Kristofoi Agboshinii Ko Ni Efɔɔɔ Kaa

TAAKƐ BLOSSOM BRANDT GBA

Snoo nɛ yɛ San Antonio, yɛ Texas, yɛ January 17, 1923, ni ji gbi nɔ ni afɔ mi lɛ. Fɛ̃i miiye yɛ agbo lɛ naa, shi ahere mi atuu awo fɔlɔi Kristofoi ni yɔɔ suɔmɔ, Judge kɛ Helen Norris niji ni yɔɔ kulɔkulɔ lɛ amli. Kɛjɛ migbekɛbiiashi nibii ni mikaiɔ lɛ amli tɔ̃ɔ lɛ, nɔ fɛɛ nɔ ni mifɔlɔi feɔ lɛ damɔ jamɔ ni amɛkɛhaa Yehowa Nyɔŋmɔ lɛ nɔ.

YƐ 1910 beni Awo eye afii kpaanyɔ lɛ, efɔlɔi fa kɛjɛ Pittsburgh masɛi, yɛ Pennsylvania, kɛtee ŋmɔ ko mli yɛ Alvin klotia, yɛ Texas. Jɛmɛ amɛna miishɛɛ waa yɛ akɛ amɛaakase Biblia mli anɔkwale lɛ yɛ amɛnaanyo ko ŋɔɔ. Awo ye ewala be ni eshwɛ lɛ fɛɛ ni eebɔ mɔdɛŋ ni etee mɛi amiishɛɛ shi yɛ Maŋtsɛyeli hiɛnɔkamɔ lɛ he. Abaptisi lɛ yɛ 1912, beni weku lɛ efa kɛtee Houston, yɛ Texas lɛ sɛɛ.

Awo kɛ efɔlɔi kɛ Charles T. Russell, ni ji Buu Mɔɔ Biblia kɛ Woji Bibii Asafo lɛ klɛŋklɛŋ sɛinɔtalɔ lɛ kpe klɛŋklɛŋ kwraa beni ebasara amɛ asafo lɛ yɛ Houston lɛ. Weku lɛ fɔɔ Asafo lɛ najiaŋdamɔlɔi gbɛfalɔi, ni no mli lɛ atsɛɔ amɛ shiɛmɔ he gbɛfalɔi lɛ ahiɛmɛɛ heremɔ yɛ amɛshia lɛ mli. Afii fioo sɛɛ lɛ, Awo kɛ efɔlɔi fã kɛtee Chicago, yɛ Illinois, ni Nyɛminuu Russell ba ebasara asafo ni yɔɔ jɛmɛ lɛ hu.

Yɛ 1918 mli lɛ, Minaa ná Spanish flu hela lɛ eko, ni yɛ bɔ ni eha egbɔmɔtsoŋ hewalɛ nɔ gbɔ eha lɛ hewɔ lɛ, datrɛfoi wie akɛ esa akɛ ehi he ko ní kɔɔyɔŋ tsakemɔ lɛ yɔɔ kulɔɔ. Akɛni Minii tsuɔ nii ehaa Pullman oketeke nitsumɔ he lɛ hewɔ lɛ, yɛ 1919 mli lɛ, asaa ajie lɛ ekoŋŋ kɛku sɛɛ kɛtee Texas. Jɛmɛ, yɛ San Antonio, ni Awo kɛ obalanyo ekaalɔ ko, ni yɔɔ asafo lɛ mli ni atsɛɔ lɛ Judge Norris lɛ kpe. Amɛna amɛhe miishɛɛ amrɔ nɔŋŋ, ni yɛ be ko sɛɛ lɛ, amɛbote gbalashihilɛ mli, ni Judge batsɔ mitsɛ.

