Be ni mimami fɔ mi yɛ afi 1960 lɛ, no mli lɛ eye afii 17. Mipapa shi mimami dani afɔ mi. Mi kɛ mimami kɛ minaa kɛ minii fɛɛ hi Burg, ni ji maŋ bibioo ko ni yɔɔ tsutsu German Democratic Republic, loo East Germany lɛ. Mɛi ni yɔɔ maŋ nɛɛ mli lɛ ateŋ mɛi babaoo heee Nyɔŋmɔ nɔ amɛyeee, ni nakai eji yɛ miweku lɛ hu gbɛfaŋ. Nyɔŋmɔ jeee mɔ ko kwraa kɛhã wɔ.

Be ni midaa lɛ, mináa miishɛɛ waa kɛ miyɛ minii masɛi. Ehã mitsu nitsumɔi srɔtoi; akɛ nɔkwɛmɔnɔ lɛ, ehãa mikwɔɔ tso ni miyafolɔɔ tsei aniji. Akɛ gbekɛ lɛ, misumɔɔ nibii tamɔ nakai waa. Nɔ ko kwraa gbaaa minaa yɛ shihilɛ mli, ni mimii shɛɔ mihe waa.

Be ni miye afii kpawo lɛ, nɔ ko ba ni tsake mishihilɛ kwraa. No mli lɛ, kpaakpo kwraa miyaná afii enyɔ yɛ skul. Be ko be ni wɔkpa skul ní miiya shĩa lɛ, miyakwɔ poolutso ko. Be ni mikwɔ kɛtee ŋwɛi aaafee mitai 8 lɛ, laiti lɛ kiiki mi, ni mibatswa shikpɔŋ ni mitɔ mu. Be ni mihiɛ tsɛrɛ mi yɛ helatsamɔhe lɛ, mina akɛ miniji bɛ mihe. Bɔ ni laiti lɛ kiiki mi lɛ hewɔ lɛ, mipila waa, ni ehe bahia ni afolɔ miniji enyɔ lɛ fɛɛ koni ebɔɔ akabote milá lɛ mli. Taakɛ obaakpa gbɛ lɛ, mimami kɛ minaa kɛ minii fɛɛ hao waa. Akɛni midako hewɔ lɛ, minaaa bɔ ni miniji ni afolɔ lɛ baasa mishihilɛ he ehã wɔsɛɛ.

Be ni ajie mi kɛjɛ helatsamɔhe lɛ, miku misɛɛ mitee skul ekoŋŋ. Skulbii lɛ ye mihe fɛo, amɛtsirɛ mi, ni amɛkɛ nibii tswara mi, ejaakɛ minyɛɛɛ mafã mihe. Bɔ ni amɛwa mi yi, ni amɛye mihe fɛo lɛ gba minaa waa. Naagbee lɛ, akɛ mi tee kpajelɔi askul ko (Birkenwerder School for the Disabled), ni ji skul kɛhã gbekɛbii ni eje kpa ni awɔɔ jɛmɛ. Akɛni skul lɛ kɛ shĩa jekɛ waa hewɔ lɛ, mimami kɛ minaa kɛ minii nyɛɛɛ amɛbasara mi. Kɛ́ wɔhã gbɛ pɛ dani minaa amɛ. Hewɔ lɛ mi kɛ mimami kɛ minaa kɛ minii ehiii shi afii nyɔŋmɔ sɔŋŋ.

Mikase bɔ ni mafee mikɛ minaji atsu nibii pii. Bo lɛ feemɔ he mfoniri ni mikɛ minane hiɛ awale loo faka mli kɛmiiye nii. Minaaa lɛ mlɛo, shi mibɔ mɔdɛŋ mikase kɛ̃. Mikase bɔ ni mafee mikɛ minaji baasha midaaŋ ni mikɛshwa miyitsɔi hu. Mikɛ minaji bɔi okadifeemɔ po kɛ́ mikɛ mɛi miiwie. Hɛɛ, minaji batsɔmɔ miniji.

 Be ni miye kɛjɛ afii 13 kɛyaa lɛ, miná shwelɛ lɛ akɛ makase jeŋ shikpamɔ he nii. Bei komɛi lɛ mifeɔ mihe mfoniri ni akɛ tsɔji efee niji ahã mi ni mikɛ miifee nɔ fɛɛ nɔ. Be ni miye afii 14 lɛ, mibɔi zigareti shɛremɔ. No hã minu he akɛ mitamɔ mɛi krokomɛi fɛɛ. Etamɔ nɔ ni no mli lɛ miikɛɛ akɛ: ‘Hɛɛ, mi hu manyɛ mafee nakai. Mɔ fɛɛ mɔ ni shɛrɛɔ zigareti eda​—kɛ́ eyɛ niji jio, ebɛ niji jio.’

Mináaa mihewɔ deka kwraa, ni mikɛ mihe woɔ hiɛtserɛjiemɔi srɔtoi amli. Mikɛ mihe yadɔmɔ kuu ko ni maŋ lɛ fiɔ amɛsɛɛ ni atsɛɔ amɛ Free German Youth lɛ he, ni misɔmɔ akɛ amɛwoloŋmalɔ, ni eji hegbɛ ko ni kuu lɛ mli bii lɛ buɔ waa. Mikɛ mihe yadɔmɔ kuu ko ni láa hu he, milá lalawiemɔi, ni mikɛ mihe wo akaŋshii ni ato he gbɛjianɔ kɛhã mɛi ni eje kpa lɛ mli. Miyakase nitsumɔ ko, ni sɛɛ mli lɛ mikɛ kɔmpane ko ni yɔɔ wɔmaŋ lɛ mli lɛ bɔi nitsumɔ. Be ni midaa lɛ, miwoɔ mirɔba niji lɛ daa ejaakɛ miisumɔ mi matsɔ tamɔ mɔ ko ni niji fɛɛ eshɛ yɛ ehe.

Gbi ko be ni miimɛ ni mawo oketeke kɛya nitsumɔ lɛ, nuu ko ba mimasɛi. Ebi mi kɛji miheɔ miyeɔ akɛ Nyɔŋmɔ baanyɛ ehã maná miniji enyɔ lɛ ekoŋŋ. Mihiɛ fee mi yaa. Eyɛ mli akɛ miisumɔ ni maná miniji lɛ ekoŋŋ moŋ, shi minu he akɛ nɔ ni ewie lɛ nyɛŋ aba mli! Akɛ mɔ ni heee yeee akɛ Nyɔŋmɔ yɛ lɛ, miyɛ nɔmimaa diɛŋtsɛ akɛ Nyɔŋmɔ bɛ. Kɛjɛ nakai be lɛ nɔ kɛyaa lɛ, mitao gbɛ nɔ ni matsɔ majo nuu lɛ naa foi.

Be ko lɛ, yoo ko ni mikɛtsuɔ nii lɛ fɔ̃ mi nine ni mibasara eweku lɛ. Be ni wɔmiinu kɔfi lɛ, efɔlɔi bɔi saji ni kɔɔ Nyɔŋmɔ he wiemɔ​—amɛtsĩ Yehowa Nyɔŋmɔ tã. Nakai gbi lɛ ji gbi klɛŋklɛŋ ni miná mile akɛ Nyɔŋmɔ yɛ gbɛ́i. (Lala 83:19) Shi miwie yɛ mitsui mli akɛ: ‘Enyɛŋ eba akɛ Nyɔŋmɔ ko yɛ, ekɔɔ he eko nɔ ni egbɛ́i ji. Mahã amɛna akɛ, nɔ ni amɛwieɔ lɛ ejaaa.’ Akɛni miyɛ nɔmimaa waa yɛ nɔ ni miheɔ miyeɔ lɛ he hewɔ lɛ, mikpɛlɛ akɛ amɛkɛ mi akase Biblia lɛ. Shi naakpɛɛ sane ji akɛ, minyɛɛɛ matsɔɔ nɔ hewɔ ni mikɛɛ Nyɔŋmɔ bɛ lɛ mli.

