, ka ʻoku ou kei maʻu pē ha ʻatamai mahino mo manatu lelei. He fakamālō ē ko au ki hono maʻu ʻo e monū ʻo e tauhi kia Sihova talu e kei siʻí! Ko e moʻui ʻi ha moʻui faingofua mo ʻikai faingataʻá kuo tokoni lahi ia ki he koloa ko iá.

NAʻE fāʻeleʻi au ʻi ʻAokosi 18, 1907, ʻi Alliance, Ohio, U.S.A., ko e lahi tahá au ʻi he fānau ʻe toko nima. ʻI heʻeku taʻu valú, naʻe heka mai ai ʻi ha pasikala ha faifekau taimi-kakato ʻa e kau Ako Tohitapú, hangē ko hono ui ʻo e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová ʻi he taimi ko iá, ki homau faama ngaohiʻanga pata mo e sīsí. Naʻá ne feʻiloaki ai mo ʻeku faʻeé, ko Laura Gerber ʻi he matapaá, peá ne ʻeke ange pe naʻá ne ʻiloʻi ʻa e ʻuhinga ʻoku fakaʻatā ai ke ʻi ai ʻa e koví. Naʻe fifili maʻu pē ʻa e fineʻeikí ʻo fekauʻaki mo ia.

Hili ʻa e kole ki he tangataʻeikí, ʻa ia naʻe ʻi tuʻa ʻi he feleokó, naʻe ʻota ʻe he fineʻeikí ʻa e seti ʻo e voliume ʻe ono ʻo e Studies in the Scriptures. Naʻá ne fiefia loto-vēkeveke ʻi he ngaahi meʻá ni pea naʻe ueʻi loloto ia ʻe he ngaahi moʻoni faka-Tohitapu naʻá ne akó. Naʻá ne ako ʻa e Voliume 6, The New Creation, pea mahinoʻi lelei ai ʻa e fiemaʻu ki he papitaiso faka-Kalisitiané ʻaki hono fakaukú. ʻI he ʻikai ʻiloʻi ʻa e founga ke ʻilo ai ʻa e kau Ako Tohitapú, naʻá ne kole ai ki he tangataʻeikí ke ne papitaiso ia ʻi he kiʻi vai ʻi he fāmá, neongo ko e māhina momoko ia ʻo Maʻasi 1916.

ʻIkai fuoloa ʻi he hili iá naʻe sio ai ʻa e fineʻeikí ʻi ha tuʻuaki ʻi he nusipepá ʻo fanongonongo ai ha malanga ʻi he Holo Daughters of Veterans ʻi Alliance. Ko e malangá naʻe fakakaveinga “Ko e Palani Fakaʻotua ʻo e Ngaahi Kuongá.” Naʻá ne tali vave ia, koeʻuhi ko e Voliume 1 ʻo e Studies in the Scriptures naʻe ʻi ai ʻa e kaveinga tatau mo e malangá. Naʻe teuteu ʻa e salioté, pea ko e kotoa ʻo e fāmilí naʻa mau ō ki heʻemau ʻuluaki fakatahá ʻi ha hoosi mo ha saliote. Mei he taimi ko iá ʻo faai mai ai naʻa mau maʻu ai ʻa e ngaahi fakataha ʻi he ngaahi ʻapi ʻo e fanga tokouá  ʻi he Sāpaté mo e ngaahi efiafi Pulelulú. Taimi nounou mei ai, naʻe toe papitaiso ai ʻa e fineʻeikí ʻe ha fakafofonga ʻo e fakatahaʻanga Kalisitiané. Ko e tangataʻeikí, ʻa ia naʻe femoʻuekina maʻu pē ʻi he ngāue ʻi he fāmá, naʻe faifai pē ʻo ne mahuʻingaʻia ʻi he ako Tohitapú, pea naʻe papitaiso ia ʻi ha ngaahi taʻu siʻi ki mui ai.