Ataa Kase Biblia Mli Anɔkwale Lɛ

Aha Judge (Kojolɔ) egbɛi ni ekaaa nɛɛ yɛ efɔmɔ mli. Beni etsɛ na lɛ klɛŋklɛŋ kwraa lɛ, ewie akɛ: “Abifao nɛɛ he jɔ waa tamɔ kojolɔ,” ni no batsɔ egbɛi. Yɛ 1917 mli, beni Ataa eye afii 16 lɛ, aha lɛ Nɛgbɛ Gbohii lɛ Yɔɔ? kɛ Mɛni Ji Susuma Lɛ? dɛhiɛmɔ woji ni Buu Mɔɔ Biblia kɛ Woji Bibii Asafo lɛ kala lɛ eko. Ataa tsɛ gbo aaafee afii enyɔ ni etsɔ hiɛ lɛ, ni dɛhiɛmɔ woji lɛ kɛ hetooi ní etaoɔ yɛ shihilɛ mli ni gbohii lɛ yɔɔ lɛ he lɛ ha lɛ. No sɛɛ be fioo ko lɛ, ebɔi Biblia Kaselɔi, taakɛ atsɛɔ Yehowa Odasefoi yɛ nakai beaŋ lɛ, akpee yaa.

Ataa miisumɔ amrɔ nɔŋŋ ni ekɛ ehe awo asafo lɛ nifeemɔi amli. Eha aha lɛ shikpɔŋ kuku ni ebaanyɛ eshiɛ yɛ mli, ni kɛ ekpa skul lɛ, etaa ebaisikle nɔ kɛyaa jɛmɛ ni eyajaa dɛhiɛmɔ woji. Ekɛ ehe fɛɛ wo Maŋtsɛyeli hiɛnɔkamɔ lɛ he wiemɔ mli jogbaŋŋ, ni yɛ March 24, 1918 lɛ, efee ehenɔjɔɔmɔ kɛha Yehowa lɛ he okadi kɛtsɔ nu mli baptisimɔ nɔ.

Enɔ afi beni Awo fa kɛtee San Antonio lɛ, Ataa ná nɔ ni ewie ehe akɛ “ŋmɔlɔ ni yɔɔ miishɛɛ kɛ hiŋmɛii ni yɔɔ fɛo” fe fɛɛ ni ena da lɛ he miishɛɛ. Etsɛɛɛ kɛkɛ ni amɛha ale akɛ amɛmiitao amɛbote gbalashihilɛ mli, shi etɔ amɛ waa dani amɛnyɛ amɛkɔne Awo fɔlɔi ayiŋ ni amɛkpɛlɛ nɔ. Kɛlɛ, yɛ April 15, 1921 lɛ, afee yookpeemɔ lɛ. Mɛi enyɔ lɛ fɛɛ kɛ be-fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ efee oti ni ma amɛhiɛ.

Shishijee Mra yɛ Sɔɔmɔ Nitsumɔ lɛ Mli

Beni Awo kɛ Ataa hiɛ edɔ ni amɛtoɔ gbɛjianɔ ni amɛya Cedar Point, Ohio, kpee lɛ yɛ 1922 mli lɛ, amɛyoo akɛ Awo hiɛ mi musu. Mifɔmɔ sɛɛ etsɛɛɛ, beni Ataa eye afii 22 pɛ lɛ, ahala lɛ akɛ asafo lɛ sɔɔmɔ nɔkwɛlɔ. Enɛ tsɔɔ akɛ lɛ ji mɔ ni toɔ shiɛmɔyaa fɛɛ he gbɛjianɔ. Beni afɔ mi lɛ sɛɛ otsii fioo ko lɛ, Awo kɛ mi bɔi kpojee yɛ shia-kɛ-shia sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Anɔkwale sane ji akɛ, minaa kɛ minii hu sumɔɔ ni mifata amɛhe yɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli.

Beni miye afii enyɔ pɛ lɛ, mifɔlɔi fã kɛyahi Dallas, yɛ Texas, ni amɛje be-fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ shishi akɛ gbɛgbalɔi yɛ afii etɛ sɛɛ. Kɛ je na lɛ, amɛwɔɔ saatso bibioo ko nɔ yɛ gbɛ lɛ he ni amɛkɛ mi fɔ̃ɔ kar lɛ sɛɛ sɛi lɛ nɔ. Yɛ anɔkwale mli lɛ, misusu akɛ enɛ yɛ miishɛɛ waa, shi etsɛɛɛ ni ebafee faŋŋ akɛ amɛfeko klalo kɛhako gbɛgbalɔi ashihilɛ yɛ nakai beaŋ. No hewɔ lɛ Ataa je nitsumɔ ko shishi. Yɛ be ko sɛɛ lɛ, efee tsu ni akɛkpɛtɛɔ tsɔne sɛɛ lɛ eko ni ekɛsaa ehe kɛha gbɛgbamɔ lɛ shishijee ekoŋŋ.

