SANE nɛɛ ba yɛ afi 1949, nɔ ni fe afii 60 ni eho nɛ, shi ha magba bo mihe sane kɛjɛ shishijee. Atsɛɔ mitsɛ Hendrik, ni ekpɛɔ tokota, ni eji tromsaalɔ hu yɛ Donderen, ni ji akrowa bibioo ko ni yɔɔ Drenthe kooyigbɛ, yɛ Netherlands lɛ. Afɔ mi yɛ nakai akrowa lɛ yɛ afi 1927, ni miji bii kpawo lɛ ateŋ mɔ ni ji ejwɛ nɔ. Wɔshĩa lɛ bɛŋkɛ gbɛjegbɛ ko ni awoko nɔ kootaa yɛ nakai akrowa lɛ mli. Wɔkutsoŋbii lɛ ateŋ mɛi pii yeɔ okwaa, ni mi hu minyaa okwaayeli he waa. Yɛ afi 1947 mli beni miye afii 19 lɛ, mikutsoŋnyo ko ni atsɛɔ lɛ Theunis Been lɛ kɛ mi gba anɔkwale lɛ he sane klɛŋklɛŋ kwraa. Mikaiɔ akɛ klɛŋklɛŋ be ni mina Theunis lɛ, misumɔɔɔ esane, shi beni etsɔ Yehowa Odasefonyo yɛ Jeŋ Ta II lɛ sɛɛ etsɛɛɛ lɛ, miyɔse akɛ etseɔ ehiɛ ehaa mɛi fe tsutsu lɛ. Tsakemɔ nɛɛ ha minaa kpɛ mihe waa, no hewɔ lɛ, beni ekɛ mi gba paradeiso ni Nyɔŋmɔ ewo he shi lɛ he sane lɛ, mibo lɛ toi. Mikpɛlɛ anɔkwale lɛ nɔ amrɔ nɔŋŋ, ni wɔtsɔmɔ nanemɛi. *

Mibɔi shiɛmɔ yɛ May 1948, ni yɛ June 20 lɛ, abaptisi mi yɛ kpokpaa wulu nɔ kpee ko ni afee yɛ Utrecht lɛ shishi. Mibɔi gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ January 1, 1949, ni aha miyasɔmɔ yɛ Borculo ni yɔɔ Netherlands bokagbɛ, he ni asafo bibioo ko yɔɔ lɛ. Ehe bahia ni mafã gbɛ kilomitai 130 kɛya, no hewɔ lɛ mikpɛ mli akɛ mata okɔɔkpe kɛya. Misusu akɛ ebaahe mi aaafee ŋmɛlɛtswai 6, shi akɛni  nugbɔ nɛ ni kɔɔyɔɔ hu tswa waa hewɔ lɛ, ehe mi ŋmɛlɛtswai 12 dani miyashɛ, tsɛ lɛ, mikɛ oketeke fo naagbee kilomitai 90 lɛ! Miyashɛ he ni mato, ni ji Odasefoi aweku ko shĩa lɛ beni jenamɔ yi ewa, ni jɛi ji he ni mihi beni misɔmɔɔ akɛ gbɛgbalɔ yɛ nakai kpokpaa lɛ nɔ lɛ.

Yɛ ta lɛ sɛɛ lɛ, shihilɛ lɛ mli bawa. Nɔ ni miyɔɔ pɛ ji trɔza kome kɛ kootu kɛ eshishi trɔza—kootu kɛ eshishi trɔza lɛ da fe mi, ni mitrɔza kome lɛ hu efee kuku! Taakɛ mitsɔ hiɛ miwie lɛ, mináaa klɛŋklɛŋ nyɔɔŋ ni miye yɛ Borculo lɛ mlɛo kwraa, shi Yehowa ye ebua mi ni miná Biblia mli nikaselɔi babaoo. Beni miye nyɔji nɛɛhu yɛ jɛmɛ lɛ, aha mishi kɛtee Amsterdam.

