Wala Shihilɛ He Sane

Shihilɛ ni kɛ Nibii ni Yɔɔ Naakpɛɛ Ba yɛ Yehowa Sɔɔmɔ lɛ Mli

TAAKƐ ERIC KƐ HAZEL BEVERIDGE GBA

“Miiha ole akɛ obaawɔ tsuŋ nyɔji ekpaa.” Yɛ be mli ni mikaiɔ nɛkɛ wiemɔi nɛɛ shii abɔ lɛ, akɛ mi tee Strangeways Prison yɛ Manchester, England. Nɛkɛ be nɛɛ ji December 1950, beni miye afii 19 lɛ. No mli lɛ mikɛ miblahiiaŋ kaai ni mli wa fe fɛɛ lɛ ateŋ ekome kpe etsɛko—no mli lɛ mihaaa agbala mi awo asraafoi anitsumɔ mli.—2 Korintobii 10:3-5.

NO MLI lɛ, Yehowa Odasefoi be-fɛɛ sɔɔlɔ gbɛgbalɔ ji mi, nɔ ni tsɔɔ akɛ, kulɛ esaaa akɛ ahaa mikɛ mihe woɔ asraafoi anitsumɔ mli, shi Britain mla ekpɛlɛɛɛ wɔnɔ akɛ shiɛlɔi. No hewɔ lɛ, amɔ mikome too ayawo tsuŋ. Ni misusu mitsɛ he. Yɛ gbɛ kroko nɔ lɛ, lɛ ehewɔ awo mi tsuŋ lɛ.

Sane lɛ ji akɛ, Dada ni eji tsuŋwoohe nɔkwɛlɔ lɛ ji Yorkshire maŋ lɛ mlinyo, ni ekɛ hemɔkɛyelii kɛ shishitoo mlai ni mli wa tsuɔ nii. Yɛ niiashikpamɔi ni ená yɛ asraafoi anitsumɔ lɛ kɛ gboklɛfoi anitsumɔ lɛ mli hewɔ lɛ, ekɛ Katolik jamɔ lɛ yeee kwraa. Ekɛ Odasefoi lɛ kpe klɛŋklɛŋ kwraa yɛ afi 1930 afii lɛ mra be mli tɔ̃ɔ beni etee shinaa lɛ naa koni eyashwie amɛ lɛ—ni eku esɛɛ eba beni ehiɛ amɛwoji lɛ eko lɛ! Sɛɛ mli lɛ, eshɛ Consolation wolo tɛtrɛɛ (amrɔ nɛɛ Awake!) lɛ. Odasefoi lɛ fɔɔ lɛ saramɔ afi fɛɛ afi koni amɛwo lɛ hewalɛ ni esaa eshɛ ekoŋŋ. Beni miye aaafee afii 15 lɛ, amɛsaa amɛkɛ Dada gba sane ekoŋŋ, ni mikɛ Odasefoi lɛ fee ekome. Nakai beaŋ mibɔi Biblia lɛ kasemɔ.

Beni miye afii 17 lɛ, miha abaptisi mi kɛfee mihenɔjɔɔmɔ kɛha Yehowa lɛ he okadi yɛ March 1949. Yɛ sɛɛ mli lɛ mikɛ John kɛ Michael Charuk ni yaa Nigeria, ni gbe Gilead maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛlɔi askul naa etsɛko lɛ kpe yɛ nakai afi lɛ mli. Miná maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛmɔ mumɔ ni amɛyɔɔ lɛ he miishɛɛ waa diɛŋtsɛ. Kɛ amɛle jio, amɛleee jio lɛ, amɛdu nakai mumɔ lɛ amɛwo mitsui mli.

Beni mikaseɔ Biblia lɛ, miishɛɛ ni miyɔɔ akɛ masumɔ ni maya univɛsiti lɛ sɛɛ fo. Yɛ afi mli beni mishi shia koni miyatsu nii yɛ Customs and Excise nitsumɔhe yɛ London lɛ, minu he akɛ minyɛɛɛ matsu mihenɔjɔɔmɔ kɛha Nyɔŋmɔ lɛ he nii akɛni mitsuɔ nii lolo yɛ maŋ nitsumɔ lɛ mli lɛ hewɔ. Beni mifɔ̃ɔ nitsumɔ ni mitsuɔ yɛ ɔfis lɛ, mɔ ko ni etsɛ waa yɛ nitsumɔ lɛ mli lɛ ha mi ayekoo yɛ “nitsumɔ ni fiteɔ mɔ” ni mikpá tsumɔ lɛ hewɔ.