Be ni wɔbɔi Biblia mli gbalɛi amlipɛimɔ lɛ, fiofio lɛ mijwɛŋmɔ bɔi tsakemɔ. Nibii babaoo ni Nyɔŋmɔ ewie lɛ eba mli anɔkwale, eyɛ mli akɛ aŋmala ashwie shi afii ohai loo akpei abɔ kɛtsɔ hiɛ. Be ko be ni wɔmiikase Biblia lɛ, wɔkɛ nibii ni yaa nɔ yɛ je lɛ mli ŋmɛnɛ lɛ to gbalɛi ni yɔɔ Mateo yitso 24, Luka yitso 21, kɛ 2 Timoteo yitso 3 lɛ ahe. Taakɛ bɔ ni okadii srɔtoi ni yɔɔ helatsɛ ko he lɛ hãa datrɛfonyo nyɛɔ enaa hela ni yeɔ lɛ lɛ, nibii ni atsĩtsĩi tã yɛ nakai gbalɛi lɛ amli lɛ fɛɛ hã miyɔse akɛ wɔyɛ be ni Biblia lɛ tsɛ lɛ “naagbee gbii lɛ” * mli. Enɛ hã minaa kpɛ mihe waa. Mi diɛŋtsɛ miina nakai gbalɛi lɛ amlibaa.

Mibana faŋŋ akɛ anɔkwale lɛ diɛŋtsɛ mikaseɔ lɛ. Mibɔi sɔlemɔ kɛ Yehowa Nyɔŋmɔ hãmɔ, ni mikpa zigareti shɛremɔ​—eyɛ mli akɛ kulɛ miji mɔ ko ni la gbooo yɛ ewao naa nɔ ni fe afii nyɔŋmɔ sɔŋŋ. Mitee nɔ mikase Biblia lɛ aaafee afi. Kɛkɛ ni yɛ April 27, 1986 lɛ, abaptisi mi yɛ teemɔ mli yɛ nɔ ko ni akãa  mli ajuɔ he mli, ejaakɛ nakai beiaŋ lɛ, atsĩ Odasefoi lɛ anitsumɔ lɛ naa yɛ East Germany.

Yɛ naatsĩi lɛ hewɔ lɛ, wɔkpeɔ yɛ kui bibii amli yɛ mɛi ashĩai amli, hewɔ lɛ Odasefoi fioo komɛi pɛ mile. Shi be ko lɛ, Amralofoi lɛ ŋmɛ mi gbɛ ni mifã gbɛ kɛtee West Germany, ni enɛ ji nɔ ko ni mikpaaa gbɛ. No mli lɛ atsĩko Odasefoi lɛ anaa yɛ jɛmɛ. Yɛ mishihilɛ mli fɛɛ lɛ, kpaako miná hegbɛ mitee kpeei wuji ni ayakaseɔ Biblia lɛ yɛ shishi, ní minyɛmimɛi hii kɛ yei akpei abɔ lɛ yaa lɛ eko. Enɛ ji nɔ ko ni mihiɛ kpaŋ nɔ kɔkɔɔkɔ.

Be ni akumɔ Berlin Wall lɛ ashwie shi lɛ, ajie naatsĩi lɛ yɛ Yehowa Odasefoi lɛ anɔ. Naagbee lɛ, wɔnyɛ wɔjá Yehowa Nyɔŋmɔ ni mɔ ko etsĩii wɔnaa. No mli lɛ, miisumɔ ni mafee babaoo yɛ shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Shi ewa kɛhã mi akɛ mikɛ mɛi ni mileee amɛ lɛ baayagba sane. Akɛni mije kpa, ni mihi he ni kpajelɔi yɔɔ yɛ migbekɛbiiashi fɛɛ hewɔ lɛ, minuɔ he akɛ sɛɛnamɔ ko bɛ mihe. Shi yɛ afi 1992 lɛ, mibɔ mɔdɛŋ akɛ mikɛ ŋmɛlɛtswai 60 baashiɛ yɛ nyɔɔŋ kome mli. Minyɛ mishɛ he, ni no hã mimii shɛ mihe waa. No hewɔ lɛ, mikpɛ miyiŋ akɛ mafee nakai daa nyɔɔŋ, ni mitee nɔ mifee nakai aaafee afii etɛ.