Susumɔ he okwɛ, mi ni mida yɛ akrowa ko ni ayeɔ okwaa yɛ mli lɛ mli lɛ, agbɛnɛ miyaje Amsterdam, ni ji maŋtiase ni da fe fɛɛ yɛ Netherlands lɛ mli. Mɛi babaoo boɔ sane lɛ toi waa yɛ biɛ. Yɛ klɛŋklɛŋ nyɔɔŋ lɛ nɔ lɛ, miha woji babaoo fe nɔ ni miha yɛ nyɔji nɛɛhu ni tsɔ hiɛ lɛ amli lɛ. Eyeee be ko ni miná Biblia mli nikaselɔi ni fa fe kpaanyɔ. Beni awo mi asafo lɛ sɔɔlɔ (amrɔ nɛɛ onukpai akuu lɛ asaji ahe gbɛjianɔtolɔ) lɛ, miná hegbɛ akɛ maha mi-klɛŋklɛŋ maŋshiɛmɔ. Enɛ ha mitsui fã fioo. No hewɔ lɛ, beni be ni mikɛbaaha maŋshiɛmɔ lɛ bɛŋkɛɔ, ní ajie mi kɛtee asafo kroko mli lɛ, mimu fuaa. Mileee kwraa akɛ afii ni baanyiɛ sɛɛ lɛ amli lɛ, maha maŋshiɛmɔi ni fa fe 5,000!

Yɛ May 1950 lɛ, aha miyasɔmɔ yɛ Haarlem. Kɛkɛ ni afɔ̃ mi nine kɛha kpokpaa nɔkwɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ. Minyɛɛɛ mawɔ gbii etɛ sɔŋŋ. Mikɛɛ nyɛmi nuu ko ni tsuɔ nii yɛ nitsumɔhe nine lɛ ni atsɛɔ lɛ Robert Winkler lɛ akɛ, miinu he akɛ mishɛɛɛ, shi ekɛɛ mi akɛ: “Ŋmalamɔ woji lɛ anɔ nii kɛkɛ. Obaakase.” No sɛɛ etsɛɛɛ lɛ, akɛ nyɔɔŋ kome tsɔse mi ni mibɔi sɔɔmɔ akɛ kpokpaa nɔ sɔɔlɔ (amrɔ nɛɛ kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔ). Be ko beni miyasara asafo ko lɛ, mikɛ oblayoo ko ni atsɛɔ lɛ Janny Taatgen, ni ji gbɛgbalɔ ni he yɔɔ miishɛɛ ni sumɔɔ Yehowa waa ni yɔɔ hekɛafɔleshaa mumɔ lɛ kpe. Wɔbote gbalashihilɛ mli yɛ afi 1955. Shi dani matsa misane lɛ nɔ lɛ, Janny baagba bɔ ni fee ni ebatsɔ gbɛgbalɔ kɛ bɔ ni wɔtsa wɔsɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ nɔ beni wɔbote gbalashihilɛ mli lɛ sɛɛ.

Janny: Minyɛ batsɔ Odasefonyo yɛ afi 1945 beni miye afii 11 lɛ. Amrɔ nɔŋŋ lɛ, eyɔse akɛ ehe miihia ni ekɛ ebii etɛ lɛ akase Biblia lɛ, shi mitsɛ sumɔɔɔ anɔkwale lɛ, no hewɔ lɛ, minyɛ tsɔɔ wɔ nii beni mitsɛ bɛ shĩa.

