HOW did that situation come about? Let me explain. I was born on July 29, 1929, and grew up in a village in the province of Bulacan in the Philippines. Life there was simple because it was a time of economic depression. War broke out when I was a youth. The Japanese army invaded the Philippines. However, our village was relatively remote, so we were not directly affected by the armed conflict. We lacked radio, television, and newspapers; thus, we received news about the war only by word of mouth.

I was the second of eight children, and my grandparents had taken me to live with them when I was eight years old. Although we were Catholic, Grandfather was open-minded about religion and collected religious literature that his friends gave him. I remember that he showed me the booklets Protection, Safety, and Uncovered in the Tagalog language, * as well as a Bible. I enjoyed reading the Bible, especially the four Gospels. Doing so made me want to follow Jesus’ example.​—John 10:27.

The Japanese occupation ended in 1945. About that time, my parents asked me to come back home. My grandfather urged me to go. So I went.

Shortly afterward, in December 1945, a group of Jehovah’s Witnesses from the town of Angat came to preach in our village. One older Witness came to our house and explained what the Bible says about “the last days.” (2 Tim. 3:1-5) He invited us to attend a Bible study in a nearby village. My parents did not go, but I did. About 20 people were there, and some asked Bible questions.

Because I did not really understand all that they were talking about, I decided to leave. At that point, however, they started singing a Kingdom song. The song really impressed me, so I stayed. After the song and prayer, all were invited  to attend a meeting in Angat the following Sunday.

Several of us walked about five miles (8 km) to get to the meeting in the home of the Cruz family. I was impressed that even the young children who were among the 50 present commented on deep Bible subjects. After several more meetings, Brother Damian Santos, an elderly pioneer who was an ex-mayor, invited me to stay overnight. We spent most of that night discussing the Bible.

In those days, many of us responded quickly upon learning basic Bible truths. After just a few meetings, the brothers asked me and others, “Do you want to get baptized?” I replied, “Yes, I do.” I knew that I wanted to “slave for the Master, Christ.” (Col. 3:24) We went to a nearby river, and two of us got baptized on February 15, 1946.

We realized that as baptized Christians, we needed to preach regularly in imitation of Jesus. My doing so did not please my father, who said, “You are too young to preach. Besides, being dipped in the river does not make you a preacher.” I explained that it is God’s will that we preach the good news of God’s Kingdom. (Matt. 24:14) I added, “I need to fulfill my vow to God.” That is when my father made the threat that I related at the outset. Yes, he was intent on preventing me from preaching. And that is what led to my first experience in leaving things behind to pursue spiritual goals.

The Cruz family invited me to live with them in Angat. They also encouraged me and their youngest daughter, Nora, to enroll as pioneers. Both of us began our pioneer service on November 1, 1947. Nora served in another town, while I continued to support the preaching activity in Angat.

In my third year of pioneering, Earl Stewart, a brother from the branch office, delivered a talk to over 500 people in the public plaza of Angat. He spoke in English, and afterward I gave a summary of his talk in Tagalog. I had only seven years of education, but our teachers regularly used English. Another thing that helped me to improve my English was the fact that we had very few Bible publications in Tagalog. So I studied many of them in English. Thus, I had picked up enough English to interpret that talk and others on later occasions.

On the day that I interpreted for Brother Stewart, he mentioned to the local congregation that the branch office wanted to invite one or two pioneer brothers to come to Bethel. They were to help out while the missionaries were attending the 1950 Theocracy’s Increase Assembly in New York, U.S.A. I was one of the brothers invited. Again I left familiar surroundings behind, this time to help with Bethel work.

I arrived at Bethel on June 19, 1950, and started my new assignment. Bethel was in a large, old house surrounded by big trees on a two-and-a-half acre (1 ha) lot. About a dozen single brothers were serving there. In the early morning, I helped in the kitchen. Then, from about nine o’clock, I worked in the laundry, ironing clothes. I followed a similar routine in the afternoon. Even after the missionaries returned from the international assembly, I continued to serve at Bethel. I wrapped magazines for mailing, processed subscriptions, and served as a receptionist; I did whatever I was asked to do.

In 1952, along with six others from the Philippines, I was thrilled to receive an invitation to the 20th class of Gilead School. Many of the things we saw and experienced in the United States were new and strange to us. Truly, it was quite different from what I had known back in our small village.

