Yɛn Awofo Akyerɛkyerɛ Yɛn Ma Yɛadɔ Onyankopɔn

SƐNEA ELIZABETH TRACY KA KYERƐE

Mmarima a na wɔde akode ahyehyɛ wɔn ho, a saa da no na wɔnam basabasayɛfo so asɔre atia yɛn no twee Maame ne Paapa fii kar no mu sii fam. Ɛkaa me ne me nuabea no nkutoo wɔ kar no akyi a na yennim sɛ ebia yebehu yɛn awofo bio. Ɛyɛɛ dɛn na yehyiaa asɛm a ɛyɛ hu saa wɔ beae a ɛbɛn Selma, Alabama, U.S.A., wɔ 1941 mu no? Na nkyerɛkyerɛ a yenyaa no yɛn awofo hɔ no fa eyi ho dɛn?

OBUSUANI bi na ɛtetee me papa Dewey Fountain, wɔ akuraa bi ase wɔ Texas bere a n’awofo wui a na ɔda so ara yɛ akokoaa no. Akyiri yi ɔkɔyɛɛ adwuma wɔ baabi a wotu fango. Ɔwaree Winnie, Texasni hoɔfɛfo bi wɔ 1922 mu, bere a na wadi mfe 23, na wofii ase sɛ wɔbɛtra ase ahyehyɛ abusua.

Osii fie wɔ baabi a wobu nnua wɔ Texas apuei fam a ɛbɛn kurow ketewa Garrison. Oduaa nnɔbae ahorow pii, a emu bi ne asaawa ne aburow. Afei nso na ɔyɛn mmoa ahorow nyinaa bi. Bere kɔɔ so no, wɔwoo yɛn a yɛyɛ mmofra no—Dewey kumaa wɔ May 1924 mu, Edwena wɔ December 1925 mu, na me nso metoaa so wɔ June 1929.

Bible Mu Nokware a Yesua

Ná Maame ne Paapa susuw sɛ wɔte Bible no ase esiane sɛ na wɔkɔ Church of Christ asɔre no nti. Nanso wɔ 1932 mu no, G. W. Cook gyaa nhoma Deliverance ne Government, a Ɔwɛn Aban Asafo tintimii no maa Paapa nuabarima Monroe Fountain. Esiane sɛ na Monroe ho pere no sɛ ɔbɛka nea ɔresua no ho asɛm akyerɛ m’awofo nti, na ɔtaa ba bere a yɛredidi anɔpa bɛkenkan asɛm bi fi Ɔwɛn-Aban mu, na da bi de, “ne werɛ fii ne ho” ma ogyaw nsɛmma nhoma no hɔ. Ɛno akyi no, Maame ne Paapa kenkanee.

Kwasida anɔpa bi Wɔfa Monroe too nsa frɛɛ Paapa sɛ ɔmmra ne yɔnko bi fie mma wɔnyɛ Bible adesua. Ɔmaa no awerɛhyem sɛ Owura Cook betumi de Bible no abua ne nsɛmmisa nyinaa. Bere a Paapa fii adesua no ase bae no, ɔde anigye ka kyerɛɛ abusua no sɛ: “Manya me nsɛmmisa nyinaa ho mmuae anya bi aka ho! Ná migye di sɛ minim biribiara, nanso bere a Owura Cook fii ase kyerɛkyerɛɛ hell, ɔkra, Onyankopɔn atirimpɔw ma asase, ne sɛnea Onyankopɔn Ahenni bɛba no mu no, mibehui sɛ minnim Bible no ho hwee koraa!”

Ná yɛn fie ayɛ te sɛ baabi a obiara tumi ba hɔ bi. Ná abusuafo ne nnamfo bɛsra yɛn, yɛyɛ nnɔkɔnnɔkɔwade kye Aborɔfo nkyewe, na bere a Maame bɔ adakabɛn no, wɔto dwom di akyi. Eyi de nkakrankakra buee kwan maa Bible nsɛm ho nkɔmmɔbɔ. Ɛwom sɛ na yɛn a yɛyɛ mmofra no nte nneɛma a na wosusuw ho no nyinaa ase de, nanso ɔdɔ a emu yɛ den a na yɛn awofo wɔ ma Onyankopɔn ne Bible no bɛdaa adi maa enti yɛn a yɛyɛ mmofra no mu biara benyaa ɔdɔ a ɛte saa maa Onyankopɔn ne N’asɛm no.