Klɛŋklɛŋ Odasefoi ahenaabuamɔ ni mitee shishi ji kpokpaa wulu nɔ kpee ko ni afee yɛ The Hague yɛ afi 1950 lɛ. Enɔ otsi lɛ, mitee mi-klɛŋklɛŋ asafoŋ kpee yɛ Maŋtsɛyeli Asa ni yɔɔ Assen (Drenthe) lɛ nɔ. Mitsɛ mli fu waa ni eshwie  mi kɛje shĩa lɛ. Minyɛ kɛɛ mi akɛ, “Bɛ ole he ni obaayahi.” Mina akɛ mimumɔŋ nyɛmimɛi hii kɛ yei lɛ ahe ewieɔ lɛ. Klɛŋklɛŋ lɛ, miyahi Odasefoi aweku ko ni bɛŋkɛ wɔ lɛ aŋɔɔ, shi loloolo lɛ mitsɛ haaa mihe ajɔ mi, no hewɔ lɛ, mishi kɛtee asafo ni yɔɔ Deventer (Overijssel), ni kɛ he ni wɔyɔɔ lɛ jɛkɛmɔ aaafee kilomitai 95 lɛ mli. Shi akɛni midako hewɔ lɛ, amralo lɛ kɛ mitsɛ ye sane yɛ shwiemɔ ni eshwie mi yɛ shĩa lɛ hewɔ. Enɛ hewɔ lɛ, eha miba shĩa lɛ ekoŋŋ. Eyɛ mli akɛ sɛɛ mli lɛ, mitsɛ ŋmɛ mi gbɛ ni mitee asafoŋ kpeei srɔtoi lɛ fɛɛ kɛ shiɛmɔ hu moŋ, shi ebamɔɔɔ anɔkwale lɛ mli.

Beni miba shĩa lɛ sɛɛ etsɛɛɛ lɛ, minyɛ he baye waa, ni enɛ ha shĩa nitsumɔ lɛ fɛɛ bakã minɔ. Yɛ enɛ fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, mitee mihiɛ yɛ mumɔŋ ni abaptisi mi yɛ afi 1951 beni miye afii 17. Yɛ afi 1952 lɛ, Awo he bawa lɛ, ni mikɛ nyɛmimɛi yei gbɛgbalɔi etɛ komɛi sɔmɔ nyɔji enyɔ akɛ gbɛhamɔ gbɛgbalɔ (gbɛgbalɔi awalɔ). Wɔhi lɛlɛ ko ni tsũ yɔɔ mli lɛ mli, ni wɔshiɛ yɛ maji enyɔ mli yɛ Drenthe. Mibatsɔ gbɛgbalɔ yɛ afi 1953. No sɛɛ afi lɛ, kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔ ko ni edako tsɔ basara wɔsafo lɛ. Lɛ ji Markus. Wɔnu he akɛ wɔbaanyɛ wɔsɔmɔ Yehowa jogbaŋŋ akɛ wu kɛ ŋa, no hewɔ lɛ, wɔbote gbalashihilɛ mli yɛ May 1955.—Jaj. 4:9-12.

Markus: Beni wɔbote gbalashihilɛ mli lɛ sɛɛ lɛ, aha wɔyasɔmɔ akɛ gbɛgbalɔi yɛ Veendam (Groningen). Wɔhi tsũ bibioo ko ni mli kɛlɛ aaafee ninetalɔi kpawo ni elɛɛmɔ hu aaafee ninetalɔi nyɔŋma lɛ mli. Fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, Janny saa tsũ lɛ mli fɛfɛo. Daa gbɛkɛ lɛ, wɔtsirɛɔ wɔkpɔlɔ kɛ wɔsɛ̃ii bibii enyɔ lɛ koni wɔnyɛ wɔkɛ wɔsaatso ni akɛkpasaa shi lɛ ama shi.

Nyɔji ekpaa sɛɛ lɛ, afɔ̃ wɔ nine kɛtee Belgium ni wɔyasɔmɔ yɛ gbɛfãa nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Yɛ afi 1955 mli lɛ, shiɛlɔi aaafee 4,000 pɛ yɔɔ maŋ lɛ mli. Amrɔ nɛɛ, ayɛ shiɛlɔi aaafee 24,000! Mɛi ni yɔɔ Flanders, yɛ Belgium kooyigbɛ lɛ kɛ Netherlandsbii lɛ fɛɛ wieɔ wiemɔ kome. Shi esoro bɔ ni Belgiumbii lɛ awiemɔ lɛ gbɛɔ yɛ Netherlandsbii lɛ anɔ lɛ he fioo, no hewɔ lɛ, ehe bahia ni wɔkase no hu.

Janny: Gbɛfãa nitsumɔ lɛ biɔ hekɛafɔleshaa diɛŋtsɛ. Wɔtaa okɔɔkpe kɛyasaraa asafoi lɛ, ni wɔhiɔ nyɛmimɛi lɛ ashĩai amli. Akɛni wɔbɛ wɔ diɛŋtsɛ wɔshihilɛhe ni wɔbaayawɔ jɛmɛ beni wɔshi asafo kome mli kɛmiiya ekroko mli hewɔ lɛ, wɔhiɔ he ni wɔyatoɔ lɛ kɛyashiɔ Ju, kɛkɛ lɛ wɔshi Jufɔ leebi. Shi be fɛɛ be lɛ, wɔnaa wɔsɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ akɛ Yehowa dɛŋ jɔɔmɔ.

Markus: Beni wɔbɔi asafoi lɛ saramɔ lɛ, no mli lɛ wɔleee nyɛmimɛi lɛ ateŋ mɔ ko kwraa, shi amɛhere wɔ hiɛmɛɛ ni amɛfee wɔ gbɔ. (Heb. 13:2) Afii ni nyiɛ sɛɛ lɛ amli lɛ, wɔsara asafoi ni wieɔ Dutch ni yɔɔ Belgium lɛ fɛɛ shii abɔ. Enɛ ha wɔná jɔɔmɔi babaoo. Akɛ nɔkwɛmɔnɔ lɛ, wɔbale nyɛmimɛi ni yɔɔ Dutch kpokpaa lɛ nɔ lɛ ateŋ mɛi babaoo, ni wɔbasumɔ amɛsane waa. Oblahii kɛ oblayei babaoo ni wɔle lɛ edara ni amɛmiiya  amɛhiɛ yɛ mumɔŋ, amɛjɔɔ amɛhe nɔ amɛha Yehowa, ni amɛkɛ Maŋtsɛyeli lɛ miiye klɛŋklɛŋ gbɛhe yɛ amɛshihilɛ mli. Kɛ́ wɔna bɔ ni amɛteŋ mɛi babaoo kɛ amɛbe fɛɛ sɔmɔɔ Yehowa lɛ, wɔmii shɛɔ wɔhe waa. (3 Yoh. 4) Bɔ ni wɔ kɛ nyɛmimɛi lɛ fɛɛ wowoɔ wɔhe hewalɛ lɛ eye ebua wɔ ni wɔtee nɔ wɔkɛ miishɛɛ esɔmɔ.—Rom. 1:12.

Markus: Kɛjɛ beni wɔbote gbalashihilɛ mli lɛ, eji wɔshwelɛ akɛ wɔbaaya Gilead Skul lɛ eko. Wɔkaseɔ Blɔfo kɛ́ hooo kwraa lɛ, ŋmɛlɛtswaa kome daa gbi kɛjɛɔ woji amli. Shi wɔnáaa lɛ mlɛo, no hewɔ lɛ, wɔkpɛ mli akɛ wɔbaayaye wɔhejɔɔmɔ be lɛ yɛ England, koni beni wɔshiɛɔ yɛ jɛmɛ lɛ, wɔ-Blɔfo lɛ aya hiɛ. Yɛ afi 1963 mli lɛ, wɔnine shɛ wolo kotoku ko nɔ kɛjɛ nitsumɔhe yitso ni yɔɔ Brooklyn lɛ. Woji srɔtoi enyɔ yɔɔ mli, minɔ kome kɛ Janny hu nɔ kome. Miwolo lɛ ji ninefɔɔ kɛha Gilead skul krɛdɛɛ ko ni akɛ nyɔji nyɔŋma baafee lɛ eko. Akɛ skul nɛɛ baatsɔse nyɛmimɛi hii titri, koni atsɔɔ amɛ bɔ ni atoɔ shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ he gbɛjianɔ. Enɛ hewɔ lɛ, yɛ nyɛmimɛi 100 ni afɔ̃ amɛ nine lɛ ateŋ lɛ, mɛi 82 ji hii.