Dani maje skul shishi lɛ, Awo tsɔɔ mi nikanemɔ kɛ niŋmaa, ni mile bɔ ni akɛ yibɔi bɔɔ he lɛ he akɔntaabuu kɛyashi ejwɛ. Nɔ ni ejwɛŋmɔ yɔɔ nɔ daa ji ni eye ebua mi ni makase nii. Ewoɔ mi edamɔɔ sɛi nɔ yɛ emasɛi ni mitsumɔɔ tsɛŋsii amli beni eshaa mli lɛ, ni etsɔɔ mi ŋmalɛi ni mikaseɔ miwoɔ miyitsoŋ, kɛ Maŋtsɛyeli lalai, loo sɔlemɔ lalai taakɛ wɔtsɛɔ amɛ lɛ lamɔ.

Mikɛ Mifɔlɔi Sɔmɔ Nyɔŋmɔ

Yɛ 1931 mli lɛ, wɔ fɛɛ wɔtee kpee ni afee kɛ miishɛɛ yɛ Columbus, Ohio lɛ eko, ni jɛmɛ wɔŋɔ gbɛi Yehowa Odasefoi lɛ yɛ. Eyɛ mli akɛ no mli lɛ miye afii kpaanyɔ pɛ moŋ, shi misusu akɛ no ji gbɛi ni ŋɔɔ fe fɛɛ ni minu dã. Beni wɔku wɔsɛɛ wɔba shia etsɛɛɛ nɔŋŋ lɛ, Ataa nitsumɔ lɛ fɛɛ shã butuu, ni Ataa kɛ Awo ŋɔ enɛ akɛ “Nuŋtsɔ lɛ suɔmɔnaa nii” akɛ amɛje gbɛgbamɔ shishi ekoŋŋ. Enɛ hewɔ lɛ, kɛjɛ 1932 latsaa be lɛ shishijee mli lɛ, wɔna afii babaoo mli ŋɔɔmɔ yɛ be-fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ lɛ mli.

Mifɔlɔi fee gbɛgbalɔi yɛ Texas maŋ lɛŋ diɛŋtsɛ koni amɛhi Awo fɔlɔi, ni yɔɔ San Antonio lolo lɛ masɛi. Gbɛfaa kɛmiijɛ nitsumɔ kome mli kɛmiiya ekroko mli lɛ tsɔɔ akɛ esa akɛ matsake skul be fɛɛ be. Bei komɛi lɛ, nanemɛi ni susuuu nii ahe lɛ kɛɔ akɛ, “Mɛni hewɔ nyɛtaooo he kome ni nyɛhi jɛmɛ, ni nyɛna shia kpakpa nyɛha nakai gbekɛ lɛ,” tamɔ nɔ ni akwɛɛɛ mi jogbaŋŋ. Shi misusu akɛ wɔshihilɛ yɛ miishɛɛ, ni miiye miibua Ataa kɛ Awo yɛ amɛsɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Yɛ anɔkwale mli lɛ, aatsɔse mi ni aasaa mi kɛha nɔ ni baatsɔ mi diɛŋtsɛ mishihilɛ gbɛ yɛ sɛɛ mli lɛ.

Mikɛ nyɔji babaoo kɛɛ Ataa kɛ Awo akɛ miitao ni abaptisi mi, ni amɛkɛ mi fɔɔ he wiemɔ yɛ be kɛ bei amli. Amɛmiitao amɛle kɛ mile bɔ ni hiɛdɔɔ yɔɔ miyiŋkpɛɛ lɛ he ha. Yɛ December 31, 1934 lɛ, gbi lɛ bashɛ kɛha nɛkɛ nifeemɔ krɛdɛɛ nɛɛ yɛ mishihilɛ mli. Shi, gbi ni tsɔ hiɛ lɛ, Ataa ha mikɛ sane lɛ fɔ Yehowa hiɛ yɛ sɔlemɔ mli. Kɛkɛ ni efee nɔ ko ni sa jogbaŋŋ. Eha wɔ fɛɛ wɔkula shi, ni esɔle. Ekɛɛ Yehowa akɛ ena miishɛɛ waa yɛ ebiyoo fioo nɛɛ yiŋ ni ekpɛ akɛ ebaajɔɔ ewala nɔ eha Lɛ lɛ hewɔ. Bo diɛŋtsɛ obaana akɛ mihiɛ kpaŋ nakai gbɛkɛ lɛ nɔ kɔkɔɔkɔ, yɛ yinɔi fɛɛ ni baaba lɛ mli!

