Ko ha Tofiʻa Faka-Kalisitiane Mātuʻaki Lelei

NAʻE FAKAMATALA ʻE BLOSSOM BRANDT

Naʻe tō ʻa e sinou ʻi San Antonio, ʻi Tekisisi, ʻi Sānuali 17, 1923, ko e ʻaho ia naʻe fāʻeleʻi ai aú. ʻI tuʻá naʻe momoko, ka naʻe puke au ʻe he nima ʻo ha ongo mātuʻa anga-ʻofa Kalisitiane, ko Judge mo Helen Norris. Ko ʻeku muʻaki manatú, ko e meʻa hono kotoa pē naʻe fai ʻe heʻeku ongo mātuʻá naʻe nōfoʻi pē ki heʻena lotu kia Sihova ko e ʻOtuá.

NAʻE taʻu valu ʻa ʻeku faʻeé ʻi he 1910, pea naʻe hiki ʻa ʻene ongo mātuʻá mei he nofo ʻo ofi ki Pittsburgh, ʻi Pennsylvania, ki ha faama naʻe ofi ki Alvin, ʻi Tekisisi. Naʻá na fiefia ai ke ako ʻa e ngaahi moʻoni ʻo e Tohi Tapú mei ha kaungāʻapi. Naʻe ngāueʻaki ʻe heʻeku faʻeé ʻa e toenga ʻo ʻene moʻuí ke ne ʻai ke fie fanongo ʻa e kakaí ki he ʻamanaki fekauʻaki mo e Puleʻangá. Naʻá ne papitaiso ʻi he 1912 ʻi he hili ʻo e hiki ʻa e fāmilí ki Houston, ʻi Tekisisi.

Naʻe ʻuluaki feʻiloaki ai ʻa ʻeku faʻeé mo ʻene ongo mātuʻá mo Charles T. Russell, ko e ʻuluaki palesiteni ia ʻo e Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, ʻi heʻene ʻaʻahi ange ki heʻenau fakatahaʻanga ʻi Houston. Naʻe faʻa fakaafeʻi ki ʻapi ʻe he fāmilí ʻa e kau fakafofonga fefonongaaki ʻa e Sosaieté, ʻa ia naʻe ui ʻi he taimi ko iá ko e kau pilikimi. ʻI ha ngaahi taʻu siʻi ki mui, naʻe hiki ʻa ʻeku faʻeé mo ʻene ongo mātuʻá ki Chicago, ʻi Illinois, pea naʻe toe ʻaʻahi foki ʻa Tokoua Russell ki he fakatahaʻanga ʻi ai.

ʻI he 1918, naʻe puke ʻa ʻeku kui fefiné ʻi he mahaki fakaʻauha naʻe tō ʻi he 1918-1919, pea koeʻuhi ko e vaivai ai ʻa ʻene moʻui fakasinó, naʻe fokotuʻu ange ʻe he kau tōketaá ke ne nofo ʻi ha feituʻu ʻoku ʻea māfana ange. Pea koeʻuhi ko ʻeku kui tangatá naʻá ne ngāue ki he kautaha lēlue uta pāsese, ʻi he 1919 naʻá ne maʻu ai ha ngofua ke ne toe foki pē ki Tekisisi ʻo ngāue pē ʻi he kautaha tatau. ʻI San Antonio, naʻe feʻiloaki ai ʻa ʻeku faʻeé mo ha talavou ko ha memipa faivelenga ia ʻo e fakatahaʻangá ko hono hingoá ko Judge Norris. Naʻá na femanakoʻaki leva, pea naʻe faifai atu pē ʻo na mali, pea ko ʻeku tamaí ia ko Judge.

Ko e Ako ʻe Heʻeku Tamaí ʻa e Moʻoni ʻo e Tohi Tapú

ʻI hono fāʻeleʻí naʻe fakahingoa ʻaki ai pē ia ʻa e hingoa ngali kehe ko ʻeni ko Judge (Fakamaau). ʻI he ʻuluaki sio pē ki ai ʻa ʻene tamaí, naʻá ne pehē: “ʻOku mataʻi fakamātoato ʻa e pēpē ʻo hangē ha fakamaaú,” pea naʻe ui ʻaki ai pē ia ko hono hingoa. ʻI he 1917, ʻi he taʻu 16 ai ʻa ʻeku tamaí, naʻe ʻoange ki ai ʻa e ongo tuleki ko e Where Are the Dead? mo e What Is the Soul? naʻe pulusi ʻe he Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Naʻe ʻosi mate ʻa e tamai ia ʻa ʻeku tamaí ʻi he taʻu ʻe ua ki muʻá, pea naʻe maʻu ʻi he ongo tulekí ni ʻa e ngaahi tali naʻá ne fekumi ki ai ʻo fekauʻaki mo e tuʻunga ʻo e kau maté. Taimi siʻi pē mei ai naʻá ne kamata ke kau ki he ngaahi fakataha ʻa e Kau Ako Tohi Tapú, ko e hingoa naʻe ʻiloʻi ai ʻa e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová ʻi he taimi ko iá.

