Wɔ Fɔlɔi Tsɔɔ Wɔ Koni Wɔsumɔ Nyɔŋmɔ

TAAKƐ ELIZABETH TRACY GBA

Julɔi ni kɛ tui ewula amɛhe, ní amɛ́tsɔ hiɛ amɛkɛ basabasafeelɔi ebatutua wɔ nakai gbi lɛ gbala Awo kɛ Ataa kɛjɛ kar lɛ mli. Eshwɛ mi kɛ minyɛmi yoo lɛ pɛ ni wɔtara kar lɛ mli yɛ sɛɛgbɛ, ni wɔmiisusu kɛji wɔbaana wɔ fɔlɔi ekoŋŋ lo. Mɛni kɛ niiashikpamɔ ni yɔɔ gbeyei nɛɛ ba yɛ Selma yɛ Alabama, U.S.A., yɛ afi 1941 mli? Ni te nitsɔɔmɔi ni wɔná kɛjɛ wɔ fɔlɔi adɛŋ lɛ kɔɔ enɛ he ehaa tɛŋŋ?

BENI mitsɛ, ni ji Dewey Fountain fɔlɔi gboi beni eji gbekɛ lolo lɛ, wekunyo ko ji mɔ ni kwɛ lɛ yɛ akrowa ko yɛ Texas. Sɛɛ mli lɛ eyatsu nii yɛ he ni atsaa mu yɛ. Yɛ afi 1922 mli beni eye afii 23 lɛ, ekɛ Texas oblayoo fɛfɛo ko ni ji Winnie bote gbalashihilɛ mli, ni amɛbɔi shihilɛhe he gbɛjianɔtoo ni amɛná weku.

Eyama tsũ yɛ he ko ni adu tsei babaoo yɛ, yɛ Texas bokagbɛ yɛ Garrison maŋ bibioo lɛ masɛi gbɛ. Jɛmɛ ji he ni edu tsei ayibii srɔtoi babaoo ní odonti kɛ abele hu fata he lɛ yɛ. Agbɛnɛ hu elɛ kooloi srɔtoi pii. Etsɛɛɛ ni afɔ wɔ ni ji gbekɛbii lɛ​—Dewey bibioo yɛ May 1924 mli, Edwena yɛ December 1925 mli kɛkɛ ni yɛ June 1929 mli lɛ, mi hu miba.

Biblia Mli Anɔkwalei lɛ Kasemɔ

Awo kɛ Ataa susu akɛ amɛle Biblia lɛ mli, akɛni amɛyaa Church of Christ lɛ hewɔ. Shi yɛ afi 1932 mli lɛ, G. W. Cook bashi Deliverance kɛ Government ni ji woji ni Buu Mɔɔ Asafo lɛ fee lɛ eha Ataa nyɛmi nuu Monroe Fountain. Akɛni Monroe sumɔɔ waa koni egba mifɔlɔi nii ni ekaseɔ lɛ he sane etsɔɔ amɛ hewɔ lɛ, bei pii lɛ, ebaa wɔŋɔɔ be mli ni wɔyeɔ wɔ leebi niyenii, ni ekaneɔ Buu-Mɔɔ mli sane ko etsɔɔ wɔ, ni “heniianaa” lɛ, eshiɔ wolo tɛtrɛɛ lɛ ni eyaa. No sɛɛ lɛ, Awo kɛ Ataa kaneɔ.

Gbi ko Hɔgbaa leebi lɛ, Wɔtsɛkwɛ̃ Monroe fɔ̃ nine etsɛ́ Ataa kɛtee naanyo ko shia kɛha Biblia mli nikasemɔ. Ema nɔ mi eha lɛ akɛ, Ow. Cook baanyɛ ejɛ Biblia lɛ mli eha lɛ esanebimɔi fɛɛ hetoo. Beni Ataa jɛ nikasemɔ lɛ eba lɛ, ekɛ miishɛɛ kɛɛ weku lɛ akɛ: “Miná hetoo miha misanebimɔi lɛ fɛɛ, ni akɛ eko po fata he aha mi! Kulɛ efeɔ mi akɛ mile nɔ fɛɛ nɔ, shi beni Ow. Cook bɔi hɛl, susuma lɛ, Nyɔŋmɔ yiŋtoo kɛha shikpɔŋ lɛ, kɛ bɔ ni Nyɔŋmɔ Maŋtsɛyeli lɛ baaha enɛ aba mli lɛ mlitsɔɔmɔ lɛ, miná mile agbɛnɛ akɛ mileee Biblia lɛ mli nɔ ko nɔ ko kwraa!”