Tsɔsemɔ ni Mina kɛjɛ Minaa kɛ Minii Dɛŋ

Yɛ 1928 kɛyashi 1938 mli fɛɛ lɛ, mikɛ be babaoo yasara minaa kɛ minii yɛ San Antonio. Nibii ni mifeɔ daa yɛ amɛŋɔɔ lɛ tamɔ nɔ ni mikɛ mifɔlɔi feɔ lɛ nɔŋŋ. Minaa kɛ ehe wo colporteur sɔɔmɔ lɛ mli, taakɛ amɛtsɛɔ gbɛgbalɔi yɛ nakai beaŋ lɛ, ni no sɛɛ lɛ ebatsɔ be-fã gbɛgbalɔ. Ahala minii akɛ gbɛgbalɔ yɛ December 1929 mli, no hewɔ lɛ shiɛmɔyaa bafee wɔ daa gbi nifeemɔ.

Minii woɔ mi ni ehiɛɔ mi yɛ edɛŋ gbɛkɛ ni etsɔɔ mi ŋulamii lɛ agbɛi. Ekɛɔ lalafoo wiemɔi etsɔɔ mi kɛjɛɔ ejwɛŋmɔ mli. Mikɛ lɛ fa gbɛ shii abɔ yɛ Pullmans oketekei lɛ amli beni etsuɔ nii yɛ oketeke nitsumɔ he lɛ. Eji mɔ ko ni minyɛɔ mibɛŋkɛɔ lɛ be fɛɛ be ni minaa naagba ko; eshɛjeɔ mimii ni etsumɔɔ mihiɛ yaafo nui. Shi kɛlɛ, kɛ ayi mi loo atsɔse mi yɛ efɔŋ ko ni mifee hewɔ ni mitee eŋɔɔ ni eshɛje mimii lɛ, ewieɔ (wiemɔi ni minuuu shishi yɛ nakai beaŋ, shi nɔ ni etsɔɔ lɛ mli ka shi faŋŋ) akɛ: “Misuɔlɔ, kɛ mɔ ko fee efɔŋ lɛ, enaa toigbalamɔ yɛ he.”

Yiwaa ni Ba Afii Babaoo

Yɛ 1939 mli lɛ, Jeŋ Ta II je shishi, ni yiwaa kɛ kui abasabasa feemɔ ba Yehowa webii anɔ. Yɛ afi 1939 naagbee gbɛ lɛ, hela mɔ Awo waa, ni yɛ naagbee lɛ opireshɛn he bahia, no hewɔ lɛ wɔku wɔsɛɛ kɛtee San Antonio ekoŋŋ.

Kɛ wɔkɛ woji tɛtrɛbii miiha yɛ gbɛjegbɛi anɔ yɛ San Antonio lɛ, kɛkɛ lɛ basabasa feelɔi eba jɛmɛ. Shi daa otsi lɛ, wɔyaa jɛmɛ akɛ weku, ni mɔ fɛɛ mɔ damɔɔ koŋ ni aha lɛ. Bei pii lɛ, midamɔɔ shi mikwɛɔ ni amɔɔ Ataa ni akɛ lɛ yaa polisifoi anitsumɔ he.

Ataa bɔ mɔdɛŋ ni etsa gbɛgbamɔ lɛ nɔ, shi kɛlɛ ehe bahia ni Awo akpa. Shi, Ataa nyɛɛɛ ana shika bɔ ni fa yɛ ebe-fã nitsumɔ lɛ mli, no hewɔ lɛ ebalɛ akɛ esa akɛ lɛ hu ekpa. Migbe skul naa yɛ 1939 mli, ni mi hu mibɔi nitsumɔ.