Dani enɛ aaaba lɛ, mikɛ kaa kroko hu kpe—bɔ ni mafee makɛɛ mitsɛ akɛ miisumɔ ni mafɔ̃ɔ nitsumɔ ni awoɔ mɔ nyɔmɔ babaoo yɛ mli lɛ ni matsɔ be-fɛɛ sɔɔlɔ lɛ. Beni miyɔɔ shia gbɛkɛ ko yɛ hejɔɔmɔ be ko mli lɛ, mikɛ ekãa jie sane ni baagba enaa waa lɛ kpo. Mimɛ koni Dada awie waa kɛtutua mi. Nɔ ni ha minaa kpɛ mihe ji akɛ, ewie kɛkɛ akɛ: “Bo okpɛ oyiŋ; ni bo esa akɛ okpee nɔ ni baajɛ mli kɛba lɛ naa. Shi kɛji onine nyɛ shi lɛ, kaafo kɛtsɛ mi.” Miŋma miwo miwolo lɛ mli kɛha January 1, 1950 akɛ: “Mikɛɛ Dada gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ he sane. Minaa kpɛ mihe waa diɛŋtsɛ yɛ jwɛŋmɔ kpakpa ni ekɛye ebua mi lɛ hewɔ. Emlihilɛ lɛ ha mifó.” Mishi maŋ nitsumɔ lɛ ni mikpɛlɛ nitsumɔ nɔ akɛ be-fɛɛ gbɛgbalɔ.

Aha Mi Nitsumɔ kɛ “Shihilɛhe Bibioo” Ko

Kɛkɛ ni mikɛ mihe ni mitu miha Nyɔŋmɔ lɛ he kaa ni nyiɛ sɛɛ lɛ kpe. Aha mi nitsumɔ akɛ gbɛgbalɔ, ni mikɛ Lloyd Griffiths ni ji naanyo Kristofonyo ni jɛ Wales lɛ yɔɔ “shihilɛhe bibioo” ko mli yɛ Lancashire. Yɛ be mli ni mikɛ jwɛŋmɔ kpakpa kɛ miishɛɛ susuɔ nakai shihilɛhe bibioo lɛ he babaoo lɛ, miyashɛ Bacup maŋ ni emli shihilɛ eŋɔɔɔ ni nugbɔ fɔɔ nɛmɔ waa yɛ jɛmɛ lɛ mli. Etsɛɛɛ ni mikɛ bɔ ni shihilɛ lɛ ji diɛŋtsɛ ehã lɛ kpe beni miná mile akɛ shihilɛhe bibioo lɛ ji shikpɔŋ shishi fiase lɛ! Kwakwei kɛ kakalikai yɛ jɛmɛ ni baawo wɔhe sɔlɛ gbɛkɛ. Shwɛ fioo ni matsake mijwɛŋmɔ ni maku misɛɛ kɛya shia. Yɛ no najiaŋ lɛ, misɔle blɛoo ni mibi koni maná hewalɛ ni mikɛaakpee kaa nɛɛ naa. Trukaa lɛ, minu he akɛ mihe ejɔ mi, ni mibɔi shihilɛ lɛ he susumɔ yɛ gbɛ ni ja nɔ. Enɛ ji nitsumɔ ni Yehowa gbɛjianɔtoo lɛ kɛha mi. Maŋɔ mihiɛ mafɔ̃ Yehowa nɔ ní eye ebua mi. Kwɛ bɔ ni midaa shi akɛ miŋmɛ mitsui shi, ejaakɛ eji ebalɛ akɛ mifɔ̃ɔ kulɛ, eeenyɛ etsake mishihilɛ kwraa kɛya naanɔ!—Yesaia 26:3, 4.

Mikɛ nɔ ni miihe ashɛ nyɔji nɛɛhu shiɛ yɛ he ni ale yɛ no beaŋ akɛ Rossendale Valley ni ayeɔ ohia futaa yɛ jɛmɛ lɛ dani amɔ mi ayawo tsuŋ yɛ asraafoi anitsumɔ ni mikɛ mihe wooo mli lɛ hewɔ. Beni mikɛ otsii enyɔ ehi Strangeways Prison lɛ mli lɛ, atsake mi kɛtee Lewes Prison yɛ England wuoyi-ŋshɔnaa gbɛ lɛ. Beni bei shwie mli lɛ, wɔyi bafee Odasefoi enumɔ yɛ tsuŋwoohe lɛ, ni wɔnyɛ wɔye Kristo gbele lɛ Kaimɔ lɛ yɛ jɛmɛ.

Dada basara mi shikome. Enɛ bafee kaa kɛha bulɛ babaoo ni ayɔɔ kɛha lɛ lɛ—tsuŋwoohe nɔkwɛlɔ ni ale lɛ jogbaŋŋ ni eba koni ebasara ebinuu ni awo lɛ tsuŋ lɛ! Mihiɛ kpaŋ nakai saramɔ lɛ nɔ gbi ko gbi ko. Yɛ naagbee lɛ, gbi ni abaajie mi kɛjɛ tsuŋ lɛ bashɛ yɛ April 1951.

