I Feel Safe Because I Trust in Jehovah

HOW I GOT TO KNOW JEHOVAH AND TO START TRUSTING HIM

I was born in 1948 in one small village in the southwest part of Nigeria. During that time, my pa small brother Uncle Moustapha, and my big brother Wahabi, got baptize as Jehovah Witnesses. When I was nine years old, my pa die. It really break my heart. Wahabi told me that we will see our pa again in the resurrection. This one comfort me and it make me to study the Bible. I got baptize in 1963. It not stay long my other three brother them got baptize too.

In 1965, I went to my big brother Wilson in Lagos and I enjoy my time with the regular pioneer them in the Igbobi Congregation. The way they were happy and having zeal, make me to start pioneering too in January 1968.

One brother name Albert Olugbebi who was in Bethel, have one special meeting with we the young people. He wanted to talk with us about how they need special pioneers in the northern part of Nigeria. I still remember how Brother Olugbebi was happy when he told us that: “Yor young, and yor can use yor time and strength for Jehovah. Plenty work in the field service for yor to do!” I really wanted to be like the prophet Isaiah who was willing to go anywhere. So I apply to be special pioneer.—Isa. 6:8.

In May 1968, they assign me to be special pioneer in the city of Kano, in northern Nigeria. It was during the Biafran War that went on from 1967-1970. Because of the war, plenty people suffer and die in the northern and eastern part of Nigeria. One brother try to convince me to not go there because he not wanted anything bad to happen to me. But I tell him say: “Thank you for your concern. But if Jehovah want me to go there, I sure that he will be with me.”

I TRUST IN JEHOVAH IN THE PLACE WAR SPOIL BAD WAY

Because of the war, things were not alright in Kano. The war really destroy this big city. Sometime when we preaching, we use to see dead bodies of people who die from the war. Even though they were having some congregations in Kano, but most of the brother them ran away because of the war. Less than 15 publishers were still there, and they were scary and discourage. When six of us who were special pioneers reach there, the brother and sister them were really happy. We encourage them and they were feeling fine. We help them to start preaching, having meeting, and sending their field service report again. They also started sending for their literature them from the branch office again.

We the special pioneer them started learning the Hausa language. Because the people were hearing the Kingdom message in their own language, plenty of them listen to us. But people from the main religion in Kano was against our preaching work. So we use to be very careful. One time, one man started running behind me and my field service partner with knife. But the man not catch us because me and my partner run fast pass him! Even though we use to be in danger sometime, Jehovah help us to still feel safe, and the publisher them started getting plenty. (Ps. 4:8) Today, they get 11 congregations with more than 500 publishers in Kano.

GOING THROUGH PERSECUTION IN NIGER

After I spend few months in Kano, they sent me and two other special pioneers to Niamey, the capital city of Niger in August 1968. It not stay long, we got to know for our self that Niger, that one country in West Africa where the sun can really shine on earth. Apart from getting use to the heat, we also needed to learn French, their main language. Even though it was hard to do this thing them, we put our trust in Jehovah and started preaching in the capital city with the few publisher them that were there. In short time, almost everybody in Niamey who can read was able to get one of the Bible study book The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life. People even use to look for us so we can give them one of the book!

It not stay long, we got to know that the government people not like Jehovah Witnesses. In July 1969, we have our first circuit assembly in the country and about 20 people attend the program. We were hoping to see two persons getting baptize. But on the first day of the assembly, the police came and put stop to the program. They carry the special pioneer them and the circuit overseer to the police station. After they ask us some questions, they say we must go back the next day. We knew that maybe the government will cause trouble for us. So we decide to give the baptism talk in somebody house and then secretly go to one river to baptize the two persons.

After some weeks, the government say me and five other special pioneers must leave from Niger. They gave us 48 hours to leave the country, and we needed to make our own arrangement. We obey and went straight to the branch office in Nigeria, and they gave us new assignments.

They assign me in one village call Orisunbare in Nigeria. I enjoy preaching and doing Bible study with the small group of publishers that were living there. But after six months, the branch office say I must go back to Niger. From the beginning, I was surprise and scare small. But I really wanted to see the brother them in Niger again!

I went back to Niamey. When I reach there, the next day one businessman from Nigeria notice that I Jehovah Witness. He started asking me some questions about the Bible. I started studying the Bible with him, and after he stop smoking and drinking plenty, he got baptize. After that, I was happy to preach with the brother and sister them in different-different part of Niger. I was able to see how people accept the truth small-small as the years was passing. When I reach there first, they were having 31 Jehovah Witnesses in the country. But when I left from there, that 69 Witnesses were there.

“WE NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE PREACHING WORK IN GUINEA”

In December 1977, I went back to Nigeria for training. When my three-week training finish, the Branch Committee coordinator name Malcolm Vigo, gave me one letter to read. The letter was from the Sierra Leone branch office. The branch was looking for healthy, single pioneer brother who can speak English and French to be circuit overseer in Guinea. Brother Vigo told me that the training they gave me was for that assignment. He make it clear to me that the assignment was hard. He advise me and say, “Think about it good-good before you agree.” Right on the spot I say, “Since that Jehovah sending me, I will go.”

I went by plane to Sierra Leone and met with the brothers to the branch office. One Branch Committee member tell me say, “We not know much about the preaching work in Guinea.” That the branch in Sierra Leone was responsible for the preaching work in Guinea. But they were not able to talk with the publishers there because of the political problem in the country. And even though they try plenty time to send somebody in Guinea, it was not possible. So they told me to go to Conakry, the capital city for Guinea, to get paper from the government that will allow me to stay there.

When I reach in Conakry, I went to the Nigerian embassy and I meet with the ambassador. I told him that I want stay in Guinea to preach. He told me to not stay there because maybe I can get arrested or bad thing will happen to me. He say, “Go back to Nigeria and preach there.” Then I tell him say, “I really want stay here.” So he write letter to the Minister of Interior for Guinea to help me, and the minister help me.

It not stay long, I went back to the branch office in Sierra Leone and tell the brother them what the minister say. The brother them were happy when they hear how Jehovah bless my trip. The government allow me to stay in Guinea!

From 1978 to 1989, I was circuit overseer in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and substitute circuit overseer in Liberia. From the beginning, I use to get sick fast-fast. Sometime, it use to happen in area that was far from other place them. But the brother them use to do their best to carry me to hospital.

One time, I was seriously sick with malaria and worm was in my stomach. When I got well, I learn that the brother them was talking about where to bury me! Even though this thing them put my life in danger, I never think about leaving my assignment. And I convince that only God can protect us in the best way because he able to bring people who die back to life.

ME AND MY WIFE TRUST IN JEHOVAH

In 1988, I met Dorcas, one pioneer sister who really humble and spiritual. We got marry, and she join me in the circuit work. Dorcas work hard with me in our assignment and she was willing to make plenty sacrifices for Jehovah. Me and Dorcas use to walk far-far distance (25 kilometers or 15 mi) from congregation to congregation with our load them. For congregation them that was too far, we use to go with any means of transport we find. The road them use to be having mud and big-big holes.

Dorcas really brave. For example, sometime we use to cross water that having plenty crocodiles inside. During one five-day journey, the bridge they made with sticks that was over the river break, so we were force to use canoe to cross. As soon Dorcas stand up to move from in the canoe, she fall down in the deep water. Two of us not able to swim, and crocodiles was plenty in that river. We were bless, some young men them jump in the water and save her. For some time, we use to have bad dream about what happen, but we still continue in the circuit work.

In the beginning of 1992, we were really surprise to know that Dorcas was pregnant. You think it end our full-time service? We say, “Jehovah na give us gift!” So, we decide to name our daughter Jahgift. After four years, we born her brother, Eric. Our two children that real gift from Jehovah. Jahgift serve for some time in the remote translation office in Conakry, and Eric that ministerial servant.

Even though Dorcas stop special pioneering, she continue to regular pioneer while taking care of our children. With Jehovah help, I continue in special full-time service. After our children got big-big, Dorcas start serving as special pioneer again. Now-now, me and Dorcas serving as missionaries in Conakry.

THAT JEHOVAH CAN REALLY PROTECT US

I was always willing to go anywhere Jehovah carry me. Me and my wife can always feel Jehovah protection and blessing. Because we trust in Jehovah instead of material things, we na avoid plenty problems and worries. Me and Dorcas na learn from our own experience, that only Jehovah the “God of our salvation,” can really protect us. (1 Chron. 16:35) I convince that the life of all the people who trust in him “will be wrapped securely in the bag of life with Jehovah.”—1 Sam. 25:29.