Naʻe loto leva ʻa ʻeku tamaí ke ne kau ki he ngaahi ngāue ʻa e fakatahaʻangá. Naʻá ne maʻu ha kauhala ʻa ia ʻe malava pē ke ne malanga ai, pea ʻi he tuku pē ʻa e akó naʻá ne ʻalu pasikala pē ki ai ke tufaki ʻa e ngaahi tulekí. Naʻá ne mātuʻaki nōfoʻi ʻi hono fakahā atu ʻa e ʻamanaki fekauʻaki mo e Puleʻangá, pea ʻi Maʻasi 24, 1918, naʻá ne fakahāhā ai ʻa ʻene fakatapui kia Sihová ʻaki ʻa e papitaiso ʻi he vai.

ʻI he hiki ʻa ʻeku faʻeé ki San Antonio ʻi he taʻu hono hokó, naʻe manako leva ai ʻa ʻeku tamaí ʻi he meʻa naʻá ne pehē ko ʻene toki sio pē ia ki ha “malimali fakaʻofoʻofa mo e kanoʻi mata lanu-pulū pehē.” Naʻe ʻikai ke fuʻu fuoloa peá na fakahā ʻokú na loto ke na mali, ka naʻe faingataʻa ke na fakalotoʻi ʻa e ongo mātuʻa ʻa ʻeku faʻeé. Ka, ʻi ʻEpeleli 15, 1921, naʻá na mali ai. Naʻá na fakatou taumuʻa pē ki he ngāue fakamalanga taimi kakató.

Kamata Tōmuʻa ʻi he Ngāue Fakamalangá

ʻI he femoʻuekina ʻa ʻeku faʻeé mo ʻeku tamaí ʻi he teuteu ke na ʻalu ki he fakataha lahi ʻi Cedar Point, ʻi Ohio ʻi he 1922, naʻá na ʻiloʻi ai naʻe feitamaʻi au ʻe heʻeku faʻeé. Taimi siʻi pē ʻi he hili ʻo hono fāʻeleʻi aú, ʻi he taʻu 22 pē ia ʻa ʻeku tamaí, naʻe fakanofo ia ko e talekita ngāue ʻa e fakatahaʻangá. Ko hono ʻuhingá leva, ko ia naʻá ne fai ʻa e ngaahi fokotuʻutuʻu kotoa ki he ngāue fakamalangá. ʻI he ʻosi pē ʻa e ngaahi uike siʻi mei hono fāʻeleʻi aú, naʻe ʻave au ʻe heʻeku faʻeé ʻi he ngāue fakamalanga fale-ki-he-falé. Ko hono moʻoní, ko ʻeku ongo kuí naʻá na saiʻia foki ke na ʻave au ʻi he ngāue fakamalangá.

ʻI heʻeku taʻu uá pē, naʻe hiki ʻa ʻeku ongo mātuʻá ki Dallas, ʻi Tekisisi, pea naʻá na kamata ai ʻa e ngāue fakamalanga taimi kakató ʻo hoko ko e ongo tāimuʻa ʻi he hili ʻa e taʻu ʻe tolu mei ai. Naʻá na mohe ʻi he poʻulí ʻi he veʻehalá ʻi ha mohenga ʻoku pelu pē kae tuku au ʻi he nofoʻanga mui ʻo e kaá. Ko e moʻoni, naʻá ku saiʻia lahi ʻi he meʻá ni, ka naʻe vave ʻa ʻena hoko ʻo mahino naʻe teʻeki ai ke na mateuteu feʻunga ki he moʻui ko ha tāimuʻa. Ko ia ai, naʻe kamata ʻe heʻeku tamaí ha pisinisi. Faifai atu pē, naʻá ne langa ha taulani ko e nofoʻanga ko e teuteu ia ki he toe kamata ʻo e ngāue tāimuʻá.