Janny: Yɛ wolo ni aŋma mi lɛ mli lɛ, akɛɛ mi akɛ mikɛ hiɛdɔɔ asusu he mikwɛ akɛ manyɛ mahi Belgium beni Markus etee Gilead lɛ lo. Anɔkwa, shishijee mli lɛ, edɔ mi waa. Efee tamɔ nɔ ni Yehowa ejɔko mɔdɛŋ fɛɛ ni mibɔ akɛ maya mihiɛ yɛ esɔɔmɔ lɛ mli lɛ nɔ. Fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, mikai akɛ yiŋtoo ni yɔɔ Gilead Skul lɛ sɛɛ ji, ni akɛye abua mɛi ni yaa lɛ koni amɛnyɛ amɛshiɛ sanekpakpa lɛ yɛ jeŋ fɛɛ. No hewɔ lɛ, mikpɛlɛ akɛ mahi shi, ni aha miyafata Anna kɛ Maria Colpaert, ni ji gbɛgbalɔi krɛdɛi lɛ ahe kɛsɔmɔ akɛ gbɛgbalɔ krɛdɛɛ yɛ Ghent, yɛ Belgium.

Markus: Akɛni mileko Blɔfo wiemɔ jogbaŋŋ hewɔ lɛ, aha mitsɔ hiɛ mikɛ nyɔji enumɔ yasɔmɔ yɛ Brooklyn dani aje skul lɛ shishi. Mitsu nii yɛ Shipping Department kɛ Service Department. Beni miyasɔmɔ yɛ nitsumɔhe yitso lɛ, miye mibua ni akɛ woji maje nyɛmimɛi ni yɔɔ Asia, Europe, kɛ South America lɛ, ni enɛ ha miyɔse bɔ ni nyɛmimɛi ni yɔɔ je lɛŋ fɛɛ lɛ ayi fa ha. Mɔ ni mikaiɔ waa ji Nyɛminuu A. H. Macmillan, ni sɔmɔ akɛ nɔkwɛlɔ gbɛfalɔ yɛ Nyɛminuu Russell beaŋ lɛ. No mli lɛ egbɔ waa, ni enuuu nii jogbaŋŋ hu, shi fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, efooo asafoŋ kpeei amli. Enɛ ha mikase nɔ ko ni mihiɛ kpaŋ nɔ da akɛ, esaaa akɛ wɔbuɔ wɔ-Kristofoi ahenaabuamɔi lɛ akɛ nɔ ko flɛflɛ kɔkɔɔkɔ.—Heb. 10:24, 25.

Janny: Mi kɛ Markus ŋmalaa wɔhe woji shii abɔ daa otsi. Wɔhiɛ tse wɔhe waa diɛŋtsɛ! Kɛlɛ, Markus ná Gilead tsɔsemɔ lɛ he miishɛɛ, ni mi hu mimii shɛ mihe waa yɛ shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Beni Markus ku esɛɛ kɛjɛ United States lɛ, no mli lɛ mikɛ mɛi 17 miikase Biblia lɛ! Wɔmli ni gbála nyɔji 15 lɛ ji shihilɛ ko ni wa moŋ, shi mina akɛ Yehowa jɔɔ wɔ yɛ wɔhe ni wɔkɛshã afɔle lɛ hewɔ. Gbi ni Markus baa lɛ, kɔɔyɔŋ lɛlɛ lɛ kpe sɛɛ ŋmɛlɛtswai babaoo, no hewɔ lɛ beni ebashɛ shi lɛ, wɔfua wɔhe ni wɔjwa yaafo. Kɛjɛ no sɛɛ nɛɛ, suɔmɔ ni yɔɔ wɔteŋ lɛ mli ewa kpɛŋŋ.

Markus: Beni miku misɛɛ kɛjɛ Gilead yɛ December 1964 lɛ, aha wɔyasɔmɔ yɛ Betel. No mli lɛ, wɔsusu akɛ jɛmɛ wɔbaasɔmɔ yɛ kwraa,  asomoaŋ jeee nakai. Nyɔji etɛ pɛ sɛɛ lɛ, aha miyasɔmɔ akɛ kpokpaa wulu nɔkwɛlɔ yɛ Flanders. Beni akɛ Aalzen kɛ Els Wiegersma ba Belgium akɛ maŋsɛɛ sɔɔlɔi lɛ, aha amɛyasɔmɔ yɛ kpokpaa wulu nɔkwɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli, ni aha wɔku wɔsɛɛ kɛtee Betel ekoŋŋ, ni miyatsu nii yɛ Service Department. Kɛjɛ afi 1968 kɛyashi afi 1980 lɛ, aha wɔsɔmɔ yɛ Betel kɛ gbɛfãa nitsumɔ lɛ mli shii abɔ. Naagbee kwraa lɛ, misɔmɔ akɛ kpokpaa wulu nɔkwɛlɔ kɛjɛ afi 1980 kɛyashi afi 2005.