Ataa gbɛi Judge (Kojolɔ) lɛ he ba sɛɛnamɔ waa yɛ nakai afii lɛ amli. Akɛ nɔkwɛmɔ nɔ lɛ, nyɛmimɛi akuu ko tee odaseyeli yɛ maŋ ko mli yɛ San Antonio kooyigbɛ nɔŋŋ, ni nakai maŋ lɛ nɔkwɛlɔ lɛ ha amɔmɔ amɛ fɛɛ awo tsuŋ. Eha amɔmɔ mɛi aaashɛ 35 sɔŋŋ, ni minaa kɛ minii fata he. Amɛtsu ni abakɛɛ Ataa, kɛkɛ ni ewo tsɔne ni etee jɛmɛ. Etee maŋ nɔkwɛlɔ lɛ nitsumɔ he lɛ tɔ̃ɔ ni eyakɛɛ: “Atsɛɔ mi Judge Norris, ni mijɛ San Antonio.”

Ni maŋ onukpa lɛ bi lɛ akɛ: “Ofainɛ, Minuŋtsɔ, Kojolɔ, ani nɔ ko yɛ ni mafee maha bo?”

Ataa jie lɛ naa akɛ: “Miba ní mibakwɛ ni ajie gbɔmɛi nɛɛ fɛɛ kɛjɛ tsuŋ.” Kɛkɛ ni maŋ onukpa lɛ jie amɛ ni ebiii ni mɔ ko adamɔ amɛsɛɛ po​—ni ebiii amɛ nɔ ko hu dɔŋŋ!

Ataa sumɔɔ ni eye odase yɛ maŋ lɛŋ nitsumɔ he tsũi ni yɔɔ shɔŋŋ lɛ amli, ni esumɔɔ ni eya kojolɔi kɛ mlalelɔi aŋɔɔ titri. Ekɛɔ mɛi ni hereɔ gbɔi ahiɛmɛɛ lɛ akɛ: “Atsɛɔ mi Kojolɔ Norris, ni miba ni mibana Kojolɔ Ashimashi.”

Kɛkɛ lɛ, kɛ ekɛ kojolɔ lɛ kpe lɛ, ekɛɔ klɛŋklɛŋ akɛ: “Agbɛnɛ, dani mawie yiŋtoo hewɔ ni miba oŋɔɔ lɛ he lɛ, miitao magbala mli matsɔɔ bo akɛ Kojolɔ ji mi be babaoo fe bo. Kojolɔ ji mi miwala gbii abɔ fɛɛ.” Kɛkɛ lɛ etsɔɔ lɛ bɔ ni fee ni ena egbɛi lɛ. No haa amɛbɔiɔ sanegbaa kɛ naanyobɔɔ su, ni ekɛ kojolɔi ni yɔɔ nakai beaŋ lɛ ná wekukpaa kpakpa waa.

Midaa Shi yɛ Mifɔlɔi Agbɛtsɔɔmɔ He

Miyɛ obalaŋtaiaŋ jaramɔ afii lɛ amli, ni mile akɛ Ataa kɛ Awo haoɔ waa yɛ be kɛ bei amli beni amɛkwɛɔ mi ni amɛsusuɔ nɔ ni mafee ekoŋŋ he lɛ. Taakɛ gbekɛbii fɛɛ feɔ lɛ, mika Ataa kɛ Awo shii abɔ, ni mibiɔ amɛ akɛ miitao mafee nɔ ko loo maya he ko ni mile momo kɛtsɔ hiɛ akɛ hetoo ni amɛbaaha mi ji dabi. Bei komɛi lɛ amɛfoɔ. Yɛ anɔkwale mli lɛ, eji amɛkɛɛ mi yɛ be ko mli akɛ: “Yaa ni oyafee nɔ ni osumɔɔ. Jeee wɔhe sane ko” kulɛ, ebaagba minaa waa diɛŋtsɛ.

Akɛni mile akɛ minyɛŋ mana amɛnɔ hewalɛ ni amɛtsake amɛmlai hewɔ lɛ, eha minu he akɛ miyɛ shweshweeshwe. Yɛ anɔkwale mli lɛ, enɛ ha efee mlɛo kwraa kɛha mi, kɛ obalaŋtai krokomɛi miiwo ŋaa kɛha hiɛtserɛjiemɔ gbonyo, ejaakɛ minyɛɔ mikɛɔ akɛ: “Mitsɛ eŋmɛŋ mi gbɛ.” Beni miye afii 16, Ataa kwɛ ní etsɔɔ mi tsɔne kudɔmɔ ni mina tsɔne kudɔmɔ gbɛŋmɛɛ wolo hu. Agbɛnɛ, aaafee be nɛɛ mli lɛ, eha mi shia samfele lɛ eko. Eŋɔɔ minaa waa akɛ eheɔ mi eyeɔ. Minu he akɛ mida, ni eha minu he akɛ manyɛ matsu gbɛnaa nii ahe nii, ni esaaa akɛ mifiteɔ hekɛnɔfɔɔ ni amɛyɔɔ yɛ mimli lɛ.