Wɔshia lɛ baafee tamɔ maŋbii anaabuamɔhe ko. Wekumɛi kɛ nanemɛi basaraa wɔ, afeɔ siklitɛ bɔdɔɔ ko, ni ashĩɔ abele ni awoɔ lɛ sikli, ni aláa kɛnyiɛɔ Awo sɛɛ yɛ be mli ni etswaa saŋku lɛ. Fiofio lɛ, nɛkɛ nifeemɔi nɛɛ gbele gbɛ kɛha Biblia mli saji ahe susumɔ. Eyɛ mli akɛ wɔ ni ji gbekɛbii lɛ nuuu nibii fɛɛ ni agbaa he sane lɛ shishi moŋ, shi suɔmɔ ni mli wa ni wɔ fɔlɔi yɔɔ kɛha Nyɔŋmɔ kɛ Biblia lɛ yɛ faŋŋ aahu akɛ, wɔ ni ji gbekɛbii lɛ ateŋ mɔ fɛɛ mɔ ná suɔmɔ ni tamɔ nakai wɔha Nyɔŋmɔ kɛ e-Wiemɔ lɛ.

Wekui krokomɛi hu kɛ amɛshiai ha koni ayasusu Biblia lɛ he yɛ jɛmɛ daa otsi, ni bei pii lɛ, enɛ damɔɔ saji ni yɔɔ Buu-Mɔɔ hee ni eba lɛ nɔ. Kɛ́ wekui ni yɔɔ Appleby kɛ Nacogdoches maji ni bɛŋkɛ lɛ amli lɛ ha afee kpee lɛ yɛ amɛŋɔɔ lɛ, wɔbuaa wɔhe naa wɔwoɔ wɔ Model A Ford tsɔne lɛ mli ni wɔfãa gbɛ kɛyaa jɛmɛ, kɛ́ nugbɔ miinɛ loo hulu miitso jio.

Amɛtsu Nii ni Amɛkase lɛ He Nii

Etsɛɛɛ ni wɔ fɔlɔi na akɛ ehe miihia ni amɛtsu saji ahe nii. Suɔmɔ kɛha Nyɔŋmɔ biɔ ni akɛ mɛi krokomɛi agba nibii ni akase lɛ he sane. (Bɔfoi lɛ Asaji 20:35) Shi nɛkɛ gbɛ ni wɔɔkɔ ni wɔya mɛi aŋɔɔ yɛ maŋ lɛ mli ni wɔyajaje wɔhemɔkɛyeli wɔtsɔɔ lɛ ji kaa, titri lɛ akɛni yɛ fɔmɔsu naa lɛ wɔ fɔlɔi ji gbɔmɛi ni hiɛ gboɔ, ni amɛbaa amɛhe shi lɛ hewɔ. Shi kɛlɛ, suɔmɔ ni amɛyɔɔ kɛha Nyɔŋmɔ lɛ tsirɛ amɛ, ni enɛ ye ebua amɛ koni amɛtsɔɔ wɔ ni wɔná Yehowa mli hekɛnɔfɔɔ ni mli wa. Ataa wie enɛ he yɛ nɛkɛ gbɛ nɔ akɛ: “Yehowa miiha okwaafoi miitsɔmɔ shiɛlɔi!” Yɛ afi 1933 mli lɛ, Awo kɛ Ataa kɛ nu mli baptisimɔ fee amɛhenɔjɔɔmɔ kɛha Yehowa lɛ he okadi yɛ nubu ko ni bɛŋkɛ Henderson yɛ Texas lɛ mli.

Mra mli yɛ afi 1935 lɛ, Ataa ŋma Buu Mɔɔ Asafo lɛ wolo, ni ebi amɛ Kristofoi ahiɛnɔkamɔ kɛha naanɔ wala lɛ he saji babaoo. (Yohane 14:2; 2 Timoteo 2:​11, 12; Kpojiemɔ 14:​1, 3; 20:6) Enine shɛ hetoohamɔ nɔ tɛ̃ɛ kɛjɛ Joseph F. Rutherford ni no mli lɛ eji Asafo lɛ sɛinɔtalɔ lɛ dɛŋ. Yɛ nɔ najiaŋ ni Nyɛminuu Rutherford aaaha Ataa hetoo tɛ̃ɛ lɛ, efɔ̃ lɛ nine ní eba Yehowa Odasefoi akpee ni abaafee yɛ Washington, D.C., yɛ May mli lɛ.