For example, we had to learn to use appliances and utensils that were unfamiliar to us. And, yes, the weather was different for sure! One morning I stepped outside to a beautiful world of white. It was the first time I saw snow. Then I discovered that it was cold​—very cold!

 However, those adjustments faded into nothing as I enjoyed the wonderful training at Gilead. The instructors used effective teaching methods. We learned to do meaningful research and study. The training at Gilead definitely helped me to improve my spirituality.

After I graduated, I was temporarily assigned as a special pioneer in the Bronx in New York City. Thus in July 1953, I could attend the New World Society Assembly, which was held in the same borough of the city. After the assembly, I returned to an assignment in the Philippines.

The brothers at the branch office said, “Now you will go out in the circuit work.” That would give me a new opportunity to follow in a literal sense the steps of the Master, who traveled to distant towns and cities to help Jehovah’s sheep. (1 Pet. 2:21) I was assigned to a circuit that covered a huge area of central Luzon, the largest island in the Philippines. That included the provinces of Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and Zambales. To visit some towns, I had to cross the rugged Sierra Madre Mountains. No public transportation reached those places. As a result, I had to ask truck drivers if I could sit on top of the logs they were hauling in their big trucks. Often they let me, but it was not the most comfortable means of transport.

Most of the congregations were relatively small and new. So the brothers appreciated it when I helped them organize meetings and field service more efficiently.

I was later transferred to a circuit that covered the entire Bicol region. It was made up mostly of isolated groups where special pioneers were opening up untouched territories. At one home, the only toilet available was a hole in the ground with two logs across the middle. When I stepped on the logs, they fell into the hole, and I fell with them. It took me quite some time to clean myself up and get ready for breakfast!

It was during that assignment that I began to think about Nora, who had started pioneering back in Bulacan. By this time, she was a special pioneer in Dumaguete City, and I went to visit her. After that, we corresponded for a while, and in 1956, we got married. We spent the first week after our wedding visiting a congregation on Rapu Rapu Island. There we had to climb mountains and do a lot of walking, but what a joy it was to serve the brothers in remote locations as a married couple!

After almost four years in the traveling work together, we received an invitation to serve at the branch office. Thus, January 1960 marked the start of a long career at Bethel. Over the course of time, I have learned much from serving alongside brothers who care for heavy responsibilities, and Nora has had a variety of assignments at Bethel.

From my vantage point at Bethel, I have been blessed to witness outstanding spiritual growth in the Philippines. When I first came to Bethel as a young, single brother, there were about 10,000 publishers in the whole country. Now there are well over 200,000 publishers in the Philippines, with hundreds of Bethelites serving to support the vital preaching activities.

As the work grew over the years, the Bethel facilities became too small. Then the Governing Body asked us to look for property on which to build a new, larger facility. The printery overseer and I went from house to house in the neighborhood of the branch, asking whether anyone wanted to sell his property. No one did; one owner even told us: “Chinese do not sell. We buy.”

However, one day a property owner unexpectedly asked whether we would like to buy his land; he was moving to the United States. That set off a chain of events that was hard to believe. Another neighbor decided to sell, and he encouraged the others around him to do the same. We were even able to buy the property from the man who had said that “Chinese do not sell.” In a short time, the size of the branch property had more than tripled. I am convinced that Jehovah God wanted that to happen.

Back in 1950, I was the youngest member of the Bethel family. Now my wife and I are the oldest members. I have no regrets about following the Master wherever he has directed me. True, my parents drove me out of their home, but Jehovah has given me a big family of fellow believers. I do not have the slightest doubt that Jehovah provides everything we need, no matter what assignment we receive. Nora and I are very grateful to Jehovah for all his kind provisions, and we encourage others to test Jehovah out.​—Mal. 3:10.

Jesus once invited a tax collector named Matthew Levi, saying: “Be my follower.” How did he respond? “Leaving everything behind, he rose up and began to follow [Jesus].” (Luke 5:27, 28) I too have had similar opportunities, and I heartily urge others to do the same and experience many blessings.

VBE ena hia ya de? I gha nanaẹn ọkade ọkade. July 29, 1929 ẹre a biẹ mwẹ. Igue nọ rre ikinkin Bulacan vbe otọ ẹvbo Philippines ẹre I na waan. Te emwi wa wegbe vbe ẹghẹ nii rhunmwuda ọni, emwi ne obọ sẹ ẹre ima ya gha gaga khian. Okuo keghi sakua vbe I ye rre igbama. Ivbiyokuo e Japan keghi mu okuo gha die Philippines. Te Igue ima wa khian fua rhunmwuda ọni, okhọn ni ma wa sẹ eke ne ima ye. Ẹmwẹ ne u unu ẹre ima ya gha họn iyẹn vbekpae okuo nọ khọn rhunmwuda ẹkpẹti ọta, ẹkpẹti ughe kevbe ebe iyẹn ma gha rrọọ.

Mẹ ọre ukpogieva vbuwe ima re erẹnrẹn ne evbibiẹ mwẹ biẹlẹ. Vbe I rre ukpo erẹnrẹn, I na ya gu evbibiẹ iye mwẹ dia. Agharhemiẹn wẹẹ Ivbi e Catholic ma ghaa khin, Erha mwẹ nọkhua ma zẹdẹ gha gbodan ye ugamwẹ ọvbehe. Te ọ wa gha rhan obọ miẹn ọnrẹn yi ighẹ ebe ne ugamwẹ ọvbehe gbẹnnẹ ladian, ne avbe ọsiọre ghaa viọ nẹẹn. Te I ye yerre, ebe ẹmu eso nọ mu ma mwẹ ni mwẹ uhunmwuta na: Protection, Safety, kevbe Uncovered kevbe Baibol ne a ya urhuẹvbo e Tagalog gbẹn. * E Baibol nii wa gha yẹẹ mwẹ na tie katekate ebe enẹ ni taa okha ọghe Jesu. Ako na keghi ya mwẹ gha mwẹ ahoo ne I ya lele ukpowẹ ọghe Jesu.—Jọn 10:27.

Ukpo 1945 ẹre ivbiyokuo e Japan ghi kpa hin e Philippines rre. Asẹ na ẹre evbibiẹ mwẹ ya wẹẹ ne I werriegbe gha die owa. Erha mwẹ nọkhua keghi kue yọ. Erriọ I ya werriegbe gha die owa.

Ọ ghi rre December 1945, Avbe Osẹe Jehova na ke ẹvbo na tie ẹre Angat do kporhu vbe igue ima. Ọkpa vbuwe iran nọ khian enọwanrẹn nẹ, nọ kporhu sẹ owa ima, keghi rhan otọ emwi ne Baibol khare vbekpae “ẹdẹ okiekie.” (2 Tim. 3:1-5) Ọ keghi gie na tie ima gha die iko ne iran ghaa do vbe igue ọvbehe nọ ma rree gbe. Mẹ ọkpa ẹre ọ yo, evbibiẹ mwẹ ma yo. Emwa ni rrie iko nii gha sẹ 20, emwa eso na gha nọ ọta vbuwe Baibol.

Ne I ma na wa rẹn otọ emwi ne iran ghaa guan kaẹn, I na ghi wẹẹ ne I kpaa. Ẹghẹ nii ẹre iran ya suẹn gha so ihuan Arriọba. Ihuan nii keghi wa gha yẹẹ mwẹ, rhunmwuda ọni, I ma ghi kpa. Iran ghi so ihuan nẹ, a na na erhunmwu. Vbe iyeke ọni, iran na gie na tie ima hia gha die iko ne a khian ghi do vbe Angat vbe ẹdẹ izọla nọkhua.

 Ọ sẹ ibiriki isẹn ne ima khian la ma ke sẹ ehe ne a na do iko nii vbe owa ẹgbẹe Cruz. Ọ keghi wa kpa mwẹ odin vbe ibiẹka ni ghaa rre uwu ẹbu etẹn 50 ni rrie iko nii, ghaa zẹ ewanniẹn vbe a ziro yan emwi ni dinmwi vbe Baibol. Vbe I ghi deba iran yo iko nẹ vbe ovbi ẹghẹ kherhe, Ọtẹn Nokpia Damian Santos, nọ khian enọwanrẹn nẹ, arọndẹ vbe gha nọ, irẹn ẹre ọ ka vbe gha re olotu ẹvbo nii, keghi tama mwẹ ni do vbiẹ owa irẹn ne ẹdẹ gbe. E Baibol ẹre ima wa mobọ ziro yan vbe asọn nii.

Vbe ẹghẹ nii, ma nibun keghi ya izọghae miẹn ọnrẹn yi ighẹ imamwaemwi ni ru ekpataki ne a ka rẹn zẹ vbe Ivbiotu e Kristi. Vbe ọ ma he kpẹ vba, etẹn nikpia eso keghi nọ mwẹ kevbe etẹn ọvbehe wẹẹ, “Uwa hoo ne uwa dinmwiamẹ ra?” Ẹre I na kha wẹẹ, “I wa hoo ne I dinmwiamẹ.” Te I wa muegbe ne I ya lele ukpowẹ ọghe Kristi ne “arowa” mwa. (Kọl. 3:24) Vbe iyeke ọni, mẹ vbe ọtẹn nokpia ọkpa keghi ya dinmwiamẹ vbe ẹzẹ ọkpa nọ ma rree gbe vbe February 15, 1946.

Ma ghi dinmwiamẹ nẹ, ma keghi do rẹn wẹẹ, iwinna nọ bi ye ima egbe ọre ne ima gha kporhu iyẹn nọ maan zẹ vbene Jesu ru ẹre. Sokpan ọna ma ya ẹko rhiẹnrhiẹn erha mwẹ hiehie. Ọ keghi tama mwẹ wẹẹ, “U ma he zẹdẹ sẹ ne ọ kporhu. Ne a na dinmwiọn ye amẹ ma rhie ma wẹẹ, u sẹ nẹ ne ọ kporhu.” I na ghi tama erha mwẹ wẹẹ, ahoo ọghe Osanobua nọ, ne ima hia gha kporhu iyẹn nọ maan ọghe Arriọba. (Mat. 24:14) I na vbe rhie tẹ wẹẹ, “I ru eyan ma Osanobua nẹ, te I gha muẹn sẹ.” Ọna ẹre ọ ghi ya erha mwẹ ya obọ sekhae mẹ, zẹ vbene I ya unu kaẹn vbe omuhẹn ban. Vbene ẹmwata, erha mwẹ ma te zẹdẹ hoo ne I gha kporhu. Ọna ọre ẹghẹ ne I wa ya suẹn gha sẹ emwi eso rae, ne I mieke na sẹtin mu emwi orhiọn ye okaro vbe arrọọ mwẹ.

Vbe erha mwẹ ghi khu mwẹ hin owa rre nẹ, ẹgbẹe Cruz na ghi miẹn mwẹ yi. Iran ẹre I ghi ra gu dia vbe Angat. Iran na rhie igiọdu ne imẹ vbe ovbi iran ne okhuo ne alagbodẹ, na tie ẹre Nora, ne ima rhie obọ ye iwinna arọndẹ. November 1, 1947 ẹre ima eva ghi suẹn iwinna arọndẹ. E Nọra kegha ru iwinna arọndẹ vbe ẹvbo ọvbehe vbene imẹ na gha rre Angat.

A ghi tie ẹre ukpo eha ni suẹn iwinna arọndẹ, ọtẹn nokpia Earl Stewart nọ ke abotu rre keghi ya ọta guan vbe agbaghuzalẹ ra ọgbẹlẹzẹ ọghe Angat. Orhunmwu 500 ẹre ọ gbẹbu danmwehọ ọta nii. Urhu Ebo ẹre ọ loo ro, vbe iyeke ọni, I na sẹtin ya urhuẹvbo e Tagalog gbe ẹre ọrriẹ agharhemiẹn wẹẹ ukpo ihinrọn kẹkan ẹre I ya vbe owebe. Emwi eso ni ru iyobọ mẹ ọre wẹẹ, Ebo ẹre etisa ima wa mobọ gha loo ya maa ima emwi kevbe wẹẹ, avbe ebe ne otu ghaa ya Ebo gbẹnnẹ ladian ẹre I wa gha tie rhunmwuda, ebe ni he ladian vbe urhu e Tagalog i he bun vbe ẹghẹ nii. Ena ẹre ọ zẹe ne I na sẹtin zedu ọta nii kevbe ọta ọvbehe ne etẹn ya gha guan.

Ẹdẹ ne I zedu ọta ne Ọtẹn Nokpia Stewart, ẹre ọ tama emwa hia ni gbẹbu wẹẹ Abotu gualọ ọtẹn nokpia ọkpa ra eva ni ru arọndẹ ne iran do gha ga vbe Abotu. Ọ na vbe rhie tẹ wẹẹ, te etẹn na gualọ na, khian do ru iyobọ vbe ẹghẹ ne etẹn na gie yo isi khian ya kpa gha rrie Theocracy’s Increase Assembly ne a do vbe New York, U.S.A vbe ukpo 1950. Emwi ghi wa ho aro, a na ghi miẹn wẹẹ, I rre usun emwa na gie na tie. I na ghi werriegbe sẹ ehe ne I na gu otọ rae, sokpan vbe ẹghẹ na, Abotu ẹre I ghi gha rrie.

I ghi sẹ Abotu vbe June 19, 1950, I na wa suẹn iwinna. Otọ nọ sẹ eka eva vbe ukhiọnmwẹ ẹre otu ghaa mwẹ ne iran bọ Abotu yi. Abotu nii kegha re owa nọkhua nẹdẹ ne avbe okperhan lẹga. Etẹn nikpia ni ma he rhie okhuo ni rrie odẹ iweva ẹre ọ ghaa ga vba. Owiẹ fioro ẹre I ya gha winna vbe ukoni. Ọ ghaa rre odẹ ẹgogo ihinrin, I ya winna vbe ugha ne a na họ ukpọn kevbe ne a na lọọ re. Erriọ I vbe gha ruẹ vbe ẹghẹ avan. Etẹn na gie yo isi ghi ke asikoko ọghe uhunmwu otagbọn rre nẹ, I na ye gha ga vbe Abotu. Vbe ọ ma he kpẹ vba, iwinna mwẹ na fiwerriẹ. I na do gha mwamwa ebe iyẹn ne emwa wee, I vbe gbẹnnẹ eni ọghe dọmwadẹ emwa kevbe iko ni wee ebe yotọ, nọ mieke na sẹ iran obọ. I vbe gha gbe ọbokhian ne avbe orhumwunyẹn. Vbene ẹmwata, iwinna ne a rhirhi waa mwẹ re, ẹre I ghaa ru.

Vbe ukpo 1952, a keghi gie na tie mwẹ kevbe etẹn nikpia isẹn gha rrie Owebe Gilead nogie ugie. I ma sẹtin ghọghọ. Emwi ne ima miẹn vbe America kegha re emwi ne ima ma he miẹn ẹdẹ. Te emwi hia wa lughaẹn ne emwi hia nii rre Igue ni ke rre. Vbene ẹmwata, ai ye igue ni ke rre gie America hiehie. Alughaẹn nọ rrọọ kpọlọ gbe.

 Vbe igiemwi, ma keghi ruẹ vbene a loo emwi eso ne ima ma he ka loo ẹdẹ. Oni ọghe oguozizi ẹre ọ wa vbe gha fi vba. Vbe I rhiọrre vbe owiẹ ọkpa, ehe hia na gha fua tẹtẹtẹ vbe na ghee isonorhọ. Ọna kegha re ẹghẹ okaro ne I ya miẹn esia (snow). Ọ gbe oni sẹrriọ wẹẹ, a gha ya obọ kaẹn, ọ zeze ọmwa obọ.

Ne emwi hia na lughaẹn vbe America, ọ ma gha khuẹrhẹ vbe I da sẹ evba, sokpan vbe iruẹmwi ghi suẹn nẹ vbe Gilead, I ma ghi rẹn ẹghẹ ne egbe ya guaẹro. Etẹn nikpia ni maa ima emwi wa gbegba, odẹ nọ dagbẹn ẹre iran ya maa ima emwi ughughan. Iran keghi maa ima re vbene a ya miẹn ere vbe Baibol ne a tie ne egbe ọmwa kevbe ezanzan ne a ru. Emwi ne I ruẹ re vbe Owebe Gilead keghi ya mwẹ sikẹ e Jehova sayọ.

I ghi ladian vbe owebe nii nẹ, otu keghi gie mwẹ gha rrie Bronx vbe New York zẹvbe arọndẹ ne kpataki. Ọ ghi rre July 1953, I na yo New World Society Assembly ne a do vbe ikinkin e Bronx vbe ọkpẹn eke ne I na gha ga zẹvbe arọndẹ ne kpataki. Vbe iyeke ọni, otu na werriegbe gie mwẹ gha rrie Philippines.

