Dani magba nyɛ nɔ ni ba yɛ no sɛɛ lɛ, nyɛhãa magbaa nyɛ bɔ ni fee ni mikɛ mihe wo be fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli.

Afɔ mi yɛ 1942 yɛ Caribbean ŋshɔkpɔ fɛfɛo ko ni atsɛɔ lɛ Curaçao lɛ nɔ. Mipapa jɛ Suriname, shi nitsumɔ hewɔ eyaje jɛmɛ lɛ. Mipapa batsɔ Yehowa Odasefonyo afii fioo komɛi asɛɛ dani afɔ mi, ni efata klɛŋklɛŋ mɛi ni abaptisi yɛ Curaçao lɛ ahe. a Ekɛ wɔ kaseɔ nii daa otsi, eyɛ mli akɛ bei komɛi lɛ wɔhãaa ená enɛ feemɔ mlɛo moŋ. Be ni miye afii 14 lɛ, mipapa hã wɔfã kɛtee Suriname koni enyɛ ekwɛ emami, ejaakɛ egbɔ.

Be ni wɔfã kɛtee Suriname lɛ, mikɛ oblahii kɛ oblayei ni bɔɔ mɔdɛŋ yɛ asafo lɛ mli lɛ bɔi bɔɔ. Eyɛ mli akɛ nyɛmimɛi nɛɛ ye mi onukpa afii fioo pɛ moŋ, shi no mli lɛ amɛmiisɔmɔ akɛ daa gbɛgbalɔi. Kɛ́ amɛmiigba niiashikpamɔi ni amɛná yɛ shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli lɛ, minaa akɛ amɛyɛ miishɛɛ waa. Kɛ́ wɔkpa asafoŋ kpeei lɛ, mikɛ minanemɛi lɛ gbaa Biblia mli saji, ni bei komɛi lɛ, wɔgbaa saji nɛɛ be ni wɔta agbo lɛ naa wɔmiikwɛ ŋulamii lɛ. Minanemɛi nɛɛ ye amɛbua mi ni mina nɔ ni miitao mafee yɛ shihilɛ mli; miitao matsu nii mahã Yehowa. No hewɔ lɛ, be ni miye afii 16 lɛ, mihã abaptisi mi, ni be ni miye afii 18 lɛ, mibɔi sɔɔmɔ akɛ daa gbɛgbalɔ.

Be ni misɔmɔɔ akɛ daa gbɛgbalɔ lɛ, mikase nibii pii, ni nibii nɛɛ eye ebua mi yɛ be fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Akɛ nɔkwɛmɔnɔ lɛ, klɛŋklɛŋ nibii ni mikase lɛ eko ji akɛ, ehe miihia waa ni wɔtsɔse mɛi. Be ni mibɔi sɔɔmɔ akɛ daa gbɛgbalɔ lɛ, maŋsɛɛ sɔɔlɔ ko ni atsɛɔ lɛ Willem van Seijl lɛ ye ebua mi waa. b Etsɔɔ mi bɔ ni atsuɔ asafoŋ nitsumɔi srɔtoi  babaoo. Nakai beiaŋ lɛ, mileee po akɛ maná tsɔsemɔ nɛɛ he sɛɛ waa. Afi ni nyiɛ sɛɛ lɛ, ahã mibɔi sɔɔmɔ akɛ gbɛgbalɔ krɛdɛɛ, ni ahã miyaye mibua kui komɛi ni etse amɛhe banee ni yɔɔ Suriname koo lɛ mli lɛ. Nitsumɔ nɛɛ hã mina akɛ, ehi waa akɛ Willem kɛ mɛi krokomɛi tsɔse mi. Enɛ hewɔ lɛ, mikpɛ miyiŋ akɛ makase amɛ ni mi hu matsɔse mɛi krokomɛi.