Ataa kɛɛ ehe akɛ: ‘Enɛ nyɛŋ aba mli! Okwaafoi ji wɔ, ni wɔdu ŋmɔshi nibii yɛ wɔ hekta 26 shikpɔŋ lɛ nɔ. Esa akɛ wɔkpá enɔ nibii fɛɛ ni wɔyahɔɔ yɛ nakai be lɛ mli.’ Shi, no sɛɛ lɛ, etsɛɛɛ ni nu afua ko bajie saji ni ekɛjieɔ enaa lɛ kɛtee​—ni eloo eŋmɔshi nibii lɛ, afabaŋi ni efo ewo he lɛ kɛ nu hiɛ agbai ni efee lɛ kɛtee. No hewɔ lɛ, wɔyafata Odasefoi krokomɛi ni ehai skul bɔɔs ko lɛ ahe kɛfã gbɛ kilomitai 1,600 kɛtee kpee lɛ yɛ kooyi-bokagbɛ.

Awo kɛ Ataa ná miishɛɛ waa yɛ kpee lɛ shishi beni amɛnu sane mlitsɔɔmɔ ni yɔɔ faŋŋ ni akɛha ni kɔɔ “asafo babaoo” ni yi baaná wala kɛjɛ “amanehulu kpeteŋkpele” lɛ mli lɛ he lɛ. (Kpojiemɔ 7:9, 14) Naanɔ wala yɛ paradeiso shikpɔŋ nɔ hiɛnɔkamɔ lɛ tsirɛ Awo kɛ Ataa yɛ amɛwala be ni eshwɛ lɛ fɛɛ mli, ni amɛwo wɔ ni ji gbekɛbii lɛ hewalɛ koni ‘wɔmɔ anɔkwa wala lɛ mli,’ nɔ ni tsɔɔ naanɔ wala ni Yehowa kɛhaa yɛ shikpɔŋ nɔ ní wɔnine baashɛ nɔ lɛ. (1 Timoteo 6:​19; Lala 37:29; Kpojiemɔ 21:​3, 4) Eyɛ mli akɛ no mli lɛ miye afii enumɔ pɛ moŋ, shi miná nɛkɛ kpee ni ŋɔɔ ni mikɛ miweku lɛ tee lɛ he miishɛɛ waa diɛŋtsɛ.

Beni wɔjɛ kpee lɛ wɔba lɛ, weku lɛ saa du ŋmɔshi nibii lɛ ekoŋŋ, ni yɛ sɛɛ mli lɛ wɔkpá nii babaoo ni wɔkpako eko nakai dã. Yɛ faŋŋ mli lɛ, enɛ ye ebua Awo kɛ Ataa ni amɛna akɛ, Yehowa mli hekɛnɔfɔɔ ni aaaná kɛmɔ shi lɛ efeee efolo kɔkɔɔkɔ. Amɛyaŋma shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ he wolo krɛdɛɛ ko nɔ nii ni amɛteŋ mɔ fɛɛ mɔ kpɛlɛ akɛ amɛkɛ ŋmɛlɛtswai 52 baatsu nii yɛ nyɔŋ fɛɛ nyɔŋ nɔ yɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Kɛkɛ ni yɛ okwaayeli be ni nyiɛ sɛɛ lɛ mli lɛ, amɛhɔɔ​—nɔ fɛɛ nɔ! Ataa yɛ tsũ shwiili ni wɔyi enumɔ lɛ baanyɛ ahi mli, kɛkɛ ni eyahe Ford tsɔne hee kaŋŋ ni hiɛ shinaai enyɔ, ní baagbala nɛkɛ tsũ nɛɛ. Wɔtsɛkwɛ̃ Monroe hu fee nakai pɛpɛɛpɛ ni ekɛ eweku lɛ fã kɛyahi tsũ shwiili lɛ mli.