Beni ajie mi kɛjɛ Lewes lɛ, mitá oketeke lɛ mli kɛtee Cardiff, Wales, he ni yɛ nakai beaŋ lɛ mitsɛ tsuɔ nii yɛ akɛ tsuŋwoohe nɔkwɛlɔ nukpa lɛ. Mi ji bii ejwɛ lɛ ateŋ kromɔ—ni ji gbekɛbii hii etɛ kɛ yoo kome lɛ. Ehe bahia ni matao nitsumɔ ko ni akɛ be fã tsuɔ koni manyɛ maná midaaŋ ŋmãa ní yɛ nakai beaŋ nɔŋŋ lɛ, maya nɔ masɔmɔ akɛ gbɛgbalɔ. Miná nitsumɔ yɛ atadei ashwapo ko mli, shi yiŋtoo titri ni miyɔɔ yɛ mishihilɛ mli ji Kristofoi asɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ ni miyɔɔ lɛ. Nɛkɛ beaŋ wɔnyɛ shi wɔ. Enɛ bafee oshara sane ko ni naa wa waa diɛŋtsɛ kɛha wɔ ni ji gbekɛbii ní eye kɛjɛ afii 8 kɛyashi afii 19 lɛ, kɛ Dada hu. Mɔbɔ sane ji akɛ, wɔfɔlɔi lɛ tse gbala.

Mɔ ni Náa Ŋa Kpakpa lɛ . . .

Gbɛgbalɔi babaoo yɛ asafo lɛ mli. Amɛteŋ mɔ kome ji nyɛmi yoo ko ni jɛɔ ŋaitsaahe ni ji Rhondda Valley lɛ mli ebaa gbi fɛɛ gbi kɛha enitsumɔ kɛ shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ. Egbɛi ji Hazel Green—gbɛgbalɔ ko ni bɔɔ mɔdɛŋ waa. Hazel kɛ afii babaoo ele anɔkwale lɛ fe afii abɔ ni mikɛle—no mli lɛ efɔlɔi yaa Biblia Kaselɔi (ni ale amɛ amrɔ nɛɛ akɛ Yehowa Odasefoi) lɛ akpeei yɛ afi 1920 afii lɛ mli tɔ̃ɔ. Shi ha ni lɛ diɛŋtsɛ egba esane lɛ.

“Mikɛ hiɛdɔɔ susuuu Biblia lɛ he aahu kɛyashi afi 1944 beni mikane wolo bibioo ni ji Religion Reaps the Whirlwind lɛ. Minyɛ kɔne miyiŋ koni maya kpokpaa nɔ kpee yɛ Cardiff. Eyɛ mli akɛ etamɔ nɔ ni mibɛ Biblia lɛ he nilee moŋ, shi mitee nihɔɔmɔhe wulu lɛ ni miwo adafitswaa wolo ko yɛ mikuɛ he ni miitswa maŋshiɛmɔ ko he adafi. Minyɛ mitsɔ shihilɛ lɛ mli yɛ tutuamɔ ni osɔfoi kɛ mɛi krokomɛi kɛba minɔ lɛ fɛɛ sɛɛ. Abaptisi mi yɛ afi 1946, ni mibɔi gbɛgbamɔ yɛ December nakai afi lɛ. Kɛkɛ ni yɛ afi 1951 lɛ, oblanyo gbɛgbalɔ ko ní kpaako ajie lɛ kɛjɛ tsuŋwoo mli lɛ bajie ehiɛ kpo yɛ Cardiff. Lɛ ji Eric.

“Wɔfeɔ ekome kɛyaa shiɛmɔ. Wɔkɛ wɔhe ye ojogbaŋŋ. Yiŋtoo koome too lɛ nɔŋŋ wɔyɔɔ yɛ shihilɛ mli—koni wɔha Nyɔŋmɔ Maŋtsɛyeli nibii lɛ aya hiɛ. No hewɔ lɛ wɔbote gbalashihilɛ mli yɛ December 1952. Eyɛ mli akɛ no mli lɛ wɔ fɛɛ wɔyɛ be-fɛɛ gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli ni shika fioo ko pɛ wɔyɔɔ moŋ, shi wɔyɛ nibii ni he baahia wɔ lɛ fɛɛ eko. Bei komɛi lɛ, Odasefonyo ko ni shɛɔ jam loo samla babaoo tsɔ ni ehɔ̃ɔ lɛ keɔ wɔ nii—ni ekɛbaa yɛ be ni ehe hiaa wɔ lɛ pɛpɛɛpɛ mli! Wɔhiɛ sɔɔ nikeenii diɛŋtsɛ ni tamɔ nomɛi lɛ jogbaŋŋ diɛŋtsɛ. Shi nibii babaoo ni baafee wɔ naakpɛɛ lɛ yɛ kɛha wɔ.”