Nɔ ni ji enyɔ ni mikase ji, esaaa akɛ mitiuɔ heloonaa nibii pii asɛɛ, ni esa akɛ mato minibii ahe gbɛjianɔ jogbaŋŋ. Kɛ́ nyɔɔŋ ko je shishi nɔŋŋ lɛ, mikɛ gbɛgbalɔ krɛdɛɛ ni fata mihe lɛ feɔ ekome kɛsusuɔ nibii ni he baahia wɔ kɛhã nakai nyɔɔŋ lɛ he. Kɛkɛ lɛ, wɔteŋ mɔ kome efã gbɛ kakadaŋŋ kɛtee maŋtiase lɛ mli eyahé nibii ni he baahia wɔ lɛ kɛba. Wɔkwɛɔ jogbaŋŋ koni wɔkafite shika ni akɛhãa wɔ nyɔɔŋ fɛɛ nyɔɔŋ lɛ, ni wɔyeee nibii ni wɔyahé lɛ basabasa koni eshɛ wɔ nyɔɔŋ muu lɛ fɛɛ, ejaakɛ wɔle akɛ, kɛ́ nibii lɛ ni wɔyahé lɛ eko tã dani nyɔɔŋ lɛ gbo lɛ, ebaawa akɛ wɔbaaná mɔ ko ni baahã wɔ nakai nii lɛ eko yɛ koo lɛ mli. Akɛni kɛjɛ miblahiiaŋ lɛ mikase akɛ esaaa akɛ mitiuɔ heloonaa nibii pii asɛɛ, ni esa akɛ mato minibii ahe gbɛjianɔ jogbaŋŋ hewɔ lɛ, enɛ eye ebua mi ni mikɛ mijwɛŋmɔ ema Yehowa sɔɔmɔ nɔ miwala gbii abɔ fɛɛ.

Nɔ ni ji etɛ ni mikase ji, sɛɛnamɔ yɛ he waa akɛ wɔbaatsɔɔ mɛi Nyɔŋmɔ Wiemɔ lɛ yɛ amɛ diɛŋtsɛ amɛmaŋ wiemɔ mli. Hei ni mihi lɛ hewɔ lɛ, minuɔ Dutch, Blɔfo, Papiamento, kɛ Sranantongo (loo Sranan), ni ji wiemɔ titri ni awieɔ yɛ Suriname lɛ. Shi nɔ ko ni miyɔse be ni miyɔɔ koo lɛ mli lɛ ji, kɛ́ wɔshiɛ wɔhã mɛi yɛ amɛ diɛŋtsɛ amɛmaŋ wiemɔ mli lɛ, amɛboɔ toi waa. No mli lɛ, wiemɔi nɛɛ ekomɛi awiemɔ wa kɛhã mi. Wiemɔ ko tamɔ Saramaccan nɛkɛ lɛ, bɔ ni obaatsɛ wiemɔ ko ohã lɛ baanyɛ atsɔɔ nɔ kroko. Shi eŋɔɔ minaa waa akɛ mimia mihiɛ mikase wiemɔi nɛɛ. Enɛ hewɔ lɛ, minyɛ mitsɔɔ mɛi pii anɔkwale lɛ yɛ amɛ diɛŋtsɛ amɛwiemɔ mli.

Shi jeee be fɛɛ be nibii tee lɛ jogbaŋŋ be ni mikaseɔ mɛi ni yɔɔ jɛmɛ lɛ awiemɔ lɛ. Akɛ nɔkwɛmɔnɔ lɛ, yoo ko ni wieɔ Saramaccan ni wɔkɛ lɛ kaseɔ nii lɛ kɛɛ emusu miiwa ehe. No hewɔ lɛ, mitee lɛ bimɔ akɛ te emusu lɛ efee tɛŋŋ bianɛ. Mileee kwraa, asomoaŋ lɛ nɔ ni mibi lɛ moŋ ji, ehiɛ musu lo. Anɔkwa, sane lɛ ni mibi lɛ lɛ gba enaa waa, shi mihãaa tɔmɔi ni tamɔ nɛkɛ aje minijiaŋ wui. Mitee nɔ mikase mɛi ni yɔɔ jɛmɛ awiemɔ lɛ waa.

Yɛ 1970 lɛ, ahã mibɔi sɔɔmɔ akɛ kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔ. Yɛ nakai afi lɛ mli lɛ, mijie sini ni yitso ji, “Visiting the World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses” (Nɔ Ni Yaa Nɔ Yɛ Yehowa Odasefoi Anitsumɔhe Yitso) lɛ mihã kui babaoo ni yɔɔ hei ni etsetsei amɛhe banee yɛ koo lɛ mli lɛ. Kɛ́ miiya miyasara nyɛmimɛi nɛɛ, mikɛ nyɛmimɛi komɛi taa lɛlɛ kakadaŋŋ ko ni mli elɛɛɛ mli kɛtsɔɔ fai ni kamɔ koo lɛ mli lɛ ahiɛ. Kɛ́ wɔmiiya lɛ, wɔkɛ generator, pɛtro, lantrɛi, kɛ tsɔne ni akɛbaajie sini lɛ woɔ lɛlɛ lɛ mli kɛyaa. Kɛ́ wɔyashɛ lɛ,  wɔloɔ nibii nɛɛ fɛɛ kɛyaa koo lɛ mli he ni wɔbaajie sini lɛ yɛ lɛ. Nɔ ni mikaiɔ yɛ gbɛfãi nɛɛ ahe ji, bɔ ni mɛi ni yɔɔ hei ni etsetsei amɛhe banee lɛ ateŋ mɛi pii baa amɛbakwɛɔ sinii nɛɛ. Eŋɔɔ minaa waa akɛ miye mibua mɛi ni amɛbale Yehowa kɛ egbɛjianɔtoo lɛ fã ni yɔɔ shikpɔŋ nɛɛ nɔ lɛ he sane. Kɛ́ mina bɔ ni nibii nɛɛ eye ebua mɛi ni amɛbasumɔ Yehowa lɛ, ehãa mináa miishɛɛ waa akɛ mikɛ mihe shã afɔle yɛ nɛkɛ gbɛi anɔ.