Feʻiloaki mo e Faʻahinga Naʻe Takimuʻá

ʻI Sune 10, 1917, ko J. F. Rutherford, ʻa e Palesiteni ʻo e Sōsaieti Taua Leʻó he taimi ko iá, naʻá ne ʻaʻahi mai ki Alliance ke malanga ʻi he kaveinga “Ko e Hā ʻOku Tau Ai ʻa e Ngaahi Puleʻangá?” Naʻá ku taʻu hiva pea naʻá ku maʻu ia mo ʻeku ongo mātuʻá pea mo hoku ongo tuongaʻane, ko Willie mo Charles. Naʻe maʻu ia ʻe ha kakai tokolahi laka hake ʻi he toko teaú. Hili ʻa e malanga ʻa Tokoua Rutherford, ko e tokolahi taha ʻo e faʻahinga naʻa nau maʻu iá naʻa nau fai ha faitā ʻi tuʻa ʻi he Fale Heleʻuhila Columbia, ʻa ia naʻe fai ai ʻene malangá. ʻI he uike hono hokó, ʻi he feituʻu tatau, naʻe fai ai ʻe A. H. Macmillan ha malanga ʻi he tuʻunga-lea ko e “Puleʻanga ka Hoko Mai ʻo e ʻOtuá.” Ko ha monū ia ʻa e ʻaʻahi mai ʻa e ongo tokouá ni ki homau kiʻi koló.

Ngaahi Muʻaki Fakataha-Lahi Fakangalongataʻa

Ko e ʻuluaki fakataha-lahi naʻá ku maʻú naʻe ʻi he 1918 ʻi Atwater, Ohio, ko ha ngaahi kilomita siʻi pē mei Alliance. Naʻe ʻeke ʻe he fineʻeikí ki he fakafofonga ʻi ai ʻo e Sōsaietí pe kuó u taʻumotuʻa feʻunga ke papitaiso. Naʻá ku ongoʻi kuó u fai ha fakatapui totonu ki he ʻOtuá ke fai hono finangaló, ko ia naʻe fakaʻatā ai au ke u papitaiso ʻi he ʻaho ko iá ʻi ha kiʻi vai, ofi ki ha fuʻu ngoue ʻāpele. Naʻá ku fetongi hoku valá ʻi ha tēniti ʻa ia naʻe fokotuʻu ʻe he fanga tokouá ki he taumuʻa ko iá peá u papitaiso ʻi ha teunga mohe matolu, mo motuʻa.

ʻI Sepitema ʻo e 1919, naʻá ku heka ai mo ʻeku ongo mātuʻá ʻi ha lēlue ki Sandusky, Ohio, ʻi Lake Erie. Naʻa mau heka ai ʻi ha vaka, pea ʻi ha taimi nounou, naʻa mau aʻu ki Cedar Point ʻa ia naʻe pau ke fai ai ʻemau fakataha-lahi fakangalongataʻá. ʻI heʻemau hifo mei he vaká, naʻe ʻi ai ha kiʻi tuʻuʻanga kai hoʻatā ʻi he tauʻanga vaká. Naʻá ku maʻu ai ha foʻi hemipeka, ʻa ia ko ha kai māʻolunga moʻoni ia kiate au he ngaahi ʻaho ko iá. Naʻe mātuʻaki ifo ʻaupito ia! Ko e tumutumu ʻo e maʻu fakataha ʻi heʻemau fakataha-lahi ʻaho valú ko e toko 7,000. Naʻe ʻikai ha meʻa fakaongo leʻo-lahi, ko ia naʻe pau ai ke u mātuʻaki fanongo tokanga.

ʻI he fakataha-lahi ko ení, naʻe tukuange mai ai ʻa e kaungā makasini ki he Taua Leʻo, naʻe fakakaveinga ko e The Golden Age (ko e Awake! ia he taimi ní). Ke maʻu ʻa e fakataha-lahi ko iá, naʻá ku liʻaki ai ʻi he ʻuluaki uike ʻo e akó, ka naʻe mahuʻinga ʻaupito ia. Ko Cedar Point ko ha feituʻu ia ki he folau ʻeveʻevá, pea naʻe ʻi ai ʻenau kau kuki ai ʻi he falekaí ʻa ia naʻa nau teuteu ʻa e ngaahi meʻakai ki he kau fakafofongá. Ka ʻi ha ʻuhinga, naʻe tuku-ngāue ʻa e kau kukí mo e kau tali-tēpilé, ko ia ai, ko e fanga tokoua ko ia naʻe ʻi ai ʻenau ʻilo ki he teuteu ʻo e meʻakaí naʻa nau ngāue mālohi ʻo teuteu ʻa e meʻakai ki he kau fakafofongá. ʻI ha ngaahi hongofuluʻi taʻu lahi ʻi he hili iá, naʻe teuteuʻi ai ʻe he kakai ʻa Sihová ʻenau meʻakai pē ʻanautolú ʻi he ngaahi ʻasemipilií mo e ngaahi fakataha-lahí.