Ki muʻa ke u ʻalu ki he akó, naʻe akoʻi au ʻe heʻeku faʻeé ke u lau tohi mo tohi, pea naʻá ku ʻilo ʻa e liunga tahá ki he faá. Naʻá ne fakahanga maʻu ai pē ʻene tokangá ke tokoniʻi au ke u ako ha meʻa. Naʻá ne fokotuʻu au ʻi ha funga sea ʻi hono tafaʻakí pē koeʻuhi ke u lava ʻo holoholo mātuʻu ʻa e ngaahi peleti naʻá ne fufulu maí, pea naʻá ne akoʻi au ke u ako loto ʻa e ngaahi veesi Tohi Tapu pea hiva ʻaki ʻa e ngaahi hiva fekauʻaki mo e Puleʻangá, pe ngaahi himí he ko hono ui ia ʻi he taimi ko iá.

Tauhi ki he ʻOtuá Fakataha mo ʻEku Ongo Mātuʻá

ʻI he 1931 naʻa mau kau kotoa ki he fakataha lahi fakatupu-fiefia ʻi Columbus, ʻi Ohio, ʻa ia naʻa mau maʻu ai ʻa e hingoa ko e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová. Neongo naʻá ku taʻu valu pē, ka naʻá ku fakakaukau ko e hingoa fakaʻofoʻofa taha ia naʻá ku toki fanongo ki aí. ʻI he hili ha taimi siʻi pē ʻo ʻemau foki mai ki homau ʻapí, naʻe fakaʻauha ʻe ha afi ʻa e pisinisi ʻa ʻeku tamaí, pea naʻe lau ia ʻe heʻeku tamaí mo ʻeku faʻeé ko e “finangalo ʻo e ʻEiki” ke na toe kamata ʻo tāimuʻa. Ko ia ai, naʻa mau maʻu ʻa e fiefia ʻi he ngaahi taʻu lahi ʻi he ngāue fakamalanga taimi kakató, ʻo kamata mei he faʻahitaʻu māfana ʻo e 1932.

Naʻe tāimuʻa ʻa ʻeku ongo mātuʻá ʻi Tekisisi lotoloto ke na ofi pē ki he ongo mātuʻa ʻa ʻeku faʻeé, ʻa ia naʻá na kei nofo pē ʻi San Antonio. Naʻá ku faʻa hiki mei he ʻapi ako ki he ʻapi ako koeʻuhi ko e faʻa hiki mei he feituʻu kuo vaheʻi ke mau ngāue aí ki he toe feituʻu ʻe taha. ʻI he taimi ʻe niʻihi ko e Kau Fakamoʻoni naʻa nau faʻa lea taʻe fakakaukauʻí naʻa nau pehē, “Ko e hā ʻoku ʻikai te mou nofo maʻu ai ʻi ha feituʻu ʻe taha mo ʻai ha ʻapi ʻo e taʻahiné na,” ʻo hangē tokua naʻe ʻikai ke tokangaʻi lelei au. Ka naʻá ku fakakaukau ko ʻemau moʻuí naʻe fakafiefia pea naʻá ku tokoni atu ki heʻeku tamaí mo ʻeku faʻeé ʻi heʻena ngāue fakamalangá. Ko hono moʻoní, naʻe akoʻi mo teuteuʻi au ki he meʻa ʻe hoko ʻamui ko ʻeku founga moʻuí ia.

ʻI he ngaahi māhina lahi naʻá ku toutou tala ki heʻeku tamaí mo ʻeku faʻeé naʻá ku fie papitaiso, pea naʻá na faʻa talanoa mai kiate au ʻo fekauʻaki mo e papitaisó. Naʻá na fie fakapapauʻi ʻoku ou ʻiloʻi ʻa e mamafa ʻo e fili naʻá ku faí. ʻI Tisema 31, 1934, ko e ʻaho ia ki he meʻa mahuʻinga taha ko ʻeni ʻi heʻeku moʻuí. Kae kehe, ʻi he pō ki muʻa aí, naʻe fakapapauʻi ʻe heʻeku tamaí pe naʻá ku fai ha lotu kia Sihova. Pea naʻá ne toki fai ha meʻa fakaʻofoʻofa. Naʻá ne ʻai ke mau tūʻulutui kimautolu hono kotoa pea naʻá ne fai ha lotu. Naʻá ne tala kia Sihova naʻá ne fuʻu fiefia ʻo fekauʻaki mo e fili ʻa hono kiʻi ʻofefine ko ʻení ke fakatapui ʻa ʻene moʻuí kiate Iá. ʻOku pau, ʻi he ngaahi kuonga kotoa ka hoko maí, ʻe ʻikai pē ke ngalo ʻiate au ʻa e pō ko iá!