Naakpɛɛ Nɔ ko ni Tsake Wɔshihilɛi

Yɛ November 1954 lɛ, mi kɛ Hazel nine shɛ nɔ ko ni fee wɔ naakpɛɛ ni wɔkpaaa gbɛ lɛ nɔ—gbɛbimɔ wolo ni jɛ Yehowa Odasefoi anitsumɔhe nine ni yɔɔ London lɛ ŋɔɔ bɔni afee ni matsɔ nɔkwɛlɔ gbɛfalɔ ni baayasara asafoi srɔtoi daa otsi. Efee wɔ akɛ eji tɔ̃mɔ ko ni afee, no hewɔ lɛ wɔkɛɛɛ mɔ ko mɔ ko yɛ asafo lɛ mli. Shi kɛlɛ, miŋma wolo lɛ nɔ nii ni mikɛmaje amɛ, ni wɔgbe diŋŋ kɛmiikpa nɔ ni baaba gbɛ. Gbii fioo komɛi asɛɛ lɛ, wɔnine shɛ hetoo nɔ akɛ, “Ba London kɛha tsɔsemɔ”!

Beni mitee London nitsumɔhe lɛ, mihiɛ fee mi yaa akɛ mi ni miye afii 23 lɛ, midamɔ nyɛmimɛi hii ni he esa waa ni minaa amɛ tamɔ mɛi ni yɔɔ mumɔŋ nyɛmɔi ni nɔ kwɔlɔ lɛ ateŋ—Pryce Hughes, Emlyn Wynes, Ernie Beavor, Ernie Guiver, Bob Gough, Glynn Parr, Stan kɛ Martin Woodburn, kɛ mɛi krokomɛi hu, ní amɛteŋ mɛi babaoo etsɔ amɛ sɛɛ momo lɛ. Amɛto shishi kpakpa kɛha ekãafeemɔ kɛ anɔkwayeli yɛ Britain yɛ afi 1940 afii kɛ afi 1950 afii lɛ amli tɔ̃ɔ.

England Kpokpaa Nitsumɔ—Ejeee Mɔ Tsine Kwraa

Wɔje gbɛfaa nitsumɔ lɛ shishi yɛ fɛibe ni snoo fa babaoo yɛ mli yɛ afi 1954 kɛmɔ afi 1955 lɛ mli. Aha wɔ nitsumɔ yɛ East Anglia ni ji England shikpɔŋ tɛtrɛɛ ko ni North Sea kɔɔyɔɔ ŋanii lɛ tswaa waa yɛ jɛmɛ lɛ. No mli lɛ, Odasefoi 31,000 pɛ yɔɔ Britain yɛ nakai be lɛ mli. Nakai klɛŋklɛŋ kpokpaa nitsumɔ lɛ bafee nɔ ni wa waa ni wɔtsɔ nɔ kɛná niiashikpamɔ; asaŋ ejeee nɔ ko ni yɔɔ mlɛo be fɛɛ be kɛha nyɛmimɛi ni wɔyasara amɛ lɛ. Akɛni mibɛ niiashikpamɔ kɛ agbɛnɛ Yorkshire bii anifeemɔ ni ji wiemɔ ni awieɔ lɛ kpookpoo hewɔ lɛ, bei komɛi lɛ mitɔ̃ɔ mɛi anɔ. Yɛ afii ni eho lɛ amli lɛ, mibaná mile akɛ mlihilɛ nifeemɔ he hiaa fe hesaa, ni ákɛ gbɔmɛi ahe hiaa waa fe bɔ ni afeɔ nii ahaa. Miibɔ mɔdɛŋ lolo ni manyiɛ Yesu nɔkwɛmɔnɔ ni haa mɛi krokomɛi ahe jɔɔ amɛ lɛ sɛɛ, shi jeee be fɛɛ be miyeɔ omanye.—Mateo 11:28-30.

Beni wɔye nyɔji 18 yɛ East Anglia lɛ, aha wɔ nitsumɔ koni wɔyasɔmɔ yɛ kpokpaa nitsumɔ lɛ mli yɛ England kooyi-bokagbɛ, Newcastle yɛ Tyne kɛ Northumberland yiteŋgbɛ. Misumɔɔ mɛi ni yɔɔ mlihilɛ ni amɛyɔɔ nakai kpokpaa ni nɔ yɔɔ fɛo lɛ asane. Mɔ ni ye ebua mi babaoo diɛŋtsɛ ji kpokpaa wulu nɔkwɛlɔ Don Ward ni jɛ Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. ebasaraa wɔ lɛ. Eji mɔ ko ni gbe Gilead klas ni ji 20 lɛ naa. Ákɛ wielɔ lɛ, nɔ ni mifɔɔ feemɔ ji akɛ, miwieɔ oyayaayai tsɔ̃ fe nine. Etsɔɔ mi bɔ ni mafee mawie blɛoo, ní mami misɛŋ nu, ni matsɔɔ nii.

Naakpɛɛ Nɔ Kroko Hu ni Tsake Wɔshihilɛi

Wɔnine shɛ wolo ko nɔ yɛ afi 1958 ni tsake wɔshihilɛi. Afɔ nine atsɛ́ wɔ koni wɔya Gilead Skul ni yɔɔ South Lansing yɛ New York, U.S.A. lɛ. Wɔhɔɔ wɔ afi 1935 Austin Seven kar bibioo lɛ, ni wɔwo nu hiɛ lɛlɛ ni wɔbaata mli kɛya New York lɛ he nyɔmɔ. Klɛŋklɛŋ lɛ, wɔtee Yehowa Odasefoi amajimaji ateŋ kpee yɛ New York City. Wɔjɛ jɛmɛ kɛtee Peterborough yɛ Ontario kɛha gbɛgbamɔ nyɔji ekpaa dani wɔtsɔ wɔhiɛ kɛtee Gilead Skul lɛ.