Bɔ ni oshija ni miji lɛ ye ebua mi ni minyɛ misɔmɔ Yehowa Nyɔŋmɔ jogbaŋŋ lɛ fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, minu he akɛ esa akɛ maná hefatalɔ. No hewɔ lɛ, mibɔi sɔlemɔ yɛ he kɛhã Yehowa koni maná yoo ni baafata mihe kɛsɔmɔ kɛ miishɛɛ yɛ koo nɛɛ mli yɛ bɔ ni nitsumɔ lɛ wa yɛ biɛ lɛ fɛɛ sɛɛ. Aaafee afi sɛɛ lɛ, mikɛ nyɛmi yoo ko ni atsɛɔ lɛ Ethel, ni eji gbɛgbalɔ krɛdɛɛ ni sumɔɔ ni ekɛ ehe ashã afɔle lɛ kpe, ni wɔje nyiɛmɔ ni tsɔɔ gbalashihilɛ hiɛ lɛ shishi. Kɛjɛ Ethel gbekɛbiiashi tɔ̃ɔ lɛ, esumɔɔ bɔfo Paulo sane waa, ni eesumɔ ni etsu sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ waa tamɔ bɔ ni bɔfo Paulo tsu lɛ lɛ pɛpɛɛpɛ. Wɔbote gbalashihilɛ mli yɛ September 1971, ni ahã wɔbɔi sɔɔmɔ akɛ kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔ kɛ eŋa.

Shĩa ni Ethel jɛ mli lɛ, amɛbɛ nɔ ko tsɔ, no hewɔ lɛ, ewaaa kɛhãaa lɛ kwraa akɛ ebaatsake ehe ewo gbɛfãa nitsumɔ lɛ mli yɛ koo lɛ mli. Akɛ nɔkwɛmɔnɔ lɛ, kɛ́ wɔyaasara asafoi ni yɔɔ koo lɛ mli shɔŋŋ lɛ, wɔkɛ nibii babaoo eyaaa. Wɔjuɔ wɔhe ni wɔfɔɔ wɔtadei ahe yɛ fai amli. Kɛ́ wɔyasara nyɛmimɛi lɛ, wɔyeɔ nɔ fɛɛ nɔ ni amɛhãa wɔ lɛ, odaakɛlɛo jio, nɔ fɛɛ nɔ ni amɛmɔɔ yɛ koo lɛ mli loo yɛ fai lɛ amli jio. Kɛ́ wɔnáaa plɛte lɛ, wɔyeɔ nii yɛ akwadu bai amli, ni kɛ́ wɔnáaa awale hu lɛ, wɔkɛ wɔniji yeɔ nii. Mi kɛ Ethel fɛɛ na akɛ, akɛni wɔ fɛɛ wɔkɛ wɔhe shãa afɔle koni wɔnyɛ wɔsɔmɔ Yehowa hewɔ lɛ, ehã wɔbɛŋkɛ wɔhe kpaakpa, tamɔ kpãi etɛ ni alo kɛfee kpãa kome. (Jaj. 4:12) Eŋɔɔ wɔnaa waa akɛ  wɔkɛ wɔhe shã afɔle yɛ nɛkɛ gbɛ nɔ, ni nɔ ko nɔ ko bɛ ni wɔbaanyɛ wɔkɛto he!