Akonekina Mei Heʻeku Ongo Kuí

Naʻe lahi ʻa e taimi naʻá ku ʻaʻahi ai ki heʻeku ongo kuí ʻi San Antonio, ʻi he vahaʻa ʻo e 1928 mo e 1938. Ko e founga tuʻumaʻu ʻa kinauá naʻe tatau pē ia mo ʻeku ongo mātuʻá. Ko ʻeku kui fefiné naʻá ne hoko ko e tāimuʻa ki muʻa, pea naʻá ne toki hoko ko ha tāimuʻa fakataimi pē. Naʻe toe fakanofo ʻa ʻeku kui tangatá ko ha tāimuʻa ʻi Tisema 1929, ko ia ko e ngāue fakamalangá naʻe hoko ia ko e ngāue tuʻumaʻu ke fai ʻi he ʻaho taki taha.

Naʻe faʻa pukepuke au ʻe heʻeku kui tangatá ʻi he taimi poʻulí ʻo ne akoʻi kiate au ʻa e ngaahi hingoa ʻo e ngaahi fetuʻú. Naʻá ne lauloto pē ʻa e ngaahi maau kiate au. Naʻá ku ʻalu tā tuʻo lahi mo ia ʻi he ngaahi lēlue uta pāsesé ʻi heʻene kei ngāue ʻi he lēlué. Ko e toko taha ia naʻe lava ke u hanga maʻu ai pē ki ai ʻi he taimi naʻá ku faingataʻaʻia aí; naʻá ne fakafiemālieʻi au mo ne holoholoʻi ʻa hoku loʻimatá. Ka, ʻi hono akonakiʻi au koeʻuhi ko ʻeku pauʻú pea naʻá ku ʻalu ki ai ke maʻu ha fakafiemālie, naʻá ne pehē (ko e ngaahi lea naʻe ʻikai mahino ia kiate au ʻi he taimi ko iá, ka ko e anga ʻo ʻene leá naʻe mātuʻaki mahino): “Taʻahine, ʻi heʻete faihalá, ʻokú te kai mamahi leva.”

Ngaahi Taʻu ʻo e Fakatangá

ʻI he 1939, naʻe kamata ai ʻa e Tau II ʻa Māmaní, pea naʻe faingataʻaʻia ʻa e kakai ʻa Sihová ʻi he fakatanga mo e ʻohofi fakamālohi fakatokolahi. ʻI he fakaʻosinga ʻo e 1939, naʻe puke lahi ʻaupito ai ʻa ʻeku faʻeé pea faifai atu pē naʻe fie maʻu ia ke fai hano tafa, ko ia naʻa mau toe hiki mai ki San Antonio.

ʻI heʻemau tufa ʻa e makasiní ʻi he ngaahi hala ʻo San Antonio naʻe fakapupunga ai pē ʻa e kau fakafepakí. Ka ʻi he uike taki taha, naʻa mau ʻi ai, ʻa homau fāmilí, ʻo taki taha tuʻu ʻi he tuliki naʻe vaheʻi ia ki ai. Naʻá ku faʻa sio atu pē ki heʻenau fusi atu ʻa ʻeku tamaí ʻo ʻave ki he fale polisí.

Naʻe feinga pē ʻa ʻeku tamaí ke hokohoko atu ʻene ngāue tāimuʻá neongo naʻe fie maʻu ke mālōlō ʻa ʻeku faʻeé. Kae kehe, naʻe ʻikai maʻu ʻe heʻeku tamaí ha paʻanga feʻunga mei he ngāue fakataimi pē, ko ia naʻe fie maʻu ke ne mālōlō mo ia foki. Naʻe ʻosi ʻa ʻeku akó ʻi he 1939, pea naʻá ku ngāue mo au foki.

ʻI he lolotonga ʻo e ngaahi taʻu ko iá ko e hingoa ko ia ʻo ʻeku tamaí ko Judge (Fakamaau) naʻe ʻaonga ʻaupito. Ko e fakatātā, ko ha kulupu ʻo ha Kau Fakamoʻoni naʻa nau ʻalu ke malanga ʻi ha kolo ʻi he tokelau ʻo San Antonio, pea naʻe hanga ʻe he fakamaau fakaevahefonuá ia ʻo fakahū pilīsone kotoa kinautolu. Naʻe fakafuofua ki he toko 35 naʻá ne puké, pea naʻe kau ai mo ʻeku ongo kuí. Naʻá na fetuʻutaki taʻe fakahangatonu mai nai ki heʻeku tamaí, pea naʻá ne ʻalu meʻalele ki ai. Naʻá ne hū atu ki he ʻōfisi ʻo e fakamaau fakaevahefonuá pea naʻá ne pehē: “Ko Judge Norris au mei San Antonio.”