Yɛ nakai beaŋ lɛ, akɛ ŋmalɛ naa ŋaawoo babaoo haaa yɛ gbalashihilɛ he, shi Ataa le Biblia lɛ kɛ nɔ ni ewie yɛ gbalashihilɛ mlibotemɔ “yɛ Nuŋtsɔ lɛ mli” lɛ he. (1 Korintobii 7:39) Eha efee faŋŋ kɛha mi akɛ kɛji mikɛ je lɛŋ obalanyo ko batsɔɔ amɛ, aloo mina amɛteŋ mɔ ko he miishɛɛ lɛ, maha enijiaŋ aje wui waa. Mile akɛ nɔ ni ekɛɔ nɛɛ ja, ejaakɛ mina miishɛɛ kɛ ekomefeemɔ ni yɔɔ amɛgbalashihilɛ lɛ mli akɛni amɛbote mli “yɛ Nuŋtsɔ lɛ mli” lɛ hewɔ.

Yɛ 1941, beni miye afii 18 lɛ, mina obalanyo ko yɛ asafo lɛ mli ni misusu akɛ misumɔɔ esane waa. Eji gbɛgbalɔ ni eekase nii koni etsɔ mlalelɔ. Mina miishɛɛ waa. Beni wɔkɛɛ mifɔlɔi akɛ wɔmiitao wɔbote gbalashihilɛ mli lɛ, ni amɛaatsɔɔ akɛ amɛkpɛlɛɛɛ aloo amɛnijiaŋ eje wui lɛ, amɛkɛɛ kɛkɛ akɛ: “Wɔbaasumɔ ni wɔbi nɔ kome pɛ yɛ odɛŋ, Blossom. Wɔnuɔ he akɛ odako bɔ ni sa, ni wɔbaasumɔ ni wɔkɛɛ bo ni omɛ kɛyashi afi. Kɛji nyɛsumɔɔ nyɛhe lɛlɛŋ lɛ, no lɛ afi ni nyɛkɛbaamɛ lɛ efeŋ nɔ ko.”

Miida amɛ shi waa akɛ mibo nakai ŋaawoo ni nilee yɔɔ mli lɛ toi. Yɛ afi mli lɛ, mida saŋŋ ni mibɔi namɔ akɛ nɛkɛ obalanyo nɛɛ bɛ sui ni baaha efee gbalashihilɛ mli hefatalɔ kpakpa kɛha mi. Yɛ naagbee lɛ, eshi asafo lɛ, ni mije nɔ ni kulɛ ebaafee oshara yɛ mishihilɛ mli lɛ mli. Kwɛ bɔ ni ehi waa akɛ aaana fɔlɔi ni le nii, ni abaanyɛ akɛ he afɔ amɛsusumɔi anɔ!

Gbalashihilɛ kɛ Gbɛfaa Nitsumɔ Lɛ

Yɛ afi 1946 fɛ̃i be mli, beni mikɛ afii ekpaa efee gbɛgbalɔ ni miitsu nii kɛ be-fa sɛɛ lɛ, obalanyo fɛfɛo fe fɛɛ ni mikɛkpe da ba wɔ Maŋtsɛyeli Asa lɛ nɔ. Ahã Gene Brandt nitsumɔ akɛ wɔ nɔkwɛlɔ gbɛfalɔ ni saraa nyɛmimɛi lɛ hefatalɔ, taakɛ atsɛɔ kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔ lɛ yɛ nakai beaŋ lɛ. Wɔyi enyɔ lɛ fɛɛ wɔna wɔhe miishɛɛ, ni yɛ August 5, 1947 lɛ, wɔbote gbalashihilɛ mli.

