ƐNEE ɛvolɛ 60 ɛpɛ nu wɔ 1949 ne anu, noko me ɛbɛlabɔlɛ nu edwɛkɛ ne bɔle ɔ bo mekɛ tendenle kolaa na mekɛ zɔhane adwu. Ɛnee me papa Hendrik yɛ mgbɔlaboa nee tola nu gyima wɔ Donderen, namule bie mɔɔ wɔ Drenthe sɔlɔ wɔ Netherlands la azo. Bɛwole me wɔ ɛkɛ wɔ 1927, yɛle ngakula nsuu na medame a metɔ zolɛ nna a. Yɛ sua ne bikye munlutu adenle bie mɔɔ wɔ maanzinli ne anu la. Yɛ kpalɛzoamra dɔɔnwo le ɛyazonlɛma, na ɛnee me nye die egyinliyɛlɛ nwo. Mekɛ mɔɔ menyianle ɛvolɛ 19 wɔ 1947 ne anu la, menli mɔɔ ɛnee de bikye yɛ la anu ko mɔɔ bɛfɛlɛ ye Theunis Been la boale me manle menwunle nɔhalɛ ne. Mekakye kɛ mekɛ mɔɔ menwunle Theunis la ɛnee mengulo ye edwɛkɛ, noko wɔ Ewiade Konle II anzi mekɛ ekyi bie anu ɔrayɛle Gyihova Alasevolɛ ne mɔ ko, na menwunle kɛ akee ɔ nyunlu te. Kɛzi ye subane hakyile la zinle me nwo, yemɔti mekɛ mɔɔ ɔhanle Nyamenle ɛwɔkɛ mɔ fane Paladaese ne anwo edwɛkɛ ɔhilele me la, mendiele. Ndɛndɛ ne ala menliele nɔhalɛ ne mendole nu, na yɛrayɛle agɔnwolɛ. *

Membɔle daselɛlilɛ bo wɔ May 1948, na ye siane bieko mɔɔ le June 20 la, bɛzɔnenle me wɔ maangyeba nyianu bie mɔɔ bɛyɛle ye wɔ Utrecht la abo. Membɔle adekpakyelɛ gyima ne abo wɔ January 1, 1949, na bɛmanle mengɔmboale asafo ekyi bie mɔɔ wɔ Borculo, Netherlands aduduleɛ la. Ɛnee ɔwɔ kɛ mepɛ mayɛle 80 anzɛɛ (km 130) adenle, yemɔti menzile kpɔkɛ kɛ mebava basekɛ meahɔ. Menzuzule  kɛ mebali dɔnehwele 6, noko ɔluakɛ ezule ne dɔle kpole na anwoma kpole dule la ati, ɔnva nwo kɛ menvale keteke mempɛle nuhua mayɛle 55 anzɛɛ (km 90) la, menlile dɔnehwele 12! Mɔɔ mengɔdwule la ɛnee aleɛ ɛdwo kpalɛ. Mengɔle abusua bie mɔɔ bɛle Alasevolɛ la ɛkɛ na mendɛnlanle bɛ nwo menyɛle adekpakyelɛ wɔ ɛkɛ.

Mekɛ mɔɔ konle ne rale ye awieleɛ la, ɛnee menli ɛnlɛ ninyɛne dɔɔnwo. Ɛnee kootu ko nee telawoza nwiɔ ala a melɛ a—kootu ne le kpole bie yɛɛ telawoza ne mɔ le nzinrenzinra! Kɛmɔ menganle ye wɔ mɔlebɛbo ne la, siane ne mɔɔ lumua mɔɔ ɛnee mewɔ Borculo la ɛnee ɔnla aze, noko Gyihova manle menyianle Baebolo sukoavoma dɔɔnwo. Siane ngɔnla pɛle nu la, bɛmanle mengɔle Amsterdam.

Bɛtetele me wɔ maanzinli mɔɔ bɛyɛ ɛbɔ nu gyima nu la anu, noko kɛkala mewɔ Amsterdam, suakpole mɔɔ wɔ Netherlands la azo. Ɛnee ɛzonlenlɛ gyima ne ɛlɛkɔ ɔ nyunlu. Wɔ siane ne mɔɔ lumua la anu, memanle mbuluku dɔɔnwo mendɛlale mɔɔ memanle ye wɔ siane ngɔnla ne mɔɔ ɛze la anu. Yeangyɛ menyianle Baebolo sukoavoma mɔɔ bɛbo mɔtwɛ. Mekɛ mɔɔ bɛkpale me kɛ asafo nu sonvolɛ (mɔɔ ɛnɛ bɛfɛlɛ ye mgbanyinli avinli ngitanwodivolɛ la), bɛmanle me bagua nu ɛdendɛlɛ mɔɔ lumua la. Me ahonle dule, yemɔti mekɛ mɔɔ bɛyele me bɛhɔle asafo fofolɛ nu la, me nye liele. Ɛnee menze kɛ wɔ ɛvolɛ dɔɔnwo anzi, mebamaa ɛdendɛlɛ mɔɔ ɔbo 5,000!