Naʻe ʻeke mai ʻe he fakamaau fakaevahefonuá: “ʻIo, Tangataʻeiki Fakamaau, ko e hā ha meʻa te u fai maʻau”?

Naʻe tali atu ʻe heʻeku tamaí: “Ko ʻeku haʻú ʻo feinga ke tuku ange ʻa e kakai ko ʻení mei he pilīsoné.” Naʻe tuku ange leva ʻe he fakamaau fakaevahefonuá kinautolu ʻo ʻikai fie maʻu ha totongi-maluʻi​—pea ʻikai pē ke toe fakafehufehuʻi!

Naʻe saiʻia ʻa ʻeku tamaí ke ne malanga ki he kakai ngāue ʻi he ngaahi fale fungavaka ko e ngaahi ʻōfisi ʻi he loto koló, pea naʻe tautautefito ʻene saiʻiá ke ʻaʻahi ki he kau fakamaaú mo e kau loeá. Naʻá ne faʻa fakahā ki he toko taha tali kakaí: “Ko Judge Norris au, pea ko ʻeku haʻú ke u sio kia Fakamaau Meʻa.”

Pea ʻi heʻene feʻiloaki mo e fakamaaú, naʻá ne ʻuluaki pehē maʻu pē: “Ki muʻa ke u fakamatala ʻo fekauʻaki mo e taumuʻa ʻo ʻeku ʻaʻahí, ʻoku ou fie fakamatala atu kiate koe ko e Judge au ʻo fuoloa ange ia ʻiate koe. Talu pē ʻeku tupu mo ʻeku hoko ko e Judge.” Pea ne toki fakamatala ki he ʻuhinga naʻá ne maʻu ai ha hingoa pehē. Naʻe hoko ʻeni ko ha lea kamata anga-fakakaumeʻa, pea naʻá ne fakatupulekina ʻa e ngaahi vā lelei mo e kau fakamaau ʻi he ngaahi ʻaho ko iá.

Loto-Hounga ki he Tataki Fakaemātuʻá

Naʻá ku ʻi he ngaahi taʻu faingataʻa ko ia ʻo e kei talavoú, pea ʻoku ou ʻilo ʻi he taimi lahi naʻe loto-moʻua ʻa ʻeku tamaí mo ʻeku faʻeé ʻi heʻena tokangaʻi aú mo na fifili pē ko e hā ʻa e meʻa hono hoko te u faí. ʻOku hangē pē ko ia ʻoku fai ʻe he fānau kotoa pē, naʻe tuʻo lahi ʻa ʻeku kiʻi ʻahiʻahiʻi ʻa ʻeku tamaí mo ʻeku faʻeé, ʻo kole ke fai ha meʻa pe ke ʻalu ki ha feituʻu ka naʻá ku toka ʻilo pē ki muʻa ko ʻena talí ko e ʻikai. ʻI he taimi ʻe niʻihi naʻe fai ʻa e tangi. Ko hono moʻoní, naʻá ku mei loto-mamahi lahi ʻaupito kapau naʻá na pehē mai: “ʻAlu ʻo fai ʻa e meʻa ʻokú ke loto ki aí. ʻOku ʻikai te ma tokanga kimaua ki ai.”

Naʻá ku maʻu ʻa e ongoʻi malu ʻi heʻeku ʻiloʻi ʻe ʻikai malava ke u fakalotoʻi kinaua ke liliu ʻa ʻena ngaahi tuʻungá. Ko hono moʻoní, naʻe faingofua ange ai ia kiate au ʻi he fokotuʻu mai ʻe he kau talavou kehé ʻa e fakafiefia taʻe fakapotopotó, he naʻá ku tala ange pē: “ʻE ʻikai ke fakangofua ʻe heʻeku tamaí ke u ʻalu ki ai.” ʻI heʻeku taʻu 16, naʻe fakapapauʻi ʻe heʻeku tamaí ke akoʻi au ʻi he fakaʻulí pea maʻu mai mo ʻeku laiseni fakaʻuli. ʻI he taimi meimei tatau pē naʻá ne ʻomai kiate au ha kī ʻo homau falé. Naʻe fuʻu maongo kiate au ʻa ʻene falala kiate aú. Naʻá ku ongoʻi ʻoku ou fuʻu lahi, pea naʻe fakahā kiate au ʻa e fatongia kuo u maʻú pea mo e fakaʻamu ke ʻoua naʻá ku ngāuekoviʻaki ʻa ʻena falalá.