Anɔkwale lɛ ni Atsɔɔ Wɔ

Awo kɛ Ataa bɔi gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ, taakɛ atsɛɔ be-fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ, yɛ October 1936 mli. Wɔbɔi shiɛmɔ yɛ Texas bokagbɛ kpokpai lɛ anɔ ákɛ weku, he ni akɛ Maŋtsɛyeli shɛɛ sane lɛ efɔɔɔ jɛmɛ yaa lɛ. Nɔ ni miihe ashɛ afi nɛ lɛ, wɔfã kɛtee hei srɔtoi, shi yɛ fɛɛ mli lɛ wɔnáa shihilɛ nɛɛ mli ŋɔɔmɔ jogbaŋŋ. Awo kɛ Ataa tsɔ amɛwiemɔ kɛ nɔkwɛmɔnɔ nɔ amɛtsɔɔ wɔ nii koni wɔfee tamɔ mra be mli Kristofoi lɛ ni kɛ amɛhe ha koni amɛtsɔɔ mɛi krokomɛi Biblia mli anɔkwale lɛ.

Ákɛ gbekɛbii lɛ, mɔ ni wɔhiɛ sɔɔ titri ji wɔnyɛ yɛ he-kɛ-afɔleshaa mumɔ ni ená ni ekɛshi eshia lɛ hewɔ. Shi nɔ kome ko yɛ ni esumɔŋ ni eshi, ni no ji enikpɛɛ mashiŋ lɛ. Nilee yɛ nakai yiŋkpɛɛ ni efee lɛ mli. Akɛni ehe esa kɛ nikpɛɛ hewɔ lɛ, esáa wɔhe ojogbaŋŋ ehaa wɔ be fɛɛ be. Wɔwoɔ atadei heei fɛfɛji kɛyaa kpee fɛɛ kpee.

Mikaiɔ gbi ni Herman G. Henschel kɛ eweku lɛ ba wɔ jɛmɛ lɛ ni amɛtara Buu Mɔɔ Asafo lɛ lɔle ni wiemɔ gbɛɛmɔ tsɔne ma nɔ lɛ mli lɛ. Amɛkɛ lɔle lɛ yamaa he ko ni mɛi pii yɔɔ, ni amɛtswaa wiemɔ ko, kɛkɛ lɛ amɛ́tee amɛyasara gbɔmɛi lɛ kɛha saji ahesusumɔ lolo. Dewey bibioo sumɔɔ ni ekɛ Herman binuu Milton ni yɛ nakai beaŋ lɛ eye aaafee afii nyɔŋma kɛ ekpaa lɛ abɔ naanyo. Amrɔ nɛɛ Milton ji Buu Mɔɔ Asafo lɛ sɛinɔtalɔ.

Abaptisi Edwena yɛ kpee ni afee yɛ afi 1937 yɛ Columbus, Ohio lɛ shishi, ni aha Awo kɛ Ataa hegbɛ koni amɛyasɔmɔ akɛ gbɛgbalɔi krɛdɛɛi. Nakai beaŋ lɛ kɛ hoo lɛ akɛ ŋmɛlɛtswai 200 tsuɔ nii daa nyɔŋ yɛ shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Kɛ miikai enɛɛmɛi lɛ, minaa bɔ ni Awo nɔkwɛmɔnɔ kpakpa lɛ eye ebua mi ni mikɛfĩɔ miwu sɛɛ yɛ Kristofoi anitsumɔ ni akɛha lɛ lɛ mli lɛ.

Kɛ Ataa kɛ weku ko je Biblia mli nikasemɔ shishi lɛ, ekɛ wɔ ni ji gbekɛbii lɛ fataa ehe kɛyaa ní ekɛ no afee nɔkwɛmɔnɔ kpakpa eha amɛbii lɛ. Ehaa wɔgbeleɔ Biblia lɛ, ni wɔkaneɔ ŋmalɛi lɛ, ni wɔhaa sanebimɔi bibii komɛi ahetoo. Nɔ ni ejɛ mli eba ji akɛ, nakai gbekɛbii lɛ ni wɔkɛ amɛ kase nii lɛ ateŋ mɛi babaoo miisɔmɔ Yehowa yɛ anɔkwayeli mli kɛbashi ŋmɛnɛ. Lɛɛlɛŋ, atswa shishitoonɔ ni yɔɔ shiŋŋ aha wɔ hu koni wɔya nɔ wɔsumɔ Nyɔŋmɔ.