Mmusua afoforo nso penee so maa wɔyɛɛ dapɛn Bible adesua wɔ wɔn afie mu, a na ɛtaa gyina Ɔwɛn-Aban nsɛmma nhoma a aba foforo so. Sɛ yɛyɛ nhyiam no wɔ mmusua a wɔwɔ Appleby ne Nacogdoches nkurow a ɛbɛn no mu a, na yɛn nyinaa pia yɛn ho hyɛ yɛn Ford lɔre no mu ma tu kwan no, ɛmfa ho sɛnea wim tebea te biara.

Wɔyɛ Nea Wosua no Ho Biribi

Ankyɛ koraa na yɛn awofo huu sɛ ehia sɛ wɔyɛ ho biribi. Ɔdɔ a wɔwɔ ma Onyankopɔn hwehwɛ sɛ wɔka nea wɔasua no ho asɛm kyerɛ afoforo. (Asomafo no Nnwuma 20:35) Nanso wɔn gyidi a na wɔbɛda no adi wɔ baguam saa no bɛyɛɛ sɔhwɛ kɛse, titiriw esiane sɛ na yɛn awofo yɛ nkurɔfo a wɔfɛre ade nti. Nanso ɔdɔ a na wɔwɔ ma Onyankopɔn no kanyan wɔn, na eyi boaa wɔn maa wɔkyerɛkyerɛɛ yɛn maa yenyaa Yehowa mu ahotoso a emu dɔ. Paapa kaa ho asɛm saa kwan yi so sɛ: “Yehowa de akuafo reka asɛmpa no!” Wɔ 1933 mu no, Maame ne Paapa de nsu mu asubɔ yɛɛ wɔn ahosohyira ma Yehowa no ho sɛnkyerɛnne wɔ ɔtare ketewa bi mu wɔ Henderson a ɛbɛn Texas.

Wɔ 1935 mu no, Paapa kyerɛw Ɔwɛn Aban Asafo no bisaa wɔn nsɛm pii a ɛfa Kristofo anidaso wɔ daa nkwa ho ho. (Yohane 14:2; 2 Timoteo 2:11, 12; Adiyisɛm 14:1, 3; 20:6) Onyaa mmuae tẽẽ fii Joseph F. Rutherford, a na ɔyɛ Asafo ti no titrani saa bere no hɔ. Sɛ́ anka obebua ne nsɛm no, Onua Rutherford too nsa frɛɛ Paapa sɛ ɔmmra Yehowa Adansefo ɔmantam nhyiam a na wɔbɛyɛ no Washington, D.C., wɔ May mu no bi.

Paapa kae sɛ ‘Ɛrenyɛ yiye’! ‘Yɛyɛ akuafo a yɛadua nneɛma hɛkta 26. Ɛno ara na yebetwa de akɔ gua so saa bere no.’ Ɛno akyi bere tiaa bi no, nsuyiri bi bae bɛfaa ne nneɛma a ɔde yi ne ho ano no nyinaa—nnɔbae, ɛban, ne ɛtwene ahorow. Enti yɛkɔkaa Adansefo afoforo ho faa sukuu bɔs de twaa kwan kilomita 1,600 kɔɔ nhyiam no wɔ atifi fam.

Wɔ nhyiam no ase no ɛyɛɛ Maame ne Paapa anigye sɛ wotiee nkyerɛkyerɛmu a ɛfa “nnipakuw kɛse” a wobetwa “ahohiahia kɛse no” ho. (Adiyisɛm 7:9, 14) Daa nkwa wɔ asase so Paradise ho anidaso no kanyan Maame ne Paapa ma wɔde wɔn nkwa nna a aka no hyɛɛ yɛn a yɛyɛ mmofra no den na ‘yɛaso nokware nkwa no mu,’ a wɔ yɛn fam no na ɛkyerɛ daa nkwa wɔ asase so a Yehowa de bɛma no. (1 Timoteo 6:19; Dwom 37:29; Adiyisɛm 21:3, 4) Ɛwom sɛ na madi mfe anum pɛ de, nanso m’ani gyee sɛ na meka m’abusua no ho wɔ saa anigye bere yi mu.

Bere a yefi nhyiam no bae no, abusua no san duaa nnɔbae no bio, na akyiri yi yenyaa nnɔbae a ɛsen biara wɔ twabere no mu. Eyi maa Maame ne Paapa nyaa Yehowa mu ahotoso koraa sɛ sɛ wɔde wɔn ho to ne so a ɔrenni wɔn huammɔ da. Wɔde wɔn ho hyɛɛ asɛnka adwuma no fa titiriw bi a na ɛbɛma wɔde nnɔnhwerew 52 aka asɛmpa no ɔsram biara no mu. Na bere soe sɛ wodua nneɛma foforo afe a edi hɔ no, wɔtɔnee wɔn afuw—no nyinaa! Na Paapa wɔ fie bi a esi lɔre so a na wasi ama yɛn baanum no, na ɔtɔɔ Ford lɔre foforo bi a na ɛbɛtwe. Wɔfa Monroe nso yɛɛ saa ara, na wɔn baanu ne wɔn mmusua tu kɔtraa ofie a esi lɔre so no mu.

Wɔkyerɛkyerɛ Yɛn Nokware No

Paapa ne Maame fii akwampae adwuma, sɛnea wɔfrɛ bere nyinaa som adwuma no, ase wɔ October 1936 mu. Sɛ abusua no, yɛkaa asɛmpa no wɔ Texas apuei fam mpɔtam a na Ahenni ho asɛmpa ntrɛw pii wɔ hɔ no. Bɛyɛ sɛ afe biako no, na yedi atutra, nanso ne nyinaa mu no, yɛn ani gyee saa asetra yi ho. Maame ne Paapa nam wɔn nsɛm ne wɔn nhwɛso so kyerɛkyerɛɛ yɛn sɛ yɛnyɛ te sɛ afeha a edi kan Kristofo a wotuu wɔn ho mae de kaa Bible mu nokware ho asɛm kyerɛɛ afoforo no.

Yɛn a yɛyɛ mmofra no titiriw ani gyee yɛn maame ho wɔ afɔre a ɔde ne fie bɔe no ho. Nanso ade biako a wankɔ annya hɔ ne n’afiri a na ɔde pam ade no. Na ɛno nso yɛ gyinaesi a eye. Esiane sɛ na onim adepam yiye nti, na bere biara ɔma yenya ntade pa hyɛ. Sɛ yɛkɔ nhyiam biara a, na yɛhyɛ ntade foforo a ɛyɛ fɛ.

Mekae bere bi a Herman G. Henschel ne n’abusua de Ɔwɛn Aban Asafo no lɔre a akasam wɔ atifi bi baa yɛn mpɔtam hɔ no yiye. Na wɔde wɔn lɔre no si baabi a nnipa pii wɔ, bɔ ɔkasa tiawa a wɔakyere agu hama so na afei wɔakɔyɛ sankɔhwɛ wɔ nkurɔfo no so de akyerɛkyerɛ wɔn nsɛm foforo. Dewey kumaa ani gyee ɔne Herman babarima Milton a na onnya nnii mfe aduonu no ayɔnkofa ho. Mprempren Milton ne Ɔwɛn Aban Asafo no titrani.

Wɔbɔɔ Edwena asu wɔ nhyiam a wɔyɛɛ no Columbus, Ohio, wɔ 1937 mu no ase, na Maame ne Paapa nyaa hokwan somee sɛ akwampaefo titiriw. Saa bere no na adwuma no hwehwɛ sɛ anyɛ yiye koraa no wɔde nnɔnhwerew 200 yɛ asɛnka adwuma no ɔsram biara. Sɛ mehwɛ m’akyi a, mitumi hu sɛ Maame nhwɛso pa no aboa me ma meboa me kunu wɔ ne Kristofo dwumadi no mu.

Bere a Paapa ne abusua bi hyehyɛɛ Bible adesua no, ɔde yɛn a na yɛyɛ mmofra no kaa ne ho kɔe na ayɛ nhwɛso pa ama wɔn mma no. Ná ɔma yɛhwehwɛ Bible kyerɛw nsɛm ahorow kenkan, na yɛde nsɛmmisa a ɛnyɛ den no ho mmuae ma. Nea afi mu aba ne sɛ, ɛde besi nnɛ no, mmofra nkumaa a yɛne wɔn suaa ade no mu pii de nokwaredi resom Yehowa. Nokwarem no, wɔtoo nhyɛase pa nso maa yɛn na ama yɛakɔ so adɔ Onyankopɔn.