Mihã Biblia mli sane nɛɛ hi mijwɛŋmɔ mli daa gbi akɛ: “Namɔ feɔ gbedee ni mi lɛ mifeee gbedee?” (2 Korintobii 11:29) Eyɛ mli akɛ mije kpa moŋ, shi mijwɛŋmɔ kɛ migbee miitsu nii lolo. No hewɔ lɛ, mibɔɔ mɔdɛŋ akɛ maye mabua mɛi krokomɛi. Akɛni mibɛ niji hewɔ lɛ, minuɔ mɛi ni eje kpa lɛ ashishi jogbaŋŋ. Mile bɔ ni mɔ ko nuɔ he ehãa, kɛji eetao efee nɔ ko, shi yɛ ekpajee ko hewɔ lɛ enyɛɛɛ lɛ. Mibɔɔ mɔdɛŋ miwoɔ mɛi ni nuɔ he nakai lɛ hewalɛ. Kɛ́ miye mibua mɛi yɛ nɛkɛ gbɛ nɔ lɛ, mináa miishɛɛ waa.

Yɛ anɔkwale mli lɛ, bei komɛi lɛ minijiaŋ jeɔ wui. Miisumɔ ni minɔ fɛɛ nɔ ashɛ yɛ mihe. Mi diɛŋtsɛ minyɛɔ mifeɔ nibii babaoo yɛ gbi lɛ mli, shi eheɔ mi be pii, ebiɔ mɔdɛŋbɔɔ kɛ hewalɛ babaoo fe bɔ ni eji yɛ mɛi ni ejeko kpa lɛ agbɛfaŋ. Ŋmalɛ ko ni woɔ mi hewalɛ daa gbi lɛ kɛɔ akɛ: “Yɛ nɔ fɛɛ nɔ mli lɛ, mitsɔɔ mɔ ni wajeɔ mi lɛ nɔ mináa hewalɛ.” (Filipibii 4:13) Daa gbi lɛ, Yehowa hãa mi hewalɛ ni he hiaa mi lɛ koni mikɛtsu nibii ahe nii. Mina akɛ, Yehowa kã he eeye eebua mi lolo. No hewɔ ni misumɔɔɔ ni makpa lɛ sɔɔmɔ lɛ.

Yehowa ehã miná mi diɛŋtsɛ miweku​—nɔ ni mináaa yɛ migbekɛbiiashi kɛ be ni midaa lɛ. Miyɛ ŋa fɛfɛo ko ni atsɛɔ lɛ Elke, ni suɔmɔ kɛ musuŋtsɔlɛ ni eyɔɔ lɛ nɔ bɛ. Kɛfata he lɛ, Yehowa Odasefoi akpekpei abɔ ebatsɔmɔ minyɛmimɛi hii kɛ yei​—ni wɔfee jeŋ muu fɛɛ weku kome.

Agbɛnɛ hu lɛ, le ni mile akɛ Nyɔŋmɔ ewo shi akɛ ekɛ Paradeiso baaba, ni ebaafee “nibii fɛɛ ehee,” ni miniji hu fata he lɛ, shɛjeɔ mimii waa. (Kpojiemɔ 21:5) Kɛ́ mijwɛŋ nɔ ni Yesu fee be ni eyɔɔ shikpɔŋ lɛ nɔ lɛ he lɛ, ehãa minuɔ shiwoo nɛɛ shishi jogbaŋŋ. Etsa akpaketsɛ ko niji, ni ekɛ mɔ ko ni afo etoi po toi lɛ tsa ekoŋŋ, ni efee fɛɛ yɛ be kukuoo mli. (Mateo 12:13; Luka 22:50, 51) Yehowa shiwoi lɛ, kɛ naakpɛɛ nii ni Yesu fee lɛ ehã mina akɛ, etsɛŋ, maná miniji lɛ ekoŋŋ.

Shi jɔɔmɔ ni fe fɛɛ ni miná lɛ ji, le ni mibale Yehowa Nyɔŋmɔ lɛ. Ebatsɔ mitsɛ kɛ minaanyo, mimiishɛjelɔ kɛ mihewalɛ. Minuɔ he tamɔ Maŋtsɛ David nu he lɛ nɔŋŋ, eŋma akɛ: “Yehowa ji mihewalɛ . . . ni eye ebua mi; no hewɔ lɛ miná tsuijurɔ.” (Lala 28:7) Anɔkwale nɛɛ ji nɔ ni misumɔɔ ni mahiɛ mli miwala gbiiabɔ fɛɛ. Mikpɛlɛ anɔkwale nɛɛ nɔ, tsɛ mibɛ niji.