ʻI he ngaahi ʻaho ko iá naʻe ʻikai ke lahi ʻa e akonaki naʻe fai mei he Tohi Tapú ʻo fekauʻaki mo e nofo malí, ka naʻe lāuʻilo ʻa ʻeku tamaí ki he Tohi Tapú pea mo ʻene lave ʻo fekauʻaki mo e mali “i he Eiki be.” (1 Kolinitō 7:​39, PM) Naʻá ne fakamahino kiate au kapau te u fakaafeʻi mai ki ʻapi ha tamasiʻi mei he māmaní ke fakafeʻiloaki mo ʻeku ongo mātuʻá, pe fakakaukau ke fai sō mo ha tamasiʻi ʻi he māmaní, te ne mātuʻaki loto-mamahi ai. Naʻá ku ʻilo ʻe au naʻe tonu pē ia, he naʻá ku sio ki he fiefia mo e fāʻūtaha ʻi heʻena nofo malí koeʻuhi he naʻá na mali “i he Eiki be.”

ʻI he 1941, ko hoku taʻu 18 ia, naʻá ku pehē naʻá ku ʻofa ʻi ha talavou ʻi he fakatahaʻangá. Naʻá ne ngāue tāimuʻa mo ako ke hoko ko ha loea. Naʻe toʻoa ai hoku lotó. Pea ʻi heʻema tala ki heʻeku ongo mātuʻá ʻokú ma loto ke ma malí, naʻe ʻikai te na fakahā ha taʻe loto pe feinga ke fakalotosiʻi, naʻá na pehē pē: “ʻOkú ma fie fai ha kole pē ʻe taha kiate koe Blossom. ʻOkú ma pehē ʻokú ke kei siʻi pē, pea ʻokú ma kole atu ke ke toe kiʻi tatali muʻa ʻi ha taʻu ʻe taha. Ko e taʻu ʻe tahá ʻoku ʻikai ko ha meʻa lahi, ʻo kapau ʻokú ke ʻofa moʻoni.”

ʻOku ou fakamālō lahi ʻaupito ʻi heʻeku tali ʻa e akonaki fakapotopoto ko iá. ʻI he lolotonga ʻo e taʻu ʻe tahá, naʻá ku matuʻotuʻa ange pea naʻe kamata ke u ʻilo ai ko e talavou ko ʻení naʻe ʻikai te ne maʻu ʻa e ngaahi ʻulungāanga ke hoko ai ko ha hoa nofo mali lelei. Faifai atu pē naʻá ne liʻaki ʻa e kautaha ʻa Sihová, pea naʻá ku hao ai mei he meʻa naʻe mei hoko ko e fakatuʻutāmaki ki heʻeku moʻuí. Ko ha meʻa fakafiefia ē ke maʻu ha ongo mātuʻa fakapotopoto ʻa ia ko ʻena fakakaukaú ʻe malava ke fai ha falala ki ai!

Nofo Mali mo e Ngāue Fefonongaakí

ʻI he faʻahitaʻu momoko ʻo e 1946, ko e ʻosi ia ʻa ʻeku ngāue tāimuʻa ʻi he taʻu ʻe ono mo ngāue ʻi he ngaahi ʻaho ʻe niʻihi pē ʻi he uike taki taha, naʻe hū mai ki homau Kingdom Hall ʻa e talavou lelei taha naʻá ku feʻiloaki mo ia. Naʻe vaheʻi mai ʻa Gene Brandt ko ha tokoni ki heʻemau sevāniti fefonongaaki ki he ngaahi tokouá, ʻa ia naʻe toki ui ko e ʻovasia fefonongaakí. Naʻá ma femanakoʻaki, pea ʻi ʻAokosi 5, 1947, naʻá ma mali ai.

Taimi siʻi pē, naʻe kamata ʻe heʻeku tamaí mo Gene ha pisinisi ngāue fakatauhi-tohi. Ka naʻe tala ange ʻe heʻeku tamaí kia Gene: “Ko e ʻaho pē ʻe taʻofi ai kitaua ʻe he pisinisi ko ʻení mei ha fakataha pe ha ngāue fakateokalati kuo vaheʻi mai, te u tāpuni ʻa e pisinisí.” Naʻe tāpuakiʻi ʻe Sihova ʻa e anga ʻo e fakakaukau fakalaumālie ko ʻení, pea naʻe tokonaki feʻunga mai ʻe he pisinisí ʻa e ngaahi fie maʻu fakamatelié pea ʻi ai mo e taimi ke mau tāimuʻa ai. Ko ʻeku tamaí mo Gene ko ha ongo tangata pisinisi lelei, pea naʻe faingofua ke mau koloaʻia, ka naʻe ʻikai ʻaupito pē ko ʻena taumuʻá ia.