Be ko be ni wɔyasara asafoi ni etse amɛhe banee yɛ koo lɛ mli ni wɔmiiku wɔsɛɛ lɛ ni wɔkɛ shihilɛ ni miwie he yɛ sane nɛɛ shishijee lɛ kpe. Be ni wɔshɛ he ni faa lɛ hoɔ oyayaayai yɛ lɛ, wɔlɛlɛ lɛ bote nu lɛ shishi, nɔŋŋ kɛkɛ ni ewó ehiɛ nɔ ekoŋŋ. Dromɔ naa lɛ, wɔwo atade ni hãa mɔ tɛoɔ nu hiɛ, ni wɔgbeee faa lɛ mli hu. Shi wɔlɛlɛ lɛ yi kɛ nu obɔ. Wɔtsi niyenii fɛɛ ni yɔɔ wɔtsɛnsii lɛ amli lɛ wɔshwie koni wɔnyɛ wɔkɛ tsɛnsii lɛ aloo nu lɛ kɛje lɛlɛ lɛ mli.

Akɛni wɔtsi wɔniyenii lɛ fɛɛ wɔshwie hewɔ lɛ, wɔbɔi loo hɛ̃ɛ be ni wɔbaa lɛ. Shi wɔnáaa eko. No hewɔ lɛ, wɔsɔle wɔhã Yehowa koni ehã wɔná niyenii kɛhã nakai gbi lɛ. Be ni wɔsɔle wɔgbe naa nɔŋŋ lɛ, nyɛmi nuu ko fɔ̃ kpoŋ ewo faa lɛ mli ni emɔ loo ko ni da ni baanyɛ ashɛ wɔyi enumɔ lɛ nakai gbɛkɛ lɛ.

Be ni mi kɛ Ethel etsu gbɛfãa nitsumɔ lɛ afii enumɔ sɛɛ lɛ, wɔná jɔɔmɔ ko ni wɔkpaaa gbɛ kwraa. Ethel ná musu. Be ni minu lɛ, miná miishɛɛ waa. Shi no mli lɛ, mileee bɔ ni enɛ baasa wɔshihilɛ he ehã. Nɔ ni kã mi kɛ Ethel tsui nɔ waa ji, ni wɔbaafee bɔ fɛɛ bɔ ni wɔbaanyɛ koni wɔhi be fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Yɛ 1976 lɛ, wɔfɔ wɔbinuu ni atsɛɔ lɛ Ethniël lɛ. Enɔ afii enyɔ kɛ fã lɛ, wɔfɔ wɔbinuu ni ji enyɔ nɔ, atsɛɔ lɛ Giovanni.

Bɔ ni hiamɔ lɛ da yɛ Suriname yɛ nakai beiaŋ hewɔ lɛ, nitsumɔhe nine lɛ hã mitee nɔ misɔmɔ akɛ kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔ be ni wɔkwɛɔ wɔbii lɛ. Be ni wɔbii lɛ darako lɛ, ahã misɔmɔ kpokpai ni asafoi ni yɔɔ mli lɛ faaa tsɔ. Enɛ ye ebua mi waa, ejaakɛ yɛ nyɔɔŋ lɛ mli lɛ, minyɛɔ mikɛ otsii fioo sɔmɔɔ asafoi lɛ akɛ kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔ, kɛkɛ lɛ otsii ni eshwɛ yɛ nyɔɔŋ lɛ mli lɛ, misɔmɔ akɛ gbɛgbalɔ yɛ asafo ni ahã wɔtee mli lɛ mli. Kɛ́ miiya miyasɔmɔ asafoi ni bɛŋkɛ he ni wɔyɔɔ lɛ, Ethel kɛ gbekɛbii lɛ fataa mihe kɛyaa. Shi kɛ́ miiya miyasɔmɔ asafoi yɛ koo lɛ mli loo miyakwɛ kpee nɔ yɛ jɛmɛ lɛ, mikome miyaa.

Mito gbɛjianɔ jogbaŋŋ koni manyɛ matsu misɔ̃i lɛ fɛɛ ahe nii. Daa otsi lɛ, wɔkaseɔ nii akɛ weku. Kɛ́ miiya miyasara asafoi yɛ koo lɛ mli lɛ, Ethel kɛ gbekɛbii lɛ feɔ weku nikasemɔ yɛ shĩa. Shi yɛ be kɛ beiaŋ lɛ, wɔbɔɔ mɔdɛŋ akɛ wɔbaafee ekome kɛfee nii akɛ weku. Mi kɛ Ethel kɛ gbekɛbii lɛ shwɛɔ yɛ bei kɛ beiaŋ ni wɔyasharaa shi yɛ hei ni yɔɔ  fɛo ni bɛŋkɛ wɔshĩa lɛ. Bei pii lɛ, mishiɔ kpe koni manyɛ masaa mihe kɛhã nifeemɔi ni miyɔɔ lɛ. Ethel tamɔ yoo kpakpa ni awie ehe yɛ Abɛi 31:15 lɛ. Eteɔ shi mra ni ehãa wɔfeɔ daa gbi ŋmalɛ lɛ ni wɔyeɔ nii kutuu akɛ weku dani wɔbii lɛ shiɔ kɛyaa skul. Eŋɔɔ minaa waa akɛ miná yoo ni kɛ ehe shãa afɔle nɛkɛ ni yeɔ ebuaa mi koni matsu sɔ̃i fɛɛ ni Yehowa kɛwo midɛŋ lɛ ahe nii!