Mɛi ni tsɔɔ nii yɛ skul lɛ ateŋ mɛi komɛi ji Albert Schroeder ni amrɔ nɛɛ eji Nɔyeli Kuu lɛ mlinyo lɛ, kɛ Maxwell Friend kɛ Jack Redford ni egboi momo lɛ. Naanyobɔɔ ni bakã nikaselɔi 82 ni jɛ shikpɔji 14 lɛ anɔ lɛ ateŋ lɛ tswaa mɔ emaa shi waa. Agbɛnɛ wɔbanu wɔteŋ mɔ fɛɛ mɔ kusum nifeemɔi lɛ fioo ko shishi. Nikaselɔi ni jɛ maŋsɛɛ lɛ ni wɔkɛ amɛ bɔɔ naanyo ni miaa amɛhiɛ kɛha Blɔfo wiemɔ kasemɔ lɛ ha wɔna okadi fioo ko ni tsɔɔ naagbai ni wɔbaanyɛ wɔkɛkpe yɛ be mli ni wɔkaseɔ wiemɔ kroko lɛ. Yɛ nyɔji enumɔ mli lɛ, wɔgbe wɔtsɔsemɔ lɛ naa ni aha wɔ nitsumɔ yɛ maji 27 mli. Kɛkɛ ni ebashɛ be kɛha nikasemɔ lɛ naagbee, ni yɛ gbii fioo komɛi asɛɛ lɛ, naa wɔ yɛ New York City ní wɔmiimɛ wɔmeele lɛ, no ji Queen Elizabeth ni baawo wɔ kɛku sɛɛ kɛya Europa lɛ.

Klɛŋklɛŋ Maŋsɛɛ Nitsumɔ ni Akɛha Wɔ

Nɛgbɛ ji he ni akɛha wɔ akɛ wɔyatsu nii yɛ jɛmɛ lɛ? Portugal! Wɔyashɛ Lisbon yɛ November 1959. Kɛkɛ ni kaa ni tsɔɔ wɔhe ni wɔbaanyɛ wɔtsake wɔwo wiemɔ kroko kɛ kusum nifeemɔ nii kroko mli lɛ je shishi. Yɛ afi 1959 lɛ, no mli Odasefoi 643 ni yɔɔ ekãa ji mɛi ni yɔɔ Portugal, yɛ maŋbii ayibɔ ni aaashɛ akpekpei 9 lɛ ateŋ. Shi no mli lɛ akpɛlɛko wɔshiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ nɔ yɛ mla naa. Eyɛ mli akɛ wɔyɛ Maŋtsɛyeli Asai moŋ, shi wɔbɛ nɔ ko yɛ hiɛgbɛ ni wɔkɛtsɔɔ enɛ.

Beni maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛlɔ Elsa Piccone etsɔɔ mi kɛ Hazel Portugal wiemɔ lɛ, wɔyasaraa asafoi kɛ kui komɛi yɛ Lisbon, Faro, Evora, kɛ Beja niiaŋ. Kɛkɛ ni yɛ afi 1961 lɛ, nibii bɔi tsakemɔ. No mli lɛ mi kɛ oblanyo ko ni atsɛɔ lɛ João Gonçalves Mateus bɔi nikasemɔ. Ekpɛ eyiŋ akɛ ebaakɔ eshidaamɔ akɛ Kristofonyo ni kɛ ehe wooo maŋkwramɔŋ saji amli yɛ sane ni kɔɔ asraafoi anitsumɔ he lɛ he. No sɛɛ etsɛɛɛ lɛ, afɔ̃ mi nine kɛtee polisifoi anitsumɔhe wulu lɛ koni ayabi mi saji. Naakpɛɛ sane kroko! Gbii fioo ko sɛɛ lɛ, aha wɔle akɛ aha wɔ gbii 30 ni wɔkɛshi maŋ lɛ mli! Nakai nɔŋŋ ebalɛ yɛ nanemɛi maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛlɔi Eric kɛ Christina Britten kɛ Domenick kɛ Elsa Piccone gbɛfaŋ.

Mibi koni akwɛ misane lɛ mli ekoŋŋ, ni aŋmɛ wɔ gbɛ koni wɔyana teemɔŋ polisifoi lɛ anɔ onukpa lɛ. Ekɛ ekãafeemɔ kɛɛ wɔ yɛ faŋŋ mli nɔ hewɔ ni abiɔ koni wɔshi maŋ lɛ mli lɛ, ni etsɛ́ mɔ ko gbɛ́i—João Gonçalves Mateus—mi-Biblia mli nikaselɔ lɛ! Ekɛɛ akɛ, ákɛ nɔ ni tamɔɔɔ Britain lɛ, Portugal nyɛŋ aná miishɛɛ ni jɛɔ henilee ni akɛkpooɔ nɔ ko lɛ mli ŋɔɔmɔ. No hewɔ lɛ, ehe bahia ni wɔshi Portugal, ni minuuu João he dɔŋŋ. Kɛkɛ ni yɛ afii 26 sɛɛ lɛ, kwɛ miishɛɛ sane ni eji akɛ mina lɛ kɛ eŋa kɛ ebiyei etɛ yɛ Portugal Betel hee lɛ nɔjɔɔmɔ lɛ shishi! Sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ ni wɔkɛ wɔhe wo mli yɛ Portugal lɛ efeee efolo!—1 Korintobii 3:6-9.

Nɛgbɛ ji he kroko ni akɛɛ wɔyatsu nii yɛ? Naakpɛɛ sane! Spain ni bɛŋkɛ. Yɛ February 1962 lɛ, wɔnine shɛ oketeke lɛ nɔ yɛ Lisbon be mli ni yaafonui yɔɔ wɔhiŋmɛiiaŋ lɛ, ni wɔshi kɛtee Madrid.

Wɔhe ni Wɔtsake Wɔwo Kusum Nifeemɔ Kroko Hu Mli

Beni wɔyɔɔ Spain lɛ, esa akɛ wɔná wɔle teemɔŋ gbɛ ni wɔɔtsɔ nɔ wɔshiɛ ni wɔfee wɔkpeei lɛ mli. Beni wɔshiɛɔ lɛ, bei pii lɛ wɔyaaa shiai enyɔ ni tsara nɔ amli kɔkɔɔkɔ. Kɛ wɔshiɛ yɛ shinaa ko naa wɔgbe naa lɛ, wɔyaa gbɛjegbɛ kroko nɔ kɛyaa tsũ kroko mli. Enɛ ha efee nɔ ni wa akɛ polisifoi—loo osɔfoi lɛ—aaamɔmɔ wɔ. Kaimɔ akɛ no mli lɛ wɔyɛ Katolik Fascist yiwalɛ nɔyeli shishi, ni agu wɔshiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ. Ákɛ maŋsɛɛbii lɛ, wɔŋɔ Spainbii agbɛi wɔfɔ̃ wɔnɔ koni ebu wɔhe ni akayɔse wɔ. Gbɛi ni miŋɔ ji Pablo ni Hazel hu ŋɔ Juana.

Nyɔji fioo komɛi asɛɛ yɛ Madrid lɛ, akɛɛ wɔyatsu nii yɛ kpokpaa nitsumɔ lɛ mli yɛ Barcelona. Wɔyasara asafoi srɔtoi yɛ maŋtiase lɛ mli, ni bei pii lɛ wɔyeɔ otsii enyɔ loo etɛ yɛ eko fɛɛ eko mli. Saramɔi lɛ sɛɛ tsɛ waa ejaakɛ ehe bahia ni wɔya woloŋ nikasemɔ kuu fɛɛ kuu mli tamɔ nɔ ni eji asafo, ni no tsɔɔ akɛ bei pii lɛ wɔyaa kui enyɔ mli daa otsi.

Tsakemɔ ko ni Ba Trukaa

Afɔ̃ nine atsɛ́ wɔ koni wɔkɛ wɔhe awo kpokpaa wulu nɔkwɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli yɛ Spain yɛ afi 1963. Bɔni afee ni wɔsɔmɔ aaafee Odasefoi 3,000 lɛ, ehe bahia ni wɔtsu nii yɛ maŋ muu lɛ fɛɛ mli, ni wɔyasara kpokpai nɛɛhu ni yɔɔ yɛ no beaŋ lɛ. Wɔfee wɔ teemɔŋ kpokpaa nɔ kpeei ni wɔkaiɔ fe fɛɛ lɛ ekomɛi yɛ koo lɛ mli yɛ Seville masɛi, yɛ ŋmɔ ko ni yɔɔ Gijon masɛi lɛ mli, kɛ faai ni bɛŋkɛ Madrid, Barcelona, kɛ Logroño lɛ anaa.