Bɛyele me bɛhɔle Haarlem wɔ May 1950. Bɛvɛlɛle me kɛ mengɔnyɛ maanzinli zo neavolɛ. Nlafelɛ angɔ me nye zo kenle nsa. Menganle mengilele Robert Winkler, mediema mɔɔ ɛnee bɛlɛsonle wɔ ɔfese ne la anu ko kɛ, mete nganeɛ kɛ menfɛta, noko ɔzele me kɛ: “Wɔmɔ hyehyɛ ngɛlata ne mɔ ala. Ɛbazukoa.” Mekɛ ekyi guale nu la, bɛtetele me siane ko na membɔle ɔ bo menzonlenle kɛ maanzinli sonvolɛ anzɛɛ (neavolɛ). Mekɛ mɔɔ mengɔkpɔlale asafo bie la, menwunle bɛlɛra anyunlu ɛzelekɛ bie mɔɔ bɛfɛlɛ ye Janny Taatgen, mɔɔ ɔkulo Gyihova kpalɛ na ɔlɛ tunwomaa sunsum la. Yɛgyale wɔ 1955. Kolaa na meadoa me adawu ne azo la, Janny bahilehile kɛzi ɔrayɛle adekpakyelɛnli nee kɛzi yɛzonlenle kɛ agyalɛma la anu.

Janny: Me mame rayɛle Dasevolɛ wɔ 1945 ne anu la, ɛnee meli ɛvolɛ 11. Ndɛndɛ ne ala, ɔnwunle kɛ nwolɛ hyia kɛ ɔ nee ɔ mra nsa ne sukoa Baebolo ne, noko me papa dwazole tiale nɔhalɛ ne, yemɔti ɛnee ɔkile yɛ debie wɔ mekɛ mɔɔ me papa ɛnle sua nu la.

Me ayia mɔɔ lumua la a le maangyeba nyianu ne mɔɔ bɛyɛle ye wɔ Hague 1950 ne la. Wɔ dapɛne ko anzi, mengɔle me debiezukoalɛ mɔɔ lumua wɔ Belemgbunlililɛ Asalo la wɔ Assen (Drenthe). Me ze vale ɛya na ɔdule me ɔvile ye sua nu. Me mame hanle kɛ, “Ɛze ɛleka mɔɔ ɛbahola wɔahɔ la.” Menwunle kɛ me sunsum nu mediema ne mɔ anwo edwɛkɛ a ɔlɛka a. Menlumuale mengɔndɛnlanle abusua  bie mɔɔ bɛbikye yɛ na bɛle Alasevolɛ la ɛkɛ, noko ɛnee me papa tɛgyegye me, yemɔti mendule mengɔle Deventer (Overijssel), asafo ne mɔɔ wɔ mayɛle 60 (anzɛɛ km 95) la anu. Ɛnee mele kakula ekyi bie yemɔti, arane mgbanyima gyegyele me papa kɛ yemaa medu mevi sua nu la. Ɔlua zo, ɔhanle kɛ menzia membɛla sua nu. Ɔwɔ nuhua kɛ me ze anva nɔhalɛ ne ɛdeɛ, noko awieleɛ kolaa ne, ɔmanle me adenle mengɔle debiezukoalɛ ne amuala nee daselɛlilɛ.

Mekɛ mɔɔ menziale membale sua nu la yeangyɛ me mame anwo dole ye kpole bie na ɛnee medame a ɔwɔ kɛ meyɛ sua nu gyima kɔsɔɔti a. Ɛhye mɔ amuala anzi, menyinle sunsum nu na bɛzɔnenle me wɔ 1951 na ɛnee meli ɛvolɛ 17. Me mame dele kpɔkɛ wɔ 1952 ne la, me nee mediema mraalɛ nsa yɛle adekpakyelɛ (boavolɛ) siane nwiɔ. Yɛvale ɛlɛne mɔɔ sua gyi zo la yɛhanle edwɛkɛ ne wɔ azuamgbole nwiɔ mɔɔ wɔ Drenthe la azo. Membɔle dahuu adekpakyelɛ gyima ne abo wɔ 1953 ne anu. Ɛvolɛ ko anzi, maanzinli zo neavolɛ ko mɔɔ ɔle kpavolɛ la rakpɔlale yɛ asafo ne. Bɛfɛlɛ ye Markus. Kɛmɔ yɛdele nganeɛ kɛ yɛbahola yɛazonle Gyihova kpalɛ kɛ agyalɛma la ati, yɛgyale wɔ May 1955 ne anu.—Nolo. 4:9-12.