Yɛ be mli ni Dewey bibioo daa yɛ afii amli lɛ, ena akɛ ewa akɛ ekɛ enyɛmimɛi yei bibii lɛ aaahi shia ni tamɔ nɛkɛ ní anáaa gbɛ babaoo yɛ mli lɛ mli. No hewɔ lɛ, yɛ afi 1940 mli lɛ ehala akɛ ebaashi ní eyafata Odasefonyo kroko ko he koni amɛkɛ amɛhe awo gbɛgbamɔ sɔɔmɔ lɛ mli. Yɛ naagbee lɛ ekɛ Audrey Barron bote gbalashihilɛ mli. Enɛ hewɔ lɛ, wɔ fɔlɔi tsɔɔ Audrey hu nibii babaoo, ni ebasumɔ Awo kɛ Ataa sane waa. Beni Dewey bibioo eyahi tsuŋwoo mli yɛ afi 1944 akɛni eji Kristofonyo ni kɛ ehe wooo maŋ saji amli hewɔ lɛ ní ajie lɛ lɛ, ekɛ wɔ bahi shi yɛ wɔtsũ shwiili ni mli eyi obɔ lɛ mli.

Nyɛminuu Rutherford wie tɛ̃ɛ etsɔɔ gbekɛbii ni eye kɛjɛ afii 5 kɛyashi afii 18 ní tara he ko krɛdɛɛ yɛ hiɛgbɛ lɛ yɛ kpee wulu ni afee yɛ St. Louis, Missouri lɛ shishi yɛ afi 1941. Edwena kɛ mi fɛɛ bo egbee ni mli jɔ ni yɔɔ faŋŋ lɛ toi; etamɔ tsɛ ni yɔɔ suɔmɔ ni miitsɔɔ lɛ diɛŋtsɛ ebii anii yɛ shia. Ewo fɔlɔi hewalɛ akɛ: “Ŋmɛnɛ, Kristo Yesu ebua emɛi ni ekɛ amɛ efee kpaŋmɔ lɛ anaa yɛ ehiɛ, ni ekɛ ekãafeemɔ ni naa wa kɛɔ amɛ koni amɛtsɔɔ amɛbii anii yɛ jalɛ gbɛ nɔ.” Ekɛfata he akɛ: “Nyɛhaa amɛhia shia ni nyɛtsɔɔa amɛ anɔkwale lɛ!” Miishɛɛ sane ji akɛ, wɔ fɔlɔi tsu he nii nakai!

Wɔnine shɛ wolo hee bibioo ni ji Jehovah’s Servants Defended lɛ ni tĩɔ saji ni aye yɛ saneyelihei ni Yehowa Odasefoi eye mli kunim lɛ mli lɛ nɔ yɛ nakai kpee lɛ shishi, kɛfata saji ni aye yɛ United States Saneyelihe Wulu ni Fe Fɛɛ lɛ he. Ataa kɛ wɔ kase enɛ ákɛ weku. No mli lɛ wɔleee kwraa akɛ aasaa wɔ kɛha nɔ ni ba otsii fioo ko ni ba yɛ sɛɛ mli yɛ Selma, Alabama.

Nɔ ni Basabasafeelɔi Fee yɛ Selma

Leebi beni nakai niiashikpamɔ ni yɔɔ gbeyei lɛ ba lɛ, no mli lɛ Ataa kɛ woji komɛi ni aŋmala lɛ eyaha maŋtsɛ lɛ, maŋ onukpa lɛ, kɛ polisifonyo onukpa ni yɔɔ Selma lɛ ni miitsɔɔ hegbɛ ni wɔyɔɔ yɛ mla naa akɛ wɔɔya nɔ wɔtsu wɔsɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ yɛ mla hebuu naa. Yɛ fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, amɛkpɛ amɛyiŋ akɛ amɛbaashwie wɔ kwraa kɛjɛ maŋ lɛ mli.