ʻI he 1954, naʻe ʻi ai ha liliu lahi ki heʻema moʻuí, koeʻuhi he naʻe fakaafeʻi ʻa Gene ki he ngāue fefonongaakí. Ko e hā leva ha lau ʻa ʻeku ongo mātuʻá? ʻOku hangē pē ko ia ki muʻá naʻe ʻikai te na tokanga kiate kinaua ka ko e ngaahi meʻa mahuʻinga fekauʻaki mo e Puleʻanga ʻo e ʻOtuá pea mo e lelei fakalaumālie ʻo ʻena fānaú. Naʻe ʻikai ʻaupito pē ke na pehē mai kiate kimaua: “Ko e hā ʻoku ʻikai ke ʻai ai haʻamo fānau koeʻuhi ke maʻu ai hama mokopuna?” Ka, ʻi he taimi kotoa pē naʻá na pehē: “Ko e hā ʻe malava ke ma fai ke tokoni kiate kimoua ʻi he ngāue fakamalanga taimi kakató?”

Ko ia ʻi he hoko ʻa e ʻaho ke ma ʻalu aí, naʻe ʻi ai ʻa e ngaahi lea pē ʻo e fakalototoʻa mo e fiefia ki homa monū maʻongoʻongá. Naʻe ʻikai ʻaupito pē ke na ʻai kimaua ke ma ongoʻi ʻokú ma hanga ʻo liʻaki kinaua ka naʻá na poupouʻi fakaʻaufuli kimaua. ʻI heʻema ʻalú, naʻá na femoʻuekina pē ʻi he ngāue tāimuʻá ʻi ha toe taʻu ʻe hongofulu. Naʻe fakanofo ʻa ʻeku tamaí ko e ʻovasia fakakolo ʻo San Antonio, ʻa ia naʻá ne ngāue ʻi he tuʻunga ko ʻení ʻi he taʻu ʻe 30. Naʻá ne fiefia ʻi heʻene sio ki he tupu mei he fakatahaʻanga ʻe taha ʻi he koló ʻi he ngaahi taʻu 1920 tupú ki he ngaahi fakatahaʻanga ʻe 71 ki muʻa peá ne ne toki mate ʻi he 1991.

Naʻe fonu fiefia ʻa e moʻuí kiate au mo Gene. Naʻá ma maʻu ʻa e fiefia lahi ʻi he ngāue ki he siʻi ngaahi tokoua mo e tuofāfine ʻi he ngaahi vahefonua lalahi hake ʻi he 31, pea mahulu hake nai ʻi he meʻa kotoa pē, ko e monū ʻo ʻema kau ki he kalasi hono 29 ʻo e Akoʻanga Tohi Tapu ʻa e Taua Leʻó ko Kiliatí ʻi he 1957. ʻI he ʻosi iá naʻá ma toe foki pē ki he ngāue fefonongaakí. ʻI he 1984, ko e ʻosi ia ʻo e taʻu ʻe 30 ʻi he ngāue fefonongaakí mo fakavahé, naʻe anga-ʻofa ʻa e Sosaieté ʻo vaheʻi ʻa Gene ki ha feituʻu ʻi San Antonio, koeʻuhi ko ʻeku ongo mātuʻá naʻe lahi hake ʻi he taʻu ʻe 80 ʻa hona taʻumotuʻá pea naʻá na mahamahaki foki.

Tauhi ʻo e Ongo Mātuʻá

Naʻe taʻu pē ʻe taha mo e konga mei heʻema toe foki ki San Antonio pea naʻe hoko ʻa ʻeku faʻeé ʻo ʻikai te ne toe lava ke fai ha ngāue peá ne mate ai. Naʻe hoko vave ʻaupito ʻeni pea naʻe ʻikai te u tala ange kiate ia ʻa e ngaahi meʻa ʻe niʻihi naʻá ku fie tala ange ki aí. Naʻá ku ako mei he meʻa ko ʻení ke u talanoa lahi ange mo ʻeku tamaí. Ko e taʻu ia ʻe 65 ʻo ʻena nofo malí, pea naʻá ne fuʻu ʻunaloto lahi ʻaupito ki heʻeku faʻeé, ka naʻá ma ʻofaʻi mo poupouʻi ia.