Markus: Yɛ atɔfolɛlielɛ ne anzi, bɛ nee yɛ hɔle Veendam (Groningen) kɛ adekpakyelɛma. Yɛdɛnlanle sua ekyi bie mɔɔ ye tɛtɛlɛ le mita nwiɔ na ye tendenle le mita nsa la anu. Noko Janny zieziele sua ne anu kɛnlɛma kpalɛ. Aleɛ dwo biala a, ɛnee ɔwɔ kɛ yɛye yɛ ɛkponle ne nee yɛ mbia ngyikyi nwiɔ ne amaa yɛanyia ɛleka yɛava yɛ ɛkpa ne mɔɔ ɔzua bane ne la yɛazie.

Siane nsia pɛle nu la, bɛdole ɛsalɛ bɛvɛlɛle yɛ kɛ yɛhɔyɛ neavolɛ adenduvo gyima wɔ Belgium. Wɔ 1955 ne anu, ɛnee nolobɔlɛma kɛyɛ 4,000 ala a wɔ maanle ne anu a. Kɛkala bɛyɛ mɔnwo nsia! Menli mɔɔ wɔ Flanders, wɔ Belgium sɔlɔ la, ka aneɛ ne mɔɔ Netherland amra ka la bie. Noko akee, Belgianma ɛdeɛ ne le ngakyile ekyi, yemɔti alumua ne ɛnee ɔwɔ kɛ yɛsukoa.

Janny: Neavolɛ adenduvo gyima ne hyia tunwomaa sunsum. Ɛnee yɛfa basekɛ a yɛkɔkpɔla asafo ne mɔ a, na yɛdɛnlanle mediema azua nu. Kɛmɔ ɛnee yɛnlɛ yɛ ti anwo sua la ati, ɛnee yɛtɛnla asafo ko anu dedee Kenlenzile na Dwɛkɛ nwonlomɔ yɛadu. Noko yɛbule yɛ ɛzonlenlɛ gyima ne kɛ nyilalɛ mɔɔ ɔvi Gyihova.

Markus: Alumua ne, ɛnee yɛnze mediema mɔɔ wɔ asafo ne mɔ anu la biala, noko bɛlale atiakunlukɛnlɛma nee ɛyɛvolɛyɛlɛ subane ali. (Hib. 13:2) Yɛkpɔlale asafo mɔɔ bɛka Dutch aneɛ wɔ Belgium la fane dɔɔnwo wɔ ɛvolɛ dɔɔnwo anu. Ɛhye ɛmaa yɛnyia nyilalɛ dɔɔnwo. Kɛ neazo la, asɛɛ yɛze mediema mɔɔ wɔ Dutch maangyeba ne anu la amuala, na bɛla yɛ ahonle nwo. Yɛnwu ngakula dɔɔnwo mɔɔ bɛnyi nwonane nu nee sunsum nu, bɛyila bɛ nwo zo bɛmaa Gyihova na bɛva Belemgbunlililɛ gyima ne bɛlumua la. Yɛdi fɛlɛko kpole kɛ yɛnwu kɛ bɛ nuhua dɔɔnwo ɛlɛsonle Gyihova nɔhalɛ nu  wɔ dahuu ɛzonlenlɛ gyima ne anu la. (3 Dwɔn 4) “Anwosesebɛ” ɛmanlɛ ɛhye ɛmmaa ɔnyɛ se kɛ yɛbavi ahonle nu yɛayɛ yɛ gyima ne.—Wulo. 1:12.