Naʻa mau toe maʻu ʻa e monū ʻo e toe foki ki Cedar Point ʻi Sepitema ʻo e 1922 ki ha fakataha-lahi ʻaho hiva naʻe maʻu ʻe ha tumutumu naʻe laka hake he toko 18,000. Ko e feituʻu ia naʻe fakalototoʻaʻi ai kimautolu ʻe Tokoua Rutherford ke “tuʻuaki, tuʻuaki, tuʻuaki, ʻa e Tuʻí mo hono Puleʻangá.” Kae kehe, ko ʻeku ngāue fakafaifekau fakafoʻituituí, naʻe kamata ia ʻaki hono tufaki ʻa e fanga kiʻi tulekí mo e The Golden Age ʻi he ngaahi taʻu ki muʻa angé.

Houngaʻia ʻi he Ngāue Fakafaifekaú

ʻI he konga ki muʻa ʻo e 1918, naʻá ku kau ai ʻi hono tuku atu ʻa e tuleki The Fall of Babylon ki he ngaahi faama kaungāʻapí. Koeʻuhi ko ʻene momokó, naʻa mau tutu ai ha maka molemole ʻi ʻapi ʻi he sitou tafú pea ʻave ia ʻi he salioté ke tauhi ai ke māfana homau vaʻé. Naʻa mau tui ha ngaahi fuʻu kote mo e ngaahi tatā, koeʻuhi he naʻe ʻi ai pē ha ʻato mo ha ngaahi puipui ʻo e salioté he tafaʻakí ka naʻe ʻikai ha meʻa fakamāfana. Ka ko e ngaahi taimi fakafiefia ia.

ʻI he 1920 ko ha pulusinga makehe ʻo e The Finished Mystery, naʻe ui ko e ZG, naʻe teuteuʻi ia ʻi ha faʻunga makasini. a Ko ʻeku ongo mātuʻá mo au naʻa mau ʻalu mo e tohi ko ení ʻi Alliance. ʻI he ngaahi ʻaho ko iá naʻe ʻalu tokotaha ʻa e tokotaha kotoa pē ki he ngaahi matapaá, ko ia naʻá ku kaka tailiili hake ai ki ha falefakatolo ʻa ia naʻe tangutu ai ha kakai. ʻI he hili ʻa ʻeku tuʻuakí, naʻe pehē ai ʻe ha fefine ʻe taha: “ʻOkú ne fai ha kiʻi malanga lelei,” peá ne tali ʻa e tohí. Naʻá ku tufa ʻa e ZG ʻe 13 ʻi he ʻaho ko iá, ko e  ʻuluaki taimi ia naʻá ku fai ai ha tuʻuaki lōloa ange, mo hokohoko lelei ʻi he fale ki he falé.

ʻI heʻeku ʻi he kuleiti hono hivá, naʻe maʻu ai ʻe he fineʻeikí ʻa e niumōniá pea naʻá ne toka mohenga ai ʻo laka hake ʻi ha māhina ʻe taha. Ko hoku tokoua siʻisiʻi tahá, ʻa Hazel, ko ha pēpē valevale ia, ko ia, naʻá ku liʻaki ai ʻa e akó ke tokoni ʻi he ngāue he fāmá pea ke tokangaʻi ʻa e tamaikí. Neongo ia, naʻe maʻu fakamātoato ʻe homau fāmilí ʻa e moʻoni ʻo e Tohitapú, pea naʻa mau maʻu ʻa e ngaahi fakataha kotoa ʻa e fakatahaʻangá ʻi ha tuʻunga tuʻumaʻu.

ʻI he 1928 ʻi he Fakamanatu ʻo e pekia ʻa Kalaisí, ko ha tuleki naʻe fakakaveinga ko e “Where Are the Nine?” naʻe tufa ia ki he faʻahinga kotoa naʻa nau maʻu iá. Naʻá ne fakamatalaʻi ʻa e Luke 17:​11-​19, ʻa ia ʻoku pehē ai ʻe he Tohitapú ko e toko taha pē ʻi he kau kilia ʻe toko hongofulú naʻe fakamālō anga-fakatōkilalo kia Sīsū ki he fakamoʻui fakaemaná. Naʻe maongo ia ki hoku lotó. Naʻá ku ʻeke hifo kiate au, ‘ʻOku anga-fēfē ʻa ʻeku fakahāhā ʻa e houngaʻiá?’

Koeʻuhi naʻe lele lelei ʻa e ngaahi meʻá ʻi ʻapi he taimi ko ení pea naʻá ku moʻui lelei mo ʻikai ha meʻa ke ne fakafihiaʻi au, naʻá ku fili ai ke mavahe mei ʻapi pea hū ʻo kau ʻi he ngāue tāimuʻá, hangē ko ia ʻoku uiʻaki ʻa e ngāue fakafaifekau taimi-kakató. Naʻe fakalototoʻaʻi au ʻe heʻeku ongo mātuʻá ke fai ia. Ko ia ai, ko hoku hoa ngāué, ko Agnes Aleta, pea mo au naʻá ma maʻu ʻema vāhenga-ngāue, pea ʻi ʻAokosi 28, 1928, naʻá ma heka ai ki ha lēlue ʻi he 9:00 efiafi. Ko kimaua taki taha naʻe ʻi ai ʻema katoleta pē ʻe taha mo ha kiʻi kato takitaki ke faʻo ai ʻema tohi faka-Tohitapú. ʻI he tauʻangá, naʻe fetāngihi ai ʻa hoku ongo tokouá mo ʻeku ongo mātuʻá, pea pehē mo kimaua. Naʻá ku fakakaukau ʻe ʻikai nai te u toe sio kiate kinautolu, koeʻuhi he naʻa mau tui naʻe ofi ʻa ʻĀmaketone. ʻI he pongipongi hono hokó, naʻá ma aʻu ai ki homa vāhenga-ngāué ʻi Brooksville, Kentucky.

Naʻá ma nofo totongi ʻi ha kiʻi loki ʻi ha fale tali fononga pea fakatau mai ʻa e ngaahi kapa sipēketi pea toe ngaahi foki haʻama sanuisi. ʻI he ʻaho taki taha naʻá ma ʻalu ai ʻi ha feituʻu kehekehe, ʻo ngāue tāutaha ʻo tuʻuaki ki he faʻahinga ʻi he ngaahi falé ʻa e seti tohi ʻe nimá ki ha tokoni ko e US$1.98. Naʻe faifai pē ʻo ma ʻosiki ʻa e koló, ʻo fetaulaki ai mo e kakai tokolahi ʻa ia naʻa nau mātuʻaki mahuʻingaʻia ʻi he Tohitapú.

ʻI he māhina nai ʻe tolu, naʻá ma ʻaʻahi ai ki he tokotaha kotoa ʻi Brooksville mo e feituʻu takatakai ʻi aí pea pehē ki Augusta. Ko ia naʻá ma hoko atu ai ke ngāueʻi ʻa e ngaahi kolo ʻo Maysville, Paris, mo Richmond. Lolotonga ʻa e taʻu ʻe tolu hono hokó, naʻá ma ʻosiki ai ʻa e ngaahi feituʻu lahi ʻi Kentucky ʻa ia naʻe ʻikai ha ngaahi fakatahaʻanga ʻi ai. Naʻe faʻa tokoniʻi kimaua ʻe he ngaahi kaumeʻa mo e ngaahi mēmipa ʻo e fāmilí mei Ohio ʻa ia naʻa nau heka mai ʻo kau fakataha mo kimaua ʻi he ngāue fakafaifekaú ʻi ha uike ʻe taha pe lahi ange ai ʻi he taimi ʻe taha.

Ngaahi Fakataha-Lahi Fakangalongataʻa Kehe

Ko e fakataha-lahi ʻi Columbus, Ohio, ʻi Siulai 24-​30, 1931, naʻe fakangalongataʻa moʻoni. Ko e feituʻu ia naʻe fanongonongo mai ai ʻe fakaʻilongaʻiʻaki kimautolu ʻa e hingoa makatuʻunga ʻi he Tohitapú ko e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová. (Aisea 43:12 [Isaia, PM]) Ki muʻa ʻi he meʻa ko iá, ʻi he taimi naʻe ʻeke mai ai ʻe he kakaí pe ko e hā ʻa e lotu naʻá ma kau ki aí, naʻá ma pehē, “Ko e Kau Ako Tohitapu Fakavahaʻapuleʻangá.” Ka naʻe ʻikai moʻoni ke fakafaikehekeheʻi lelei kimautolu ʻe he meʻa ko iá, koeʻuhi he naʻe ʻi ai ʻa e kau ako Tohitapu naʻe feohi mo e ngaahi kulupu lotu lahi kehekehe.

Ko hoku hoa ngāué, ʻa Agnes, naʻe mali ia, pea naʻá ku tokotaha; ko ia ai, naʻá ku loto-māfana ʻi hono fanongonongo ko e faʻahinga ko ia ʻoku nau kumi ha hoa tāimuʻá ke nau fetuʻutaki leva ki ha feituʻu pau. Naʻá ku fetaulaki ai mo Bertha mo Elsie Garty pea mo Bessie Ensminger. Naʻe ʻi ai ʻenau kā ʻe ua pea naʻa nau kumi ki ha tuofefine tāimuʻa hono fā, ke ngāue mo kinautolu. Naʻa mau mavahe fakataha mei he fakataha-lahí, neongo ne teʻeki ai ke mau fetaulaki ki muʻa.

ʻI he faʻahitaʻu māfaná naʻa mau ngāue ai ʻi he vahefonua kotoa ʻo Pennsylvania. Pea ʻi he fakaofiofi mai ʻa e faʻahitaʻu momokó, naʻa mau kole ai ki ha ngaahi vāhenga-ngāue ʻi he ngaahi vahefonua māfana ange ʻo North Carolina, Virginia, mo Maryland. ʻI he faʻahitaʻu failaú naʻa mau foki ai ki he tokelaú. Ko e tuʻunga anga-maheni ia ki he kau tāimuʻá ʻi he taimi ko iá. ʻI he 1934, ko John Booth mo Rudolph Abbuhl, ʻa ia naʻá na muimui ʻi he tuʻunga anga-maheni ko ení, naʻá na ʻave ʻa Ralph Moyer mo hono tokoua siʻi ko Willard ʻo nau ō fakataha ki Hazard, Kentucky.

Naʻá ku fetaulaki mo Ralph ʻi he ngaahi taimi lahi, pea naʻá ma hoko ʻo maheni lelei ange lolotonga ʻa e fuʻu fakataha-lahi ʻi Washington, D.C., naʻe fai ʻi Mē 30–Sune 3, 1935. Naʻá ma tangutu fakataha mo Ralph ʻi he falefakatolo ʻi ʻolungá ʻi he taimi naʻe fakahoko ai ʻa e malangá ʻo kau ki he “fuʻu tokolahi,”  pe fuʻu kakai lahi.” (Fakahā 7:​9-​14) ʻI he taimi ko iá naʻa mau tui ko e faʻahinga ko ia ʻo e fuʻu tokolahí ko e kau mēmipa kinautolu ʻo ha kalasi fakahēvani naʻe siʻi hifo ʻenau anga-tonú ʻi he toko 144,000. (Fakahā 14:​1-3) Ko ia ai, naʻe ʻikai te u loto ke hoko ko ha taha ʻo kinautolu!

ʻI he taimi naʻe fakamatalaʻi ai ʻe Tokoua Rutherford ko e faʻahinga ko ia ʻo e fuʻu tokolahí ko ha kalasi fakaemāmani ia ʻo e kau hao anga-tonu ʻi ʻĀmaketoné, naʻe ofo ai ʻa e tokolahi. Naʻá ne fakaafeʻi leva ʻa e faʻahinga kotoa ko ia ʻo e fuʻu kakai tokolahí ke nau tuʻu hake. Ko ia, naʻe ʻikai te u tuʻu hake, ka naʻe tuʻu hake ʻa Ralph. Ki mui ai, naʻe hoko ʻo toe māʻalaʻala ange ʻa e ngaahi meʻá ʻi hoku ʻatamaí, ko ia ai, ko e taʻu 1935 ʻa e taʻu fakaʻosi ʻo ʻeku maʻu ʻinasi ʻi he mā mo e uaine fakatātaá ʻi he Fakamanatu ʻo e pekia ʻa Kalaisí. Kae kehe, ko e fineʻeikí naʻe hokohoko atu pē ʻa ʻene maʻu ʻinasi aí ʻo aʻu ki heʻene maté ʻi Nōvema 1957.

Ko ha Hoa Ngāue Tuʻumaʻu

Naʻe hokohoko atu ʻa ʻeku fetuʻutaki mo Ralph. Naʻá ku ngāue ʻi Lake Placid, Niu ʻIoke, pea naʻá ne ʻi Pennsylvania. ʻI he 1936 naʻá ne faʻu ai ha kiʻi taulani ʻa ia naʻe lava ke ne toho ʻi heʻene kaá. Naʻá ne toho ia mei Pottstown, Pennsylvania, ki Newark, New Jersey, ki he fakataha-lahi naʻe fai ai ʻi ʻOkatopa 16-18. ʻI he hili ʻa e polokalamá ʻi he efiafi ʻe taha, ko e niʻihi ʻo kimautolu kau tāimuʻá naʻa mau ō ke sio ʻi he taulani foʻou ʻa Ralph. Naʻá ku tuʻu mo ia ʻi he loto taulaní ʻi ha kiʻi veʻe meʻa fufulu ipu naʻe faʻu, ʻi heʻene ʻeke mai, “ʻOkú ke saiʻia he taulaní?”

ʻI heʻeku kamó, naʻá ne ʻeke mai, “ʻOkú ke loto ke ke nofo ai?”

“ʻIo,” ko ʻeku talí ange ia, pea naʻá ne kiʻi ʻuma mai, ʻa ia ʻe ʻikai ʻaupito ke ngalo ʻiate au. ʻI ha ʻaho ʻe ua ki mui ai, naʻá ma maʻu ai ha laiseni mali. ʻI ʻOkatopa 19, ko e ʻaho ia ʻi he hili ʻa e fakataha-lahí, naʻá ma ō ai ki Brooklyn ʻo mamata ʻi he fale ngāue pulusi ʻa e Sōsaieti Taua Leʻó. Pea naʻá ma kole ai ki ha feituʻu vāhenga-ngāue. Ko Grant Suiter naʻá ne tokangaʻi ʻa e feituʻú, pea naʻá ne ʻeke mai pe ko hai te ne ngāueʻi iá. Naʻe tala ange ʻe Ralph, “Te ma fai ia kapau ʻe lava ke ma mali.”

“Kapau te mo foki mai ʻi he 5:00 efiafi, ʻe lava ke tau fokotuʻutuʻu ia,” ko e tali mai ia ʻa Tokoua Suiter. Ko ia ʻi he efiafi ko iá naʻá ma mali ai ʻi ha ʻapi ʻo ha Fakamoʻoni ʻi Brooklyn Heights. Naʻa mau kai ai mo ha ngaahi kaumeʻa ʻi ha falekai he feituʻú peá ma toki heka meʻalele uta pāsese ai ki he taulani ʻa Ralph ʻi Newark, New Jersey.

Taimi nounou ʻi he hili iá, naʻá ma ō ai ki Heathsville, Virginia, ko ʻema ʻuluaki vāhenga-ngāue tāimuʻa fakatahá ia. Naʻá ma ngāueʻi ʻa e Northumberland County peá ma toki hiki ki he ongo feituʻu Fulton mo Franklin ʻi Pennsylvania. ʻI he 1939, naʻe fakaafeʻi ai ʻa Ralph ke ne fai ʻa e ngāue soné, ko ha ngāue ia ʻa ia naʻá ma ʻaʻahi ai ki ha ngaahi fakatahaʻanga ʻi ha tuʻunga vilo takai. Naʻá ma ngāue ʻi he ngaahi fakatahaʻanga ʻi he vahefonua ʻo Tennessee. ʻI he taʻu hono hokó, naʻe fāʻeleʻi ai ʻa homa foha ko Allen, pea ʻi he 1941 naʻe ʻikai ke toe hoko atu ai ʻa e ngāue soné. Naʻe vaheʻi leva ai kimaua ki Marion, Virginia, ko ha ongo tāimuʻa makehe. ʻI he ngaahi ʻaho ko iá, naʻe ʻuhinga iá ko hono fakamoleki ʻa e houa ʻe 200 ʻi he māhina ʻi he ngāue fakafaifekaú.