Beni eshwɛ fioo ni je baana lɛ, hii enumɔ ni kɛ tui ewula amɛhe ba wɔtsũ shwiili lɛ he ni amɛbaŋɔ mi, Awo, kɛ minyɛmi yoo lɛ nom. Amɛbɔi nɔ fɛɛ nɔ juu yɛ mli, ni amɛmiikwɛ akɛ amɛbaana nɔ ko ni akɛtutuaa maŋ lo. No mli lɛ Ataa bɛ tsũ shwiili lɛ mli, ni amɛkɛ famɔ ha koni egbala tsũ shwiili lɛ kɛba kar lɛ he, ni be mli ni efeɔ nakai lɛ, belɛ amɛkɛ amɛtui lɛ miitsɔɔ enɔ. Yɛ nɛkɛ be nɛɛ mli lɛ, mitsui efãaa. Etamɔ nɔ ni eyɛ ŋmɔlɔ waa akɛ nɛkɛ hii nɛɛ susu akɛ wɔhe yɛ oshara aahu akɛ minyɛmi yoo lɛ kɛ mi bɔi ŋmɔlɔ fiofio. Shi kɛlɛ, etsɛɛɛ ni wɔkpá ŋmɔlɔ beni Ataa fo ehiɛ waa ekwɛ wɔ lɛ.

Beni wɔfee klalo akɛ wɔɔya lɛ, hii lɛ miitao ní mi kɛ Edwena kɛ amɛ atara amɛkar lɛ mli kɛya. Ataa fee shiŋŋ. Ekɛɛ faŋŋ akɛ: “Miŋmɛŋ enɛ feemɔ gbɛ kɔkɔɔkɔ!” Beni sanegbaa fioo ko etee nɔ sɛɛ lɛ, aŋmɛ gbɛ koni wɔweku lɛ afee ekome kɛfã gbɛ lɛ, yɛ be mli ni hii ni kɛ tui ewula amɛhe lɛ kɛ amɛkar lɛ nyiɛɔ wɔ sɛɛ lɛ. Beni wɔshi maŋ lɛ mli aaafee kilomitai 25 sɛɛ lɛ, amɛkɛ amɛnine fee okadi kɛha wɔ koni wɔkɛ wɔtsɔne lɛ abama gbɛjegbɛ wulu lɛ masɛi, ni amɛkɛ Awo kɛ Ataa tee. Hii lɛ ateŋ mɔ fɛɛ mɔ bɔ mɔdɛŋ koni ekɔne amɛyiŋ akɛ: “Nyɛŋmɛɛa nakai jamɔ lɛ he. Nyɛkua nyɛsɛɛ kɛyaa ŋmɔ lɛ mli ekoŋŋ, ní nyɛyatsɔsea nyɛbiyei lɛ ojogbaŋŋ!” Ataa bɔ mɔdɛŋ ní ekɛ amɛ susu saji ahe, shi fɛɛ fee efolo.

Yɛ naagbee lɛ, hii lɛ ateŋ mɔ kome kɛɛ akɛ: “Nyɛyaa, ni be fɛɛ be ni nyɛaaba Dallas County ekoŋŋ lɛ, wɔbaagbe nyɛteŋ mɔ fɛɛ mɔ!”

Akɛni wɔhe ejɔ wɔ ni wɔbakpe ekoŋŋ hewɔ lɛ, wɔtsá gbɛfãa lɛ nɔ ŋmɛlɛtswai abɔ ni wɔkɛ tsɔne lɛ yama shi kɛyashi jetsɛremɔ. Wɔyɔse amɛkar lɛ nɔmba. Amrɔ nɔŋŋ ni Ataa bɔ Buu Mɔɔ Asafo lɛ nɔ fɛɛ nɔ he amaniɛ, ni yɛ nyɔji komɛi asɛɛ lɛ, ana hii lɛ ni amɔmɔ amɛ.

Wɔtee Gilead Maŋsɛɛ Sanekpakpa Shiɛlɔi Askul

Afɔ̃ Edwena nine koni eya Buu Mɔɔ Biblia Gilead Skul lɛ klas ni ji 7 lɛ yɛ South Lansing, yɛ New York, yɛ afi 1946. Albert Schroeder ni ji tsɔɔlɔi lɛ ateŋ mɔ kome lɛ tsĩ esui kpakpai lɛ atã etsɔɔ Bill Elrod, ni tsutsu ko lɛ eji mɔ ni fata ehe akɛ gbɛgbalɔi, ni no mli lɛ esɔmɔɔ yɛ Betel, ni ji Yehowa Odasefoi anitsumɔhe yitso ni yɔɔ Brooklyn, New York lɛ.a Akɛ Edwena kɛ Bill tsɔɔ amɛhe, ni beni egbe Gilead naa afi kome sɛɛ lɛ amɛbote gbalashihilɛ mli. Amɛkɛ afii babaoo hi be-fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli kɛ afii enumɔ ni amɛkɛ ekomefeemɔ sɔmɔ yɛ Betel. Kɛkɛ ni gbi ko yɛ afi 1959 lɛ, Nyɛminuu Schroeder tswa Gilead klas ni ji 34 lɛ adafi akɛ, enaanyo ni esumɔɔ lɛ lɛ efɔ́ haaji, nuu kome kɛ yoo kome.