Markus: Ɔvi mekɛ mɔɔ yɛgyale la, ɛnee yɛkulo kɛ yɛkɔ Geleade sukulu ne bie. Yeanyɛ boɛ fee la, ɛnee yɛfa dɔnehwele ko yɛsukoa Nrelenza kenle ko biala. Noko ɔnla aze kɛ ɛbalua mbuluku zo ala wɔazukoa Nrelenza, yemɔti yɛzile kpɔkɛ kɛ yɛbava yɛ ademanlɛ mekɛ yɛahɔ England amaa yɛava aneɛ ne yɛali daselɛ. Wɔ ɛvolɛ 1963 ne anu, yɛnyianle kɛlata yɛvile asafo ti wɔ Brooklyn. Ɛnee ngɛlata nwiɔ a wɔ nu a, me ɛdeɛ ko yɛɛ Janny ɛdeɛ ko. Ɛnee me kɛlata ne le ɛsalɛdolɛ mɔɔ ɔbamaa meanyia siane bulu ndetelɛ wɔ Geleade a. Ɛnee bɛbalua zo bɛahile yɛ adenle mɔɔ ahyehyɛdeɛ ne dua zo di ninyɛne nwo gyima la. Ɛhye ati, sukoavoma 100 ne mɔɔ bɛvɛlɛle bɛ la anu 82 le mrenya.

Janny: Bɛhanle ye wɔ me kɛlata ne anu kɛ, menva nzɛlɛlɛ menzuzu nwo saa mekulo kɛ metɛnla Belgium wɔ mekɛ mɔɔ Markus ɛhɔ Geleade la a. Nɔhalɛ, mɔlebɛbo ne me nwo bubule me. Ɛnee ɔzɔho kɛ Gyihova anyila mɔdenle mɔɔ membɔle kɛ meyɛ dɔɔnwo la azo. Noko akee, mengakyele bodane mɔɔ Geleade Sukulu ne gyi zo la—kɛ ɔboa bɛdabɛ mɔɔ bɛkɔ bie la yeamaa bɛabɔ edwɛkpa ne nolo wɔ ewiade amuala. Menliele mendole nu kɛ mebahendɛ, yemɔti bɛmanle me nee Anna yɛɛ Maria Colpaert, adekpakyelɛ titilema nwiɔ mɔɔ bɛyɛ deɛ kpalɛ la yɛle adekpakyelɛ titile gyima ne wɔ Belgianma suakpole Ghent azo.

Markus: Kɛmɔ ɛnee mende Nrelenza ne kpalɛ la ati, bɛmanle mengɔnile siane nnu wɔ Brooklyn kolaa na sukulu ne abɔ ɔ bo. Menyɛle gyima wɔ “Shipping Department” nee “Service Department.” Gyima mɔɔ menyɛle ye wɔ yɛ ewiade amuala gyima ne ati mɔɔ memboale memanle bɛvale mbuluku bɛhɔle Ehyia, Europe, nee Ameleka Nyiakɛ la, manle menwunle yɛ ewiade amuala mediemayɛlɛ ne kpalɛ. Mekakye Adiema A. H. Macmillan, mɔɔ ɛnee le neavolɛ adenduvo wɔ Adiema Russell mekɛ zo la kpalɛ kpalɛ. Mekɛ zɔhane, ɛnee yeyɛ kpanyinli na ɔ nzo ɛlɛti, noko ɛnee ɔba debiezukoalɛ ne kɔsɔɔti. Ɛhye nyianle me nwo zo tumi kpole, na ɔmanle menwunle kɛ ɔnle kɛ yɛbu yɛ nye yɛgua yɛ Keleseɛnema ayia zo.—Hib. 10:24, 25.

Janny: Me nee Markus luale kɛlata ɛhɛlɛlɛ zo lile ngitanwo fane dɔɔnwo dapɛne biala. Ɛnee yɛ nwo dɔ yɛ nwo kpalɛ! Noko, Markus anye liele ndetelɛ ne mɔɔ ɛnee ɔlɛnyia ye wɔ Geleade la anwo, na medame noko me nye liele kpole wɔ me ɛzonlenlɛ gyima ne anu. Markus vi United States kara la, ɛnee melɛyɛ Baebolo ɛzukoalɛ 17! Nɔhalɛ nu, yɛ nuhua mɔɔ tetele siane 15 la ɛnla aze ɛdeɛ, noko menwunle kɛ Gyihova yilale yɛ afɔlebɔlɛ ne azo. Kenle mɔɔ Markus bara la, anwumalɛne ne hyɛle adenle nu yemɔti mekɛ mɔɔ ɔradwule la yɛyɛle yɛ nwo atuu na yɛzunle. Ɔvi mekɛ zɔhane yɛ avinli ɛtɛtele bieko.