Wɔbɔ mɔdɛŋ waa akɛ wɔbaaye wɔbua wɔbihii lɛ ni amɛsumɔ Yehowa kɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ. Wɔshwe akɛ wɔbaaye wɔbua amɛ koni amɛ diɛŋtsɛ amɛjɛ amɛsuɔmɔ mli amɛhala akɛ amɛbaatsu be fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ, shi jeee ni wɔbaanyɛ amɛnɔ ni amɛfee nakai. Be fɛɛ be lɛ, wɔhãa amɛleɔ akɛ kɛ́ mɔ ko kɛ ehe wo be fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli lɛ, enáa miishɛɛ waa. Wɔhã amɛle naagbai ni wɔkɛkpe, shi wɔhã amɛle hu akɛ, Yehowa eye ebua wɔ kɛtsɔ fɛɛ mli ni ejɔɔ wɔ. Agbɛnɛ hu, wɔbɔ mɔdɛŋ akɛ wɔbaahã wɔbii lɛ kɛ mɛi ni kɛ Yehowa sɔɔmɔ yeɔ klɛŋklɛŋ gbɛhe yɛ amɛshihilɛ mli lɛ abɔ naanyo.

Yehowa ye ebua wɔ ni wɔweku lɛ ná nɔ ni he hiaa wɔ be fɛɛ be. Shi no etsɔɔɔ akɛ mitaa shi efolo. Mifee nɔ ni manyɛ kɛkwɛ miweku lɛ. Bɔ ni mihi shi mihã yɛ koo lɛ mli be ni miji gbɛgbalɔ krɛdɛɛ ni boteko gbalashihilɛ mli lɛ ye ebua mi ni minyɛɔ mitsɔɔ hiɛ mitoɔ gbɛjianɔ koni wɔná nibii ni he hiaa wɔ lɛ. Shi yɛ mɔdɛŋ ni wɔbɔ lɛ fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, jeee nɔ fɛɛ nɔ ni he hiaa wɔ lɛ wɔnyɛɔ wɔnáa. Shi Yehowa ye ebua wɔ yɛ bei ni tamɔ nakai lɛ amli. Akɛ nɔkwɛmɔnɔ lɛ, kɛjɛ 1986 kɛyashi 1992 lɛ, awu ta yɛ Suriname, ni yɛ nakai afii lɛ amli lɛ, nibii ni namɔ waaa po anamɔ bawa. Shi yɛ nakai be lɛ mli fɛɛ lɛ, Yehowa hã wɔ nibii ni he hiaa wɔ lɛ.​—Mat. 6:32.

Yehowa ekwɛ wɔ wɔwala gbii fɛɛ, ni ehã wɔná miishɛɛ waa ni wɔtsui enyɔ wɔmli hu. Wɔbii lɛ ehã wɔná miishɛɛ waa, ni eŋɔɔ wɔnaa waa akɛ wɔnyɛ wɔtsɔse amɛ ni amɛmiisɔmɔ Yehowa. Amɛ hu amɛkɛ amɛhe ewo be fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli ni enɛ ehã wɔtsui enyɔ wɔmli waa. Ethniël kɛ Giovanni fɛɛ etee asafo lɛ skul srɔtoi lɛ eko, ni bianɛ lɛ amɛkɛ amɛŋamɛi miisɔmɔ yɛ Suriname nitsumɔhe nine lɛ.

Bianɛ lɛ, mi kɛ Ethel fɛɛ edara. Shi wɔkã he wɔmiisɔmɔ akɛ gbɛgbalɔi krɛdɛi ni wɔbɛ dekã kwraa yɛ Yehowa sɔɔmɔ lɛ mli. Bɔ ni wɔbɛ dekã sɔŋŋ hewɔ lɛ, kɛbashi ŋmɛnɛ lɛ, minyɛko makase bɔ ni asereɔ. Shi mishwako mihe kwraa. Eŋɔɔ minaa waa akɛ kɛjɛ miblahiiaŋ tɔ̃ɔ lɛ mikpɛ miyiŋ akɛ mikɛ mihe baawo be fɛɛ sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli.