IN THE mid-1930’s, my father and mother​—James and Jessie Sinclair—​moved to the Bronx, a borough of New York City. One of their new acquaintances was Willie Sneddon, who came from Scotland, as they did. Within minutes of their first encounter, the three were talking about their families. That was a couple of years before I was born.

Mother told Willie that shortly before the Great War, her father and her older brother drowned when their fishing boat hit a mine in the North Sea. Willie responded, “Your father is in hell!” Willie was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and this was my mother’s shocking introduction to Bible truth.

What Willie said upset my mother because she knew that her father was a good man. But Willie added, “Would it do any good if I told you that Jesus went to hell?” Mother recalled the church creed, which in its original form stated that Jesus descended into hell and was raised on the third day. So she wondered, ‘If hell is a fiery place where the wicked are tormented, why did Jesus go there?’ This was the beginning of my mother’s interest in the truth. She began attending meetings with the Bronx Congregation and got baptized in 1940.

At that time, Christian parents were given no special encouragement to study the Bible with their children. When I was a toddler, my father would care for me while my mother attended meetings and shared in the witnessing work on weekends. After a few years, he and I began attending meetings with my mother. She was very active in preaching the good news and conducted several Bible studies with interested people. In fact, there was a time when she held some of her studies as a group because her students lived quite near to one another. I accompanied her in field service during my school vacations. In that way, I learned a lot about the Bible and how to teach others what it says.

I am sorry to say that when I was little, I didn’t fully appreciate the truth. I took it  for granted. However, when I was about 12, I became a Kingdom publisher and regularly shared in the field ministry from then on. At the age of 16, I dedicated my life to Jehovah, getting baptized on July 24, 1954, at a convention in Toronto, Canada.

Some brothers in our congregation were or had been members of the Bethel family. They had a strong influence on me. Their abilities in speaking and explaining Bible truths impressed me. Although my schoolteachers wanted me to attend university, my goal was to go to Bethel. Therefore, I turned in a Bethel application at that convention in Toronto. I did so again in 1955 at a convention in Yankee Stadium, New York City. Not long thereafter, when I was 17 years old, I received an invitation to start serving at Brooklyn Bethel on September 19, 1955. On my second day at Bethel, I began working in the Bindery at 117 Adams Street. I was soon working on a gathering machine, which assembled 32-page sections of books to get them ready for a machine that sewed the books.

After about a month in the Bindery, I was sent to the Magazine Department because I knew how to type. Back then, brothers and sisters typed address stencils (small metal plates) for new subscribers to The Watchtower and Awake! A few months later, I was working in the Shipping Department. Klaus Jensen, the department overseer, asked me if I would be willing to accompany the driver who was taking cartons of literature by truck to the docks for shipping worldwide. There were also sacks of magazines to be brought to the post office for mailing to congregations throughout the United States. Brother Jensen said that he thought the physical  work would do me good. I weighed only about 125 pounds (57 kg) and was as skinny as a rail. Those trips to the docks and the post office helped to strengthen me physically. Brother Jensen evidently knew what was good for me!

The Magazine Department also filled congregation requests for magazines. Thus I learned about languages in which our magazines were printed in Brooklyn and sent to other parts of the world. I had never heard of many of the languages but was happy to know that tens of thousands of magazines were being sent to far-flung places. Though I did not know it at the time, I would have the privilege of visiting many of those places in the years to come.

In 1961, I was assigned to work in the Treasurer’s Office under the oversight of Grant Suiter. After a couple of years there, I was called to the office of Nathan Knorr, who was then taking the lead in our worldwide work. He explained that one of the brothers working in his office was going to attend the Kingdom Ministry School for a month, after which he would work in the Service Department. I was assigned to take his place and work alongside Don Adams. By coincidence, Don was the brother who had accepted my Bethel application at the 1955 convention. Two other brothers already working in the same office were Robert Wallen and Charles Molohan. The four of us worked together for over 50 years. What a joy it has been to serve with such faithful spiritual men!​—Ps. 133:1.

Starting in 1970, I was assigned to travel for a few weeks every year or two to visit a number of branch offices of the  Watch Tower Society, making what were then called zone visits. This involved visiting Bethel families and missionaries worldwide, giving spiritual encouragement, and checking branch office records. What a joy it was to meet some who had graduated from the early classes of Gilead School and were still serving faithfully in their foreign assignments! It has been a privilege and a delight to visit over 90 countries in connection with that work.