Markus: Mekɛ mɔɔ menvile Geleade membale wɔ December 1964 la, bɛvɛlɛle yɛ wɔ Bɛtɛle. Ɛnee yɛnze kɛ tɛ gyima mɔɔ yɛbayɛ ye dahuu la ɛne. Wɔ siane nsa pɛ anzi, bɛmanle yɛhɔyɛle maangyeba zo neavolɛ gyima wɔ Flanders. Mekɛ  mɔɔ bɛ nee Aalzen nee Els Wiegersma rale Belgium kɛ edwɛkpatɛlɛvolɛma la, bɛmanle bɛrayɛle maangyeba zo neavolɛ gyima ne na yɛziale yɛhɔle Bɛtɛle. Ɛnee meyɛ gyima wɔ “Service Department.” Ɔvi 1968 kɔdwu 1980, bɛhakyile yɛ gyimalilɛ ne fane dɔɔnwo, yɛsonle Bɛtɛle ekyi a, ɛnee yɛhɔyɛ neavolɛ adenduvo gyima ne noko ekyi. Awieleɛ bɔkɔɔ ne, ɔvi 1980 kɔdwu 2005 menzonlenle kɛ maangyeba zo neavolɛ.

Ɔnva nwo kɛ yɛ gyimalilɛ hakyile fane dɔɔnwo la, yɛ rɛle anvi ye ɛlɛ kɛ yɛyilale yɛ nwo zo kɛ yɛbavi ɛkɛla muala anu yɛazonle Gyihova. Yɛ nye liele gyimalilɛ biala mɔɔ yɛnyianle la anwo kpalɛ, na ɛnee yɛlɛ anwodozo kɛ nzenzaleɛ biala mɔɔ bɛbayɛ la bamaa Belemgbunlililɛ gyima ne ahɔ ɔ nyunlu.

Janny: Me nye liele nwolɛ adenle kɛnlɛma mɔɔ me nee Markus nyianle yɛhɔle Brooklyn wɔ 1977 nee Patterson wɔ 1997. Bɛhɔtetele ye bieko amaa yeaboka Ɔfese Kɔmatii ne anwo.

Markus: Wɔ 1982 ne anu, bɛyɛle Janny apelehyɛne noko ɔ nwo zale. Ɛvolɛ nsa pɛle nu la, asafo ne mɔɔ wɔ Louvain la manle yɛ sua wɔ bɛ Belemgbunlililɛ Asalo ne anwuma. Wɔ ɛvolɛ 30 anu, ɛhye a le mekɛ mɔɔ ɔlumua mɔɔ yɛnyia yɛ ti anwo sua a. Ɔdwu Dwɛkɛ na yɛlɛboɔboa yɛ nwo yɛahɔkpɔla asafo bie a, ɛnee ɔwɔ kɛ mefo kpolike ne mɔɔ ɔdoa zo 54 la medwu fane dɔɔnwo mefa yɛ ninyɛne ne mekɔ! Wɔ ɛvolɛ 2002 ne anu, yɛ nye liele kɛ bɛyɛle ngyehyɛleɛ kɛ yɛbahola yɛanyia sua wɔ ɛbolɔnsam ne aze la. Menyianle ɛvolɛ 78 la, bɛyɛle yɛ adekpakyelɛ titilema wɔ suakpole Lokeren azo. Yɛ nye die kɛ yɛkola yɛsonle wɔ adenle ɛhye azo, na yɛkɔ daselɛlilɛ dahuu la.

Janny: Yɛva ɛvolɛ mɔɔ ɔbo 120 la yɛyɛ dahuu ɛzonlenlɛ gyima ne! Yɛnwu ye wienyi kɛ Gyihova ɛwɔkɛ ne le nɔhalɛ kɛ ‘ɔnrɛgyakyi yɛ ɛlɛ’ na saa yɛsonle ye nɔhalɛ nu a ‘yɛnrɛhyia debie biala anwo.’—Hib. 13:5; Mɛla 2:7.

Markus: Mekɛ mɔɔ yɛle ngakula la, yɛyilale yɛ nwo zo yɛmanle Gyihova. Yɛamkpondɛ ninyɛne mgbole ɛlɛ. Ɛnee yɛlɛ ɛhulolɛ kɛ yɛbalie gyimalilɛ biala yɛado nu ɔluakɛ yɛdie yɛdi ɛsesebɛ kɛ tɛ ɛleka mɔɔ yɛsonle anzɛɛ nwolɛ adenle mɔɔ yɛlɛ la a anwo hyia a, na emomu, ahenle mɔɔ yɛsonle ye la.