Beni mikɛ mifɔlɔi sɔmɔɔ yɛ Meridian yɛ Mississippi yɛ afi 1947 naagbee gbɛ lɛ, afɔ̃ wɔyi etɛ lɛ nine koni wɔya Gilead klas ni ji 11 lɛ. Efee wɔ naakpɛɛ ejaakɛ taakɛ taomɔ nibii lɛ tsɔɔ lɛ, midako kwraa, ni Ataa kɛ Awo edara tsɔ̃ yɛ afii amli. Shi afee tsakemɔ yɛ wɔgbɛfaŋ, ni wɔnine shɛ Biblia mli tsɔsemɔ ni yaa hiɛ lɛ he hegbɛ ni wɔsaaa lɛ nɔ.

Mi kɛ Mi Fɔlɔi kɛ Wɔhe Wo Maŋsɛɛ Sanekpakpa Shiɛmɔ lɛ Mli

Aha wɔ maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa nitsumɔ yɛ Colombia, South America. Shi kɛlɛ, eshɛɛɛ December 1949, beni wɔgbe naa sɛɛ nɔ ni fá fe afi kome, dani wɔyashɛ Bogotá yɛ maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛlɔi ashia, he ni mɛi krokomɛi etɛ yɔɔ jɛmɛ momo lɛ. Klɛŋklɛŋ lɛ, shwɛ fioo ni Ataa mu sane naa akɛ, ebaafee mlɛo akɛ aaatsɔɔ mɛi lɛ Blɔfo wiemɔ moŋ fe nɔ ni eeekase Spain wiemɔ! Hɛɛ, wɔkɛ kaai kpe, shi oo, kwɛ bɔ ni jɔɔmɔi lɛ fá waa diɛŋtsɛ! Odasefoi ni yɔɔ Colombia lɛ ayibɔ shɛɛɛ oha yɛ afi 1949, shi amrɔ nɛɛ amɛyi fá fe 100,000!

Beni Awo kɛ Ataa esɔmɔ yɛ Bogotá afii enumɔ sɛɛ lɛ, akɛ amɛ tee Cali maŋtiase lɛ mli. Shi amrɔ nɛɛ, yɛ afi 1952 lɛ, mikɛ Robert Tracy, ni ji naanyo maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛlɔ ni yɔɔ Colombia lɛ bote gbalashihilɛ mli.b Wɔhi Colombia kɛyashi afi 1982, ni yɛ nakai be lɛ mli lɛ akɛ nitsumɔ wo wɔdɛŋ yɛ Mexico, he ni wɔsɔmɔ yɛ aahu kɛbashi amrɔ nɛɛ. Yɛ naagbee lɛ, ehe bahia ni mifɔlɔi aku amɛsɛɛ kɛya United States kɛha helatsamɔ yɛ afi 1968. Beni amɛná hewalɛ ekoŋŋ lɛ, amɛtee nɔ aahu akɛ gbɛgbalɔi krɛdɛɛi yɛ Mobile masɛi yɛ Alabama.

Wɔ Fɔlɔi ní Wɔkwɛ́ Amɛ

Beni afii lɛ hoɔ eyaa lɛ, Awo kɛ Ataa hewalɛ bɔi shibaa, ni sɛɛfimɔ kɛ yelikɛbuamɔ babaoo he miihia amɛ. Beni amɛbi ni afee he nɔ ko aha amɛ lɛ, akɛ nitsumɔ wo amɛdɛŋ akɛ amɛsɔmɔ akɛ gbɛgbalɔi yɛ he ni Edwena kɛ Bill yɔɔ yɛ Athens, Alabama. Sɛɛ mli lɛ, wɔnyɛmi nuu, Dewey bibioo susu akɛ ebaafee nɔ ni nilee yɔɔ mli akɛ weku lɛ mli bii ahi he kome yɛ South Carolina. No hewɔ lɛ, Bill kɛ eweku lɛ kɛ Awo kɛ Ataa yahi Greenwood. Nɛkɛ tsakemɔ ni suɔmɔ yɔɔ mli nɛɛ ha Robert kɛ mi tee nɔ wɔtsu wɔ maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ yɛ Colombia yɛ be mli ni wɔle akɛ aakwɛ wɔ fɔlɔi ojogbaŋŋ.