Naʻe hokohoko atu ʻa e faʻifaʻitakiʻanga lelei ʻa ʻeku tamaí ʻi he maʻu ʻo e ngaahi fakataha faka-Kalisitiané, akó mo e ngāue fakamalangá ʻo aʻu pē ki heʻene maté. Naʻá ne manako ke lau tohi. Pea koeʻuhi naʻá ne nofo toko taha pē lolotonga ʻa ʻema ʻi he ngāue fakamalangá, naʻá ku foki ki ʻapi ʻo ʻeke, “Naʻá ke taʻe lata?” Koeʻuhi naʻá ne femoʻuekina pē ʻi he lau tohí mo e akó, ko e fakakaukau ki he taʻe latá naʻe ʻikai pē ke ʻi heʻene fakakaukau ia ʻaʻaná.

Naʻe ʻi ai ʻa e meʻa ʻe taha naʻa mau angaʻaki ʻo aʻu ki heʻene mate pea ʻoku mau kei fai ki ai. Naʻe vili maʻu pē ʻa ʻeku tamaí ke kai fakataha ʻa e fāmilí, tautefito ki he kai pongipongí ʻi hono vakaiʻi ʻa e potutohi fakaʻaho ʻa e Tohi Tapú. ʻI heʻeku kei siʻi haké naʻe ʻikai ʻaupito ke tuku ange au ke u ʻalu mei ʻapi ʻoku teʻeki ai ke fai ʻeni. ʻI he taimi ʻe niʻihi naʻá ku pehē ki heʻeku tamaí: “Ka, te u tōmui au ia ki he akó (pe ko e ngāué).”

Naʻá ne pehē mai: “ʻOku ʻikai ko e potutohí ʻokú ne ʻai koe ke ke tōmuí; ko koe naʻe tōmui ʻa hoʻo ʻā haké.” Pea naʻe pau ke u nofo ʻo fakafanongo ki he potutohí. Naʻá ne fakapapauʻi ko e faʻifaʻitakiʻanga lelei ko ʻení naʻe fai pē ia ʻo aʻu ki he ngaahi ʻaho fakaʻosi ʻo ʻene moʻuí. Ko ha toe tofiʻa ʻeni ʻe taha naʻá ne tuku mai maʻaku.

Naʻe lelei pē ʻa e fakakaukau ʻa ʻeku tamaí ʻo aʻu ki heʻene maté. Ko e meʻa ia naʻe ʻai ke faingofua ange ai ʻa hono tauhí he naʻe ʻikai ʻaupito te ne hohaʻa laulaunoa pe lāunga. ʻIo, ʻi he taimi ʻe niʻihi naʻá ne lave ki heʻene langa-huí, ka naʻá ku fakamanatuʻi ange ki ai ko e tupu pē ia mei he taʻe haohaoa tukufakaholo meia ʻĀtamá, pea naʻá ne kata. ʻI he tangutu hifo ʻa au mo Gene ʻi hono tafaʻakí, naʻe mate fiemālie pē ʻa ʻeku tamaí ʻi he pongipongi ʻo Nōvema 30, 1991.

Kuo laka hake ʻa hoku taʻumotuʻá ʻi he 70 pea ʻoku ou kei maʻu pē ʻa e ʻaonga mei he faʻifaʻitakiʻanga lelei ʻa ʻeku ongo mātuʻa Kalisitiane anga-ʻofá. Pea ko ʻeku lotu fakamātoató ia ke u fakamoʻoniʻi ʻa ʻeku loto-hounga fakaʻaufuli ki he tofiʻa ko ʻení ʻaki haʻaku ngāueleleiʻaki ia ʻi he ngaahi kuonga lahi ka hoko maí.​—Sāme 71:​17, 18.

[Fakatātā ʻi he peesi 5]

Ko au mo ʻeku faʻeé

[Fakatātā ʻi he peesi 7]

1. Ko ʻeku ʻuluaki kau ki ha fakataha lahi: San Marcos, ʻi Tekisisi, Sēpitema 1923

2. Fakataha lahi fakaʻosi naʻe kau ki ai ʻa ʻeku tamaí: Fort Worth, ʻi Tekisisi, Sune 1991 (Ko ʻeku tamaí ʻoku tangutú)

[Fakatātā ʻi he peesi 9]

Ko Gene mo Blossom Brandt