Eyɛ mli akɛ atsake wɔnitsumɔ lɛ shii abɔ moŋ, shi wɔhiɛ kpaaa nɔ kɔkɔɔkɔ akɛ wɔjɔɔ wɔhe nɔ wɔha Yehowa. Wɔnya sɔɔmɔ hegbɛi fɛɛ ni wɔnine shɛ nɔ lɛ ahe waa, ejaakɛ wɔna akɛ Maŋtsɛyeli sɔɔmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ shweremɔ hewɔ afee nakai tsakemɔi lɛ.

Janny: Eŋɔɔ minaa waa akɛ mi kɛ Markus tee Brooklyn yɛ afi 1977, ni wɔtee Patterson yɛ afi 1997 ni ayatsɔse lɛ akɛ Nitsumɔhe Nine Ajinafoi Akuu mli nyo.

Markus: Afee Janny opireshɛŋ yɛ afi 1982 mli, shi etsɛɛɛ ni ehe wa lɛ. Afii etɛ sɛɛ lɛ, asafo ni yɔɔ Louvain lɛ kɛ tsũ ni yɔɔ amɛ-Maŋtsɛyeli Asa lɛ yiteŋ lɛ ha wɔ akɛ wɔhi jɛmɛ. Yɛ afii 30 ni wɔkɛsɔmɔ lɛ mli fɛɛ lɛ, kpaako wɔná wɔ-klɛŋklɛŋ shihilɛhe. Kɛ́ eshɛ Jufɔ ni wɔmiishi kɛmiiya asafo ko mli ní mikɛ wɔnibii lɛ mikpeleke shi lɛ, mikwɔɔ atrakpoi 54 ni mikpelekeɔ shii abɔ! Duromɔ naa lɛ, yɛ afi 2002 lɛ, aha wɔshi ŋwɛi lɛ, ni wɔbahi shishi lɛ. Beni miye afii 78 lɛ, aha wɔyasɔmɔ akɛ gbɛgbalɔi krɛdɛi yɛ Lokeren. Eŋɔɔ wɔnaa waa akɛ wɔná sɔɔmɔ hegbɛ nɛɛ, ni eŋɔɔ wɔnaa hu akɛ wɔnyɛɔ wɔyaa shiɛmɔ daa gbi.

Janny: Kɛ́ akɛ afii abɔ ni mikɛsɔmɔ akɛ be fɛɛ sɔɔlɔ lɛ fata Markus nɔ lɛ he lɛ, efe afii 120! Wɔ diɛŋtsɛ wɔna bɔ ni Yehowa shiwoo akɛ, ‘eshiŋ wɔ gbi ko gbi ko,’ ni akɛ kɛ́ wɔsɔmɔ lɛ yɛ anɔkwayeli mli lɛ, ‘nɔ ko nɔ ko ehiaŋ wɔ’ lɛ ji anɔkwale ha.—Heb. 13:5; 5 Mose 2:7.

Markus: Beni wɔdarako lɛ, wɔjɔɔ wɔhe nɔ wɔha Yehowa. Wɔtaooo nibii wuji wɔhaaa wɔhe. Wɔkɛ miishɛɛ kpɛlɛ sɔɔmɔ hegbɛi fɛɛ ni atu awo wɔdɛŋ lɛ anɔ, ejaakɛ wɔle akɛ jeee he ni wɔsɔmɔɔ yɛ loo sɔmɔɔ hegbɛ ni wɔyɔɔ lɛ ji nɔ ni he hiaa, shi moŋ, mɔ ni wɔsɔmɔɔ lɛ.