Bere a Dewey kumaa nyinii no, ɛbɛyɛɛ den maa no sɛ ɔne ne nuabeanom nketewa baanu no nyinaa bɛtra fie ketewa no mu. Ɛno nti wɔ 1940 mu no ofii hɔ ne Ɔdansefo foforo kɔyɛɛ akwampae adwuma no. Bere bi akyi no, ɔwaree Audrey Barron. Enti yɛn abusua no kyerɛkyerɛɛ Audrey nneɛma pii, na obenyaa ɔdɔ kɛse maa Maame ne Paapa. Bere a Dewey kumaa kɔdaa afiase wɔ 1944 mu esiane ɔfã biara a na onni sɛ Kristoni no nti akyi no, ɔsan ne yɛn bɛtraa yɛn fie ketewa no mu.

Wɔ nhyiam kɛse bi a wɔyɛɛ wɔ St. Louis, Missouri, wɔ 1941 mu ase no, Onua Rutherford kasa kyerɛɛ mmofra a wɔadi fi mfe 5 kosi 18 a na wɔte ɔfã a wɔahyɛ da apaw ama wɔn wɔ anim no tẽẽ. Me ne Edwena tiee ne nne bɔkɔɔ a na emu da hɔ no; na ɔte sɛ agya a ɔwɔ ɔdɔ a ɔde akwankyerɛ rema n’ankasa ne mma. Ɔhyɛɛ awofo nkuran sɛ: “Ɛnnɛ Yesu Kristo aboaboa ne nkurɔfo a ɔne wɔn ayɛ apam no ano wɔ n’anim, na wɔ ɔkwan a tumi wom so no, ɔka kyerɛ wɔn sɛ wɔmfa trenee kwan nkyerɛkyerɛ wɔn mma.” Ɔde kaa ho sɛ: “Momma wɔntra fie na momfa nokware no nkyerɛkyerɛ wɔn!” Anigyesɛm ne sɛ, yɛn awofo yɛɛ saa!

Wɔ nhyiam no ase no, yenyaa nhomawa foforo Jehovah’s Servants Defended, a na ɛka nsɛm a Yehowa Adansefo adi mu nkonim wɔ asɛnnibea, a United States Asɛnnibea Kunini de no ka ho. Paapa ne yɛn abusua no suae. Na yennim sɛ wɔasiesie yɛn ama nea na ɛrebesi adapɛn kakraa bi akyi wɔ Selma, Alabama no.

Basabasayɛfo Nneyɛe Wɔ Selma

Osuahu a ɛyɛ hu a esii saa anɔpa no mu no, na Paapa de nkrataa akɔma aban panyin a ɔwɔ kurow no mu ne polisifo panyin a ɔwɔ Selma, a ɛkyerɛkyerɛ hokwan a yɛwɔ wɔ amanyɔ mmara mu sɛ yetumi yɛ yɛn som adwuma no a hwee nsiw yɛn kwan. Nanso wosii gyinae sɛ wobetu yɛn afi kurow no mu.

Anwummere no, mmarima baanum a wokurakura akode baa yɛn fie a esi lɔre so no ho bɛkyeree Maame, me nuabea, ne me. Wɔhwehwɛɛ yɛn fie no mu fefeefe, a na wɔrepɛ biribi a ɛkyerɛ sɛ yetutu ɔman ase. Na Paapa wɔ anim hɔ, na wɔde tuo akyerɛ ne so sɛ ɔnkyekyere yɛn fie no mmɔ kar no to. Saa bere yi na me yam nhyehye me koraa. Na ɛte sɛ nea bu a mmarima yi buu yɛn sɛ yɛn ho yɛ hu no yɛ serew ma enti me ne me nuabea no serew wɔn. Nanso bere a Paapa buu n’ani kyerɛɛ yɛn no, ntɛm ara na yehuu aniberesɛm a na ɛwom.