I ghi sẹ abotu, etẹn ni siẹnro iwinna nọ khian vba keghi tama mwẹ wẹẹ: “Ke eban kpa, iwinna ọgbaroghe ọghe otako ẹre u khian ghi gha ru.” Ọna keghi wa kie ẹkpotọ yọ ne I ya gele lele ukpowẹ ọghe Arowa mwa nọ mu okhian gha rrie ehe ni rree nọ mieke na ru iyobọ ne ohuan ọghe Jehova. (1 Pit. 2:21) Ako ne I ghaa mu otuẹ la wa gha kpọlọ. Ọ kegha re ehe ne a tie ẹre Luzon, nọ re ehe ne amẹ gbe odin lẹga nọ ghi kpọlọ sẹ vbe otọ ẹvbo e Philippines. Usun ẹvbo ni rre ikinkin na kegha re Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac kevbe Zambales. Vbene I te sẹ ẹvbo eso, I ka gbe Oke Sierra Madre ne kpannọ kpannọ. Imọto i sẹ ehe ne I guan kaẹn na sokpan imọto igẹdu ni munọ erhan nikhua. Iran ghaa dee, I ghi rinmwian iran ni gua re khian, ni tota ye uhunmwu avbe erhan nii. Erriọ I ya sẹ ehe ne I rrie. Sokpan, ọna ma gha khuẹrhẹ hiehie.

Etẹn ma gha bun vbe iko nibun vbe ikinkin na, te a da vbe muẹn nibun gbọọ. Te etẹn nii wa gha gbọyẹmwẹ ye vbene I ya gha gu iran ru emwamwa iko kevbe ikporhu iyẹn nọ maan vbe odẹ nọ dagbẹn.

Ọ ghi sẹ ẹghẹ, otu na ghi gie mwẹ gha rrie odin ọghe Bicol. Etẹn ma zẹdẹ gha bun vbe ikinkin na. Ọ kegha re ehe ne a ma he na kporhu ẹdẹ, ne avbe arọndẹ ne kpataki na da suẹn gha kporhu. Vbe owa ọkpa ni ghaa ye, egbe owa nọ rrọọ kegha re uvun ne a tọnnọẹn. Iran keghi munọ ikerhan eva nikhua ya adesẹ uvun nii. I ghi zẹ owẹ yọ, ikerhan eva nii keghi dele ye uvun nii. Uwu uvun nii ẹre imẹ na ghi vbe ya vba egbe imẹ. Urri ẹdẹ ohoho ẹre I ya khuẹ, I ke do rri evbare owiẹ.

Asẹ na, ẹre ẹmwẹ Nora, nọ suẹn iwinna arọndẹ vbe Bulacan, ya la mwẹ ekhọe. Ẹghẹ ọkpa ẹre ima ya suẹn iwinna arọndẹ. Vbe ẹghẹ na, ọ kegha ga zẹvbe arọndẹ ne kpataki vbe ẹvbo na tie ẹre Dumaguete. I na mu otue gi ẹre. Erriọ ima ya suẹn gha si egbe obọ. Ọ ghi rre ukpo 1956, ma na ru orọnmwẹ. Ma ghi ru orọnmwẹ nẹ, uzọla nọ ghi lelẹe, ma na mu otuẹ gie etẹn ni rre Rapu Rapu Island. Ma gbe oke nibun, ma vbe khian la ehe nọ  taẹn vbe ikinkin nii, ne amẹ gbe odin lẹga. Sokpan, te ọyẹnmwẹ wa gha sẹ mwẹ vbe ima rre uwu ẹbu etẹn ni rre ehe nọ khian fua vberriọ rhunmwuda, imẹ vbe ọvbokhan mwẹ ghi gha nọ.

Ọ ghi rrie odẹ ukpo enẹ ne ima he gbe vbe iwinna ọgbaroghe ọghe otako, otu keghi gie na tie ima gha die abotu. erriọ iwinna ima ya fiwerriẹ. January 1960 ẹre ima ghi suẹn gha winna vbe Abotu do fi ebanban. Zẹ vbene ẹghẹ ya khian, I na gha ruẹ emwi nibun vbe obọ etẹn ne iwinna nọkhua bi ye iran izabọ vbe abotu. Erriọ ọvbokhan mwẹ vbe ya gha ru iwinna ughughan.

Vbe I ga vbe Abotu, aro mwẹ keghi dae vbene emwa ya gha bi la odẹ ọghe ẹmwata hẹ vbe Philippines. Vbe I rrie Abotu vbe I ye re igbama, etẹn ni ghaa ya iyẹn wewe vbe otọ ẹvbo Philippines hia kegha re 10,000. Nia, etẹn ni ya iyẹn wewe vbe Philippines gberra 200,000. Etẹn iyisẹn nibun ẹre ọ ru iyobọ ye iwinna ikporhu iyẹn nọ maan vbe Abotu.

Zẹ vbene iwinna Arriọba ya mwẹ alaghodaro vbe Philippines, Abotu na ghi do kherhe gbe ne etẹn kevbe iwinna ne a ru vba. Ẹbu Nọ Su na ghi wẹẹ ne ima gualọ otọ ọvbehe nọkpọlọ ne a gha bọ Abotu ọvbehe yi. Mẹ vbe ọtẹn nokpia nọ ghaa siẹnro ugha ne a na print ebe kegha la urho khian, nọ emwa vbe ẹdogbo nii deghẹ iran mwẹ otọ ne iran gha khiẹn. Ima ma miẹn nọ hoo nọ khiẹn. Okpia ọkpa nọ mwẹ otọ na kue tama ima wẹẹ: “Ivbi e China i khiẹn otọ, te ima dẹ.”

Sokpan, ọ ghi rre ẹdẹ ọkpa, ọ keghi kpa ima odin vbe okpia ọkpa do nọ ima deghẹ ima gha dẹ otọ ọghe irẹn rhunmwuda ọ khian si gha rrie United States. Emwi eso ni ghi gha rhiegbe ma vbe iyeke ọna kegha kpa ima odin. Okpia ọvbehe nọ rre ẹdogbo nii na wẹẹ irẹn khian vbe khiẹn ọghẹe, ọ na vbe wẹẹ ne emwa ọvbehe ni sikẹ ọre vbe khiẹnnẹ otọ ọghe iran. Uhiẹn okpia nọ ka wẹẹ “Ivbi e China i khiẹn otọ,” na vbe khiẹn ọghẹe ne ima. Vbe ọ ma he kpẹ vba, otọ ne ima ghi do gha mwẹ, na ye igbaha kpọlọ sẹ ne ima ka mwẹ. I wa rẹn wẹẹ, e Jehova ẹre ọ fiangbe emwamwa na.

Vbe ukpo 1950, mẹ ẹre ọ ru ọvbokhan sẹ vbe Abotu. Nia, imẹ vbe ọvbokhan mwẹ ẹre ọ ghi khian enọwanrẹn sẹ. Ẹghẹ ọkpa i rrọọ ne I he ya gbe ima rẹn rhunmwuda ukpowẹ ọghe Arowa mwa ni lele. Ẹmwata nọ wẹẹ, te evbibiẹ mwẹ khu mwẹ hin owa rre, sokpan e Jehova keghi ya ẹgbẹe nọkhua ọghe etẹn ne a gba ga fiangbe mwẹ. I wa ya ekhọe hia yayi wẹẹ, e Jehova ẹre ọ kpemehe emwi hia ne ima gualọ vbe iwinna ne irẹn rhirhi waa ima re. Imẹ vbe ọvbokhan mwẹ wa gbọyẹmwẹ ye emwi hia ne Jehova ru ne ima. Ma vbe rhie igiọdu ne emwa ọvbehe ne iran danmwẹ e Jehova ghee, iran gha miẹn umamwẹ ọghẹe vbe arrọọ ọghe iran.—Mal. 3:10.

Ẹghẹ ne Jesu na tama Matiu Livai nọ koko igho uhunmwu wẹẹ: “Lele mwẹ.” Vbe Matiu a ya khuẹnniẹn ye itie nii hẹ? E Baibol keghi kha wẹẹ: “Livai keghi guakpa, ọ sẹ emwi hia rae, ọ keghi lelẹe.” (Luk 5:27, 28) Ẹkpotọ vberriọ vbe kie mẹ ne I ya lele Jesu. I ya ekhọe hia rhie igiọdu ne emwa hia ne iran vbe ru vberriọ, iran gha miẹn afiangbe nibun.