Ko Hono Fai ʻa e Ngaahi Fengaʻunuʻaki

ʻI he 1943, naʻá ku ʻilo ai naʻe fiemaʻu ke tukuange ʻa e ngāue fakafaifekau tāimuʻa makehé. Ko e nofo  ʻi ha kiʻi taulaní, tokangaʻi ha kiʻi tama, teuteu ʻa e ngaahi houa kaí, tauhi kimautolu kotoa ke mau vala maʻa, mo e fakamoleki ʻo ha houa nai ʻe 60 ʻi he ngāue fakafaifekaú ʻi he māhina taki taha ko e meʻa pē ia naʻe lava ke u faí. Ka naʻe hokohoko atu pē ʻa Ralph ʻa ʻene tāimuʻa makehé.

Naʻa mau hiki ʻo foki ki Alliance, Ohio, ʻi he 1945, ʻo fakatau atu ʻa e taulani naʻa mau ʻapi ai ʻo feʻunga mo e taʻu ʻe hiva, pea mau hiki ki he fale he fāmá mo ʻeku ongo mātuʻá. Naʻe fāʻeleʻi ai, ʻi he falefakatolo ʻi muʻá ʻa homa ʻofefine, ko Rebekah. Naʻe fai ʻe Ralph ha ngāue konga taimi ʻi kolo pea hokohoko atu ko ha tāimuʻa tuʻumaʻu. Naʻá ku ngāue ʻi he fāmá ʻo fai ʻa e meʻa naʻá ku malavá ke tokoniʻi ia ke hokohoko atu ʻi he ngāue tāimuʻá. Neongo naʻe foaki mai ʻe hoku fāmilí kiate kimaua ʻa e kelekele taʻetotongi mo ha fale, naʻe kalo mei ai ʻa Ralph. Naʻá ne loto ke ʻoua ʻe fakafihiaʻi kimaua koeʻuhi ke lava ʻo ma tuli ke toe kakato ange ki he ngaahi meʻa ʻo e Puleʻangá.

ʻI he 1950 naʻa mau toe hiki ai ki Pottstown, Pennsylvania, ʻo nofo totongi ai ʻi ha fale US$25 ʻi he māhina. ʻI he taʻu ʻe 30 hono hokó, naʻe hiki hake ai ʻa e totongí ki he US$75 pē. Naʻá ma ongoʻi naʻe tokoniʻi kimaua ʻe Sihova ke tauhi ʻa ʻema moʻuí ke faingofua. (Mātiu 6:​31-​33) Naʻe ngāue ʻa Ralph ʻi he ʻaho ʻe tolu he uike ko ha tokotaha kosi ʻulu. Naʻá ma ako ai ʻi he uike kotoa pē mo ʻema fānau ʻe toko uá, maʻu ʻa e ngaahi fakataha ʻa e fakatahaʻangá, pea malangaʻi ʻa e ongoongo lelei ʻo e Puleʻangá ʻi he tuʻunga ko ha fāmili. Naʻe ngāue ʻa Ralph ko e ʻovasia tauhi ʻo e fakatahaʻanga fakalotofonuá. ʻI hono tauhi ke faingofua ʻema moʻuí, naʻá ma malava ai ke fai ʻa e meʻa lahi ʻi he ngāue ʻa Sihová.

Mole ʻa Siʻoku Hoá

ʻI Mē 17, 1981, naʻa mau tangutu ai ʻi he Fale Fakatahaʻangá, ʻo fanongo ki ha malanga maʻá e kakaí. Naʻe ongoʻi puke ai ʻa Ralph, ʻo ne lue ki mui ki he holó, ʻo tala ange ki ha tokotaha fakanofonofo ke ne ʻomai kiate au ha nouti ʻo tala mai ai kuó ne ʻalu ki ʻapi. Naʻe mātuʻaki kehe ia mei he tōʻonga ʻa Ralph peá u kole ai ʻa e tokotaha ke ne ʻave au ki ʻapi he taimi pē ko iá. Naʻe mate ʻa Ralph ʻi ha pā kalava lahi ʻi loto ʻi he houa ko iá. ʻI he aʻu ki he ngataʻanga ʻo e ako Taua Leʻo ʻo e pongipongi ko iá, naʻe fanongonongo ai ki he fakatahaʻangá kuó ne hiki atu.