Bere a yɛyɛɛ krado sɛ yɛbɛkɔ no, na mmarima no pɛ sɛ Edwena ne me ka wɔn ho wɔ wɔn kar no mu. Nanso Paapa ampene so. Ɔkae sɛ: “Gye sɛ mawu de!” Wosusuw nneɛma ho akyi no wɔpenee so maa yɛn abusua no traa kar biako mu, a na mmarima a wokurakura tuo no de wɔn de di yɛn akyi. Yefii kurow no mu twaa bɛyɛ kilomita 25 no, wɔmaa yegyinaa ɔkwan no nkyɛn baabi na wɔde Maame ne Paapa kɔe. Mmarima no bɔɔ mmɔden sɛ wɔbɛma wɔasesa wɔn adwene sɛ: “Munnyae mo som no. Monsan nkɔ akuraase nkɔtete mo mma no, moate!” Paapa bɔɔ mmɔden sɛ ɔne wɔn besusuw nsɛm ho nanso ankosi hwee.

Awiei koraa no, ɔbarima biako kae sɛ: “Monkɔ, sɛ moba Dallas County bio a, yebekunkum mo nyinaa!”

Wogyaee yɛn ma yɛboom bio no, yɛde nnɔnhwerew pii twaa kwan, na eduu anadwo no, yegyinae. Ná yɛafa wɔn kar nɔma. Enti Paapa kaa nea esii no nyinaa kyerɛɛ Ɔwɛn Aban Asafo no, na asram bi akyi no wohuu mmarima no kyeree wɔn.

Mekɔ Gilead Asɛmpatrɛw Sukuu

Wɔtoo nsa frɛɛ Edwena sɛ ɔmmra Ɔwɛn Aban Gilead Bible Sukuu adesua kuw a ɛtɔ so 7 no bi wɔ South Lansing, New York, wɔ 1946 mu. Akyerɛkyerɛfo no mu biako, Albert Schroeder, kaa ne suban pa no ho asɛm kyerɛɛ ne yɔnko kwampaefo dedaw Bill Elrod, a na ɔsom wɔ Betel, Yehowa Adansefo wiase nyinaa adwumayɛbea ti a ɛwɔ Brooklyn, New York no.a Edwena ne Bill huu wɔn ho, na Edwena wiee Gilead adesua bɛyɛ sɛ afe no, wɔwaree. Wɔatra bere nyinaa som adwuma no mu mfe pii, na wɔde emu mfe anum somee wɔ Betel. Afei da koro bi, wɔ 1959 mu no, Onua Schroeder bɔɔ Gilead adesua kuw a ɛtɔ so 34 no amanneɛ sɛ n’adamfo paa no awo ntafo, ɔbarima ne ɔbea.

Bere a na me ne m’awofo resom wɔ Meridian, Mississippi wɔ 1947 awiei mu no, yɛn baasa nyinaa nsa kaa krataa bi sɛ yɛmmra Gilead adesua kuw a ɛtɔ so 11 no bi. Ɛyɛɛ yɛn nwonwa efisɛ sɛnea na ɛho ahwehwɛde ahorow te no, na misua dodo na na Maame ne Paapa nso anyinyin dodo. Nanso wɔyɛɛ nsakrae wɔ ho, na yenyaa Bible ɔkyerɛkyerɛ a ɛkɔ anim hokwan kɛse yi.

Me ne M’awofo Yɛ Asɛmpatrɛw Adwuma

Wɔmaa yɛn asɛmpatrɛw dwumadi wɔ Colombia, Amerika Kesee fam. Yewiee adesua no bɛboro afe no, December 1949 mu ansa na yɛredu Bogotá asɛmpatrɛwfo fie bi a na nnipa baasa foforo te hɔ dedaw no mu. Mfitiase no, na anka Paapa reyɛ aka sɛ ɛbɛyɛ mmerɛw sɛ yɛbɛkyerɛ nkurɔfo no Engiresi sen sɛ wobesua Spania kasa! Yiw, na ɛyɛ den, nanso nhyira pii fii mu bae! Ná Adansefo a wɔwɔ Colombia wɔ 1949 mu no nnu ɔha, nanso ɛnnɛ wɔboro 100,000!