No sɛɛ etsɛɛɛ lɛ, Ataa kɛ Gene gbele shika he akɔntaabuu nitsumɔ ko. Shi Ataa kɛɛ Gene akɛ: “Gbi ní nitsumɔ he nɛɛ baatsi wɔ kpeeyaa loo teokrase nitsumɔ ko naa lɛ, nakai gbi lɛ nɔŋŋ lɛ, maŋa nitsumɔ lɛ kwraa.” Yehowa jɔɔ nɛkɛ mumɔŋ susumɔ nɛɛ nɔ, ni nitsumɔ he lɛ ha wɔna wɔheloo naa hiamɔ nii bɔ ni sa, ni eŋmɛ gbɛ kɛha gbɛgbamɔ hu. Ataa kɛ Gene ji nitsulɔi kpakpai waa, ni kulɛ ewaŋ kwraa akɛ wɔɔna nii babaoo, shi jeee enɛ ji oti ni amɛkɛma amɛhiɛ.

Yɛ 1954 mli lɛ, afɔ̃ Gene nine kɛha kpokpaa nɔ nitsumɔ lɛ, ni enɛ bafee tsakemɔ wulu ko yɛ wɔshihilɛ mli. Te mifɔlɔi baafee yɛ he tɛŋŋ? Shikome ekoŋŋ lɛ, jeee amɛ diɛŋtsɛ amɛhe amɛsusuɔ, shi moŋ Nyɔŋmɔ Maŋtsɛyeli lɛ he nibii kɛ amɛbii lɛ amumɔŋ shihilɛ kpakpa. Amɛkɛɛɛ wɔ kɔkɔɔkɔ akɛ: “Mɛni hewɔ nyɛfɔɔɔ ni wɔna nabii?” Shi moŋ, nɔ ni amɛkɛɔ ji: “Mɛni wɔbaanyɛ wɔfee ni wɔkɛye wɔbua nyɛ yɛ be-fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ lɛ mli?”

No hewɔ lɛ beni gbi ni wɔbaaya lɛ shɛ lɛ, ekaawoo wiemɔi kɛ miishɛɛ sɔŋŋ ji nɔ ni ajie lɛ kpo yɛ wɔhegbɛ kpele nɛɛ he. Amɛhaaa wɔnu he kɔkɔɔkɔ akɛ wɔmiikpoo amɛ, shi moŋ amɛfi wɔsɛɛ jogbaŋŋ kɛmɔ shi. Beni wɔshi wɔtee lɛ, amɛkɛ amɛbe fɛɛ wo gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli ekoŋŋ afii nyɔŋma sɔŋŋ. Ahala Ataa akɛ maŋtiase nɔkwɛlɔ kɛha San Antonio, ni esɔmɔ yɛ gbɛhe nɛɛ mli afii 30 sɔŋŋ. Ena miishɛɛ waa akɛ eeena shweremɔ kɛjɛ asafo kome yɛ maŋtiase lɛ mli yɛ 1920 afii lɛ amli kɛyashɛ asafoi 71 dani egbo yɛ 1991 mli.

Yɛ mikɛ Gene gbɛfaŋ lɛ, wɔshihilɛ eyi kɛ miishɛɛ sɔŋŋ. Wɔna miishɛɛ kpele akɛ wɔɔsɔmɔ wɔsuɔmɔ nyɛmimɛi hii kɛ yei yɛ maji fe 31 mli, ni ekolɛ nɔ ni ŋɔɔ wɔnaa fe fɛɛ ji hegbɛ ni wɔna akɛ wɔya Buu Mɔɔ Biblia Gilead Skul lɛ klas ni ji 29 lɛ yɛ afi 1957 mli. Sɛɛ mli lɛ, wɔku wɔsɛɛ kɛtee gbɛfaa nitsumɔ lɛ mli ekoŋŋ. Yɛ 1984, beni wɔhi kpokpaa kɛ kpokpaa wulu nɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli afii 30 sɛɛ lɛ, Asafo lɛ kɛ mlihilɛ ha Gene kpokpaa nɔ nitsumɔ yɛ San Antonio, ejaakɛ wɔfɔlɔi eye afii 80 kɛyaa, ni amɛbɛ gbɔmɔtsoŋ hewalɛ kpakpa hu.