ʻI he māhina ko iá ne ʻosi fakamoleki ʻe Ralph ʻa e houa laka hake ʻi he 50 ʻi he ngāue fakafaifekaú. Ko ʻene ngāue taimi-kakato ʻi he tuʻunga ko ha tāimuʻá naʻe aʻu ia ʻo laka hake he taʻu ʻe 46. Naʻá ne fai ʻa e ngaahi ako Tohitapu ʻo laka hake he kakai ʻe toko teau naʻe faifai pea nau hoko ko e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻosi papitaiso ʻa Sihova. Ko e ngaahi tāpuaki fakalaumālie naʻá ma maʻú naʻe mahuʻinga ʻaupito ia ʻi ha ngaahi feilaulau pē naʻá ma fai ʻi he faai mai ʻa e ngaahi taʻú.

Houngaʻia ʻi Hoku Ngaahi Monuú

ʻI he taʻu ʻe 18 kuo maliu atú, kuó u nofo tokotaha pē, maʻu ʻa e ngaahi fakatahá, malanga ki he niʻihi kehé ʻi heʻeku malavá, mo ako ʻa e Folofola ʻa e ʻOtuá. ʻOku ou nofo he taimí ni ʻi ha ʻapaatimeni mālōlō ki he kau taʻumotuʻá. ʻOku ou maʻu pē ha fanga kiʻi naunau fale siʻi pē pea fili ke ʻoua ʻe ʻi ai ha televīsone. Ka ʻoku kakato ʻa ʻeku moʻuí pea koloaʻia fakalaumālie. Naʻe anga-tonu ʻa ʻeku ongo mātuʻá mo hoku ongo tuongaʻané ʻo aʻu ki heʻenau maté, pea ʻoku hokohoko anga-tonu atu ʻa hoku ongo tokouá ʻi he hala ʻo e moʻoní.

ʻOku ou fiefia he ko hoku fohá, ʻa Allen, ʻoku ngāue ia ko ha tokotaha mātuʻa Kalisitiane. Kuó ne fokotuʻu ʻi he ngaahi taʻu lahi ʻa e ngaahi meʻa fakaongo leʻo-lahi ʻi he Fale Fakatahaʻangá mo e Holo ʻAsemipilií pea ngāue ʻi he fokotuʻu ʻa e meʻa fakaongo leʻo-lahi ki he ngaahi fakataha-lahi ʻi he faʻahitaʻu māfaná. Ko hono uaifí ko ha sevāniti mateaki ia ʻa e ʻOtuá, pea ʻoku ngāue ʻa hona ongo foha ʻe toko uá ko e ongo mātuʻa. Ko ʻeku taʻahiné, ʻa Rebekah Karres, kuó ne fakamoleki ʻa e taʻu laka hake ʻi he 35 ʻi he ngāue fakafaifekau taimi-kakató, ʻo kau ai ʻa e taʻu ʻe fā ʻi he ʻuluʻiʻōfisi ʻo e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová ʻi he māmaní ʻi Brooklyn. Ko ia mo hono husepānití kuó na fakamoleki ʻa e taʻu ʻe 25 kuohilí ʻi he ngāue fefonongaʻakí ʻi he ngaahi tapa kehekehe ʻo e ʻIunaite Seteté.

Naʻe pehē ʻe Sīsū ko e Puleʻangá ʻoku hangē ia ha koloa fufū ʻa ia ʻe lava ke maʻu. (Mātiu 13:44) ʻOku ou fakamālō ʻi hono maʻu ʻe hoku fāmilí ʻa e koloa ko iá ʻi he ngaahi taʻu lahi kuohilí. Ko ha monū ē ke sio atu ki he taʻu laka hake he 80 ʻo e ngāue fakatapui ki he ʻOtuá​—ʻo ʻikai ha ngaahi fakaʻiseʻisa! Kapau ʻe lava ke u toe moʻui, te u moʻuiʻaki ia ʻi he founga tatau koeʻuhi, ko e moʻoni, ‘ʻoku mahuʻinga ange ʻa e ʻofa ʻa e ʻOtuá ʻi he moʻuí ni.’​—Sāme 63:3.

[Fakamatala ʻi lalo]

[Fakatātā ʻi he peesi 23]

Naʻá ma fanongo ʻi he malanga ʻa Tokoua Rutherford ʻi he 1917 ʻi Alliance, Ohio

[Fakatātā ʻi he peesi 23]

Mo Ralph ʻi muʻa he taulani naʻá ne faʻú

[Fakatātā ʻi he peesi 24]

Mo ʻeku ongo tamaikí he ʻahó ni