Bere a yɛsom mfe anum wɔ Bogotá no, wɔde Maame ne Paapa kɔɔ kuropɔn Cali mu. Ne nyinaa mu no, mewaree me yɔnko sɛmpatrɛwfo a na ɔwɔ Colombia, Robert Tracy wɔ 1952 mu.b Yɛtraa Colombia kosii 1982, na wɔmaa yɛkɔɔ Mexico, baabi a yɛasom besi nnɛ. Bere bi akyi no, ɛho behiae sɛ m’awofo san kɔ United States wɔ 1968 mu kɔhwɛ wɔn ho yare. Bere a wɔn ho yɛɛ wɔn den no, wɔtoaa so sɛ akwampaefo titiriw wɔ baabi a ɛbɛn Mobile, Alabama.

Yɛn Awofo a Yɛhwɛ Wɔn

Mfe pii twaam no, Maame ne Paapa akwahosan so tewee a na wohia mmoa ne ɔhwɛ kɛse. Wɔsrɛe, na wɔma wɔkɔsomee wɔ baabi a ɛbɛn Edwena ne Bill wɔ Athens, Alabama. Akyiri yi yɛn nua Dewey kumaa, hui sɛ ɛbɛyɛ papa sɛ abusua no nyinaa bɛtra abɛn wɔ South Carolina. Enti Bill ne n’abusua no san bɛtraa Greenwood, a na Maame ne Paapa ka ho. Saa nsakrae a ɔdɔ wom a wɔyɛe yi tumi maa me ne Robert toaa yɛn asɛmpatrɛw adwuma no so wɔ Colombia, a na yenim sɛ wɔrehwɛ m’awofo no yiye.

Paapa fã dwudwoe wɔ 1985 mu a na ontumi nkasa, na ɛkaa no too mpa mu. Yɛyɛɛ abusua nhyiam susuw ɔkwan pa a yɛbɛfa so ahwɛ yɛn awofo ho. Yesii gyinae sɛ Audrey bɛtra Paapa ho ahwɛ no na me ne Robert bɛyɛ nea yebetumi biara de aboa denam krataa a osuahu ahorow wom a yɛbɛkyerɛw dapɛn biara na yɛama yɛn nan ayɛ ntiantia wɔ wɔn nkyɛn sɛnea yebetumi biara.

Bere a etwa to a mekɔsraa Paapa no da so ara wɔ m’adwene mu. Ná ontumi nkasa mma mu nna hɔ yiye de, nanso bere a yɛka kyerɛɛ no sɛ yɛresan akɔ Mexico no, ɔbɔɔ mmɔden kɛse kaa asɛm biako, “Ensi mo yiye!” Eyi maa yehui sɛ, wɔ ne koma mu no, na ɔda so ara pene so sɛ yɛbɛtoa yɛn asɛmpatrɛw dwumadi no so. Owui wɔ July 1987, na Maame nso wui wɔ ɛno akyi asram akron.

Krataa bi a me nsa ka fii me nuabea kunafo hɔ no da sɛnea yɛn mu biara tee nka wɔ yɛn awofo ho no adi. “M’ani sɔ Kristofo ntetee pa a minyae no yiye na mente nka sɛ, sɛ yɛn awofo tetee yɛn wɔ ɔkwan foforo biara so a, anka m’ani begye asen sɛɛ da. Wɔn gyidi nhwɛso a emu yɛ den, wɔn ho a wɔde bɔɔ afɔre, ne Yehowa mu ahotoso a wonyae koraa no aboa me ma matumi agyina tebea a emu yɛ den wɔ m’asetram mu.” Edwena de ba awiei sɛ: “Meda Yehowa ase sɛ m’awofo nam wɔn asɛm ne nhwɛso so akyerɛ yɛn anigye a yebetumi anya bere a yɛma yɛn asetra gyina yɛn Nyankopɔn a ɔwɔ ɔdɔ Yehowa, a yɛbɛsom no so no.”

[Ase hɔ nsɛm]

[Mfonini ahorow wɔ kratafa 22, 23]

Fountain abusua: (efi benkum kosi nifa) Dewey, Edwena, Winnie, Elizabeth, Dewey kumaa; nifa: Elizabeth ne Dewey kumaa wɔ Henschel lɔre fɛfɛ no anim (1937 ); ase nifa so: Elizabeth de dawurubɔ krataa rekyerɛ bere a na wadi mfe 16