All Bethel family members in Brooklyn were assigned to congregations in the New York City area. The one that I was assigned to was in the Bronx. The first congregation in that borough had grown and divided. That original one became known as the Upper Bronx Congregation, which I attended.

In the mid-1960’s, a Latvian family of Witnesses who had come into the truth in the south Bronx moved into the territory of that congregation. Livija, the eldest daughter, became a regular pioneer as soon as she finished high school. A few months later, she moved to Massachusetts to serve where the need for Kingdom publishers was greater. I began writing to her with news about the congregation, and she would write back to tell me of her success in the ministry in the Boston area.

A few years later, Livija was appointed to be a special pioneer. She wanted to do as much as she could in Jehovah’s service, so she applied for Bethel and was invited to come in 1971. It seemed that this might be a hint from Jehovah! On October 27, 1973, we got married and were privileged to have Brother Knorr deliver our wedding talk. Proverbs 18:22 says: “The one who finds a good wife has found something good, and he receives Jehovah’s favor.” Livija and I have thus been favored with over 40 years together in Bethel service. And we continue to support a congregation in the same general area of the Bronx.

Working with Brother Knorr was truly a pleasure. He was a tireless worker for the truth and had tremendous appreciation for the missionaries around the world. Many of them were the first Witnesses in the countries to which they were assigned. It was very sad to see Brother Knorr suffer from cancer in 1976. Once, when he was bedridden, he asked me to read to him some material that was being processed for printing. He asked me to call Frederick Franz so that he too could come and listen to the reading. I later found out that because of Brother Franz’ failing eyesight, Brother Knorr had been spending considerable time reading such material to him.

Brother Knorr died in 1977, but those who knew and loved him were comforted  because he had finished his earthly course faithfully. (Rev. 2:10) Thereafter, Brother Franz took the lead in our work.

By that time, I was doing secretarial duties for Milton Henschel, who had worked with Brother Knorr for decades. Brother Henschel informed me that my foremost responsibility at Bethel would now be to help Brother Franz in any way needed. I would regularly read material to him before it was printed. Brother Franz had a remarkable memory and the amazing ability to concentrate totally on what was being read. What a joy it was to help him in that way until he finished his earthly course in December 1992!

The 61 years that I have spent at Bethel have passed quickly. My parents both died faithful to Jehovah, and I look forward to welcoming them back in a much better world. (John 5:28, 29) Nothing that this old system of things offers can compare with the wonderful privilege of working with faithful men and women in behalf of God’s people around the world. Livija and I can truthfully say that during our years in full-time service, “the joy of Jehovah [has been our] stronghold.”​—Neh. 8:10.

No human is indispensable in Jehovah’s organization, and the work of spreading Kingdom truths continues. It has been a joy and a privilege to work with many stalwart and loyal brothers and sisters over the years. Most of the anointed ones with whom I have worked are no longer here on earth. But I am grateful to have been a companion of such faithful spiritual ones in Jehovah’s service.

VBE ọ rre odẹ ukpo 1935, evbibiẹmwẹ keghi si gha rrie Bronx vbe New York City. Eni erha mwẹ ọre James Sinclair, eni iye mwẹ na gha re Jessie Sinclair. Usun emwa ne iran gu ru ọse vbe iran sẹ New York, kegha re Willie Sneddon, e Scotland ẹre okpia na ke vbe si gha dee. Vbe ẹghẹ okaro ne iran wa ya miẹn egbe, iran eha na suẹn gha guan kaẹn ẹgbẹe ne dọmwadẹ iran ke rre. Ẹghẹ na kha na, a ma he biẹ mwẹ. Odẹ ukpo eva ghi gberra nẹ, a ke biẹ mwẹ.

Iye mwẹ keghi tama e Willie wẹẹ, vbe ọ ghi bu ẹghẹ Okuo Ọgbagbọn Nokaro, okọ ne erhae kevbe ọtiọnrẹn nọdiọn ghaa gua khian vbe iran gbe ehẹn keghi ni vbe ọ dekun ugbe nọ wẹwẹ nọ rre uwu okun. Erriọ iran eva ya wu. E Willie na tama iye mwẹ wẹẹ, “Erha wa rre hell vbene a guan na!” Ọkpa vbe Osẹe Jehova ẹre Willie ghaa khin, emwi nọ tae keghi kpa iye mwẹ odin. Erriọ iye mwẹ ya do rẹn odẹ ọghe ẹmwata.

Ẹmwẹ ne Willie tae keghi ya ohu mu iye mwẹ, rhunmwuda ọ rẹn wẹẹ ọmwa esi ẹre erhae ghaa khin. Sokpan Willie keghi khama rẹn wẹẹ, “Ọ gha fu ruẹ ẹko rre deghẹ I na tama ruẹ wẹẹ Jesu vbe ye hell ra?” Ẹghẹ nii, ẹre iye mwẹ na yerre emwi ne iran maa iran re vbe sọsi wẹẹ, Jesu ye hell, vbe ọ ghi rre ikpẹdẹ eha, a na huọn rẹn kpaegbe. Ẹre iye mwẹ na ghi suẹn gha muẹn roro wẹẹ, ‘Deghẹ ehe ne erhẹn oziya na giẹn emwa dan ẹre hell khin, de emwi ne Jesu ghi ya ru vba’? Erriọ iye mwẹ ya suẹn gha mwẹ ẹkorhiẹnrhiẹnmwẹ ye odẹ ọghe ẹmwata. Erriọ ya suẹn Iko e Bronx na yo. Ukpo 1940 ẹre ọ ghi dinmwiamẹ.

Vbe ẹghẹ nii, adia ma gha ke obọ otu rre nọ nianiaẹn wẹẹ, iwinna nọ bi ye evbibiemọ egbe ọre ne iran gha maa ivbi iran emwi vbe odẹ ọghe orhiọn. Vbe I da suẹn gha zowẹ, iye mwẹ ghaa rrie iko ra ikporhu vbe ufomwẹ uzọla, ọ ghi fi mwẹ yotọ ne erha mwẹ vbe owa. Ukpo eso ghi gberra nẹ, ima eha ẹre ọ ghi gba gha yo iko. Iye mwẹ wa gha zọghae vbe iwinna ikporhu iyẹn nọ maan, erriọ wa vbe gha mwẹ emwa nibun nọ gu ruẹ e Baibol. Ọ mwẹ asẹ ọkpa ne ọ ya gha si iran nibun koko ma iran emwi rhunmwuda, idunmwu ọkpa ẹre iran nibun ghaa ye. I ghaa lelẹe yo ikporhu vbe ima gha rhie ẹdẹ nẹ vbe owebe. Erriọ I ya ruẹ emwi nibun vbe Baibol kevbe vbene a ya gu emwa ruẹ e Baibol hẹ.

 Ọ keghi da mwẹ wẹẹ vbe I waan dee, I ma gbọyẹmwẹ ye odẹ ọghe ẹmwata na. Sokpan vbe I ghi rre ukpo 12, I keghi suẹn gha ya iyẹn wewe, erriọ I ya rhiegba ye iwinna ikporhu iyẹn nọ maan. Vbe I ghi rre ukpo 16, I keghi dinmwiamẹ vbe July 24, 1954 vbe asikoko nọkhua na doo vbe Toronto, Canada.

Etẹn eso ni rre iko ima kegha ga vbe Abotu. Iran keghi wa ru iyobọ mẹ. Odẹ ne iran ya ya ọta guan kevbe vbene iran ya rhan otọ e Baibol keghi wa gha yẹẹ mwẹ. Agharhemiẹn wẹẹ avbe ọmamwaemwi mwẹ wa gha hoo ni gha rrie owebe nọ yo, Abotu ẹre ekhoẹ mwẹ ghaa ye. I keghi rhie obọ ye ebe na ya lae Abotu vbe asikoko nii, ni na dinmwiamẹ vbe Toronto. Ọ ghi vbe rre ukpo 1955, I na vbe werriegbe rhie obọ ye ebe ọvbehe vbe asikoko na do vbe Yankee Stadium, New York City. Vbe I ghi rre ukpo 17, a keghi gie na tie mwẹ ne I do suẹn gha ga vbe Abotu nọ rre Brooklyn vbe September 19, 1955. A ghi tie ẹre nodẹ ne I sẹ Abotu, I na ya suẹn iwinna vbe Ugha Ne A Na Ku Ipapa Ebe Kugbe vbe 117 Adams Street. Vbọ ma he kpẹ vba, I na ghi suẹn gha ye masini ku ebe nọ mwẹ ipapa 32 kugbe, a ke do ye masini ọvbehe sẹ kugbe.

Uki ọkpa ghi gberra nẹ, a keghi mu mwẹ gha rrie Ugha Ọghe Ebe Iyẹn rhunmwuda ne I na gua loo e typewriter. Vbe ẹghẹ nii, e typewriter ẹre etẹn vbe ya gha gbẹnnẹ adrrẹsi ye ebe na ya vbuọ The Watchtower kevbe Awake gie emwa ni wee. Uki eso ghi vbe gberra nẹ, I na ghi vbe suẹn gha winna vbe Ugha ne a na Mwamwa Ebe, emwa ẹre a ghi ke viọ re gie etẹn vbe ehe ughughan. Klaus Jensen nọ ghaa siẹnro ugha na, keghi nọ mwẹ deghẹ I gha hoo ni deba ọtẹn nọ ya okotọ viọ ebe ọghomwa ye ehe na ke mwamwa ehia ye imọto nọkhua, a ke viọ re gha rrie ehe ughughan. Ẹkpo nibun vbe gha rrọọ ne ebe iyẹn vuọn na ke post ọfisi viọ ye iko ughughan vbe United States. Ọtẹn nokpia Jensen wa rẹn iwinna nọ khẹke mwẹ,  rhunmwuda I ma gha re ọmwa nọ wa mwẹ ẹtin. Te I wa ye wẹnrẹn sẹrriọ wẹẹ, (57 kg) kẹkan ẹre I khua sẹ. Iwinna na ya ẹtin ru vberriọ na ghi do ya mwẹ situa zẹ vbene ọtẹn nokpia Jensen khare!

Ugha Ọghe Ebe Iyẹn ẹre ọ vbe ru emwamwa ọghe ebe iyẹn ne dọmwadẹ iko wee. I na ghi do rẹn vbekpae urhuẹvbo ughughan ne a zedu ebe iyẹn ọghomwa ghee, a ke do print ẹre vbe Brooklyn, vbe iyeke ọni, a ghi viọ ọre gha rrie ehe ughughan vbe uhunmwu otagbọn. I ma ka zẹdẹ rẹn vbekpae avbe urhuẹvbo nibun na sokpan ọ ke wa gha sẹ mwẹ ọyẹnmwẹ wẹẹ, a viọ arriaisẹn nibun ọghe ebe iyẹn ọghomwa ye ehe nibun ni wa rree. I ma te zẹdẹ yaro yọ wẹẹ ẹghẹ he dee ne I gha ya mu otuẹ ye ehe nibun ne I guan kaẹn na.

Vbe ukpo 1961, I na vbe ya gha winna vbe ọfisi ọghe Grant Suiter nọ ghaa siẹnro aza igho. Ukpo eva ghi vbe gberra nẹ, iwinna mwẹ na vbe fiwerriẹ, ọfisi ọghe Nathan Knorr, nọ ghaa siẹnro iwinna ọghomwa vbe uhunmwu otagbọn hia, ẹre I na ghi ya suẹn winna. Ọ keghi tama mwẹ wẹẹ ọtẹn nọ ka winna vba rrie Kingdom Ministry School vbe uki ọkpa, ọ gha ghi rre, Service Department ẹre ọ khian na suẹn gha winna. Mẹ ẹre ọ ghi rhihe ẹre. Emwi ghi huaro, a na ghi do miẹn wẹẹ, ọtẹn nokpia Don ne I ghi gu gha winna, ẹre ọ miẹn mwẹ ebe ne I gbẹn ne a ya lae Abotu vbe asikoko ne a do vbe 1955. Robert Wallen kevbe Charles Molohan ọre etẹn nikpia eva ni do vba vbe ọfisi nii. Ọ gberra ukpo 50 ne ima enẹ ya winna kugbe. U miẹn ọyẹnmwẹ nọ ghaa sẹ mwẹ vbe I gu etẹn na, ni deziẹn vbe odẹ ọghe orhiọn winna!​—⁠Psm. 133:⁠1.

Iwinna ne a na mu otuẹ ye otọ ẹvbo ughughan zẹvbe ọmwa ne igiogbẹ ya zihegbe ẹre I ghi suẹn gha ru ke ukpo 1970 kpa. Uzọla eso ẹre I ya gha ye okhian na vbe ukpo, ugbẹnso ọ vbe sẹ ukpo eva. Etẹn ni rre Abotu kevbe avbe arọndẹ na gie ye isi ẹre I ghaa mu otuẹ  gie, I rhie igiọdu ne iran, I vbe ghee vbene iwinna vbe khian hẹ vbe Abotu. U miẹn ọyẹnmwẹ nọ ghaa sẹ mwẹ vbe I do miẹn etẹn eso ni ka wa gha ye owebe Gilead ni ye ga vbe isi. Iran wa ye zọghae vbe ugamwẹ e Jehova! Ọ gberra otọ ẹvbo 90 ne I mu otuẹ yo. Vbene ẹmwata, afiangbe ne I miẹn vbe iwinna na i gia gie.

Iko ughughan ni rre New York City ẹre a ghae etẹn hia ni ghaa ga vbe Abotu vbe Brooklyn yi. Iko na tie ẹre Bronx ẹre I mẹ ghaa ye. Ọ mwẹ eke ne etẹn ghi bun sẹ vbe iko ne a ka mu gbọọ vbe ikinkin nii, a na ghi do ghae ye iheva. A keghi do gha tie iko ne a ka mu gbọọ, ne I mẹ ka gha ye Upper Bronx.

Ọ ghi rre odẹ ukpo 1964 ya sẹ 1966, ẹgbẹe ọkpa ne Ivbi e Latvia ni re Osẹe Jehova ni ka gha rre south Bronx keghi si gha die ako ne iko ọghe south Bronx na kporhu. Livija, ne ovbi iran nokhuo nọdiọn keghi rhie obọ ye iwinna arọndẹ ọghe ẹghẹ hia vbe ọ wa ladian vbe owebe nogieva. Uki eso ghi gberra nẹ, ọ na kpa gha rrie ehe ne a na gualọ iyobọ etẹn ni kporhu iyẹn nọ maan vbe Massachusetts. Erriọ ima ya suẹn gha gbẹn ebe gie egbe. Me ẹre ọ ghaa tama rẹn vbene iko ọghomwa ghi vbe ye hẹ, irẹn vbe gi ime rẹn alaghodaro nọ rre iwinna ikporhu iyẹn nọ maan vbe Boston.

Ukpo eso ghi vbe gberra nẹ, Livija na khian arọndẹ ne kpataki. Ne ọ na hoo nọ ya ekhọe hia rhiegbe ye iwinna ugamwẹ e Jehova, ọ na rhie obọ ye ebe ne a ya ga vbe Abotu. Ukpo 1971 ẹre a ghi tie ẹre gha die Abotu. A ghi tie ẹre gha die Abotu, ọ na ghi khọ wẹẹ, ọna ọre okhuo ne Jehovo hoo ne I rhie! Erriọ gele de yi. October 27, 1973, ẹre ima ru orọnmwẹ. Nọ ghi gbe ima otiti sẹ vbe ẹdẹrriọ ọre wẹẹ, ọtẹn nokpia Knorr ẹre ọ ya ọta orọnmwẹ guan. Ebe Itan 18:22 keghi kha wẹẹ: ‘U gha miẹn okhuo esi rhie, emwi esi ẹre u miẹn rhie, ọ rhiema wẹẹ, Nọyaẹnmwa wa ru uwẹ ẹsẹ.’ Ọ gberra ukpo 40 nẹ ne ima vbe ọvbokhan mwẹ ke ga vbe Abotu. Ma ye ru iyobọ ne iko ọkpa nọ rre ikinkin e Bronx.

I wa sọyẹnmwẹ ẹghẹ ne I ya gu Ọtẹn Nokpia Knorr winna. Ọmwa nọ wegbe iwinna ẹre wa gha nọ, erriọ wa vbe ya gha gbọyẹmwẹ ye iwinna ne arọndẹ ne a gie ye isi ru vbe uhunmwu otagbọn hia. Iran nibun ma do vba Osẹe Jehova rhọkpa vbe otọ ẹvbo ne a gie iran gha rrie. Ọ keghi wa da mwẹ vbe emianmwẹ na tie ẹre kansa dekun Ọtẹn Nokpia Knọrr vbe 1976. Asẹ ọkpa, ne ọ ma na sẹtin khian, ọ na wẹẹ ne I tie ebe eso ne a gbẹnnẹ ne a ma he printi ma irẹn. Ọ na wẹẹ ne I vbe ya tie Ọtẹn Nokpia Frederick Franz rre nọ vbe dọ danmwehọ. Okiekie ẹre I ghi ya do rẹn wẹẹ, rhunmwuda aro i ghi gi Ọtẹn Nokpia Franz ya tie ebe ẹse, Ọtẹn Nokpia Knorr ẹre ọ ghaa ya ẹghẹ nọ taẹn tie ebe vberriọ ma rẹn.

Ukpo 1977 ẹre Ọtẹn Nokpia Knorr ghi wu, sokpan emwa ni rẹn ọnrẹn kevbe ni hoẹmwẹ ọnrẹn keghi miẹn ifuẹko rhunmwuda iran rẹnrẹn wẹẹ, ọ ga Osanobua vbuwe amuẹtinyan ya sẹ ẹdẹ nọ winna iwinna rẹn fo vbe uhunmwu otagbọn. (Arhie. 2:10) Vbe iyeke ọni, Ọtẹn Nokpia Franz na rhihe ẹre.

 Vbuwe ẹghẹ na, I kegha ru iwinna akọwe ne Milton Henschel nọ ye ukpo nibun winna lele Ọtẹn Nokpia Knorr. Ọtẹn Nokpia Henschel keghi tama mwẹ wẹẹ imẹ ẹre ọ khian ghi gha re ọyobọ ọghe Ọtẹn Nokpia Franz. Ẹghẹ hia ẹre I ya gha tie ebe ne a gbẹnnẹ ne a ma he printi ma rẹn. Ẹrherhe Ọtẹn Nokpia Franz keghi re ọghe ọyunnuan, ẹi vbe mianmian emwi rhọkpa ne a tie ma rẹn. I wa vbe sọyẹnmwẹ ẹghẹ ne I ya guẹ winna, a te miẹn wẹẹ ọ ru iwinna rẹn fo vbe uhunmwu otagbọn vbe December 1992!

Te ukpo 61 ne I he gbe vbe Abotu yevbe ovbi ẹghẹ kherhe. Te evbibiẹ mwẹ ga e Jehova ya sẹ ẹdẹ ne iran wu, I wa yaro ye ẹghẹ ne I khian ya gbe ọbokhian ne iran gha die agbọn ọgbọn vbe ẹghẹ arriọkpaegbe. (Jọn 5:​28, 29) Emwi rhọkpa i rre agbọn Esu na, ne a ya gie ukpamuyọmọ nọ hiunsi ne a ya gu ikpia vbe ikhuo ni mwẹ amuẹtinyan winna, etẹn ni rhiegba ye iwinna esi nọ ru iyobọ ne emwa ọghe Osanobua vbe uhunmwu otagbọn hia. Vbene ẹmwata, mẹ vbe ọvbokhan mwẹ wa miẹn ọnrẹn vbe arrọọ ọghe ima vbuwe ẹghẹ ne ima yaa vbe ugamwẹ ne kpataki ọghe ẹghẹ hia wẹẹ: ‘Oghọghọ ne Nọyaẹnmwa rhie ne ima, ya ima wegbe.’—Neh. 8:⁠10.

Vbe otu e Jehova, ai miẹn ọmwa nọ ru ekpataki sẹrriọ wẹẹ, a ma miẹn ọnrẹn, ai ru. Ke ẹghẹ ya fi ẹghẹ ẹre iwinna ikporhu iyẹn nọ maan ya mwẹ alaghodaro. Etẹn nikpia kevbe nikhuo ni mwẹ ẹkoata ẹre I gu winna vbe ukpo nibun. Ukpamuyọmọ nii kevbe ọyẹnmwẹ ne I miẹn vbọ i gia gie. Etẹn ne a hannọ zẹ nibun ne I gu winna wa rre ẹrinmwi nia, sokpan Ii khian mianmian hiehie ẹghẹ ne I ya gu etẹn vberriọ winna vbe ugamwẹ e Jehova.