Kɛkɛ ni yɛ afi 1985 lɛ, Ataa ná kuumɔ hela ni haaa enyɛ ewie ni enyɛɛɛ eya he ko he ko. Wɔfee weku kpee koni wɔsusu bɔ ni wɔɔfee wɔkwɛ wɔ fɔlɔi ojogbaŋŋ lɛ he. Akpɛ yiŋ koni Audrey abafee mɔ titri ni baakwɛ Ataa koni Robert kɛ mi anyɛ afee mɛi ni baaye abua ojogbaŋŋ yɛ be mli ni wɔkɛ wolo ni wɔŋma kɛ emli niiashikpamɔi ni woɔ mɔ hewalɛ yahaa amɛ daa otsi koni wɔfɔ amɛ saramɔ waa bɔ ni wɔɔnyɛ.

Naagbee be ni miyasara Ataa lɛ yɛ mijwɛŋmɔ mli waa lolo. Enyɛɛɛ etsara ewiemɔ taakɛ efeɔ daa lɛ, shi beni wɔkɛɛ lɛ akɛ wɔmiiku wɔ sɛɛ kɛya Mexico lɛ, yɛ gbɛ ko nɔ lɛ ekɛ ekãa babaoo kɛ henumɔ wie wiemɔ kome ni ji, “Nyɛyawɔa jogbaŋŋ!” Kɛtsɔ enɛ nɔ lɛ, wɔle akɛ yɛ etsui mli lɛ, eefĩ yiŋ ni wɔkpɛ akɛ wɔɔtsá wɔ maŋsɛɛ sanekpakpa shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ nɔ lɛ sɛɛ. Egbo yɛ July 1987, ni Awo gbo nyɔji nɛɛhu sɛɛ.

Wolo ni minine shɛ nɔ kɛjɛ minyɛmi yoo ni wu egbo lɛ ŋɔɔ lɛ muaa hiɛsɔɔ ni wɔ fɛɛ wɔná kɛha wɔ fɔlɔi lɛ naa. “Mibuɔ Kristofoi agboshinii babaoo ni minine shɛ nɔ lɛ akɛ ejara wa waa ni minuko he kɔkɔɔkɔ akɛ maná miishɛɛ fe nakai, eji wɔ fɔlɔi hala akɛ amɛaatsɔse wɔ yɛ gbɛ kroko nɔ. Hemɔkɛyeli ni naa wa, he-kɛ-afɔleshaa, kɛ hekɛnɔfɔɔ kwraa ni amɛná yɛ Yehowa mli lɛ he nɔkwɛmɔnɔ ni amɛfee amɛfɔ̃ shi lɛ eha miŋmɛ mitsui shi yɛ haomɔ bei amli yɛ mishihilɛ mli.” Edwena mu sane naa akɛ: “Miida Yehowa shi akɛ wɔná fɔlɔi ni tsɔ wiemɔ kɛ nɔkwɛmɔnɔ nɔ amɛtsɔɔ wɔ akɛ kɛ́ wɔtswa wɔshihilɛ wɔma Yehowa, wɔ-Nyɔŋmɔ ni yɔɔ suɔmɔ lɛ sɔɔmɔ nɔ lɛ, wɔbaanyɛ wɔná miishɛɛ.”

[Shishigbɛ niŋmai]

[Mfonirii ni yɔɔ baafa 22, 23]

Fountain weku: (kɛjɛ abɛku kɛtee ninejurɔgbɛ) Dewey, Edwena, Winnie, Elizabeth, Dewey bibioo; ninejurɔgbɛ: Elizabeth kɛ Dewey bibioo tara nii ni bu Henschel shwiili nane lɛ nɔ lɛ nɔ (afi 1937); shishigbɛ ninejurɔgbɛ: Elizabeth kɛ adifitswaa wolo ko miitsɔɔ beni eye afii 16