Wɔfɔlɔi Akwɛmɔ

Beni wɔku wɔsɛɛ kɛtee San Antonio lɛ sɛɛ afi kɛ fa pɛ kɛkɛ ni Awo tɔ mu fa-kɛ-fa, ni egbo. Ebalɛ trukaa akɛ ehaaa manyɛ makɛɛ lɛ nibii ni mitaoɔ makɛɛ lɛ lɛ ekomɛi. Enɛ tsɔɔ mi nii, ni ehaa mikɛ Ataa wieɔ babaoo. Yɛ gbalashihilɛ afii 65 sɛɛ lɛ, ehiɛ tseɔ Awo waa, shi wɔhiɔ jɛmɛ ni wɔjie suɔmɔ kɛ sɛɛfimɔ kpo wɔtsɔɔ lɛ.

Ataa nɔkwɛmɔ nɔ ni efee yɛ ewala beaŋ fɛɛ yɛ Kristofoi akpeeyaa, nikasemɔ, kɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ he lɛ tsa nɔ aahu kɛyashi egbo. Esumɔɔ nikanemɔ. Akɛni eshwɛɔ ekome pɛ kɛ wɔtee shiɛmɔ hewɔ lɛ, kɛ miba shia lɛ, mibiɔ lɛ akɛ, “Ani ohe fee shoo?” Ekɛ ebe fɛɛ kaneɔ nii ni ekɛkaseɔ nii hu, no hewɔ lɛ ejwɛŋmɔ baaa nɔ po akɛ ehe efee shoo.

Su kroko hu yɛ ni wɔhiɛ mli aahu wɔwala bei abɔ fɛɛ. Ataa kɛɔ daa nɛɛ akɛ esa akɛ weku lɛ aye nii kutuu, titri lɛ leebi niyeli, ni wɔkɛsusu daa gbi Ŋmalɛ lɛ he. Beni midako lɛ, aŋmɛɛɛ mi gbɛ ni mashi shia kɛji wɔkwɛko ŋmalɛ lɛ. Bei komɛi lɛ, mikɛɔ akɛ: “Shi Ataa, makpe sɛɛ kɛya skul (aloo kɛya nitsumɔ).”

“Jeee daa gbi ŋmalɛ lɛ haa okpeɔ sɛɛ lɛ; bo ni oteee shi oya,” nakai ji bɔ ni ekɛɔ. Ehaa mihiɔ shi ni miboɔ toi dani miyaa. Ekwɛ ni nɛkɛ nɔkwɛmɔ nɔ kpakpa nɛɛ hi shi aahu kɛyashi ewala naagbee beaŋ tɔ̃ɔ. Gboshinii kroko hu ni eshi eha mi nɛ.

Ataa jwɛŋmɔ naa wa aahu kɛyashi egbele mli tɔ̃ɔ. Nɔ ni ha ekwɛmɔ fee mlɛo kwraa ji akɛ emli fuuu aloo ewieee nii ahe. Oo, bei komɛi lɛ etsiɔ etalɔiaŋ hela lɛ tã, shi mikaiɔ lɛ akɛ hela diɛŋtsɛ ni gbaa enaa lɛ ji “Adamitis,” ni ji gbɔlɛ kɛ ehe helai ni wɔna kɛjɛ Adam mli lɛ, ni eŋmɔɔ waa. Mikɛ Gene fɛɛ tara emasɛi nɔŋŋ, kɛkɛ ni Ataa yawɔ dioo yɛ gbele mli yɛ November 30, 1991 leebi mli.

Amrɔ nɛɛ miye fe afii 70, ni miina nɔkwɛmɔ nɔ kpakpa ni mifɔlɔi Kristofoi ni yɔɔ suɔmɔ lɛ fee amɛha mi lɛ he sɛɛ. Ni eji misɔlemɔ ni mli wa akɛ majie mihiɛsɔɔ fɛɛ kpo yɛ nɛkɛ gboshinii nɛɛ he, kɛtsɔ ekɛ nitsumɔ yɛ gbɛ kpakpa nɔ, yɛ yinɔi fɛɛ ni baaba lɛ amli.​—Lala 71: 17, 18.

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 5]

Awo kɛ mi

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 7]

1. Mi-klɛŋklɛŋ kpee: San Marcos, Texas, September 1923

2. Ataa naagbee kpee: Fort Worth, Texas, June 1991 (Ataa ta shi Iɛ)

[Mfoniri ni yɔɔ baafa 9]

Gene kɛ Blossom Brandt