Bɔni afee ni efee hebuu kɛha wɔ lɛ, kɛ́ wɔmiishiɛ yɛ shia kɛ shia lɛ, nɔ ni mifɔɔ feemɔ ji akɛ mikwɛɔ bɔ ni afee gbɛjegbɛi ni bɛŋkɛ lɛ aha koni mana he ni majo foi kɛtsɔ kɛ́ aleee nɔ̃ ni sane ko aaaba lɛ. Be ko beni mi kɛ Odasefonyo kroko shiɛɔ yɛ ŋwɛitsu ko nɔ yɛ Madrid lɛ, trukaa kɛkɛ ni wɔnu bolɔmɔ kɛ hoofeemɔ yɛ shishi lɛ. Beni wɔkpeleke shi kɛtee shishi lɛ, kuu ko ni ji gbekɛbii yei ni yeko afii nyɔŋmai enyɔ, ni ji Katolik jamɔ kuu lɛ mli bii ni atsɛɔ amɛ Hijas de María (Maria Biyei) yɛ jɛmɛ. Amɛmiibɔ akutsoŋbii lɛ kɔkɔ yɛ wɔ hewɔ. Wɔnyɛɛɛ wɔkɛ amɛ asusu sane he, ni mile akɛ ehe baahia ni wɔshi amrɔ nɔŋŋ ni kɛ́ jeee nakai lɛ polisifoi lɛ baamɔmɔ wɔ. No hewɔ lɛ wɔwo foi—oyá kɛ mra!

Nakai afii lɛ ji miishɛɛ be ni akɛaahi Spain. Wɔmiibɔ mɔdɛŋ ni wɔwo nyɛmimɛi hii kɛ yei ni yɔɔ jɛmɛ ni bɔɔ mɔdɛŋ waa lɛ hewalɛ, ni mɛi ni fata he ji sɔɔlɔi gbɛgbalɔi krɛdɛɛi. Amɛkɛ amɛhe wo oshara mli yɛ tsuŋwoohe, ni bei pii lɛ amɛŋmɛ amɛtsui shi yɛ ohia shihilɛi amli bɔni afee ni amɛshiɛ Nyɔŋmɔ Maŋtsɛyeli lɛ he sanekpakpa lɛ koni amɛto asafoi ashishi ní amɛtswa amɛ amɛma shi.

Yɛ nɛkɛ be nɛɛ mli lɛ akɛɛ wɔ awerɛho sane ko hu. Hazel tsɔɔ mli akɛ: “Yɛ afi 1964 lɛ, minyɛ ni eji Odasefonyo anɔkwafo lɛ gbo. Eji mɔbɔ sane waa diɛŋtsɛ kɛha mi akɛ eeegbo eshi mi yɛ be mli ni ekɛ mi yeee shɛɛ ko po. No ji maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa nitsumɔ lɛ mli nibii ni esa akɛ mɛi krokomɛi babaoo hu kɛshã afɔle lɛ ateŋ eko.”

Heyeli Ba yɛ Naagbee Mli

Beni akɛ yiwaa eba wɔnɔ afii komɛi asɛɛ lɛ, yɛ naagbee mli lɛ Franco nɔyeli lɛ kpɛlɛ wɔnitsumɔ lɛ nɔ yɛ mla naa yɛ July 1970. Mi kɛ Hazel ná miishɛɛ waa yɛ Maŋtsɛyeli Asai agbelemɔ lɛ hewɔ, klɛŋklɛŋ nɔ̃ lɛ ba yɛ Madrid, ni nɔ ni ji enyɔ lɛ yɛ Lesseps, Barcelona. Afee okadii wuji komɛi awo he, ni amɛkpɛ́lɛɔ be fɛɛ be. Wɔmiisumɔ ni gbɔmɛi lɛ ale akɛ akpɛlɛ wɔnɔ yɛ mla naa ni biɛ ji he ni wɔbaahi! Yɛ nɛkɛ be nɛɛ mli yɛ afi 1972 lɛ, no mli lɛ aaafee Odasefoi 17,000 yɔɔ Spain.

Aaafee nɛkɛ be nɛɛ mli lɛ, minine shɛ adafitswaa ko ní woɔ mɔ hewalɛ waa nɔ kɛjɛ England. No mli lɛ mitsɛ ebasara wɔ yɛ Spain yɛ afi 1969. Bɔ ni Spain Odasefoi lɛ kɛ lɛ ye amɛha lɛ sa ehiɛ aahu akɛ beni eku esɛɛ kɛba England lɛ, ebɔi Biblia lɛ kasemɔ. Kɛkɛ ni yɛ afi 1971 lɛ, akɛɛ mi akɛ abaptisi Dada! Eji miishɛɛ sane beni wɔtee wɔyasara shia lɛ, ni lɛ ni ji mi Kristofonyo nyɛmi nuu lɛ bi jɔɔmɔ yɛ wɔniyenii lɛ nɔ. Mimɛ nɔ ni fe afii 20 koni nakai gbi lɛ ashɛ. Minyɛmi nuu Bob kɛ eŋa Iris ebatsɔmɔ Odasefoi yɛ afi 1958. Amɛbinuu Phillip miisɔmɔ akɛ kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔ amrɔ nɛɛ yɛ Spain kɛ eŋa Jean. Eŋɔɔ wɔnaa waa akɛ wɔɔna ni amɛmiisɔmɔ nakai maŋ ni mli yɔɔ miishɛɛ lɛ.

Nɔ ni Fee Wɔ Naakpɛɛ Fe Fɛɛ Nyɛsɛɛ Nɛɛ

Nɔyeli Kuu lɛ mlinyo ko yasara Spain yɛ February 1980 akɛ shikpɔŋ wulu nɔkwɛlɔ. Nɔ ni fee mi naakpɛɛ ji akɛ eesumɔ ni efata mihe yɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Mileee kwraa akɛ no mli lɛ eekwɛ bɔ ni mitsuɔ nii lɛ mihaa! Kɛkɛ ni yɛ September lɛ, afɔ̃ nine atsɛ́ wɔ koni wɔshi kɛya jeŋ fɛɛ nitsumɔhe yitso ni yɔɔ Brooklyn, New York lɛ! Wɔnaa kpɛ wɔhe waa. Wɔkpɛlɛ ninefɔɔ lɛ nɔ, eyɛ mli akɛ wɔ Spain nyɛmimɛi ni wɔshiɔ amɛ lɛ ha wɔye awerɛho babaoo. No mli lɛ Odasefoi ni yɔɔ jɛmɛ lɛ ji 48,000!

Beni wɔshi wɔtee lɛ, nyɛmi nuu ko ke mi watsi ni akɛwoɔ kotoku mli. Eŋma ŋmalɛi enyɔ nɛɛ ewo nɔ—“Lucas 16:10; Lucas 17:10.” Ekɛɛ akɛ nomɛi ji misane yitsei ni jɛ ŋmalɛ mli. Luka 16:10 maa nɔ mi akɛ esa akɛ wɔye nibii bibii amli anɔkwa, ni Luka 17:10 kɛɔ akɛ “tsuji ni he bɛ sɛɛnamɔ ko ji wɔ” ni yɛ no hewɔ lɛ wɔbɛ nɔ ko kwraa ni wɔkɛaashwã. Miyɔse be fɛɛ be akɛ, nɔ fɛɛ nɔ ni wɔfeɔ yɛ Yehowa sɔɔmɔ mli lɛ ji nitsumɔ kɛkɛ ni akɛha wɔ ákɛ Kristofoi ni ejɔɔ amɛhe nɔ.

Naakpɛɛ Nɔ ko ni Kɔɔ Hewalɛnamɔ He

Mibɔi tsuihela mli naagbai namɔ yɛ afi 1990. Yɛ naagbee lɛ ehe bahia ni akɛ tsɔne awo mimli ni haŋ fɔlɔ ni kã lá fã wulu lɛ mli lɛ atsĩmɔ. Yɛ nɛkɛ gbɔmɔtsoŋ gbɔjɔmɔ be ni mli wa nɛɛ mli lɛ, Hazel fĩ misɛɛ yɛ gbɛ̀i babaoo nɔ, ni ehiɛɔ baagii kɛ gbɛfaa baagii ni minyɛɛɛ mahiɛ kwraa lɛ. Kɛkɛ ni yɛ May 2000 lɛ, akɛ tsɔne ni baaha mitsui lɛ atswa jogbaŋŋ lɛ wo mimli. Kwɛ tsakemɔ ni enɛ kɛba!

Yɛ afii 50 ni eho lɛ mli lɛ, Hazel kɛ mi ena akɛ Yehowa nine efoko kuku ni ákɛ eyiŋtoi baa mli yɛ ebe ni sa mli, shi jeee wɔbe ni sa mli. (Yesaia 59:1; Habakuk 2:3) Wɔná miishɛɛ nibii babaoo ni haa wɔnaa kpɛɔ wɔhe yɛ wɔshihilɛi amli kɛ fioo komɛi hu ni yɔɔ awerɛho, shi yɛ fɛɛ mli lɛ, Yehowa eye ebua wɔ. Yɛ Yehowa webii ajeŋ muu fɛɛ nitsumɔhe yitso lɛ, eji jɔɔmɔ kɛha wɔ daa gbi akɛ wɔkɛ Nɔyeli Kuu lɛ mli bii kpeɔ. Bei komɛi lɛ mibiɔ mihe akɛ, ‘Ani wɔyɛ biɛ lɛɛlɛŋ?’ Eji mlihilɛ ni esaaa wɔ. (2 Korintobii 12:9) Wɔyɛ nɔmimaa akɛ Yehowa baaya nɔ abu wɔhe ashi Satan ŋaatsɔi lɛ koni ekwɛ wɔnɔ bɔni afee ni wɔnyɛ wɔná gbi ni ejalɛ nɔyeli baaye shikpɔŋ lɛ nɔ lɛ mli ŋɔɔmɔ.—Efesobii 6:11-18; Kpojiemɔ 21:1-4.

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Strangeways Prison, Manchester, he ni akɛ mi je shishi yɛ akɛ gboklɛfonyo lɛ

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Wɔkɛ wɔ Austin Seven lɛ, yɛ kpokpaa nitsumɔ lɛ mli yɛ England

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Kpokpaa nɔ kpee ko ní afee yɛ teemɔŋ yɛ Cercedilla, Madrid, Spain yɛ afi 1962

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Okpɔlɔ ni wɔkɛ woji shwieɔ nɔ kɛyeɔ odase yɛ Brooklyn